I.R.T. Made The Ultimate Electro Single… Then Vanished
Interboro Rhythm Team unexpectedly found themselves at the forefront of electronic and hip-hop music before drifting into obscurity. I.R.T. isn’t streaming on Spotify. There’s barely a trace of them on the internet. And yet, back in 1984, they released the ultimate electro dance single.
Animations by Partykaleta: https://instagram.com/partykaleta
Editing assistance from Aldo Pinheiro and Olive Haugh
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0:02 Scan 7 – Evasive Maneuvers
0:04 Snakepiss – Arson
0:06 Grupo Batuque – Rhythmix: Reluque Batuque
0:08 I.R.T. – Watch The Closing Doors
2:38 Ralph Graham – Stay On The Good Side
3:02 Millie Jackson – Keep The Home Fire Burnin’
4:33 Mel Tillis – Southern Rain
4:37 Cheryl Lynn – Shake It Up Tonight
4:40 Bette Midler – Fiesta in Rio
7:06 Man Parrish – Hip Hop Be Bop
7:14 Man Parrish – Six Simple Synthesizers
7:29 Man Parrish – Street Clap
8:29 Quincas Moreira – Chunk
9:19 Noisemotion x masolol1 – Manji
12:45 Prince – When Doves Cry
14:40 Laid Back – White Horse
14:44 Eurythmics – Here Comes The Rain Again
15:44 I.R.T. – Made In The USA
16:16 I.R.T. – When Bad Things Happen
17:38 Mud Sweat & Jeers – Every Dawg Has Its Day
18:24 Randy Klein – Chess Anyone?
IRT producers:
Vicky Germaise
Randy Klein
Raul Rodriguez
“Watch The Closing Doors” vocalists:
Heidi Dudley
Neisha Dudley
Steve Sells
@declanmcmanus5674
October 13, 2024 at 5:20 am
One of my favorite songs of all time…for. Long time, you couldn’t even find it on the internet! Great to hear these guys get some props!
@ceemajor4320
October 13, 2024 at 5:20 am
In your Video you said that Stephen Sells never had another major release well that is wrong. I also I wrote lyrics on both of the songs, just was not quoted as a writer. They did not put my name on the first recored. After they would not do my song as the 3rd song this is the black New Wave. I signed out of the CONtract and Had to change my name just like Prince since the Label Owned it. Just to keep working in the music Biz! Both Randy and Vicky know this That is sad they did not tell you this But that why I left. Thank you.
@ceemajor4320
October 13, 2024 at 5:20 am
@ceemajor4320
10 months ago
I am the Rapper of this song – the manager only put my name on the 2nd song Made in the USA and my old friend Russell was the vocals on the 3rd because I sign off the label OK
This is the 40th Anniversary for my first Song Oct 12 1983.
Watch the Closing Doors – IRT
Interboro Rhythm Team
Vocals – Cee Major Stephen
Mixed By – John Morales & Sergio Munzibai
Producer – Randy Klein, Raul A. Rodriguez
Manager – Vicky Germaise
Writers – Vicky Germaise, Randy Klein and Cee Major Stephen
even though they did not put my name on the Record.
@stockbag
October 13, 2024 at 5:20 am
one of the best tracks ever. always wondered wtf so tyvm for this. Much appreesh.
@crazyyankee3010
October 13, 2024 at 5:20 am
Am i seeing this right? Only 15K views? Commenting in hopes this pushes the algorithm. This video was great
@DeadBird-wp9of
October 13, 2024 at 5:20 am
BTW, to give you back some input listen to "Stormy Weather" by the Sierras (on Mail Call), this is a surprising happy version with a South American touch – I once heard it at the house of Henry M. in the Bay Area (he was the biggest bootlegger in the 80's for DooWop – just made one with Elvis by mistake and had to stop); he and many other guys like Rip Lay and Val Shivley bought this music container-wise (for a while I collected Devora Brown's Fortune-Label, Detroit, for the reason of buying inexpensive records with high artistry quality in different genre (Opera to Jungle Drums to Gospel to Funk).
@DeadBird-wp9of
October 13, 2024 at 5:20 am
Thank you for being a journalist – which has done foodwork (sadly rare today). I loved the record since I heard it in 1983 (if I see the record I always pick it up) – the elevator "boy" story was really heartbreaking, still music is the crudest business. For me you made my day after discovering the backstory 41 years later. Such a unique record. Thanks, again.
@birdy369
October 13, 2024 at 5:20 am
Would love to see a Bandsplaining of the genre 80s Latin Freestyle music; there is literally only ONE DOCUMENTARY/YT video that documents/explains the history of the genre!!
MANY if not ALL of the songs in the genre take from this type of song as well as these other artists here –
Try:
Quadrant Six (body mechanic, specifically)
MC ADE
Egyptian Lover
World Class Wrecking Cru (Dr Dre before NWA)
Cybotron
Afrika Bambaataa
Matrix (Its Time To Rock/Jam, its time)
Freestyle (Dont Stop The Rock, Its Automatic)
Pretty Tony
Now, for Latin Freestyle, whos sounds are SO incredibly close to those, and whos sound eventually morphed into house and many of the tracks have house remixes to them:
Trinere
DebbIe Deb
Stevie B
Johnny O
Sweet Sensation
Shannon/Jimi Tunnell
Expose
There are SO MANY GEMS that are unheard of and that have SUCH incredible sounds to them from both of these genres!
@101Ezb
October 13, 2024 at 5:20 am
Rowlan?
@ronenriquez3703
October 13, 2024 at 5:20 am
Great story! Loved it!
@badmonkey0001
October 13, 2024 at 5:20 am
@9:38 Whoa! Michael Jackson with stubble!
@marcel1372
October 13, 2024 at 5:20 am
yeah Prince was so multi talented he not only did everything himself but he was so bored with that he proceeded to write and manage and take over like at least 5 or 6 seperate girl groups, most at the same time..also The Time…also giving Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis their start
@CatFish107
October 13, 2024 at 5:20 am
Listening to the record label executive reminisce about her friend she allowed to die in poverty really makes it clear how ghoulish they are. "Maybe I should have managed him… oh well." Damn lady, you're cold.
@SlaserX
October 13, 2024 at 5:20 am
I always wondered about IRT
@anadraham2995
October 13, 2024 at 5:20 am
I love all your content but this one knocked my wool knit socks off‼️ I so enjoyed this journey💯💯💯
@MicrolabMusic
October 13, 2024 at 5:20 am
Actually I think that the ultimate electro track is B-Boys Beware with Two Sisters (feat G.L.O.B.E.). All their tracks were produced by Raul Rodriguez. So sad he passed away.
@jeremiahjohnson2741
October 13, 2024 at 5:20 am
Take A Chance by Mr. Flagio. One of the best electronic dance songs of the 80's.There's very little on the group other than it being produced in Italy and under Squish Records. I first discovered them from one of my dad's mix tapes he used to get from friends that live recorded them at clubs in the late 70s and early 80's, and then only re-discovered them years later on an IF compilation.
@markkilley2683
October 13, 2024 at 5:20 am
Great stuff. And this has been lost to time until now?
@fragilegods
October 13, 2024 at 5:20 am
This is an amazing story. Great work!
@carmelograci8127
October 13, 2024 at 5:20 am
I remember this song growing up. And I just recently bought this online. I thought I was the only one who liked this song. It was played on the original KTU here in New York. (92.3) great background piece thank you!
@ValentinBeeeeee
October 13, 2024 at 5:20 am
I get goosebumps from these videos, it’s so great to hear the stories of artists i’ve never heard of, who could’ve become the next top chart contender in their times, a lot to learn from these stories.
@joshuawilliamson2290
October 13, 2024 at 5:20 am
Obsessed with absolutely every video on this page, nailed it as always!
@notyou6674
October 13, 2024 at 5:20 am
not gonna lie i thought the song sucked
@TrickmanTerry
October 13, 2024 at 5:20 am
Great story! I remember this song fondly from back in the day. I was a kid from Chicago that loved house mixes and breakdancing music. This came on the radio and it was about NY subways and so catchy! I'm now back trying to find these track I used to listen to, and this one was nowhere to be found on any of the streaming platforms I suscribe to. YouTube to the rescue! Most are low quality, unfortunately. But then I came across this about the history. I loved it, cuz I really wanted to know the back story and why the song was so obscure. So, thank you for scratching that itch and helping with my nostalgia! Loved it! ❤
@tessiepinkman
October 13, 2024 at 5:20 am
Thank you so much for this video, it made me truly happy – I love learning about older music that's new to me, especially very niche music like this. And this deep dive into what made this music happen just made my day so much better than it was when I woke up an hour ago (it's 7.50 AM here in Norway). I truly, truly love this channel. It's the best YouTube-channel I've found in quite a few years. I love music, all types of music, and you fulfill that need I have for KNOWLEDGE! So, thank you again. And THANK YOU to Randy and Vicky for letting us in on the story! Wonderful interviews.
@mrd5024
October 13, 2024 at 5:20 am
As someone who used to breakdance in the very early 80s, some clubs used to play this song 10 times a night so all the kids could break.
The track captures the vibe so perfectly
@anthemrecords6424
October 13, 2024 at 5:20 am
great shop.. My friend John works there. Been in that very bin many times.
@DuckAlertBeats
October 13, 2024 at 5:20 am
Interesting. Somehow this electro tune slipped me by all these years despite coming from that era and living in a world of hip hop ever since!
Great video.
Can somebody please get Vicky Germaise and Ricky Gervaise together for an electro collab?
@livertiny
October 13, 2024 at 5:20 am
The song sounds kinda similar to Transit Ride by Guru. Wonder if he got some inspiration for that from this song or purely got his inspiration from the subway too…
@jonathanleiner4754
October 13, 2024 at 5:20 am
You completely transcend “video essay”. These are true documentaries.
@0therun1t21
October 13, 2024 at 5:20 am
Damn, thank you for this, you nail it every single video.