Ten years of Hooked. Hooked was originally a national hit in 1995 and has been hanging aroound in various versions ever since!
The first Elevators track, ‘Ice’ was spliced together on an Atari ST and Casio FZ-1 sampler at Beat Base studios in Wood Green, London with engineer/genius Aldwin Johnson pulling out all the stops to fit everything onto the massive four meg memory computer. ‘Ice’ was a veritable audio quilt of sonic theft, with half inched vocals, Miles Davis on horns and En Vogue on backing vocals amongst others! ‘Lead vocal’ was from house diva Rowetta (later of Happy Mondays/X Factor infamy).
The exact same ‘Soul On Ice’ vocal was used over ten years later in 2006 on Steve Lawler and King Unique’s much heralded ‘Souls On Ice’.
Signed to Production House , ‘Ice’ never got a full release (it was given the PNT 055 catalogue number which you will find scratched into the run out grooves) though gained the Elevators their first radio air play from Steve Jackson at Londons Kiss FM’s legendary ‘The House That Jack Built’ show, and a healthy buzz chart placing at DJ Magazine. The track re-appeared on Invader Records only to sink without trace along with its distributor Great Asset.
The original two versions of the follow up, (well before genius pairing Tony De Vit and Simon Parkes injected the track with magic dust !) and fledgling Trade anthem ‘Hooked’ were actually put together in a day in a tiny front room studio in Mitcham, South London. This front room however was bulging with the glistening Roland gear of writer/producer/engineer Clive Latham, the SH101, JD900 and the Roland S760 sampler were the machines behind ‘Hooked’.
‘Hooked’ initially came out on the tiny Triumph label run out of the offices of dance distributor Deltra. True to form, Deltra went to the wall, taking with it the last boxes of ‘Hooked’ vinyl. Fortunately some copies had found their way to Belgium where they were picked up and bought back to the UK by the bustling Trax Records in London’s Soho. Frequented by a veritable who’s who of Euro DJ’s and Radio jocks, Tony De Vit, Graham Gold and Pete Wardman were just three of the better known DJs who picked up on the track in a big way with radio play on Kiss FM and hands in the air status across UK clubland and in particular at Tony’s residency at the legendary Trade
.
Keith Mac at Labello Dance (who had just moved in with PWL) was the sole A&R person to respond to the early versions of ‘Hooked’ and it was quickly snapped up. Around the same time the Elevators Labello Dance debut, ‘Euro piano stormer’, ‘Rain Your Kisses’ was quickly sinking without trace!
When Tony and Simon’s remix of ‘Hooked’ arrived it was a stunner. Staying almost 100% to the original arrangement the dynamic duo subtly tweaked every element of the track, stretched it and molded it into an almost ten minute epic of gargantuan proportions. Shivers were sent down spines, arms were held aloft and tears of joy were shed across club land. After almost three months of blanket airplay on Kiss FM the record gate crashed the national top 30 and debuted in the national dance charts at number two. The follow up ‘I’ll Be There’ did similar damage, but never held clubbers attentions like the previous hit, although it was play listed on National Radio One.
So to a gap of two years and in ‘98 Adrian had persuaded Pete Wardman at Kiss FM to conjure up an updated version of ‘Hooked’. And so the buzz began again with the white label shifting 3000+ copies ( backed with a rare remix from Sucker Punk). Tripoli Trax snapped up the track and added storming remixes from Steve Thomas and the seminal OD404 which lead to the track climbing the national dance chart again.
99th Floor Elevators have appeared on over fifty albums internationally including all the major labels like; Polygram TV, Virgin, BMG and EMI etc and on leading dance labels like React, Nukluez, Tidy , Tripoli Trax, Clockwork Orange, Fantazia, Alphamagic, and Sundissential
.
The saga continued into 2005 with the re-appearance of ‘Hooked’, and the Elevators enjoying something of a revival, despite the long break from recording any new material. ‘Hooked’ popped up again as a very limited white label bootleg mix from hardhouse punks the Killer Hurts (James Nardi and Julian Dwyer). Another reworking from hard house legend Paul King also got a limited run on one sided 12 inch.
In October 2005 ‘I’ll Be There’ got the once over from the Killer Hurts and Nik Dentons ‘Pulse Fiction’ guise, appearing as a Toolbox single. There are more mixes due on Toolbox offshoot label Footloose and a Paul King version of ‘I’ll Be There’ to follow on Toolbox Vol 1.
Come 2007 and finally the Elevators launch their own label Buzzsonic Records, with the first release a 6 track remix EP, rounding up the best of the ‘I’ll Be There’ remixes for release in the USA (for the first time ever) on CD and via iTunes. There will also be a similar release before the year end rounding up the best 6 mixes of the other UK anthem, ‘Hooked’.
I'll be there
99th Floor Elevators Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd like to buy the world a toke
And teach the world to sing in perfect harmony
And teach the world to snuff the fires and the liars
Hey, I know it's just a song, but it's spice for the recipe
This is a love attack
I know it went out, but it's back
And just like fashion, it's a passion for the with-it and hip
If you got the goods, they'll come and buy it just to stay in the clique
So don't delay, act now, supplies are running out
Allow if you're still alive
Six to eight years to arrive
And if you follow, there may be a tomorrow
But if the offer's shunned
You might as well be walking on the Sun
Twenty-five years ago, they spoke out and they broke out
Of recession and oppression and together they toked
And they folked out with guitars around a bonfire
Just singin' and clappin', man, what the hell happened?
Then some were spellbound, some were hellbound
Some, they fell down and some got back up
And fought back against the meltdown
And their kids were hippie chicks, all hypocrites
Because fashion is smashing the true meaning of it
So don't delay, act now, supplies are running out
Allow if you're still alive
Six to eight years to arrive
And if you follow, there may be a tomorrow
But if the offer's shunned
You might as well be walking on the Sun
It ain't no joke
When a mama's handkerchief is soaked
With her tears because her baby's life has been revoked
The bond is broke up
So choke up and focus on the close up
Mr. Wizard can't perform no god-like hocus-pocus
So don't sit back, kick back
And watch the world get bushwhacked
News at 10, your neighborhood is under attack
Put away the crack, before the crack puts you away
You need to be there when your baby's old enough to relate
So don't delay, act now, supplies are running out
Allow if you're still alive
Six to eight years to arrive
And if you follow, there may be a tomorrow
But if the offer's shunned
You might as well be walking on the Sun
You might as well be walking on the Sun
You might as well be walking on the Sun
You might as well be walking on the Sun
You might as well be walking on the Sun...
The lyrics of "I'll Be There" by the 99th Floor Elevators address several issues that are considered relevant even to this day. The song starts with a call to buy the world a toke, a direct reference to cannabis, and the line goes on to share a desire to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony while snuffing out fires and liars. While acknowledging that the song is not a solution to world problems, it will add spice to the recipe. This opening verse reveals a desire for unity and a championing of truth over deception.
The song then shifts to the idea of love as a weapon. The singer describes it as a "love attack," one that has come and gone before but is back again. Love is presented as a trend or a fad, something that some people will follow because of its influence, but that will retract before having any concrete impact. The lyrics suggest that people are attracted to things that make them cool or fashionable, and love is just another extension of this culture.
As the song progresses, the lyrics criticize the commercialization of love and hippie culture. The message here is that love and freedom of expression have become diluted and meaningless. The final verse speaks about the dangers of ignoring the world's problems and how important it is to take action to avoid a bleak future.
Overall, the lyrics of "I'll Be There" have a strong anti-establishment theme, calling on people to avoid becoming trapped in fads and trends, and to fight against the oppression and commercialization of the important values of love and freedom.
Line by Line Meaning
It ain't no joke
The following message is serious and important.
I'd like to buy the world a toke
I wish I could spread happiness and peace to everyone.
And teach the world to sing in perfect harmony
I want people to work together and get along.
And teach the world to snuff the fires and the liars
I want people to stop bad behavior and put an end to conflicts.
Hey, I know it's just a song, but it's spice for the recipe
I understand that this is just a message in a song, but it's still important to me.
This is a love attack
This message is about spreading love and positivity.
I know it went out, but it's back
This message may not have been popular before, but it's relevant again.
It's just like any fad, it retracts before impact
This message may not last forever or have a big impact.
And just like fashion, it's a passion for the with-it and hip
People who are fashionable or cool may be more interested in this message.
If you got the goods, they'll come and buy it just to stay in the clique
If you have a good message, people will follow it to fit in with a group.
So don't delay, act now, supplies are running out
It's important to take action right away because time is running out.
Allow if you're still alive
If you're still alive, you have the opportunity to make a difference.
Six to eight years to arrive
If you act now, it may take a few years to see the positive effects.
And if you follow, there may be a tomorrow
If people follow this message, there may be hope for the future.
But if the offer's shunned
If people ignore this message,
You might as well be walking on the Sun
they might as well be living in a disastrous world.
Twenty-five years ago, they spoke out and they broke out
In the past, people spoke out and made changes.
Of recession and oppression and together they toked
People came together during hard times and used marijuana.
And they folked out with guitars around a bonfire
People played music together around a campfire.
Just singin' and clappin', man, what the hell happened?
People used to have fun and enjoy life together, but something changed.
Then some were spellbound, some were hellbound
Some people were influenced by others in a positive way, while some were negative.
Some, they fell down and some got back up
Some people failed or struggled, while others persevered.
And fought back against the meltdown
Some people fought against negative events or changes in society.
And their kids were hippie chicks, all hypocrites
The next generation who grew up in this era may not have lived up to the same values.
Because fashion is smashing the true meaning of it
Fashion or trends may have distorted the original message or values.
When a mama's handkerchief is soaked
When a mother is crying.
With her tears because her baby's life has been revoked
Because of a tragedy or loss in her family.
The bond is broke up
The emotional connection or attachment has been broken.
So choke up and focus on the close up
People should be more emotional and focused on their personal relationships.
Mr. Wizard can't perform no god-like hocus-pocus
No one person or magic can fix everything.
So don't sit back, kick back
Don't relax or be passive.
And watch the world get bushwhacked
Watch as the world is destroyed or deteriorates.
News at 10, your neighborhood is under attack
Bad things are happening in the world.
Put away the crack, before the crack puts you away
People should stop using drugs before it harms them.
You need to be there when your baby's old enough to relate
Parents need to be present and supportive for their children.
You might as well be walking on the Sun
Ignoring this message would be detrimental to the future and society as a whole.
Contributed by Hudson C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.