I love a good compilation/mix CD.
'Brothers Gonna Work It Out', the 'Finger Lickin' Thang' compilations and Skint's 'Big Beat Boutique' CDs were early favourites of mine that really opened up a world of new music but also a new way to present it - i.e. mixed seamlessly together to show off as many top tunes as possible.
I've always wanted to post in Now Playing with the entire compilation I'm listening to at the time but for space saving, and hopefully to create a little more discussion, I thought we could share our favourites here.
So to kick things off, I'd like to share a breakbeat favourite of mine that is currently filling my bedroom/workplace with delicious bass and tasty tribal rhythms - and also doubles as a fantastic mix for cycling to (IMHO).
(https://img.discogs.com/HgsUrgLUIuLTNU7s_qR0GbZZDJA=/fit-in/300x300/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-63416-1360955407-9457.jpeg.jpg)
Including a miss printed Santos track (it's actually Sabot, not No Ticket No Run), some Lee Coombs exclusives (including a cheeky Orbital Chime remix) and easily the best bongos in breakbeat, this mix is always a delight to return to. It's got a dark retro techno feel but also the same funky Finger Lickin' vibe that made me fall in love with breakbeat in the first place. I highly recommend checking it out.
Here's one of his mixes of another classic that for ages I just assumed was the original (as it doesn't mention it being his remix on the back cover).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCJl2_cL3bc
Enjoy.
Quote from: Enjoyed on Feb 14, 2017, 17:50
Here's one of his mixes of another classic that for ages I just assumed was the original
Pump Up The Jam? Dang you're makin' me feel old. I like Lee Coombs and miss that Nu Skool Breaks period... But nobody is gonna tell me that his breaks mix is better than the Punami Mix from 1990.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igMW1SGMoMw
Although there was a bootleg acid mix in '05 called Pump Up The Marmalade (https://www.discogs.com/Unknown-Artist-Pump-Up-The-Marmelade/release/1273291) which came close (listen to a snippet HERE (http://www.music-head.de/product_info.php/language/en/info/p522430_Artist+Unknown+-+Pump+Up+The+Marmalade.html)). This bootleg mix was rumoured to be by a well known DJ Duo but never confirmed.
Nice topic though. My CD's are really badly organisd otherwise I'd probably reel off a list of mix albums (and some unmixed comps too). This might be my cue to tidy up...
There are a few that I really love :
King Cannibal - The Way of The Ninja
This is a mix done for the 20 years of the Ninja Tune label, "a 74 minute mix of 250 tracks blended, sliced, diced, torn up and finally rendered to audio".
Simply put, this is my favourite mix album ever. Compiling and condensing everything that makes Ninja Tune my favourite label, in a way that makes so much sense despite being a patchwork of so many different things.
https://soundcloud.com/kingcannibal/king-cannibal-the-way-of-the
Fatboy Slim - On the Floor at the Boutique
This was one of the first albums I ever owned, and I listened to it a lot. It's still one of the best Big Beat compilation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iuf1vYj0AN4
MSTRKRFT - Essential Mix
I could list a good dozen of Essential Mixes, but this one is one of my favourites, perfectly capturing the turbine/electro-rock mood of this era.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZIcPqMSHh0
EDIT : Does it have to be a CD ? If so the Essential Mix doesn't really fall in this category :D
All discussion begins and ends here. This truly is still the gold freaking standard.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbJvkMpMovk
https://soundcloud.com/kaytranada/0001a
Greatest mix compilation imo
https://youtu.be/wSYVPCrM4GQ
Liam Howlett - The Dirtchamber Sessions
My favourite mix compilation
https://www.discogs.com/Derek-Dahlarge-FSUK-The-Future-Sound-Of-The-United-Kingdom/release/62917 (no YouTube link available)
Derek Dahlarge - FSUK 1
This mix got me Big Beat mixes and party
This followed by FSUK 2 and Rough Technique both mixed by the Freestylers and Live at the social by the Chems. Other top mixes for me are Plump DJ compilations
Quote from: Joslyn on Feb 16, 2017, 22:47
Other top mixes for me are Plump DJ compilations
(https://img.discogs.com/tQvo-vgZiehJqcjbOUATPXJdVHk=/fit-in/600x540/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-118934-1360433475-7579.jpeg.jpg) (https://www.discogs.com/Plump-DJs-Urban-Underground-The-Breakbeat-Elite/release/118934)
This was going to be my second post.
I mean...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXyw91HEnsQ
Thanks for posting the compilations. I've been loving listening to these.
There are a huge number of DJ mixes/compilations that I've listened to and loved over the years. One in particular, though, is notable for both good and bad reasons.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVCZ38c1eAg
The Twelves at one point in time had a grasp on energy that was both inspiring and extraordinary. They relied on remixing others' music, and they completely owned it.
Unfortunately, they peaked with this essential mix.
But what a god damn mix.
See also:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVPs2A3i5wM
Kruder & Dorfmeister - DJ-Kicks
https://www.discogs.com/Kruder-Dorfmeister-DJ-Kicks/master/252625
Underworld - Back To Mine (tracks 7 to 12)
https://www.discogs.com/de/Underworld-Back-To-Mine/release/6646176
Krafty Kuts - Old To The New vol. 2
https://soundcloud.com/kraftykuts/krafty-kuts-old-to-the-new-vol-2-june-2010-dj-mix
Pendulum - BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix (2005)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lN6QQbrDqFI
I forgot about the K&D DJ Kicks.
Other honorable mentions:
Coldcut - "Revolution" Breezeblock Mix (2001 or 2002) - All music and samples about revolution. Fuck Yeah.
Coldcut Vs The Orb - live on Solid Steel 1991. Bonus points for containing the earliest known version of "Blue Room.
Mr. Scruff - Essential Mix (2010?)
Mr. Scruff - Breezeblock Mix(?) - Not so much a "dj mix" as much as a "radio dj mix." The commercials (for erotic telephone banking, cheese & onion flavored toothpaste, etc.) are a freaking hoot. And great tracks.
Kid Koala - ScratchCratchRatchAtchTchChH. The Last Emperor, Star Wars, Bjork, The Untouchables, Monty Python, Phil Collins, and The Muppets REPRESENT.
Spank Rock - FabricLive. Straight Up FUN.
Steinski - Nothing To Fear. Fucking A.
In the early 2000's i used to listen & record the BBC Radio 1 Essential Mixes in the early hours of Saturday night / Sunday morning and was lucky enough press record for Paul Van Dyk's Essential Mix live from Columbia Halle , Berlin 2002. Such an amazing mix of uplifting Trance music , it formed the soundtrack to a great Tenerife holiday later that year - where i played this mix over , and over. A track which featured at the end of the mix that i still listen to . . as it's got that optimistic 'everything's gonna be alright in the end ' feel to it , is Club Attack's - Solid Sleep (Paul Van Dyk re-edit) . . .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__P0N-AisjY
Oh shit. How could I forget 2ManyDJs.
It is *IMPOSSIBLE* to leave 2ManyDJs out of this list.
https://vimeo.com/93039571
They're literally devoted to remixes and compilations, and they are amongst the best.
This awesome fusion of techno/trance/acid/ mixed to perfection by Carl Cox still sounds great today , it was released in 1995 on tape cassette - which is the best version , the later released CD version had different ordering of tracks and didn't flow as well. I had this on in the car on the way to see Chem Bros last year , one of my fave mixes.
(http://i1016.photobucket.com/albums/af290/DJ7FLAME/Carl%20Cox%20FACT%201995_zpsxv893qzr.png) (http://s1016.photobucket.com/user/DJ7FLAME/media/Carl%20Cox%20FACT%201995_zpsxv893qzr.png.html)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECNEXh6AziA
It's good for working to. It's good for running to. It's good for cycling to. It's good for snowboarding to. It's good for making love to.
It's just fucking good.
Old thread revival.
Various - Junior Boys Own Collection (JBOCD2) (https://www.discogs.com/Various-Junior-Boys-Own-Collection/release/43938). Unmixed.(https://img.discogs.com/0237l8FBYKtx0MnZ7Zhfp3cXU9E=/fit-in/300x300/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-43938-1171148079.jpeg.jpg)
Purchased in 1994 because it had not one, not two, but three tracks by Mssrs Smith, Hyde and Emerson that didn't quite make it on to Dubnobasswithmyheadman (at least not in that exact form). Throw in the unique production of X-Press 2's Muzik X-Press, the slow building euphoria of Outrage's "That Piano Track" (don't let the intro put you off), and 4 mins 48 secs of Song To The Siren by those new Dust Brothers fellas, and it was an essential purchase. In retrospect this was my first Chemical purchase, but I didn't really know it at the time.
Honourable mention: 1
JBO: A Perspective 1988-1998 (JNR1001782) (https://www.discogs.com/Various-JBO-A-Perspective-1988-1998/release/5745) unmixed. How could any Chems fan fail to appreciate the majority of these? Starts well too, with New Order's Everything's Gone Green; perhaps the first ever indie track to incorporate programmed/sequenced electronic sounds. Yes, I am saying this was the invention of indie dance.
Honourable Mention: 2
Various – A Boy's Own Odyssey (Acid House Scrapes & Capers) JBOD04CD (https://www.discogs.com/Various-A-Boys-Own-Odyssey-Acid-House-Scrapes-Capers/release/1952345). Unmixed. If you liked the comps above, you'll probably like this. There is some duplication but it's worth it alone for Weatherall's remix of James' Come Home.
Various – The Haçienda Acid House Classics. (https://www.discogs.com/Various-The-Ha%C3%A7ienda-Acid-House-Classics/release/2045466)Mixed
(https://img.discogs.com/TRUlX40cveIgIgAwOyrPlVN84_E=/fit-in/300x300/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-2045466-1332983308.jpeg.jpg)
All the classic acid names are here: Last Rhythm, Ecstacy Club, Bassheads, Mr Fingers, A Guy Called Gerald. The seminal "Acid Trax" by Phuture which really set the template (and the name?) for acid house, and my all time favourite acid track: Acperience 1 by Hardfloor. Throw in some Chems favourites - Lack of Love by Charles B and Rock To The Beat - the original Reese & Santonio version (the Chems play the European "101" version) and you have an essential mix of brilliant acid from the late 80's and early 90's. Don't worry about Peter Hook's name on this, I don't think he actually mixed it. Also if you buy this mix album from Amazon they give you MP3s's of all the tracks - full length and unmixed straight away.
Simian Mobile Disco – Club NME Presents Dancefloor Distortion (https://www.discogs.com/Simian-Mobile-Disco-Club-NME-Presents-Dancefloor-Distortion/release/807361) Mixed.(https://img.discogs.com/E_o77kdMHmG8mEL3_kFXdbNQm48=/fit-in/300x300/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-807361-1167819068.jpeg.jpg)
Yes, a freebie! On the cover of the NME for One pound something-or-other back in 2006. "Nu Rave" was perhaps the last musical movement before "the internet" took over - for better or for worse. Remember when the 1st SMD album came out? That feeling of playfulness? Well it absolutely bubbles through this mix from James Ford. Justice remixing Franz Ferdinanad, Soulwax remixing The Gossip and James Ford's own re-edit of the underrated Shitdisco's "I know Kung Fu". You want indie? You want dance? You want to throw your beer and glowsticks in the air? This is the one for you. And it was available from your local newsagents.
Various – BuggedOut! Classics (https://www.discogs.com/Various-BuggedOut-Classics/release/1190713)Unmixed.(https://img.discogs.com/JJrfJeaW622y22rIf51KAYUlN0k=/fit-in/300x300/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-1190713-1199566088.jpeg.jpg)
Released the year following The SMD thing above, there are unsurprisingly some similar names on here: Franz, Soulwax, Justice, Digitalism, and SMD themselves. But so much more. So many great tunes from the broad minds of the BuggedOut! crew, from Nathan Fake to Claude von Stroke, Lindstrom to Felix da Housecat, plus LCD, Braxe & Falke, Daft Punk, Slam, Green Velvet and some guys called the Chemical Brothers. You could probably put together a pretty good DJ set just using these 3 discs of unmixed brilliance. No one would ever know! PS: If you're ever at a music festival with dance tents, and if one of those is a BuggedOut! dance tent, choose that one.
TRANCETrance 1: the Credible One:
Sasha – Global Underground 009: San Francisco. (https://www.discogs.com/Sasha-Global-Underground-009-San-Francisco/release/38437)Mixed.
(https://img.discogs.com/Ac7Yxt3kOd3vn5pQIAS7Du_DofE=/fit-in/300x300/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-36319-1429790263-4610.jpeg.jpg)
Gets going around half way through Disc 1. Sounds a little dated now but at the time felt like a proper head trip. Some nice stuff by people like Breeder, Stoneproof, Der Dritte Raum and Slick Mick which I simply wouldn't have heard wihout this well-mixed comp. And it wasn't embarrassing to buy trance if Sasha's name was on there.
Trance 2: the Commercial One:
Red Jerry – 'Deeper' Euphoria. (https://www.discogs.com/Red-Jerry-Deeper-Euphoria/release/137853) Mixed.(https://img.discogs.com/I5HUB-IaY79jt5--DXL3XoXzsA4=/fit-in/300x300/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-137853-1324155225.jpeg.jpg)
Try to ignore that track 1 is a Faithless track and look for the other gems on here. It could be branded a guilty pleasure but, pleasure there certainly is. Three Drives' "Greece 2000" followed by Y Traxx's "Mystery Land" = guaranteed dopamine response (disc 1). Whilst Lustral's "Everytime" and Travel's "Bulgarian" (which is also on the Sasha mix) are top drawer on disc 2. Throw in some Ferry Corsten with System F's Out Of The Blue to remind you of the halcyon days of Dutch Trance, add The OT Quartet and Subliminal Cuts, and you just can't go wrong.
Rave & Old Skool(https://img.discogs.com/GIn0qUxkdpaqMxUrtoFXgaorzBM=/fit-in/300x300/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-33784-1164057782.jpeg.jpg)
Somewhere around the autumn of 2001 all the record companies decided the time was right to release old skool rave compilations. Within a few months they were all selling at a large discount, and it was worth buying a couple of them. These comps aren't really about the mixing, they're about how many rave tunes you could squeeze on to a double (or triple or quadruple) disc compilation.
Rave Anthems (https://www.discogs.com/Various-Rave-Anthems/release/854710) (the best old skool rave and warehouse classics) from Virgin/EMI wasn't mixed at all. Just lots of radio edits, one after the next, but it does the job in terms of being a crash course in rave (and look, track 4 is Hou...Hou...Hou House Nation).
Back To The Old Skool (https://www.discogs.com/Various-Back-To-The-Old-Skool/release/33784) from Ministry Of Sound took a similar approach with tracks flowing into each other but not really mixed. And they made the occasional exception re: length, allowing seven minutes worth of Paid In Full (Coldcut mix) to play out.
The Euphoria people decided to add an old skool "dj" name to their effort by having it mixed by Altern 8:
Altern 8 – Old Skool Euphoria (https://www.discogs.com/Altern-8-Old-Skool-Euphoria/release/40291). Looks like this might be worth a few quid now, with just one available on Discogs. Altern 8's mixing isn't necessarily worth shouting about, but the packaging and track choice are great!
I've got these three and probably a couple more. Of course that leads to duplication of tracks, but they tend to be cheap. Everyone should have a couple of rave compilations in their collection.
Quote from: MadPooter on Feb 19, 2017, 20:54
Oh shit. How could I forget 2ManyDJs.
It is *IMPOSSIBLE* to leave 2ManyDJs out of this list.
Agreed. It's surprising that it took 12 posts on this thread before someone mentioned it. And it's nice that they went back and did the "animated sleeves" thing for this mix, considering it's the one that put them on the DJ-ing map. Doesn't feel like a rush job either.
Quote from: Enjoyed on Feb 14, 2017, 17:50
the 'Finger Lickin' Thang' compilations and Skint's 'Big Beat Boutique' CDs
Yep, agreed on Big Beat Boutique. I believe I have a couple of those Finger Lickin' comps in card sleeves. Probably promo CDs.
Speaking of Breaks, that reminds me of Plump DJ's and their mixmag cover mount CD's. Mixmag had a lot of covermount CD's over the years. They often had good stuff on them, albeit they also had some so-so stuff mixed in there too. So it's difficult to pick one good Mixmag CD. But this Plumps one certainly springs to mind:
Plump DJs – The Breakbeat Annual (Mixmag). (https://www.discogs.com/Plump-DJs-The-Breakbeat-Annual/master/556410) Mixed.(https://img.discogs.com/HQeuk0uy6Tu96s7jEg96gEtvrRw=/fit-in/300x300/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-4563160-1368467344-6906.jpeg.jpg)
Towards The Sun (Evil Nine Mix) by Future Funk Squad is immense. Lots of great chunky beats on here. One day i would like a Breaks revival. It's time to MBGA - Make Breaks Great Again. Don't #DumpPlumps.
Quote from: Born In Planet Dust on Feb 19, 2017, 05:42
Spank Rock - FabricLive. Straight Up FUN.
Ah the Fabric series of Mix albums. Fabric had two different names for their mix albums reflecting their Friday & Saturday nights. On Saturday it was simply "Fabric" - generally very techno-y stuff. Fridays were/are known as FabricLive. A more eclectic mix of styles (Breaks, D&B, Electro etc).
So the "Fabric" mix CDs look like THIS. (https://www.discogs.com/label/1115423-Fabric-3?page=1) Whilst the FabricLive mix CD's look like THIS. (https://www.discogs.com/label/348990-FabricLive) Personally I tend to prefer the "FabricLive" stuff over the "Fabric" stuff. I went on a little run of liking FabricLive No's 28,29,30 and 31 (Evil Nine, Cut Copy, Stanton Warriors, Glimmers). I also agree with you Mr BornInPlanetDust, No 33 Spank Rock was also great (hell, lots of them were!).
So The Fabric/FabricLive mix CD's are definitely worth highlighting, but it's hard to boil it down to one mix alone. Nonetheless I'm gonna pick one based on the fact that it's not too old (unlike some of my other decade+ old selections):
Erol Alkan – Fabriclive 77 (https://www.discogs.com/Erol-Alkan-Fabriclive-77/release/6077028). Mixed.(https://img.discogs.com/F9aBZDMeARa7T5ZoIJgm46Wn3Ec=/fit-in/300x300/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-6077028-1410504490-7099.jpeg.jpg)
It has Tom Rowland's Through Me on there as well as Erol's Bang (mixed by Steve Dub!). And I think it's the most recent Fabric mix that I own. They're up to 99 now on both Fabric and FabricLive. I understand they're gonna stop at 100. A sign of the times; the end of an era. :'(
And finally, a spanner in the works, something outside the box. Something that will win me zero cool points.
Stars On 45 – Stars On 45 Longplay Album (Volume II) (https://www.discogs.com/Stars-On-45-Stars-On-45-Longplay-Album-Volume-II/master/195027)Mixed.(https://img.discogs.com/DXshf9WTCEJSl1iwJuMvcosojjY=/fit-in/300x300/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-650397-1161511182.jpeg.jpg)
One of the first mix albums I ever heard. It was like a mini musical education, exposing me to tiny snippets of so many tracks I'd never heard before. From Classic Rock To Motown to Folk Rock to ...um, Abba. Four mini-mixes varying between five and eight minutes in length, containing 16 to 20 tracks each. For years afterwards I would hear a song on the radio and go "I know ten seconds of this one!".
Some say it was the original mashup album, although it only played one (bit of) song at a time. But I sometimes wonder if the Soulwax boys (with their 1980's radio DJ dad) may have been influenced by this thing. Most of these tracks were never inteneded to be disco mixed, but Stars On 45 did it anyway! Of course they did it to eke out a profit from the arse-end of the disco era, but still...there was something to this.
Probably the first great electronic compilation I ever bought (at Circuit City). Oh, and the Beasties sample in the Chems remix of Voodoo People is Not backwards.
Favorite mixes:
Prodigy Present The Dirtchamber Sessions Volume One
Lazer Sword - Blap To The Future Mixtape
Amon Tobin - Ninja Tune Takeover DJ Mix
King Cannibal - The Way Of The Ninja
Spank Rock - FabricLive
Justice - X-Mas Mix
Forgot this one. From the year before On The Floor At The Boutique.
Another freebie from NME. Great packaging, fun mix. I am never throwing this tape out.
Fatboy Slim – Beat Up The NME (https://www.discogs.com/Fatboy-Slim-Beat-Up-The-NME-60-Knockout-Minutes-Mixed-By-Fatboy-Slim/release/222130)
Side 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pemVmt360bw
Side 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMFYhpaBHIc
daft punk's 1997 essencial mix, introduced me to alot of other bands and DJs.
Following on from Fabric & FabricLive discussion above, both imprints have respectively released their 100th and final installments.
Resident Advisor have done an article: Celebrating Fabric's Mix Series (https://www.residentadvisor.net/features/3342)
I can't help thinking the Chems must have been sounded out for one of these at some point...
I'm surprised that no one has mentioned any of the Dope On Plastic! Series, both mixed and unmixed.
A lot of jazzy and funky stuff on there with little hints of acid, breaks and D&B on there.
Quote from: Redwood on Oct 26, 2018, 21:33A lot of jazzy and funky stuff on there with little hints of acid, breaks and D&B on there.
These are words I like to see together. Checking this out soon