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Welcome to the GBTOR blogspot - the one stop shop for all of our news, mixes and videos which will be updated regularly so keep it locked......enjoy!

Frankie Knuckles

Frankie Knuckles (born January 18, 1955, New York) is an American DJ, record producer and remix artist. He played an important role in developing house music (an electronic, disco-influenced dance music) as a Chicago DJ in the 1980s and he helped to popularize house music in the 1990s, with his work as a producer and remixer. In 2005, Knuckles was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame for his achievements as a DJ.

Career

1970s-1980s

While studying textile design at FIT in Manhattan, Knuckles began working as a DJ, playing soul, disco and R&B at The Continental Baths with fellow DJ Larry Levan.^[1] When he became better known, he DJed at the club Better Days. When the Warehouse club opened in Chicago in 1977, he was invited to play on a regular basis. He continued DJing there until 1982, when he started his own club, The Power Plant. It is possible that the term 'House Music' surfaced in reference to the sounds played at the Warehouse by Frankie. Initially it was a catch-all term to describe the wide range of music being played at the Warehouse. It soon became the word used to define the raw, drum machine based edits and tracks that Frankie was playing in the early 80s. Incidentally Frankie bought his first drum machine from a young Derrick May who regularly made the trip from Detroit to see Frankie at the Warehouse and fellow pioneer Ron Hardy at the Music Box.
Knuckles also had a musical partnership with Jamie Principle, and helped put "Your Love" and "Baby Wants to Ride" out on vinyl after these tunes had been regulars on his reel-to-reel player at the Warehouse for a year.
As house music gained momentum, pioneering producer Chip E. took Knuckles under his tutelage and produced Knuckle's first recording, "You Can't Hide", featuring vocalist Ricky Dillard. Then came more production work, including Jamie Principle's "Baby Wants to Ride", and later "Tears" with Robert Owens (of Fingers, Inc.) and (Knuckles' protege and future Def Mix associate) Satoshi Tomiie.
When business difficulties caused the Warehouse to fold, he moved back to New York, and was the featured resident DJ at The World, and also had numerous subsequent residencies, including at The Choice club.
In New York, he immersed himself in producing, remixing and recording.

1990s-2000s

Knuckles did a number of popular Def Classic Mixes with John Poppo as sound engineer. Knuckles partnered with David Morales on Def Mix Productions, and both men's mixing styles became very similar for a period in the early 1990s as they honed the formula for a "Def Classic Mix" sound. With several important original productions and remixes to his name, by the early 1990s, Knuckles was becoming a well-known name in the increasingly popular house music genre.
In 1991 he released his biggest hit to date, "The Whistle Song" which bears a slight similarity to Van McCoy's "The Hustle" in its whistle-like refrain. The Def Classic Mix of "Change" by Lisa Stansfield done around this period also features the whistle like motif. Knuckles' debut album - Beyond the Mix, released on Virgin Records also contained "Rain Falls" and featured vocals from Lisa Michaelis. Key remixes from this time include his rework of the Electribe 101 anthem "Talking With Myself" and "Where Love Lives" by Alison Limerick.
As his productions and remixes were becoming more popular, and he was also breaking new ground. When Junior Vasquez took a sabbatical from Manhattan's The Sound Factory, he took over and launched a successful run as resident DJ until Vasquez made his return, at which point Knuckles became the resident DJ at The Sound Factory Bar. Knuckles remained part of the underground scene. In 1992, Billboard's Larry Flick commented "He's probably the best dance music producer we have in America. He understands the groove, but he understands songs, and the whole picture." Knuckles won the 1997 Grammy Award for Remixer of the Year, Non-Classical.
Knuckles continued to work as a remixer through the 90s and into the next decade, reworking tracks from Michael Jackson, Luther Vandross, Diana Ross, Eternal and Toni Braxton. He released several new singles, including "Keep On Movin'" and a re-issue of an earlier hit "Bac N Da Day" with Definity Records. In 2004, he released a thirteen track album of original material - his first in over a decade, entitled A New Reality, which was critically well received. In October 2004 "Your Love" appeared in the popular videogame Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, playing on house music radio station, SF-UR. On 19 September 2005, Knuckles was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame for his outstanding achievement as a DJ. Knuckles is featured in the 2006 documentary film, "The UnUsual Suspects - Once Upon a Time in House Music" by Chip E. and the 2005 documentary film, "Maestro" by Josell Ramos.

DJ RON HARDY

Ron Hardy Born May 8, 1958-(died 1991) was an instrumental figure and dj in the development of house music An innovator and originator of the genre, he is highly regarded not only for his iconic performances at the Muzic Box, a Chicago house music club, but for his pioneering edits and mixes of disco,soul,funk and early house music

Early career

Hardy started his career in 1974 in Chicago gay club Den One. Here, with a set-up of two turntables, a mixer and a reel 2 reel tape-deck, he played long nights of underground black dance music. Around 1977, after working with renowned DJ Frankie Knuckles at the iconic Chicago club the Warehouse, he went to work in Los Angeles. At the end of 1982, when Chicago's legendary Warehouse club closed and re-opened as the Powerhouse at another location, Hardy was asked to play at the old club, now renamed "The Music Box". Hardy of course competed with Powerhouse DJ (and former colleague) Frankie Knuckles, and he was very experimental in his playing style. Producer Chip E. introduced Hardy to recording music in 1986 when the two mixed "Donnie" by The It (featuring Chip E., Larry Heard, Robert Owens, and Harri Dennis). From humble beginnings, Hardy's contributions to House Music are considered mammoth.

Musical and Mixing Styles

While Frankie Knuckles at the Warehouse (and later the Powerhouse) had a very smooth style of playing, Hardy was very different. He had less regard for sound quality and would play with a manic energy, mixing everything from classic Philadelphia Disco classics, italo disco imports to new wave, mutant disco and rock tracks. Hardy also pitched records up way more than Knuckles (pitch being the difference between normal speed and the speed at which the record is currently playing. Usually expressed as + or -, with 10 being maximum/minimum). Techno artist Derrick May remembers hearing Ron playing a Stevie Wonder cut with the speed at +8.

Trademarks

Hardy played a lot of reel-to-reel edits and was always tweaking the soundsystem and playing with the EQ. A Ron Hardy trademark was playing a track backwards. Although there are rumors he did this by turning the needle upside down and putting the record on a cylinder so the needle played the underside of the record, this is not true. The truth is that he did this with the reel to reel deck. The Music Box was also known for its insanely loud sound volume.

Favorite Song Selections

Ron always opened his set with "Welcome To The Pleasure Dome" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood. Among the classic disco that was a staple in Chicago clubs at the time, typical tracks one could hear him play were Visage - "Frequency 7", Klein & MBO - "Dirty Talk", ESG - "Moody", Patrick Adams - "Big Phreek", Liquid Liquid - "Optimo", First Choice - "Let No Man Put Asunder", a lot of Philly Soul Classics and even pop hits like Eurythmics - "Sweet Dreams" and Talk Talk - "It's My Life". He also played Electronic Body Music acts like Nitzer Ebb. Such eclecticism and the technical wizardy described were highlights of a unique style that separated Hardy from others like Knuckles and Levan. The main ingredient, however, was the soulful black disco tracks.

Beginnings of Chicago House

Midway through the 80's, many Chicago DJs and clubgoers started experimenting with creating their own rhythm tracks. DJs would play these homemade tracks, and (in short) this is how house music was born. Hardy was no exception, often getting the hottest acetates and tapes. A roll-call of major Chicago producers including Marshall Jefferson, Larry Heard, Adonis, Phuture's DJ Pierre and Chip E. all debuted their compositions at The Music Box. When DJ Pierre and his friends Herb and Spanky created a weird squelching rhythm track from a Roland TB 303 bassline machine, they gave this track to Ron Hardy. The first time he played it, the dancers left the floor. He played the track 3 more times that night, and by the fourth time the audience was going crazy. The track was named "Acid Tracks", and the band was called Phuture.

Later In Life

It has been alleged that lingering problems with heroin addiction may have forced him to leave the Music Box around 1986. Though he continued to DJ around the area, Hardy was DJ'ing at the edge of the lookingglass on 13th Street when Chicago became house music's mecca later in the 80s. He died in 1991.
Lately, there has been a renewed interest in Ron Hardy's legacy as a DJ. In 2004, two bootleg 12" records were released with "Ron's edits" and in 2005, Partehardy Records, run by his nephew Bill released authentic edits not heard in over 20 years. There is also another bootleg series of edits called "Music Box", containing either genuine Ron Hardy re-edits or tibutes by other DJs imitating his editing style. DJ Theo Parrish also made a series of tribute-remixes called "Ugly Edits" some of which bear a striking resemblance to Hardy's re-edits. These have been bootlegged too. Some of DJ Harvey's Black Cock edits records are tributes to Hardy's edits as well.
In addition to his DJ mixes, long-buried original productions have also come to light -- among them, "Throwback 87", a collaboration between Ron Hardy and Gene Hunt.
Ron Hardy has a section dedicated to him on the 2nd DVD of the DJ documentary Maestro

Going Back To Our Roots @ The Reading Rooms 7th of August

After a momentous 2 years which arguably saw some of the best parties since back in the day, the Roots team felt that the time was right to hang up the headphones.

We’re not afraid to admit we called it wrong.

The feedback received over the past few weeks has been an eye opener to say the least. We underestimated what the club had become to those who had supported it from day one – those who made Roots their own – and those whose dedication to the cause made Going Back To Our Roots the hottest ticket in town.

So it is with great pleasure that we announce our return on August 7th for the next chapter of old skool shenanigans – Going Back To Our Roots VIII – Never Get Out Of The Boat.

The summer hoedown will be a corker. To celebrate our 2nd anniversary we return to the Reading Rooms where Dean & Craig will be digging extra deep into their boxes to ensure that the main room goes off with a bang. In the bar will be fellow resident and Roots mainstay Danny Walsh along with a welcome return of The West Ends Finest aka Coj, joined this time out by Stoozy - bring your dancing shoes for this one!

Tickets for this one will be a tenner available through usual sources, and the fun begins from 10.30 till then…see you on the dancefloor!

Keep the faith – love is the message

Dean & Craig

facebook event is here

Graeme Park @ Venus 93

Here's a mix from our past guest the legendary Graeme Park when he played @ Venus ....

side 1

side2

The Jacking Zone

here's a Chicago mix i did a while back...plenty of classics on this one ......

You are now about to enter a dimension of Sound…..A Dimension of Body Movement …..there’s no going back….only forward….the next stop…The Jacking Zone
The Baxter Park Sunbather has revisited his early influences of Chicago,Trax,Westside records and the Phuture….
To me House is Phuture,Pierre,Fingers,Adonis,The Pioneers of the Hypnotic Groove…..LFO-What is House
tracklist
1.Risque Rhythm Team – The Jacking Zone
2.Mr Fingers-For so long
3.Steve Silk Hurley-Music is the Key
4.Cultural Vibe-Ma Foom Bey
5.Cultural Vibe-Ma Foom Bey -Ram Raid mix
6.Jungle Wonz-Bird in a Guilded Cage
7.Fast Eddie-Jack the House
8.Kenny “Jammin” Jason-Can you Dance
9.Chip E-Time to Jack
10.Risse-House Train-London mix
11.Bam Bam-Magic feet
12.Mike Wilson-Bango Acid
13.Maurice Joshua-This is Acid
14.Liddel Townsend-As ACid Turns
15.Mr Lee-House this House
16.Jackmaster Dick-Sensous Black Woman goes Disco
17.Mr Lee-Feels Good
18.Dr derelict-That Shits Wild
19.Fast Eddie-Acid Thunder
20.Hot Hanas Hula-Hot Hands
21.K.A. Posse-Dog Dance
22.Phortune-House Rights
23.Arnold Jarvis-Take Some Time Out-Club mix
24.Pleasure Zone-Fantasy
25.Wired-To the beat of the Drum
26.LNR-Work it to the Bone
27.Resse and Santonio-The Sound
28.Housemaster Boys-House Nation
29.Pierre’s Fantasy Club-Dream Girl
30.Phortune-Can you feel the Bass
31.33 1/3 Queen-Searchin’
32.The Beatmasters feat the Cookie Crew-Rok da House
and a few hidden loops thrown in for good measure…..

get it here

Rhumbalicious Episode 3

The last Rhumbalicious mix i did ....

tracklist
1.Dino Lenny – Cocaine
2.Lee Marrow – Da Da Da
3.Yello – Whose Gone
4.Rozlynne Clark – Dancing is like making love
5.DOP – Future le Funk
6.Bizarre Inc – Raise me
7.Lost – Technofunk
8.Phuture – We are Phuture
9.Underground Resistance – For the feeling
10.Gongo – Master Blaster
11.Mato Grosso – Thunder
12.Paris Red – Good Friend
13.My Friend Sam – It’s my Pleasure
14.Rhythm Invention – I can’t take it
15.Deja Vu – Move your waistline
16.Chris Cuevas – Hip Hop
17.Jody Whatley – I’m the one you need
18.Ultra Nate – Deeper Love
19.Coco Steel and Lovebomb – Feel it
20.Ya Ya’s – Loooove
Time 79.07 @ 192 kbs

get it here

Rhumbalicious part Deux

After i got a good response from the first Rhumbalicious i decided to do another.....

tracklist.
1. Bassheads – Is there anybody out there-Original white
2. DSK – What would we do-Junior Boys own mix
3. Eddie “Flashin” Fowkles – Turn me out
4. S Bam – Take me away
5. Love Inc – Love is the Message
6. Joe Vanelli – Phase Out
7. Robert Owens – I’ll be your friend
8. Evolution – Metropolis
9. CLS – Can you feel it
10. Sub Sub – Spaceface
11. ACR – 27 forever
12. Problem House – Party People
13. Slam – Eterna
14. Georgie Porgie – Let the music pump you up
15. Leftfield – Not Forgotten
16. Photon Inc – Generate Power-Acapella
17. Electric Choc – Shock to the beat
18. MB – You dont get stop
19. Clubhouse – Deep in my heart
20. Sunscreem – Walk on
21. Primal Scream – Don’t fight it feel it
22. 4 for Money – It’s a moment in time
Time 76.51 @ 224kbs

get it here

Rhumbalicious

Before Going Back To Our Roots started and i was getting to grips with Ableton, i thought about doing a mix of tunes that i remembered from the then de-funkt Rhumba ...since then the Rhumba has returned to great acclaim....but i must state these are only tunes that i heard played at the Rhumba .... hope it hits the spot.....

1.SLD-Getting Out-Justin Roberstson’s mix
2.TC1991-Berry
3.React 2 Rhythm-Intoxication
4.Robbi Magno-Vocalizado
5.Sonic Solution-Music
6.Movement 16-Um Owe Ey Ah
7.Blow-The Cutter
8.Spectrum-Brazil
9.De Melero-De Melero’s Groove
10.Members of the House-These are my People
11.Underground Resistance-Riot
12.Tronikhouse-Uptempo
13.E Dancer-Velocity Funk
14.Soundclash Republic-Hyptnotic Eastern Mystery
15.Trancemission-Trancemission (Rok da House)
16.Loleatta Holloway-Do that to me-Future Sound of London remix
17.Band in a Box-Get Dynamite
18.Westbam-Hold me Back
19.Doi-oing-Nasty Feeling
20.The Visions of Shiva-Perfect Day
21.SIL-Windows
22.Gat Decor-Passion
23.49er’s-Move your feet-acapella
24.Phantasia-Inner Flight

get it here

DSK-What Would We Do-8 Minutes of Madness mix

One of Fire Island's finest remixes...First heard this @ The Rhumba CLub in Nov 91 when Slam dropped this one.....

Hooly at GBTOR 1

This one had to be the first post...
we didn't know what to expect for our very first party ....and Hooly definately set the tone for all future Roots Parties.....