THIS IS HOW IT ALL STARTED - Mixed by Junior James
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1.Love Come Down-Evelyn King.
Always a good start by grabbing the listener's attention by playing a tune they are familiar with and unless you are too young to be reading this, you've heard this track, at a Bar, Club, Wedding or on London's Heart 106.2!
2.Must Be The Music-king B
Samples Cheryl Lynns' 'To Be Real', which has been sampled by hundreds of artists over the years, spanning many different genres. I think that's what makes this little Disco-Rap number work.
3.Friends 'skit'-Dj Rectangle
Liking this little mish mash of samples. This record was purchased for the various scratch samples, and I was pleasantly surprised when I found this gem on the other side as well as the now legendry 'Let The Bass Kick' cut 'n' paste ensemble.
4.I Wonder If I Take You Home-Lisa Lisa And The Cult Jam With Full Force
This one reminds me of parties I used to attend when I was a young lad. A 'Musical Chairs' favorite and definitely one that brings me back to the days of when The A Team and Knightrider were essential viewing, it still sounds good today and is loved by most when dropped in a set.
5.Al Naa-fiysh (the soul)-Hashim
One of my favourite records of all time. I was lucky to have older people around me when I was growing up, I was being provided with tapes that a six or seven year old shouldn't have! Along with 'Planet Rock' (which I left out of this mix) This is one of my earliest memories of music of any kind; I'll be taking this one to the grave with me! Wait for the strings now......... Also featured on 'Wildstyle FM' on 'GTA:Vice City.
6.Street Dance-break Machine
I had a piece of my mums good lino in the back garden when we all risked breaking our necks dancing to tunes like this!! Quality Body Popping track, used by numerous dj's in battles/Dmc's etc. Instantly recognisable by the catchy whistle their follow up to this (breakdance party) sounded the same, but this was the better of the two in my humble opinion.
7.Beat Dis-Bomb The Bass
Schoolyard Anthem!! Loved this one in school, sounds a little dated now, also loved 'Don't Make Me Wait' and 'Say A Little Prayer' by the same group masterminded by Tim Simenon.
8.lookin' For The Perfect Beat-Afrika Bambaata And The Soul Sonic Force
Another major player in the breakdance era. A very '808' sounding record wasn't Bambaatas finest hour but it's a great record either way. And also featured on 'Wildstyle FM' on 'GTA:Vice City.
9.King Tut-Paul Hardcastle
Everyone knows that Tutnkahmun was the most famous of Egyptian kings. What relevance it has to this track i don't know, but its Paul Hardcastle so i doesn't matter!
10.Axel F-Harold Faltemeyer
Taken from the 'Beverly Hills Cop' soundtrack, this tune is one of the more humorus tunes i've put on this mix. I can remember when i thought this tune was the coolest tune ever.
11.The Message/Crocketts Theme-Grandmaster Flash/Jan Hammer
I always like to do something a little different in a set, this is one way of doing it. It took me a while to find where these tunes should be mixed to work.
Un-quantised tunes are commonly renowned for being bitches to mix, these two were no different. Loved The Message with its brilliant instrumental and i was a Miami Vice fan as a kid and Crocketts Theme has always been a favourite of mine.12.19-Paul Hardcastle
A Great record, not only was it a voice for the much maligned Vietnam vet' it was also a wicked tune. The version I chose isn't the version you'd normally hear, but it's very similar and an anthem for the MTV generation. 'Di di di di di di di di Distruction'........need i say more?!
13.Rush Rush-Giorgio Moroder feat Debbie Harry
Blondie came up with some pure classics back in the day. This one isn't one of them. It's the lyrics and the thought of Tony Montanna dancing in that Miami nightclub that make this track. The lyrics were quite naughty when this was released as everyone knew what 'Yayo' meant after seeing the movie that this track featured in, 'Scarface.' Also used on 'Flash FM' in 'GTA:3.'
14.Rockin' It-The Fearless Four
Used in a Jay-Z tune which i cant remember the name of as I'm not his greatest fan. I like this track, sounds very dated now, but is recognised as a classic early Hip Hop record.
15.Apache-Michael Viners' Incredible Bongo Band
Ok it's from 1973, not the eighties which was the theme of this mix down, but heavily influenced the Hip Hop sound, i just couldn't leave this one out. Listen to it, it tells you more than i ever could.
16.I Can't Wait-Nu Shooz
Monster dance floor hit from 1986. I was very pleased when the good people at Reckless Records called me to tell me they had this in. That was about six years ago and it's rarely left my play list, you could drop this tune in a nightclub in downtown Bhagdad and it would get a reaction!
17.Montanas Theme-Giorgio Moroder (scarface o.s.t)
Wicked tune!! Sampled by 'Mobb Deep and Nas' 'It's Mine', this is one of them hard tunes to mix. Reminds me of course of the Classic 'Scarface' movie when i was young enough to be terrified of Tony Montanna!
18.Nintendo N.E.S-Double Dragon
A Fun little break, I'm sure it's from the old Nintendo beat 'Em Up 'Double Dragon. Whoever did this cover done a tidy little job.
19.The Mexican-Babe Ruth
Another record that's been sampled to the high heavens. Also an early Hip Hop break, this tune was inspired by the soundtrack from 'A Few Dollars More' by Enino Morricone. Recorded in 1972 by Babe Ruth covered by The Bombers six years later and then by John 'Jellybean' Benitez in 1983. But I think the most revered cover of this one was done by pseudonym of Todd Terry, 'Orange Lemon' released as 'Dreams Of Santa Anna' in 1988, but we'll come to that one a little later.
20.Buffalo Gals-Malcom Mclaren
Mclaren, famed for his stint as a manager of 'The Sex Pistols' and 'Adam And The Ants' was also a fashion designer. He eventually tried his hand in actually making music, this is the result of it. Adore this track one of the more well known tracks of its' era a gem off an outstanding album.
21.Nautilus-Bob James
What more can I say about the man? A huge amount of his work has been sampled, but this is my favourite, 'Wildstyle' and 'Shamboozee' come close but this one takes the higher step on the podium. A legend a quality musician and an inspiration for millions of artists worldwide. Also features on 'The rhyme' by Keith Murray, that 'Daytona' track by Ghostface and on 'Mastersounds FM' on 'GTA:San Andreas.' All this from a man who looks like your old Science teacher from school!!
22.Trans Europe Express-Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk were inspirations for many of the early electro/rap artists from Bambaata days right up to the present with Rampages' 'Ramp Europe Express.' Other Favourites Include 'We Are The Robots'and 'The Model' which you're likely to hear on XFM every now and again. They're a very electronic sounding group and also brilliant live.
23Dreams Of Santa Anna-Orange Lemon
Todd Terry has seen and done it all. If you don't know , do a search on www.google.com, and im sure you'll be inundated with results. Reminds me of my youth, samples the aforementioned babe Ruth tune. An Original sound despite being sampled by lots of others, this one sees a much more electronic version created, in contrast to the more guitar lead covers of the previous years.
24.Sky's The Voice-Biggie feat 112/Jon Farnham.(my 2 turntables mix)
A mediocre Hip Hop instrumental with a neo-cheesy 80's track just has to work doesn't it? Well, I think it does. This was another tricky one, as I'm sure the purists will be hearing it fall out slightly on the 'Bagpipes' part!! I love 'My Flame' by the magnificent Bobby Caldwell, where this tune gets its' instrumental from. A good ending for a cd and DJ that doesn't take themselves too seriously.
