DJ Sneak is beloved among house heads around the world as one of the most famous and popular DJ’s of the “second wave” of the Chicago scene. Sneak’s deep, yet funky style is exemplified by this mix, one that I feel is the best I’ve ever heard of his. It includes many rare, sought-after house tracks, and has that deep hypnotic groove that Sneak is famous for without being too repetitive or minimal.
This is the sound of Chicago house that was contemporary to Daft Punk’s first album and provided the ground work for the French house and UK disco house genres that followed in the mid-to-late 90’s. Without a doubt, a classic of the genre. Track list after the jump…
Ore Records was a short-lived UK house label, an off-shoot of XL Recordings. From 1993 to 1996, Ore released classic house music (also known in the UK as “handbag house”) with lots of diva vocals and disco flourishes. Notable artists on Ore included Tommy Musto (under the alias Colourblind), Jay Denes of Blue Six (who later saw much success on the Naked Music label), and legendary NYC producer and DJ, Todd Terry.
This compilation, released in 1995 and mixed by Todd Terry, brings together ten of Ore Records’ top releases from 1993-95 into a fabulous, flawless disco house mix that also happens to be pretty rare. I first heard it in 1997, and often mixed Party Faithful’s “Brass: Let The Be House” anthem into my college-era DJ sets as a peak-time dance track. What a tune! Track list and more album art after the jump.
I’ve written about DJ David Hollands before, when I posted his classic “Pool Party” mix tape from 1996. “Midnight Train to Moscow” followed in 2000, and is also one of my all-time favorite house mixes. It’s a memorable blend of deep house, minimal techno, haunting vocals, and party-time cuts too. Recently I visited David at his East Village abode in NYC and he gave me a copy of the mix tape art from the original. Grab the front and the back artwork, along with the mix and enjoy.
This mixtape was recently featured on my rave forum site Ravetrash.com, re-discovered and uploaded by my buddy Ria. In his words:
JAJO was the name, DJ JAJO a.k.a Juan Mauri Vera. Jajo was from Spain & going to school here in St.Louis. He soon dropped out & started DJing full time for STL raves. the scene was just flourishing and there was a party every weekend there, it seemed. He passed away in 1997 from a drug overdose. R.I.P.
This mixtape came out circa 1992. It did not get to me until the next year as it was re-recorded onto other tapes and passed on down the line until i got it and did the same thing fro my friends. This was pre-internet so it took more motivation and time to spread your mix.
The mix is an underground legend. This mix got me into house music which then led me more into raves and such. I’m not the only one.
This became my “white whale” ever since i lost my cassette copy of it after driving off with my tape case on top of my car. I have since searched for a copy to no avail. Friends and colleagues like Perry Ellis & Melloman who had a copy, could not seem to find it in their pack-rat lifestyle abodes.
It was just a waiting game.
Melloman recently FINALLY found the tape and we reminisced about everything as it seemed like i was listening to this for the first time. My room mate ripped it from tape and digitized, cleaned up & remastered the mix to mp3. it still has a few pops & hisses but overall, decent quality to rock out to.
I’ve listened to this mix myself many times, and it is timeless and funky like all the greatest house mixes. It is a relic from the earliest days of the midwestern rave scene, but doesn’t sound “old” in any way. Rock out to this immediately and savor your old school cred.
“Sunshower” by Miles Maeda has been a favorite of mine since I first bought the tape in 2000. Miles just recently posted the mix on his blog, so I’m adding it here too. In his words:
Here is the mid-tempo Sunshower mix with original artwork. And yes, the title was indeed inspired by Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band. I believe I did this one in Colette’s basement in Chicago. This was an exercise in keeping the pace at a casual jaunt, using rich textures, colorful instrumentation, and having a ‘Sunday afternoon in the park’ mood. It’s one of those projects I felt turned out quite well from start to finish. So enjoy a little Sunshower one sunny afternoon – bask yourself in its rays, soak it up, drink it in…Enjoy!
Here’s the third volume of my “Meow Mix” series, celebrating the sound of house music, poetry, and soul. In keeping with the “Meow Mix” theme, this one weaves house and techno together, instrumentals with vocals, classic tracks and new surprises. Check out the poetic lyrics that flow like a beatnick free form jam in the addictive opening song by Holly Palmer & Dobie. Kenny Larkin’s meditation on a world without soul (“Without”) and Todd Gardener’s definition of house music (“Do You Know House?”) and Billie Holiday’s plaintive call to take “All Of Me” are also voices that will stay with you. I could write a paragraph on each of these tracks, but I’ll just let it speak for itself. Tracklist after the jump…
I have finally completed my latest DJ mix, a rockin’ stompin’ dance party blend! It’s an intense mash-up of hiphop, indie rock, electro, house, and dubstep – 27 tracks in just 60 minutes. It features music by Cypress Hill, the Beatles, Basement Jaxx, Sinden, Justice, the Prodigy, Pharoah Monche, Diplo, Chromeo, Cassius, Rick Ross, Masta Ace, and so much more. I have titled it NYC Nights volume two, as it is a worthy successor for my 2004 mix of the same name, which I recorded when I first moved to the city. That was then, this is now, and I think you’ll like how now sounds.
