Hear The Music (Def Dub Mix)

Posted May 19, 2013

Track: Hear The Music (Def Dub Mix)

Artist: Gypsymen

Year: 1992

Label: E Legal

Hear The Music was cut at a time when Todd Terry was releasing tracks at a furious rate under various aliases. This one is especially memorable and qualifies as a top ten Todd Terry track for my money. David Morales served up a couple mixes, but Def Dub takes top honors and spotlights the vocal sampling mastery without comprising the earth-shaking bass kicks (which are pushed nearly to distortion). The signature element is a looping scat vocal of something that sounds like  "buddy do you hip-hop" - I'm not sure where it comes from, so if you know please share your knowledge in the comments.  Known samples include keyboard chords from Machine's There But for the Grace of God Go I  (1979) and female vox from Unlimited Touch's I Hear Music in the Street (1981).

Discogs: http://www.discogs.com/Gypsymen-Hear-The-Music-Bounce/release/209728

Right Back To You (Extended Mix)

Posted July 4, 2012

Track: Right Back To You (Extended Mix)

Artist: Ten City

Year: 1988

Label: Atlantic

Ten City was a Chicago-based R&B group with house pinnings under the tutelage of producer and house pioneer Marshall Jefferson.  The group was led by vocalist Byron Stingily who later left the group to pursue what's been an especially active and successful solo career.  The extended version of Right Back to You was mixed by fellow Chicagoan Steve "Silk" Hurley and warrants classic status for its drawn out pumping bassline - the perfect compliment to Stingily's silky smooth falsetto vocals.  Horn stabs add a nice touch and were incorporated liberally on the NY mix.

Discogs: http://www.discogs.com/Ten-City-Right-Back-To-You/master/94845

U Got Me

Posted July 4, 2012

Track: U Got Me

Artist: Intruder

Year: 1992

Label: Murk Records

90s Miami house gets a lot of love here.  If you're new, you can catch up with reviews for other old school Miami tracks like On My Mind, Been A Long Time, Some Lovin', Reach For Me, and Set U Free.  Anyway, today's selection is U Got Me -  another Oscar G and Ralph Falcon production, this one released on Murk under the Intruder alias.  As if there was any doubt, U Got Me features that distinctive super deep hypnotic bass groove (in this case reworking No Smoke's Koro Koro), the defining element of all 90s Miami house bangers.  This cut is also balanced with some industrial percussion elements to underscore its dark vibe.

Discogs: http://www.discogs.com/Intruder-U-Got-Me/release/2151

Caught In The Middle (Def Classic Mix)

Posted June 14, 2012

Track: Caught In The Middle (Def Classic Mix)

Artist: Juliet Roberts

Year: 1994

Label: Reprise Records

Caught In The Middle was an early 90s pop/uptempo R&B hit that was readily remixable and transformed into a dance track.  David Morales has done a number of Roberts tracks, but his work on Caught In The Middle shines especially bright.  The extended intro features some excellent vocal dubbing before the piano licks and smooth vox carry the song the rest of the way.

 

Discogs: http://www.discogs.com/Juliet-Roberts-Caught-In-The-Middle/release/92394

Reach ("Little" "More" Mix)

Posted May 29, 2012

Track: Reach ("Little" "More" Mix)

Artist: Lil' Mo' Yin Yang

Year: 1995

Label: Strictly Rhythm

Reach is a thoroughly original Sound Factory gem that found worldwide success due to its hypnotic production - a collaboration between Lil' Louie Vega and Erick Morillo (hence the Lil' Mo' alias).  The track features infectious vocal dubbing mastery that, in tandem with a siren effect, build the song up to dizzying heights.  Reach has a dark underground vibe, but remains danceable and can be enjoyed by the masses.  You can put this cut in the Sound Factory Hall of Fame.

Discogs: http://www.discogs.com/Lil-Mo-Yin-Yang-Reach/release/8576

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This site profiles my favorite classic house tracks. Most selections are from the 80s and 90s with a strong - but not exclusive - deep house, progressive and old school Chicago influence. I could never fully warm up to acid house, overly ambient tracks, or anything that bumps >135bpm. Since many have asked, there's no single definition of classic house music, but Ishkur has an excellent guide to electronica music that can serve as a primer for anyone interested.  I know some of the videos get pulled due to copyright issues - just search on YouTube since most stuff gets re-upped anyway. 

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