All Mixed Up! Volume 16 - ABBA (Epic / Sony) (2017)

Well look what just dropped?...

It's been a few months since I compiled one of these little beauties but here we are again with volume 16 of the AMU series. And a right corker it is!!!

If this is the first time that you've come across this collection then I'll briefly explain... 

I put this series together to highlight various legendary artists and remixers work through their legendary careers. Basically the cream of the crop remixed, remade, remodelled. 

This one has been a labour of love for me as ABBA have been part of my musical landscape since a very early age (a long, long time ago before you ask...) and still get played regularly. "The Visitors" album is an absolute classic in my eyes while the rest of the albums rank highly too.

This collection comes with a bit of a twist as firstly just by looking at the tracklist you'll notice that this is not a run of the mill best of collection. Included are many album tracks and b-sides such as "Like An Angel Passing Through My Room", "Just Like That" & "I Am The City" (if you don't know what a B-Side is then ask someone older) alongside well known classics such as "Dancing Queen", "Knowing Me, Knowing You" etc.

Secondly, the whole collection has been remixed by esteemed Dutch producer, remixer and DJ Matt Pop. This fine remixer has produced some exquisite unofficial remixes of ABBA all of which I've included here. They're not radically changed to make them indistinguishable from the originals, in fact Matt's remixes enhance them and bring them bang up to date (even though I hasten to add that their music is timeless anyway). 

As a bonus to the remixes I've also included "Story Of The Heart" which was originally released by the Benny Andersson Band and currently features on the new Steps album "Tears On The Dancefloor" alongside two megamixes for those who fancy a non-stop dose of one of the best bands in the world...EVER!!!!!! 

Play it loud!!

1. Dancing Queen (Matt Pop's Getting In The Swing Mix)

2. Knowing Me, Knowing You (Matt Pop Remix)

3. If It Wasn't For The Nights (Matt Pop Remix)

4. The King Has Lost His Crown (Matt Mix)

5. Super Trouper (Matt's Feeling Like A Number 1 Mix)

6. Me And I (Matt Pop's Words & Music Mix)

7. Just Like That (Matt Pop Mix)

8. Dum Dum Diddle (Matt Mix Remaster 2012)

9. When All Is Said And Done (Matt's Still Striving For The Sky Mix)

10. Should I Laugh Or Cry (Matt Pop Mix 2015)

11. Like An Angel Passing Through My Room (Matt Pop Mix)

12. My Mama Said (Matt Pop Flared Funk Mix)

13. Hey Hey Helen (Matt Pop Mix)

14. Suzy Hang-Around (Matt Mix Remaster 2012)

15. The Day Before You Came (Matt Mix)

16. Under Attack (Matt Mix)

17. I Am The City (Matt Pop's Vibrant & Electrified Mix)

18. Story Of A Heart (Matt Pop Video Edit)

19. Arrival (Matt Mix)

Bonus Tracks:

20. Matt Pop Megamix (Part 1)

21. Matt Pop Megamix (Part 2 : NRG Express)

Link:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B4QsqRn7cUfsdjBseUoyeFRSZzQ?usp=sharing

NOW Dance '86 - Various Artists (Virgin / EMI) (1986)

Ding ding! Round 2!!!

Next up, a classic compilation from way back in 1986.

NOW Dance '86 was released on the 8th November 1986, two weeks prior to "NOW 8" being released and a week before the CD only edition "NOW That's What I Call Music '86".

The double album follows on from the very first NOW Dance album released in May 1985 and again featured twenty 12" mixes from the cream of 1986's dance scene. Unlike it's predecessor which had more of an underground theme NOW Dance '86 is a lot more chart friendly.

It features 3 number ones from Diana Ross, The Communards & Boris Gardiner along with an absolute belter of a tracklist full to the brim with classics.

As this edition was only released on double vinyl and cassette at the time I have sourced the correct mixes from digital sources to compile the album, 

Get the point? Good. 

Let's dance. 

Record 1 Side 1

1. Diana Ross - Chain Reaction

2. Jermaine Stewart - We Don't Have To...

3. Communards - Don't Leave Me This Way

4. Five Star - Can't Wait Another Minute

5. Midnight Star - Midas Touch

Record 1 Side 2

1. Gwen Guthrie - Ain't Nothin' Goin' On But The Rent

2. Farley "Jackmaster" Funk - Love Can't Turn Around

3. Timex Social Club - Rumors

4. Joyce Sims - All And All

5. Ca$hflow - Mine All Mine

Record 2 Side 1

1. Aretha Franklin - Who's Zoomin' Who?

2. Tavares - Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel

3. Paul Hardcastle - Don't Waste My Time

4. Jaki Graham - Breaking Away
5. Grace Jones - Pull Up To The Bumper

Record 2 Side 2

1. Sinitta - So Macho
2. Bronski Beat - Hit That Perfect Beat
3. MC Miker "G" & Deejay Sven - Holiday Rap
4. Phil Fearon - I Can Prove It
5. Boris Gardiner - I Wanna Wake Up With You

Link:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B4QsqRn7cUfsMjAzRDV6SFNHNWs?usp=sharing

Alison Moyet - Hoodoo (CBS / Sony) (1991)

Howdy peeps!
It's been a while since I last posted and I promised I would make it a bit more regular - I know, I'm crap. But at least I'm here again...

Today's post is of one of my all time favourite albums. Alison "Alf" Moyet released her third solo offering "Hoodoo" back in 1991. The album passed me by completely at the time and I only purchased a copy of it around 10 years later after I'd purchased "The Singles" collection as I was intrigued by the quality of work released after her 2nd long player "Raindancing".

Released on the 22nd of April 1991 "Hoodoo" reached a peak of number 11 on the UK album charts and featured 4 singles:

"It Won't Be Long" (#50)
"Wishing You Were Here" (#70)
"This House" (#40)

"Hoodoo" was also released as a promotional only single in America.

The album is an absolute gem with so much emotion and passion in the entire set. My particular favourites are the achingly beautiful "Find Me" (the song gives me goosebumps everytime I hear it) and the exquisite "Hoodoo" (a karaoke favourite of mine - true)!

This is the deluxe 2 disc edition which includes the 11 track original album plus a bonus 14 extra tracks including a plethora of demos, remixes, b-sides and live tracks.

Enjoy!



Disc 1 :

1. Footsteps
2. It Won't Be Long
3. This House
4. Rise
5. Wishing You Were Here
6. Hoodoo
7. (Meeting With) My Main Man
8. Back Where I Belong
9. My Right A.R.M.
10. Never To Late
11. Find Me

Disc 2 :

1. Take Of Me
2. Back Where I Belong (Polite Mix)
3. Back Where I Belong (Soft Mix)
4. Come Back Home
5. Hoodoo (Extended Version)
6. Hoodoo (Starlight Dub)
7. Hoodoo (Single Version)
8. Hoodoo (Instrumental)
9. It Won't Be Long (Live At The Town And Country Club, London 1991)
10. Wishing You were Here (Live At The Town And Country Club, London 1991)
11. Never Too Late (Live At The Town And Country Club, London 1991)
12. Find Me (Live At The Town And Country Club, London 1991)
13. (Meeting With) My Main Man (Live At The Town And Country Club, London 1991)
14. Dig A Hole (Demo)

Link:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B4QsqRn7cUfsWDVGSm8yQ0RiTG8

All Mixed Up! Volume 15 : George Michael - The Definitive 1982 - 2016 (Innervision / Epic / Sony / Virgin / Agean)

Following on from the tragic news that another of my lifelong heroes had passed away on Christmas Day 2016, it's taken me some time to actually take in the enormity of George Michael's death and realise how much of an impact he had on my life.

Along with Pete Burns passing in November 2016 both artists impacted my life immeasurably but in very different ways, the main connection being that they have created a soundtrack to my life from my childhood right through to the present. As with many other fans the feeling of loss is enormous. It feels like I've lost a close friend...

It's taken some time to do this but I felt the urge to make a compilation of George's finest works - starting with his earliest as one half of Wham! and then moving onward to his outstanding solo work which started with "Careless Whisper" in 1984 right up to the present day.

As a singer and songwriter George has left an outstanding legacy through his music, visuals and charity work. This musical genius will live on forever in my heart and hopefully yours as well.

Rest In Peace George.
You Have Been Loved.

Part One:

1. Wham! Rap (Enjoy What You Do?) (Unsocial Mix)
2. Young Guns (Go For It!) (12" Version)
3. Bad Boys (12" Mix)
4. Club Tropicana
5. Nothing Looks The Same In The Light
6. Blue (Armed With Love)
7. Wake Me Up Before You Go Go
8. Careless Whisper (Extended Mix)
9. Freedom (Long Version)
10. Last Christmas (Pudding Mix)
11. Everything She Wants (Remix)
12. Like A Baby

Part Two:

1. I'm Your Man (Extended Stimulation)
2. A Different Corner
3. Battlestations
4. Where Did You Heart Go?
5. The Edge Of Heaven
6. Wham! Rap '86
7. I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) (Duet With Aretha Franklin)
8. I Want Your Sex (Monogamy Mix)
9. Hard Day (The Shep Pettibone Mix)
10. Faith
11. Father Figure
12. One More Try
13. Monkey (Extended Remix)
14. Kissing A Fool

Part Three:

1. Praying For Time
2. Freedom '90
3. Waiting For That Day
4. Fantasy
5. Cowboys And Angels
6. Mothers Pride
7. Heal The Pain
8. Soul Free
9. Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me (Duet With Elton John)
10. Somebody To Love (With Queen)
11. Killer / Papa Was A Rollin' Stone
12. Too Funky (Extended Mix)

Part Four:

1. Jesus To A Child
2. Fastlove (Part II - Fully Extended Version)
3. Spinning The Wheel (Forthright Club Mix)
4. Older
5. I Can't Make You Love Me
6. You Have Been Loved
7. Star People '97 (Forthright Club Mix)
8. The Strangest Thing '97 (Radio Mix)
9. Outside
10. As (Jonathan Peters Extended Club Mix) (Duet With Mary J. Blige)
11. If I Told You That (Duet With Whitney Houston)

Part Five:

1. Freeek!
2. Shoot The Dog (Explicit Album Version)
3. Amazing (Full Intention Club Mix)
4. Flawless
5. Round Here
6. John And Elvis Are Dead
7. Roxanne
8. An Easier Affair
9. This Is Not Real Love (Duet With Mutya Buena)
10. Let Her Down Easy
11. White Light
12. December Song (I Dreamed Of Christmas)

Link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B83_lcjOnQkKbmxsb01tcUd6bEE?usp=sharing