John Luongo interview / October 2003

Reprinted with the kind permission of "Disco Guy"
Complete interview available at http://www.disco-disco.com/djs/john-l.html

"I flew to Vancouver to meet with both Bryan and his wonderful co-writer Jim Vallance. I took a taxi to Little Mountain Studio on a foggy evening and went in to hear the track and do the overdubs to be mixed. I clapped on the track along with Jim and Bryan. I added a sax solo from a local saxophonist and then had Jim play a part on the Vibes that I came up with.

The overdubs went great and we had a ball. I took the tape back with me to NY to mix at Media Sound with my engineer, Michael Barbiero, upon listening down felt that the tempo had to be picked up to make the song the true hit it could be. I had to speed the track up to the most I could to make it groove harder and be at the tempo that would rock the clubs and back then there was not time compression or pitch compensation programs.

The final product kicked ass but Bryan's voice was altered slightly due to the speed shift. Bryan was not really happy about that and felt that it did not suit his vocals to his taste. Sometimes you must do what is right to achieve what you need to and you must have the guts to make a call that is unpopular.

The song came out, went to Number One and then sold like crazy to the public which was the reason that Bryan was not dropped by Gerry Lacoursiere of A&M Canada.

I believe that sometimes people do not want to look back at where they came from which is why the song seems to have not been used in any of Bryan’s “Hits Packages”.

In all honesty, it is the most different in style and feel and production on any of his songs which are all more rock/pop oriented."

John Luongo quote / 2006?

Here's another John Luongo quote that my friend Pierre Oitmann found on a disco chat forum.

"My name is John Luongo and I know for a fact that Bryan's only problem with the mix or the additional production was the speed change as it pertained to his vocals. I stand by my decision to set the tempo of the track that I did. I agonized over this for hours as I mixed the record and every time I slowed this track down even a 1/2 % it sounded too slow. It lost the energy and the power that was in it. If it was slower it would have failed and I was left making that call by myself in New York at Media Sound. The record became a major hit around the world and Bryan was able to take this success and parlay it into a full and productive career.

The overdubs were done by Jim Vallance, Adams and myself while I traveled to Vancouver , B.C. There were vibes, a sax, tamborine and shaker as well as hand claps provided by the three of us. Jim Vallance confirmed to me that Bryan's only problem was the speed of his vocals. Ohh , if only time compression were available then!!

Thanks for hearing the real side of the story."

John "TC" Luongo