Someone suggested releasing a new mix album in the “Ask Tom Rowlands” thread, and I agree that it would be a nice way of getting some Chemical edits out… But I don’t think a properly released, official mix album will happen again because:
(a) they haven’t released one for cash since 1998 – when they used to DJ more than now.
(b) there are so many mixes by DJs on soundcloud/mixcloud these days which are free, that it almost makes paid-for mix albums redundant (although Fabric are admittedly still doing them).
(c) recent history shows that the Chems do DJ mixes for free to promote a current album - so the mixes end up on Apple Beats 1 or BBC 6 Music rather than being officially released.
Anyway, such ruminations got me wondering if there are any particularly good Chems DJ Mixes that I should own.
As you doubtless know, some but not all of their DJ mixes are listed on
Discogs:
Live At The Social Volume 1, 1996. GOT THIS
Radio 1 Anti-Nazi Mix / Interview, 1997. DON’T HAVE (appears similar to the item below, so…I'll live)
Brothers Gonna Work It Out, 1998. GOT THIS
In Glint, 2002. DON’T HAVE
DJ Set, Paris 24/01/02 (2xCDr, Comp, Mixed, Promo), 2002. DON’T HAVE
Confront Your Demons (CDr, Promo, Mixed), 2003. DON’T HAVE
When You Start Hating You're Out Of Control (File, 256), 2012. GOT THIS
Some more not listed on Discogs, that I’ve got digitally:
Tom’s mix for Steve Lamacq’s Evening Session, 1995 (aka Tom’s Mix For Site)
London Xpress (Xfm) mix, 2001 (but missing the first ten minutes) i.e
THIS Facebook Mix, 2007
Apple Beats One mix, 2015
6 Music Chemical Christmas, 2015
It looks like there a few old Radio 1 Essential Mixes on Mixcloud which I’m guessing are all worth a listen. I’m currently listening to an old 1995 mix which starts with Eva by Jean Jacques Perry.
So, just to clarify the question: which Chems DJ mixes do y’all reckon are mandatory to hear and/or own (excluding mobile phone footage on Youtube)? Have I omitted any biggies?