Frankie Knuckles ‎– Baby Wants To Ride / Your Love

Up until I heard this track, Frankie Knuckles was nothing but a legend in writing. Since I discovered House music many, many years after what many consider House to no longer be House, I suppose it points out that I have a genuine interest in what's going on on both sides of the fence.

I first heard "Your Love" whilst playing the infamous Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Hosted by an emotionally unstable German DJ by the name of Hans Oberlander, he referred to the performer of the track as "the Godfather of House Music, Herr Frankie Knuckles" before making it obvious that his recently-taken product was beginning to take effect. So, finally, I hear the legend with my own ears.

I thought the record was unusually simple in composition - compared to the overproduced material of today - but it seems the best concepts are the simple ones. Production-wise, the record is quite unique from its cousins of the time (c. 1989), Knuckles opting to use a somewhat more live, organic approach to the drums and using a less dense, more sparse bass line pattern. Kicking off with a vibrating synth, the track gradually builds and builds, bass lines climbing higher and higher, strings increasing in drama until the whole thing appropriately climaxes when the "I need your love, don't make me wait" vocals pulls everything together and leaves the listener with that famous "House is a feeling" after-effect.

So under rather bizarre circumstances, I was introduced to the legend which has, in turn, increased the depth of my own House feeling and opened up the door to discover other legendary producers.

The owner of Trax was renowned for using dodgy recycled vinyl which is why many of the original pressings are shocking!

I've never seen / heard an original pressing of this, but on this 2001 repress the track 'Your Love' doesn't appear to start correctly, and has a drop out a few seconds in.

'Baby Wants To Ride' manages to embrace sex, love and politics with its lyrics, and drive the dancefloor with its raw bassline.
'Your love' had been released a few years earlier on Persona Records and with its tale of desire for love, beautiful melodies, and almost sexually abiguous lyrics it was a breath of fresh air even on its second release on Trax records.
Both tracks on this 12" sound like they could well be unfinalised versions and have that classic 'Trax' sound. The pressing on my copy is okey but there are dropouts in the sound and crackles in all the right places.
This release was largely uncredited to 'Jamie Principle' with most people at the time, in the UK at least, thinking of it as a 'Frankie Knuckles' release. Both tracks heavily influenced the then emerging U.K Acid House scene, although it must be noted that neither of these is an Acid House record.
One thing that's often overlooked in the lyrics is the line "Jesse, I hate thieves" which refers to an earlier incident of 'Jesse Saunders' re-recording note for note 'Jamie Principle's' earlier track 'Waiting On My Angel'

This record has recently entered my all time top ten because of it's undenying power and beauty. It's unbelievably raw and incredibly funky, hypnotic and soulful. Don't be fooled into thinking this is a copy of the Candi Staton tune which was a very good & polished cover version. This is THE groundbreaking house classic produced by the TRUE godfather of house music, living legend Mr Frankie Knuckles. When you hear this record on the dancefloor it takes your breath away. Stunning house music for the soul. Thank You Frankie.