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

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

Track: Cascades Of Colour (Danny Tenaglia's Edit of the Saffron Mix)

Artist: The Ananda Project

Year: 1998

Label: Nite Grooves

The Ananda Project is one of the aliases of producer Chris Brann, probably best known for this track. Cascades of Colour is another favorite - ambient heavy with bittersweet lyrics and layered vocals that conjure images of a tropical atmosphere.  I'm partial to Danny Tenaglia's mix which maintains the laid back vibe but provides beats that pack a bigger punch than the original.

Discogs: http://www.discogs.com/Ananda-ProjectFeat-Gaelle-Adisson-Cascades-Of-Colour/master/124926

Track: Ultra Flava (Original Flava)

Artist: Heller & Farley Project

Year: 1995

Label: AM:PM

Ultra Flava was first produced as a dub version for Ultra Naté's How Long - a track from her 1993 album One Woman's Insanity.  Take a listen to Heller & Farley's (mixed under the Fire Island alias) remix of How Long and you'll instantly recognize the genesis of this track:

Slowly but surely the underground scene was buzzing about this mix, requesting a proper release.  Two years later, Heller & Farley delivered the goods with the release of Ultra Flava (title paying homage to Ultra Naté') - laying down one of the all time most infectious organ grooves to the delight of DJs and clubgoers worldwide.  Moreover, the track is perfectly balanced with first rate percussion elements.  There's been many remixes over the years, but nothing has topped the original IMO.

Discogs: http://www.discogs.com/Heller-Farley-Project-Ultra-Flava/master/94468

Track: Certain Things Are Likely

Artist: KTP (fka Kissing The Pink)

Year: 1986

Label: Victor

Straying into synth-pop territory, but no shame.  The out-of-this-world thumping bassline of Certain Things Are Likely make it classic house worthy and the unmistakably 80s chorus is good, clean fun.  The mix posted in the YouTube is on point.

Discogs: http://www.discogs.com/Kissing-The-Pink-Certain-Things-Are-Likely/master/101801

Track: Giv Me Luv

Artist: Alcatraz

Year: 1995

Label: Yoshitoshi Recordings

Giv Me Luv is one of the all time deepest and darkest, chill-inducing deep house bangers.   There's solid remixes out there, but why mess with the original? It's gold on wax.  The track starts off with an unassuming 4/4 beat before a funkier bassline and percussion effects are laid down. Once that feel is established, the song's signature synth hook is released.  But this isn't any ol' synth hook, this is a devastating, super-fat hook pulled from the fiery infernos of hell.  It's dark, heavy, and unrelenting.  Played loudly enough and you won't hear yourself think, it just straight-up shakes your brain.  After a masterful drop at around the 3:30 mark, vocals kick in and carry the track through the end.  All in all, it's a 8 and a half minute odyssey crafted by Jean-Phillippe Aviance and Victor Imbres and you'll be sorry it has to end.

Discogs: http://www.discogs.com/Alcatraz-Giv-Me-Luv/master/106683

Track: One Kiss (F.O.S. One Remix)

Artist: Pacha

Year: 1993

Label: Flying International

One Kiss was a one-off collaboration between Joey Negro, Blaze and vocalist Debbie French using the Pacha alias.  F.O.S. is Fathers of Sound, an Italian duo that frequently collaborated with the UK's biggest names. Simply put, the F.O.S. One Remix goes HAM.  If you have cheap speakers or if earth-moving low freq basslines make you nauseous, don't even waste your time with the first six minutes - just skip to that mark when the song transitions to the smooth vocals of Debbie French over a more subtle beat.  However, if you live for sub bass floor bangers and have a proper woofer, start it from the beginning and put your tray tables in the upright position.

Discogs: http://www.discogs.com/Pacha-One-Kiss-Remix/release/152978

Track: Te Quiero (Darren Emerson Underworld Remix)

Artist: 108 Grand

Year: 1992

Label: Brute Records

Patience is rewarded for Darren Emerson's remix of Te Quiero.  Clocking in at nearly 10 minutes, Emerson takes listeners on a progressive house journey with multiple layers of beautiful swirling melodies and a bouncing beat.  The highlight is the great little melody dropped around the halfway mark.  More than anything, this track confirms Darren Emerson was chiefly responsible for defining that signature Underworld sound (think Dirty/Lemon Interupt) during their peak years.

Discogs: http://www.discogs.com/108-Grand-Te-Quiero/release/112844

Track: On My Mind (Main Mix)

Artist: Oscar G. of Murk Productions Presents "Tilt"

Year: 1992

Label: One Records

Regular readers know I'm down with the old school Miami sound, having profiled various Oscar G & Ralph Falcon tracks like this, this, and this.  One of his lesser known gems is On My Mind, released under the Tilt alias.  It might be underground, but this track is thoroughly enjoyable with a relentless bass kick intertwined with organ licks and layered with a gated reverb vocal.  When the vocal momentarily drops out, the listener is taken to the next dimension.  Throw in some chants for a tribal edge and you have a true classic.

The Deep Thought mix is also on YouTube and worthy of a listen:

Discogs: http://www.discogs.com/Oscar-G-Of-Murk-Productions-Tilt/release/59222