So I’ve been digging through my memory of 1985 and what music was on in our house, on the radio mostly but a few 45s and LPs that my mom and dad would play on the stereo. It turns out most of the songs that moved me were recorded earlier than 85 - one of my most covetyed “breakdance” mix tapes was definitely pre this era - but got heavy rotation. So here some of the cuts that I remember that were actually released in 1985:
Some choice vocal samples possible in here with synth chords…
Synths made a rare appearance in this Ramone’s performance in Berlin
DeBarge - what a tune!
LL sets the tone! So many disses in this track
Watch Jan Hammer perform this song and all the midi/synths and wail on his guitar synth! Incredible!
Finally - probably the pinnacle of my memories of guitar riffs and music video animation. I probably bought my first stereo system from a guy who played this song, sat back and watched me drool as the layers of song came in.
(I am relistening to this - is he calling a millionaire a “Faggot” ?)
Hopefully able to get something together, will be traveling for a bit so will see how it goes.
But to get in the mood spent a bunch of my weekend bopping around listening through some hip house and adjacent records. Ended up with a 83 minute 22 track DJ mix figured I’d throw it up here for inspiration just in case. Im out of practice so some of the mixing is pretty sloppy and for the time being using an old Pyramid mixer with a broken crossfader and no eq per channel. Those limitations seem appropriate to the spirit of early hip house stuff tho haha
Kicked it off with this battles titular track and went from therea
Will give some thought and post some 10yo me tunes when I can
Tracklist
Jungle Brothers - I’ll House You
B.G. the Prince of Rap - Rap to the World (Jam E.M.'s Techno Mix)
Redhead Kingpin & the F.B.I. - Pump It Hottie (Street Mix)
Salt-N-Pepa - Expression (Brixton Bass Remix)
Monie Love - Monie in the Middle (Orr Some Remix)
Double J - Bless the Funk
Hashim - We’re Rocking the Planet
Ashanti - Rock Wit U (Awww Baby) (Armand’s Acid Banger)
Beyoncé - Break My Soul
Aaliyah - One in a Million (Incredible B-Boy Orchestra Mix)
Mellow Man Ace - Welcome to My Groove (Hurley’s Hip House Mix)
Jazzi P - Feel the Rhythm (Club Mix)
Paula Abdul - Cold Hearted
Bobo & Agony - Soca Taliban
Kaytranada - Bullets feat. Little Dragon
Janelle Monáe - Dance or Die feat. Saul Williams
Rob Base & D.J. E-Z Rock - Get on the Dance Floor (The “Sky” King Remix)
Whodini - Magic’s Wand
DJ Shadow - Right Thing (Tokio Ghetto Tech Remix)
Chubb Rock - Caught Up (Instrumental)
B.G. the Prince of Rap - This Beat is Hot
Divine Styler - Play it for Divine
@electricthing - you’ve dropped some gems in here with some serious synth/electric goodness to sample! Welcome to the challenge - good to have you join us!
@malus_mons - between the Pointer sisters and Madonna, ten year old you would have some pretty sweet older girlfriends!
@Doug - With hopes to drag you into this battle with us - a little shout out from one of your namesakes:
Which seems like a surprisingly elusive mixer online, was able to find only 1 picture with the same layout (but different colours) . My Vestax got electrical issues so got this from a friend until I figure out something more permanent, will likely get a used Allen & Heath at some point, been keeping an eye out for one locally.
I am finding some amazing acapellas from back in the day that sit real nice in the 120 bpm dancefloor pocket. Let me know and I can share some links on here.
How is it going with your tracks?
I’m doing lots of experimenting but think I have the foundation for at least one I’m hyped about.
Got the basic ideas down, plus recorded a bunch of stuff to incorporate.
Hopefully will piece it all together on the weekend.
If nothing else it made me unlock a technique ive been meaning to figure out
@surfacescan this is a great theme, thanks for putting it together! I have enough stuff together to feel confident I can get something finished but I don’t think it will be tomorrow. Any chance of an extension to Monday (it’s a bank holiday in Ireland)?
