Chase (instrumental)


"Chase" is a 1978 instrumental composition by Italian music producer Giorgio Moroder. It was released as a single during 1978 from his Academy Award-winning soundtrack album Midnight Express, and was a disco instrumental that was subsequently extended and released as a maxi single. It made the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1979, peaking at number 33, and the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 48.

Background

Created especially for the film Midnight Express, Alan Parker, the director of the film, explicitly asked Moroder for a song in the style of "I Feel Love", which Moroder composed for Donna Summer. It was Moroder's first time composing a movie soundtrack. The song's main melody was played on a Roland SH-2000 synthesizer, while the bass lines were played on a Minimoog synthesizer. The track also has a flanging effect produced by the MXR Flanger, while other instruments used include an ARP/Solina String Ensemble, Fender Rhodes, Hohner Clavinet, and piano.
Although a disco piece, "Chase", along with "I Feel Love", is more specifically considered the pioneering introduction of the hi-NRG genre, which came to prominence in the early 1980s. The music was arranged by Harold Faltermeyer under the leadership of Giorgio Moroder.

Track listing

;Original version
Charts Peak
position
Australia 26

;Giorgio Moroder vs. Jam & Spoon version
Charts Peak
position

In other media

The song was used as the entrance theme for the professional wrestling tag team, The Midnight Express during the 1980s and 1990s, although neither their name nor their characters were based on the movie. The song is often used on the American syndicated late night radio show Coast to Coast AM as its opening theme, and was selected by original host Art Bell, and continued by the current hosts of the show. It is also the current opening song for Art Bell's successor, Heather Wade's show, "The Kingdom of Nye". The song was also used as the entrance theme for the Major Indoor Soccer League team, the Kansas City Comets in the late '70s and '80s.