Surface - Falling In Love / Happy (Love Mix)

2024 first-jme 12" reissue pairing of previously hyper-rare tracks, 140g vinyl, mastered by Simon Francis Two seminal 12" mixes of a pair of enormous tracks from Surface. Housed in the super-rare and - unjl now - French-only picture sleeve of the eternal "Falling In Love", we've backed that classic with Be With's favourite deconstructed mix of the swirling electronic soul / synth-driven slow jam "Happy". These sought-aoer versions have never been paired on the same record before. This fresh Be With edijon ensures these legendary tracks now sound, looks and feel as sensajonal as they deserve to. You know what to do... American post-disco/R&B trio Surface were a New Jersey vocal group made up of Bernard Jackson, David Townsend and David Conley. The majesty of boogie ballad "Falling In Love" was their first single, released in 1983 on Salsoul Records. The mellow magic of this track is loved the world over; it's a feel-good smooth boogie jam that's forever coveted. The slick, crystal clear beat, the legendary minimoog bassline, the melody, Karen Copeland's superb vocal, the great flute solo (referenced on the cover) all of it is literally perfect and beaujfully encapsulates that mid 80s internajonal club vibe. This here is the original Shep Petbone mix in its enjrety - it's the only one you really need. Flip for the legendary "Love Mix" of 1987 hit single “Happy". You all know the original. At least, you *should* all know it. But the "Love Mix" is a deconstructed, boldly produced mix which is the one the heads have turned to for so long. Yet, in our opinion, its hypnojc groove has flown under the radar for too many years. This killer remix begins with Jackson's spine-jngling isolated vocal, cleverly subverjng expectajons by actually delivering the first words of the original's second verse "You must be Heaven sent...Sent into my life...And I compliment you baby...Baby" before a heavy 808 drum kicks hard with echoey handclaps. It's super sparse and a dubbed out slow-mo boogie banger like no other. The synth bass, atmospheric synth pads and synthesized flute glide in and out with effortless style and the whole thing is a wonder to behold. It's a slow jam, for sure, but craoed in the straight up funk tradijon, using the digital tools of the day and this sparser than sparse version almost sounds like a precursor to UK Street Soul. A unique combinajon of undeniable funk, electro beats and an earnest, youthful tenor; it should be slamming out of every jeep forevermore. Simon Francis remastered the original audio for both tracks and Cicely Balston's precise cut for Alchemy at AIR Studios ensures this 12" well and truly slaps. The immaculate Record Industry pressing will ensure this incredibly sought-aoer treasure finds a home in many more collecjons, this and every year. Simply flawless.