“Love Is You” by Carol Williams.

Italian producer Spiller took elements of the 1977 disco recording and turned them into one of the defining dance tracks of 2000.

Then Sophie Ellis-Bextor added a vocal.

And suddenly Britain had one of the most memorable chart battles of the decade.

Who is Spiller?

Cristiano Spiller.

An Italian DJ and producer.

The instrumental version of “Groovejet” existed before Ellis-Bextor’s vocal.

It was already circulating in clubs.

Then the record evolved.

Who is Carol Williams?

An American disco singer whose “Love Is You” was released on the Salsoul label.

Salsoul is an essential name if you enjoy the history behind house music.

Its catalogue became enormously influential on later:

house

disco-house

hip-hop

and sample-based dance music.

“Groovejet” is a perfect example.

How did Sophie Ellis-Bextor become involved?

Before becoming a solo pop star, Sophie Ellis-Bextor fronted indie band Theaudience.

After the band split, she contributed vocals to Spiller’s track.

The collaboration became her breakthrough as a dance-pop singer.

That eventually led towards her solo career and songs including “Murder on the Dancefloor”.

Was “Groovejet” No. 1?

Yes.

And its journey to No. 1 became particularly famous because it went head-to-head with Victoria Beckham’s “Out of Your Mind”.

The British media turned the race into a major event.

“Groovejet” won.

What genre is it?

Disco house.

French-house-adjacent dance music.

House.

Dance-pop.

The record sits perfectly inside the period when producers were rediscovering 1970s disco through sampling.

Why does the sample work?

Because the source already grooves.

House producers often discovered that tiny pieces of disco records could become almost hypnotic when looped.

The skill isn’t simply finding an old record.

It’s finding the right few seconds.

Songs like “Groovejet”

Modjo – Lady (Hear Me Tonight)

Stardust – Music Sounds Better With You

Moloko – Sing It Back

Spiller – Groovejet

Room 5 – Make Luv

Phats & Small – Turn Around

Superfunk – Lucky Star

Roger Sanchez – Another Chance

Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Murder on the Dancefloor

The disco rabbit hole

Start with Carol Williams.

Then explore:

Loleatta Holloway

First Choice

Double Exposure

The Salsoul Orchestra

Inner Life

and Skyy.

You’ll begin recognising pieces of later dance records everywhere.

That’s the fun.

House music didn’t erase disco.

It rebuilt it.