New Atlantic – Yes to Satan (Promo Mix) – 1991
Only released as a dub plate, this version of an already stunning track was made famous by Top Buzz dropping it as their first track at Fantazia New Years Eve, 1991. A haunting intro, vocal sample from Darth Vader himself and massive firing drums made this one of the big tunes of the time. In my all time top 10 this one.
Desired State – Dance the Dream – 1991
Massive piano anthem, again made famous by Top Buzz dropping it as their first tune at Raindance, Big Bad Head, New Years Eve.
Frequency – Kiss the Sky – 1991
One of those mystical tracks from 1991 that sampled ‘Jimmi Hendrix – Purple Haze‘, with the vocal “scuse me while I kiss the sky” that was removed for copyright violation with the UK release. Yet again the legendary Top Buzz immortalised this track, playing it as the last one at their Fantazia New Years Eve ’91-’92 set.
Bizarre Inc. – Playing with Knives – 1991
Massive piano track from 1991 that sampled the vocal from ‘Circuit – Shelter Me (Acapella)‘, everybody was playing this seminal rave track at the time.
N-Joi – Anthem – 1991
Incredible vocal piano track out of Manchester that defined the early rave/house scene and another dance track to make it to the UK top 40, getting to number 8 in 1991 and was also hugely popular in America.
Rhythm for Reasons – The Grand National (Tango Remix) – 1992
Huge ’92 track by the late and great DJ Tango, the ‘Bad Boy Come Again‘ vocal was sampled from UK hip hop outfit ‘Hijack‘ and their tune ‘The Badman is Robbin‘. Big track and great fun to mix with that scratch intro.
The Awesome 3 – Don’t Go – 1992
Huge piano banger from 1992 that was being rinsed around the country at the time, the drum pattern being ‘borrowed’ from ‘The Stone Roses – Fools Gold‘. Massive rave track.
Praga Khan – Injected with a Poison – 1991
Firing piano vocal track from 1991 that was played everywhere at the time, made in Belgium and massive in the UK this one was on the radio as well as warehouse parties.
Jimmy J & Cru-L-T – Take Me Away – 1994
From 1994, so not a defining rave tune but my word this one DESTROYED dance floors, a euphoric uplifting piano vocal track that sampled the utterly fantastic ‘Mix Factory – Take Me Away‘.
SMD 1 – Side A – 1993
SMD (Slipmatt Dubs) were a light in the darkness starting in 1993, as the scene was splitting into a happy and dark divide, Slipmatt dropped this absolute banger, sampling Jimi Polo’s – ‘Better Days‘, to remind us of what had come before in 1992.
Fat Controller – In Complete Darkness – 1993
In my top 5 ever. Samples used for this banger:
- Rollo Goes Camping – Get off Your High Horse (Big, Bold Brassy Mix)
- Janet Jackson – Interlude: Livin’… In Complete Darkness
- Severed Head – Greater Reward (Dub)
- Eddie Bo – Lover and a Friend” (Drums)
‘Rollo Armstrong‘ is the older brother of ‘Dido‘ who worked with ‘Eminem‘ on ‘Stan‘. There it is, the rave music link to Eminem, that wasn’t on your bingo card was it?
The Prodigy – No Good (Start the Dance) – 1994
My favourite EVER Prodigy track. The main vocal sampled from ‘Kelly Charles – You’re No Good For Me‘ from 1987 and the bassline from ‘Funky Nassau- Beginning of the End” from 1971. The synths on this track are spine tingling. RIP Keef.
Urban Shakedown feat. Micky Finn – Some Justice – 1992
Urban Shakedown were Gavin King (better known as Aphrodite), and Claudio Giussani. ‘Some Justice‘ was written using two hooked up Amiga computers (love the Amiga, Shadow of the Beast anyone?) this classic rave anthem was played to death in 1992. Legendary rave DJ, Micky Finn also lending his talents to this one.
Sy-Kick – Upside – 1992
Sy-Kick were Bradley Carter and Mark French. Upside was a B-Side on the ‘Nasty Remix E.P’. The lyrics were actually taken from a classic electro tune from 1983 called ‘On the Upside‘ by Xena. This is a stomping breaks driven piano classic.
Release – Dance in Eden – 1992
‘Release‘ aka Nigel Broad and DJ Rush Puppie released this monster firing hardcore tune in 1992 that got played everywhere. Banging drums, deadly rave stabs and a spine tingling synth session secured this as one of the biggest tunes of the year.