This isn’t just a record; it’s a moment frozen in time. When Nuyorican Soul—the collaborative genius of Masters At Work’s “Little” Louie Vega and Kenny “Dope” Gonzalez—released their self-titled album in 1997, it was a masterful blend of Latin, jazz, soul, and house. But for the UK clubber, one track, in particular, became an absolute floor-filler, thanks to an explosive remix from the then-rising star: Armand Van Helden.
We are talking, of course, about “Runaway” (Armand Van Helden Mix) featuring the stunning vocals of La India.
The Track: Disco Soul Meets Garage Fire
The original “Runaway” is a soulful, orchestral cover of a 1977 Salsoul Orchestra track (featuring Loleatta Holloway). It’s rich, cinematic, and dripping with musical pedigree, thanks to the live strings conducted by Salsoul architect Vince Montana Jr.
But the Armand Van Helden Mix takes this soulful foundation and strips it down for the club. Released around 1996, this remix is widely regarded as one of the first keen tastes of the burgeoning Speed Garage sound that was about to dominate the UK.
House of Music, Birmingham
For many of us in the Midlands, the true discovery of this track wasn’t via a radio chart, but deep in the dancefloor trenches. I distinctly remember the infectious zig-zag bassline hitting like an electric current at the House of Music (HOM) night in Birmingham.
This was no accident. HOM, founded by DJ Simon Baker in the attic of the Nightingale Club, was a legendary sanctuary for purist, feel-good house music. It was in that unique, intimate atmosphere that tracks like this—records that expertly bridged New York Soul and UK Garage energy—were championed.
The Breakdown: That Zig-Zag Bassline
Van Helden’s genius is immediate and undeniable:
- The Tempo: The mix elevates the original’s laid-back groove, speeding it up to an electrifying pace that demands movement.
- The Vocals: La India’s powerful, bilingual vocals soar, maintaining the soulful heart of the track even as the energy rockets skyward.
- The Bass: This is the core of the mix. Van Helden lays down a fast, relentless, zig-zagging bassline that is pure, driving funk. It’s chunky, hypnotic, and utterly signature AvH, powering the entire track forward with an aggressive, yet funky, momentum.
The Verdict for Audio Groover
The Armand Van Helden Mix of “Runaway” is a perfect example of a remix artist redefining a track and, in the process, defining a genre. It took a beautiful piece of Latin-infused house and weaponized it for the mid-90s dance floor. It has that crisp, raw energy that makes you want to hear it on a massive club sound system.
It hit Number 1 on the UK Dance Chart and proved that the New York garage sound could be fused with London’s growing appetite for harder, bass-heavy, and more speed-focused beats. A truly timeless classic that belongs in any serious dance music collection.