I fell in love with a incredibly fun and thoughtful disco take on The Cramps’ 1981 cult hit “Goo Goo Muck” from Mark James and Peewee Ferris this morning. It’s not something I expected to find. In fact, I never considered playing a disco variant of any song by The Cramps. But, that’s likely going to change soon. 

It’s bizarre to see The Cramps and Kate Bush going viral in the same year, both via Netflix. I could handle that month when everyone who watches Stranger Things wanted to hear “Running Up That Hill” everywhere. Once my social media feeds went all “Goo Goo Muck,” though, I stopped watching Wednesday. 

So, when I came across remixes of “Goo Goo Muck” from Mark James and Peewee Ferris on Monday morning, I rolled my eyes. Then, out of morbid curiosity, I clicked on it and noticed the “Disco Muck Extended Mix.” Hmmm, I thought, I might actually like this.

I’m very anti-genre and have troll tendencies, so turning a beloved song from punk-era garage rock revivalists into a disco jam appeals to me. With my first full listen to this nu-disco take on “Goo Goo Muck,” I was hooked. 

James and Ferris are longtime DJs from Australia and their collective experience shows in the extended mix of “Goo Goo Muck.” Even with the contemporary club beat and disco flourishes, it retains the rock & roll soul of the original. It is very thoughtfully produced.

Honestly, I wish the Disco Muck Extended Mix of “Goo Goo Muck” was available last October. It’s perfect for Halloween parties, where you need to maintain a creepy vibe and appeal to people who may have never heard of The Cramps.

I also wish that the current popularity of “Goo Goo Muck” wasn’t tied to a TV/social media moment. Viral hits are fleeting. Take “Running Up That Hill” as an example. That song was a goth club staple for decades. Over the years, remixes and covers have popped up in other scenes as well. Plus, Kate Bush is an icon who inspired loads of musicians and DJs well before Stranger Things.

Seeing people rush to the dance floor for “Running Up That Hill” post-Stranger Things was wonderful. Just a few weeks later, though, I saw crowds flee from the floor during the same song. That’s the flip side of viral success.

I would hate to see the same thing happen to “Goo Goo Muck.” Like Kate Bush, The Cramps have influenced loads of other artists and has generations of diehard fans from across various music scenes. “Goo Goo Muck,” like “Running up That Hill,” is also a longtime goth club hit.

As for the Disco Muck Extended Mix, though, it’s a keeper no matter what fate has in store for “Goo Goo Muck.” At the very least, I’ll have it on hand for next year’s Halloween parties. 

Mark James and Peewee Ferris’ Disco Muck Extended Mix of “Goo Goo Muck” is out on Two Tribes Records and available via Traxsource and Beatport.

Catch Los Angeles-based DJ Liz O. at one of her upcoming gigs.