He was an important part of the early 1970s New York disco underground scene, influencing garage and House music DJs like Frankie Knuckles and Larry Levan. He also laid the foundations for early 1980s experimental Chicago house music. One of the early pioneers of beat-mixing, and known for considerably more skillful mixing than many better known dj's at the time, he is cited by many early pioneers of the house-music scene as an influence. His "Disco Blend" remix of Double Exposure's "Ten Percent" was once described by UK DJ Ashley Beedle as providing a "blueprint for house music".
Gibbons was known as "the DJ's DJ" because his peers would go out of their way to go hear him play. Kool DJ Herc brought Dub to the New York City music scene, where Gibbons and other remixers played it and applied dub techniques to dance music. He played disco songs, focusing more on the percussion than the melody, and "stretched out the grooves so much that they teetered on the edge of motionlessness. "Like Arthur Russell, who recorded with him, Gibbons "used dub as a dislocating device, preventing disco's simple groove from developing under the dancers' feet."
He enjoyed a long association with Salsoul Records at the end of the 1970s. His DJ skills, punctuality and seriousness convinced Salsoul to assign him the remix of "Ten Percent", by Double Exposure), even though he had never produced. It was the first commercially available 12-inch single in the world. This was his best known remix.
His remix of "Hit and Run" by Loleatta Holloway was a surprise hit (he had considerably lengthened the recording and even removed Holloway's first two verses of vocals).
In 2004, Salsoul / Sussd' Records released a triple cd compilation with Walter's remixes for the label.
It is called "Mixed with Love (Walter Gibbons Salsoul Anthology)". It is composed of three discs, being #1 The Madness Begins..., #2 The Madness Continues... and #3 Total Insanity. These feature Gibbons' mixes of tracks by the likes of Loleatta Holloway, The Salsoul Orchestra, Double Exposure, First Choice, Love Committee and Anthony White among others. The tracks feature the 12 mix and the Disco Madness mix of some of the tracks like Loleatta Holoway's "Catch Me on the Rebound" - a different version is found on each of the three cds.
The Anthology also includes a 40 page booklet with an essay, on Walter Gibbons work, by Tim Lawrence, author of "Love Saves the Day: A History of American Dance Music Culture 1970-79".
The 1996 album "Walter's Room" was Black Science Orchestra's homage to Gibbons, released in London on Junior Boy's Own Records.
Gibbons became a reborn Christian in the 1980s, but still managed to turn out cutting edge mixes during this period (he simply focused on songs and lyrics that did not offend his beliefs). He died of AIDS related symptoms in 1994.
Ten Percent
Walter Gibbons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Ten percent of that something)
Ten percent of something
It beats one hundred percent
Of nothing at all
I only see you
Maybe once or twice a week
You make it worth my while
You treat me like a king
(Treat me like a king)
I cherish any time
That I can spend with you
Just say the words
And I'll do anything
But you must be true, oh
Ten percent of something
(Ten percent of that something, baby)
Ten percent of something
It beats one hundred percent
Of nothing at all
Ten percent of something
(Ten percent of that something, baby)
Ten percent of something
It beats one hundred percent
(Oh, oh, baby) of nothing at all
I do not like those guys
Who try to get all they can
(To get all they can)
Cause when it's over
They're right back where they began
(Back where they began)
It's better to have loved
Than never to have loved at all
(To have loved at all)
I'm with you til the water runs uphill
Ten percent of something
(Ten percent of that something, baby)
Ten percent of something
It beats one hundred percent
Of nothing at all
Ten percent of something
(Ten percent of that something)
Ten percent of something
(Is better than nothing)
Ten percent of something
Ten percent of something
(Than nothing at all)
Ten percent of something
(Now you only see me, baby)
Ten percent of something
(Maybe once or twice a week)
Ten percent of something
(But you treat me, treat me, treat me)
Ten percent of something
(Just like a dog instead of a king)
Ten percent of something (oh, baby)
Ten percent of something (oh, girl)
Just say the word
I'm not like those guys, love
I try, try, try, try all I can, girl
I'm gonna be with you
Be with you til the water runs up hill
Yes, I will, yes, I will, baby
Said I'll cherish, I'll cherish
I swear, my darling
And I'll try my best
To do the best, girl
I need not one
Not two, not three, baby
I need ten percent, ooh
The song "Ten Percent" by Walter Gibbons is a disco classic that talks about being grateful for what you have, instead of fixing your focus on what you don't have. The song's lyrics suggest that it's better to have ten percent of something than having nothing at all. The line "I do not like those guys who try to get all they can" appears to be a critique of those who are greedy and insatiable. The singer values what he has, and cherishes the time he spends with his love interest. He pledges to be with her through thick and thin and acknowledges that true love is better than having nothing at all.
Line by Line Meaning
Ten percent of something
Ten percent of that something
Ten percent of something
Ten percent of that something
Ten percent of something
It's better to have a small portion of something than to have nothing at all
It beats one hundred percent
It's better than having nothing at all
Of nothing at all
Having absolutely nothing
I only see you
I don't get to see you often
Maybe once or twice a week
Just occasionally
You make it worth my while
You make my limited time with you valuable
You treat me like a king
You treat me very well and make me feel important
I cherish any time
I treasure every moment
That I can spend with you
That I get to spend time with you
Just say the words
Just give me a call or a message
And I'll do anything
I'll go out of my way to help you or be with you
But you must be true, oh
But you must be honest and genuine with me
I do not like those guys
I dislike those men
Who try to get all they can
Who try to take everything for themselves
Cause when it's over
Because when they're done
They're right back where they began
They're back to having nothing
It's better to have loved
It's better to have experienced love
Than never to have loved at all
Than to have never experienced love at all
I'm with you til the water runs uphill
I'll be with you no matter what, even if it's impossible
Now you only see me, baby
Now it's my turn to be seen by you
But you treat me, treat me, treat me
But you treat me badly
Just like a dog instead of a king
Like a lowly animal instead of royalty
Ten percent of something (oh, baby)
Ten percent of that something, baby
Ten percent of something (oh, girl)
Ten percent of that something, girl
Just say the word
Just let me know
I'm not like those guys, love
I'm not like those men, my love
I try, try, try, try all I can, girl
I put in a lot of effort for you, girl
I'm gonna be with you
I am going to be with you
Be with you til the water runs up hill
I'll stay with you forever
Yes, I will, yes, I will, baby
I promise, I promise, baby
Said I'll cherish, I'll cherish
I said I am going to treasure, treasure
I swear, my darling
I promise, my love
And I'll try my best
And I'll put in my best effort
To do the best, girl
To do what's best for you, girl
I need ten percent, ooh
I only need a small portion, ooh
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALLAN WAYNE FELDER, TALMADGE G. CONWAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Passionate4music1
Earl Young kicked ASS on the drums on this track!!! For all of you who don't know who Earl Young is, he's the founder of the group The Trammps. Earl played on SO many other artists songs. There's TOO many to mention. The brotha got it going on! I had this on vinyl in 12' and now I have it in CD format. I LOVE THIS TRACK, me and dance partner tore this one up in the clubs! Thanks SalsoulRecords for the post and the memories!!!!
@AL082PA
A genius called Walter gibbons!
@bluesrocker4life855
Wow!!! I have not heard 10 Percent of something in 4 decades. What happened to those wonderous days. Miss the days of The Sound Of Philadelphia. Got my first kiss while dancing with a beuty of a girl when this song was playin' !!!
@veiwerdiscression
Unfortunately, we will never have quality music like this again.
@alkh3myst
Seeing that beautiful logo, all the years melt away.
@gloriageyer7691
💖
@ginaduncan5074
Yep I can still dance to this entire run at. 60yrs old
@54jeanmarie
Very few young people were heavy dancing rapidily to disco. Great era of music for the joy of dancing. No message-have fun the the beats.
@WCPR1620AM
I was at Goodwill yesterday and I found something in the record section, and I was totally shocked. It's the first ever commercial 12" single of this awesome classic. The record is in decent shape for its age. I played it on my vintage GE Wildcat to death and I loved it.
@88freighttrain
In GoodWill????? Either they did'nt know or somebody died. This was part of my 4 year break into dancin in the street & parties. Life has'nt been the same since. (72 -76)