Marshall Jefferson shares the story behind one of house music’s most treasured tracks, “Move Your Body”

This is the story behind one of house music’s most treasured tracks, Marshall Jefferson’s “Move Your Body.”

Jefferson takes us back to 1985, when he was working at a postal office in Chicago, and explains “the song just came to me”. He adds that the track took just 15 minutes to make, with his friend Curtis McLain adding vocals on the same day that the instrumental was recorded.

Despite early support from Ron Hardy, Frankie Knuckles and Larry Levan, as cassettes of “Move Your Body” were shared from club to club, Marshall had initial issues persuading Trax Records boss, Larry Sherman, to press the track. The track was eventually released in 1986 and almost 40 years on its legacy is as strong ever.

Electronic music history is rich with unforgettable and timeless classics like these. In our Making Of A Dance Classic series, DJ Mag explores the tales behind some of the world’s favourite tracks, told by the people that made them. You can watch the episode above, and subscribe to DJ Mag’s YouTube channel for more exclusive content here.