Top 100 Freestyle Songs

Running – Information Society

The official video for the 1986 version of Running by the Information Society

A little background: Information Society first released their debut single “Running” in 1984 through Wide Angle Records, a Minneapolis based label. The song was also on their 1985 debut album, “Creatures Of Influence,” distributed by Twin Tone, Wide Angle’s parent company.

The original is a good listen:

The label participated in various influential “record pools,” distributing new tracks to club DJs across the U.S., leading the track to gain popularity in New York clubs as a freestyle favorite.

Producer Joey Gardner (the architect of TKA’s amazing sound) discovered the song and brought it to Tommy Boy Records. The song was slowed a tad and remixed into the version we all know and love and was released in 1986. It is a classic still.

The 1986 version found success in dance clubs and on radio, securing an album deal for the group with Tommy Boy. Paul Robb, the group’s founder, and Murat Konar, who briefly contributed to the band, co-wrote the song. Although Konar initially provided lead vocals, Tommy Boy’s remix featured Kurt Harland, the group’s emerging lead singer. The song’s lyrics express deep loneliness and the struggle to maintain a failing relationship, resonating with listeners through its blend of a powerful dance beat and romantic, nostalgic undertones.

The original single lasts 8:13, while the 1986 remix is 7:41.