paper buddha

Being a child of the early 1990′s rave movement, there are so many classic tunes to choose from.  Obvious tracks like “Dominator” by Human Resource and “Everybody In The Place” by Prodigy have been remixed to death due to their legendary appeal.  I have chosen to take a different route and post up some tunes I think have not been remixed due to the untouchable status they have achieved.

First up is one of my favorites of the era.  Released in 1990, this collaboration between future Freestylers member Aston Harvey and Jason Tunbridge is a full on, funky scratch-fest filled with enough bass to make you sterile. Originally released on the B-side to “Don’t Hold Back” on the Tribal Bass label, this one still makes the bins quake.

Bus’ It (It’s Time To Get Bzy) – Blapps Posse

This next track needs very little introduction.  Included on the infamous “Live at the Brain” EP, it was recorded, ummmm, live at the Brain Club in London in 1990.  ”Massif” was the track and Paul Chivers was the mastermind behind this classic, with a little help from Mixmaster Morris.  I’m on planet E!!!!!

Massif – Ramjac

Back in 1991, when DJing was more of a hobby than a way to earn a living, Kelly and I went to Los Angeles to visit my folks and go crate digging at a handful of record stores on Melrose Ave. (this was five years before we moved to LA). After messing around at Beat Non Stop and DMC, we wrapped up our search at Street Sounds. It was there I found a copy of “Hear The Angels” by Da Juice. This was by far the best find of the trip, and once I heard the AA side, “C’mon C’mon”, I knew it would be an anthem for years to come.

When we returned to Dallas, I took the record to the Aqua Lounge to let my good friend (and turntable mentor), Rob Vaughan, debut “C’mon C’mon” for the crowd. Needless to say, it was an instant hit and for months there wasn’t a weekend that went by when you didn’t hear it played somewhere. I ended up letting Rob keep the record and I never picked up another original copy. I did find a bootleg a few years later when I was DJing the rave circuit and I also snapped up a Jim Hopkins Remix (listen to it below) on the Twitch Volume 9 compilation. Ask anyone who knows this track and I’m sure they’ll tell you they still dig it to this very day.

C’mon C’mon (Jim Hopkins Remix) – Da Juice

If you were housing it up back in the late 80s (when house music was born), then you no doubt grooved to some of the stuff Chicago-based DJ/producer Fast Eddie was cranking out. One of my personal faves from that time period (1989 to be more specific) was the Hip House classic, Yo Yo Get Funky. The original pressing never made it into my collection unfortunately, but I found a substitute that worked just fine. Have a listen.

Yo Yo Get Funky – Fast Eddie

I’m very excited to share a new mix from my good friend (and one of the most talented DJs I know) Michael Todd. I’ve known this cat for years and the beats he throws down are always stellar. He’s one of the best turntable technicians I know – wish I had half his skills. “Trippin’ Your Speaker” is full of tech and electro house goodness. If you like any of the tracks you hear, pick ‘em up at Beatport.

Trippin’ Your Speaker – A mix by DJ Michael Todd

1 – Mouth (No Assembly Firm Dotbleep Mix) – Iz & Diz
2 – Tripping in Chile (Maetrik Ass Up Rework) – John Overfiend
3 – The Lick (Derrick Carter Vocal) – Samim
4 – Depressed Mode – Sawtooth Sucka
5 – Sunglasses at Night (Popov’s) – Tiga & Zyntherius
6 – Club Action (Stanton Warrior’s) – Yo! Majesty
7 – Sonic Chronic – TJR
8 – Tear Up Your Speaker – Unstrung Zeros
9 – The Beautiful People (Sebastien Leger’s) – Marilyn Manson
10 – No Ordinary Girl (Zodiac Cartel’s) – Sawtooth Sucka
11 – Shake It Baby (Rene Amesz’s) – D Ramirez
12 – Something Suitable – Format:B
13 – Serenetti (Maetrik’s) – Trentemoller
14 – Bad Clock – Sebastien Leger

Finding myself digging deep in the crates these days and one track that never fails to stop me in my tracks and make me smile is the acid house classic Voodoo Ray by A Guy Called Gerald. I acquired this 12″ record a few years after it’s release in 1988 and used to dance my ass off to it night after night. I can still drop this on the decks and get a crowd to go ape shit. Here are a few vinyl rips of the Original and Paradise Ballroom mixes. Enjoy!

Voodoo Ray (Original Mix) – A Guy Called Gerald

Voodoo Ray (Paradies Ballroom Mix) A Guy Called Gerald