Class Action and Phreek were disco and post-disco musical projects. The original Phreek comprised Christine Wiltshire, Leroy Burgess, Patrick Adams, Stan Lucas, Ken Mazur and others.[1] Class Action was directed by Larry Levan and featured Christine Wiltshire as vocalist. Both groups are best known for their club hit "Weekend", written by James Calloway and Leroy Burgess. The 1983 version was remixed by Morales and Munzibai and Larry Levan and produced by Bob Blank and Lola Blank.
Class Action Phreek | |
|---|---|
| Origin | New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1978–1983 |
| Labels | |
| Past members |
|
History
editThe song "Weekend" was originally recorded on Atlantic Records by Patrick Adams' studio group Phreek of which Wiltshire was a member.[2][3] The song was heavily played by Larry Levan yet it was commercially unavailable so it did not enter any charts.[4] In the early 1980s, William Socolov, the co-owner of Sleeping Bag Records, invited Levan to make a new version of "Weekend". This version, recorded by the studio group Class Action, which also featured Wiltshire, became more successful than the original version, peaking at No. 49 on the British pop chart[4][5] and No. 9 on the Billboard Dance chart.[6]
Discography
editPhreek
edit- Albums
- 1978: Patrick Adams Presents Phreek (Atlantic)
- Singles
- 1978: "Weekend / "Have a Good Day" (Atlantic)
- 1978: "Weekend / "May My Love Be with You" (Atlantic)
- 1983: "Weekend" (original version) (Atlantic)
Class Action
edit- Singles
- 1983: "Weekend" (Sleeping Bag)
Track listings
edit- Phreek version
| 12" single |
Side A:
Side B:
|
|---|
- Class Action version
| 12" single |
Weekday Side:
Weekend Side:
|
|---|
Chart performance
edit| Year | Title | Label | Peak chart positions | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Dance [6] |
UK [5] | |||||
| 1978 | "Weekend" (by Phreek) | Atlantic | ― | ― | ||
| 1983 | "Weekend" (by Class Action) | Sleeping Bag | 9 | 49 | ||
Legacy
edit- The Canadian group Killer Bunnies used the opening lyrics from "Weekend" as the basis for their 1997 single "I Can't Take the Heartbreak", which peaked at No. 36 on Billboard's Dance Club Songs chart that same year.
- The song is featured in the 2006 video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, on the Paradise FM radio station.[7]
- In 1988, the song was covered by Todd Terry Project. This version also appeared in the 2004 video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, on the SF-UR radio station.[8]
- In 2004, Class Action's version was reissued on the Warlock record label.
References
edit- ^ Production notes on Phreek' records issued by Atlantic Records.
- ^ Lawrence, Tim (2003). Love saves the day: a history of American dance music culture, 1970-1979. Duke University Press, 2003. p. 356. ISBN 0-8223-3198-5.
- ^ "Nightclubbing". Billboard. Vol. 95. February 5, 1983. p. 51. ISSN 0006-2510.
- ^ a b Lawrence, Tim (2009). Hold on to your dreams: Arthur Russell and the downtown music scene, 1973-1992. Duke University Press, 2009. p. 226. ISBN 978-0-89820-160-4.
- ^ a b "Class Action - full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
- ^ a b "Class Action Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
- ^ "The Music of GTA: Vice City Stories". IGN. October 26, 2006. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
- ^ "Nightclubbing". CMJ New Music Monthly. 29: 6. February 26, 1983. ISSN 1074-6978.
External links
edit- Class Action discography at Discogs
