Bite Your Lip (Get Up And Dance!) [Single Edit]

[BiteUrLip]

Music: Elton John
Lyrics: Bernie Taupin

[BiteUrLip]

I really love the additional guitars in this version, although I prefer the longer album take.

5+ stars.

[dougs]

"Bite Your Lip (Get Up and Dance!)" - Single edit:

"Bite Your Lip (Get Up and Dance!)" originally appeared on Elton's 1976 album BLUE MOVES.  The original album version was 6:45 in length while the edited single version clocks in at 3:37.  Aside from shaving off the last 3 minutes of the song, the big difference in the mix by Tom Moulton is that it brings out the guitars and piano in a much more striking fashion; the remix yielded a "crisper sound...shining more brightly than on the album."  Further, Elton's vocals which were "inaudible on the album...burst through with rock'n'roll joy in the remix" according to author Elizabeth Rosenthal.  Tom Mouton had established himself as a well-known disco re-mixer by this time and became known as "father of the disco mix."  He went on to become a very successful producer.  It was at the suggestion of Rocket Records exec Tony King that the single be remixed.

The full length album version of the song wasn't originally supposed to have a "ninety-five-year fadeout" as producer Gus Dudgeon stated about the original 6:45 version. The story goes that the studio settings were still set for the previous song, "Between Seventeen and Twenty", when Elton and the boys decided to do a run-through for "Bite Your Lip (Get Up and Dance!)."  Apparently the band didn't want to stop while doing the recording and went on and on apparently yelling out to "roll the tape!"  Gus stated that he never had the opportunity to make adjustments and simply went ahead recording with what were the wrong settings!  Apparently the song was a single take in the studio and after recording it, Elton stated "That's it.  It's a hit!"  Gus absolutely wanted to record it again but Elton loved it the way it was.  Guitarist Caleb Quaye stated "Elton was insistent...he refused to do it again.  It was unusual behavior for him."  Interestingly, of the 21 songs recorded during the BLUE MOVES sessions, "Bite Your Lip (Get Up and Dance!)" "would prove the only instance...where a Davey Johnstone solo was featured."  This solo really shone through in the Tom Moulton single edit version.  Regardless, neither Gus Dudgeon or the record company actually wanted it out as a single despite all its energy and rocking joy.

"Bite Your Lip (Get Up and Dance!)" was released in this 3:37 remixed single edit version in January 1977 in the US and Canada and then in June in the UK.  The fears of Gus and the record company were realized;  it only hit #28 in both the US and the UK and only #51 in Canada and #72 in Australia.  Its time on the charts was the shortest duration for any Elton single since "Border Song" back in 1970 - 6 weeks on the UK charts.

Elton believed in the song. He even did a monster long (13 minutes) version in his "last" concert in 1977 with Stevie Wonder joining him on stage that night in London.  "Bite Your Lip (Get Up and Dance!)" then appeared in Elton's next "band" tour;  the 21 AT 33 tour in 1980 when the song finished most concerts as the last encore - even with Elton wearing that infamous Donald Duck outfit on one occasion!  It reappeared for a short stint in the 2004-2005 world tour.  It is too bad that Elton's BLUE MOVES band never got the chance to play this one live.

Still, this edited and remixed version does have an energy and enthusiasm with a rocking guitar and piano solo.  A very good decision was to tap into Tom Moulton to remix it.  I really enjoy this version of the song.  Unfortunately, this edited and remixed single version of "Bite Your Lip (Get Up and Dance!)" has never found its way onto any "hits" or "collections" package or other digital domains such as iTunes.  It remains only in a few 45 rpm vinyl collections from the original pressings in 1977 plus on YouTube.

Rating: 4 1/2 to 5 stars

Doug

[newloneranger]

Its a cool version with alot of energy.

5 stars

[Commodore Orpington]

I love this one despite awful lyrics. The main difference is that there's no gradual build up of volume as on the album. It hits full volume right away.

Originally on Blue Moves, I remember it starting out relatively quiet. In later years the CD version seemed to start out loudly, making me wonder if at some point, they substituted the full length Moulton mix (released on 12" single) for the original.