Desert Island Discs (Dance version)

Devoid of ideas on what to blog about I follow-up my original desert island discs blog BLOG HERE This time we are focusing on dance music only. Dance music has played a big part in my life from the days when I was just that little bit too young for the Acid House explosion to when I eventually hit the clubbing scene all be it a bit late 1994 (Apart from one trip to the Hard Dock a few years before) It all started in the o-five one on one September night in 1994 just before I was 21 with Dave Graham and Si Edwards on the decks. I then moved onto early Garlands (before it went all big) and then the “super” club Cream. A few little dates around the country Sheffield and Stoke spring to mind and then onto the likes of “Fairies on the Mersey” and numerous Creamfields. Before retirement was upon me. But like all good pro’s a comeback (or two) was on. First up Hed Kandi in Amsterdam December 2008 (what goes on in Amsterdam stays in Amsterdam) and Space in Ibiza (what goes on in Ibiza cant be remembered) tempted me out of retirement again in September 2009 some 15 years after it all started. Now truly settled into the domestic life of wife and two children (third on the way) I present my desert island discs (dance version)

So song one and in no particular order. Its one of the first choons I got to recognise in the 051. Kathy Brown feat Praxis and “Turn me out” Nothing can bring back those first few months clubbing in the 051. From the stairs down into the club (How hard was it coming back up the fuckers) to the echoing sound of the half empty club as we liked to get there early onto the smell of the smoke machine. This is a classic and I love a good female vocal on a dance track and remember my “Handbag Heaven” mixtape I used to blast out.

Song two and a track I loved before I got into clubbing. Passed on from a friends elder sister who was into going to the Quadrant Park. Gutted I missed out on going the Quad but also think had I gone there age 16/17 I might not be typing this today and gone down a completely different life path. Its the FPI Project and “Risky” The FPI Project were famous for a cover of “Going back to my roots” with the classic line sang “Hey you don’t be silly, put a condom on your willy” (not the actual lyrics) which hit the charts in 1990. They had a few underground dance tracks after that and this is one of them.

Track three and back to the 051 with memories of a Thursday night in “The Buzz” !!! Its De’Lacy and “Hideaway” This crossed over into the top 5 I think. I hated it when dance tracks I had heard made the charts. It was if I was in a select club that owned the choon but now the masses were onto it and soon it would be the backing music as the announcer read out what was coming up on BBC Grandstand for the day. But the full 10 min version of this is quality.

Track four and possibly the greatest ever breakdown in the history of dance music as noted on the youtube comments (starts at 3 mins 16) its a remix of a track from Mory Kante called “Yeke Yeke” Given the remix treatment by Hardfloor this took the roof of the club when the breakdown kicked in. I can close my eyes and imagine being back in the day. cant help but have a cheeky smile and tap my toe as the track kicks back in.

So Track five (gonna run out of tracks and so many to pick) is gonna be “Fairies on the Mersey” track. Fairies was a ferry that sailed up and down the Mersey on a Sunday night organised by Garlands that what literally a club on a boat and then we would stumble up towards the town hall for an after party. The track that sticks out here again eventually crossed over into the main charts its another slice of magic called “Sing it back” By Moloko. Whenever I see this video I am transported back onto that boat as it sailed by Otterspool prom in the summer evening thinking why am I on a boat in the middle of the Mersey by the prom dancing ??

Song six and back to the 051 and another track that hit the charts. This mix sounded great in the massive room that was the 051 with the smoke machine on full pelt and only the strobe on the go. Its Living Joy and “Dreamer” another slice of handbag girly vocal this time given a deeper mix by Rollo (Who went on to be part of Faithless) another great breakdown (not as good as Yeke Yeke though)

Song 7 and a track that reminds me of Cream. I could have picked from loads. How can I forget the night when the film Trainspotting was massive when they dropped Underworld’s “Born Slippy” only to be beaten later that night when Lou Reed’s “Perfect Day” was played with lights on full blast and the whole club sang as one. Suc was the magic of Cream that crazy stuff like that went on. Alistair Whitehead was our fave DJ who played at Cream and the track I am going for is by Inner City and “Your Love” Again my love of a massive female vocal is obvious. Another Cream highlight was at an all nighter and we fell out the club at 6am and it had snowed. Cue massive random snow ball fight. Magic :0)

Last but not least shock horror no female vocal. Its Lionrock (Justin Robertson) who had a hit with “rude boy rock” but this is the less know “Carnival” With a speech that reminds me of Martin Luther King this track has more of a rave edge about it. The question is are you willing to testify ?

So there we have it. To be honest I could have picked 18 songs not 8. I have not included Ruby Turners “Never ever gonna give you up” as that was on my previous Desert Island Discs blog. What great memories from each track and a whole lot more that I cant even dream of blogging about. In true desert island discs fashion I am given the entire works of Shakespeare to take with me and I get to take a book and a luxury item. The book will be Trainspotting to remind me of that great night in Cream. My luxury item will be an unlimited supply of ecstasy tablets. I jest of course as Kirsty Young would not allow that. It will have to be an ipod packed with dance choons so in the moonlight on the beach on my own I can dance my little socks off with nobody to see me.

Now the choice of what track with me. Overall I most probably have tracks I prefer and no doubt would change my mind on a daily basis given the choice. I have avoided my love of a female “handbag” vocal and gone for Mory Kante “Yeke Yeke” just for that breakdown alone. Happy days (ish) stuck on my tod on a desert island.

This blog is dedicated to Colin Airey who invited me to go the 051 on that fateful night in September 1994. He liked it so much he went on to become a DJ travelling the world spinning dics. On the coattails of him I went into clubs around the world on guestlists and in VIP areas necking free booze and having a belter of a time. “I will if you will”

Peace

Fay x x x

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