Mixmaster, The - Grand Piano

Genre:
Electronic
Style:
House
Year:
1989

Tracklist

Grand Piano (12" Version) 6:05
Grand Piano (7" Version) 3:47
Piano Groove (12" Version) 5:10

Versions

Title, FormatLabelCat#CountryYear
Grand Piano (12") ARS Productions ARS 3749 Belgium 1989
Grand Piano (12") BCM Records (UK) Ltd., BCM Records BCM 344 X, BCM 12344 Europe 1989
Grand Piano (12") Blanco Y Negro (2) MX 229 Spain 1989
Grand Piano (12") Out OUT 3247 Italy 1989
Grand Piano (12") Yo! (2) 876 579-1 France 1989
Grand Piano (7") BCM Records BCM 07344 Germany 1989
Grand Piano (7") Phonogram 876 578-7 France 1989
Grand Piano (7") ARS Productions ARS 1749 Belgium 1989
Grand Piano (7") BCM Records (UK) Ltd., BCM Records BCM 344, BCM 07344 UK 1989
Grand Piano (7") Mega Records MRCS 2431 Germany 1989
Grand Piano (7", S/Sided, Promo) Blanco Y Negro (2) BNS-229 Spain 1989
Grand Piano (CD, Maxi) BCM Records BCM 20344 UK 1989
Grand Piano (12", Promo) Pandisc PD-053 US 1990
▸ show all 3 reviews

Reviews & Discussion

Review by Alain_Patrick Aug 26, 2007 (edited over 2 years ago)

referencing Grand Piano, 12", BCM 344 X, BCM 12344

In 1989, it was the Italo-House era, and Daniele Davoli, who was also behind the fine Black Box, used an incredible combination of quotes on "Piano Groove", a Samplemania anthem: this B side tune became instantly a club hit, played on several Countries all over the World.

The fragments of what constituted this dance fever could easily explain the reason why it was a so huge success.
With an amazing speech on the opening, "Hello, what do you think about the women liberation? Wait a minute! Heather!", which seems to be from someone with the calibre of James Brown, this construction of legendary pieces start amazingly (Mr. Dynamite, with "Hit me!", appears lately on this tune, by the way).

The ouverture sequence has the famous "I got ya!" (another James Brown clichê) - used also on a Westbam track years later, and then the main piano line made by - guess who - the Chicago House pioneers guys from Phortune (DJ Pierre, and the keyboardists Darryl & Herb. DJ Pierre even confessed about seventeen years later that he didn't knew about the "Grand Piano" existance).

This piano line seemed enough to create that aura around the track - not to mention the incredible quote by Disco diva star Loleatta Holloway, "It's such a... Good vibration!" with a "Don't stop!" repetition on the sequence.

An amazing queue of other samples on the tune suggests that Davoli's intention was to build up something special with the history of dance music within - from ‘West Phillips – Tell Me’ to ‘Coldcut & Lisa Stansfield - People Hold On’ with "Tell me! Tell me!" to the famous words by Kool Rock Steady on Tyree's 'Turn Up The Bass' ("Tyree Cooper! The producer! Awesome super-dooper-trooper!", and then "Make the bass - The boy is bangin'!").

Another House classic by Ralphi Rosario with Kenny Jammin Jason & vocalist Xaviera Gold was sampled - "You Used To Hold Me!", as well as "I remember that you would say... That you would love me, in every way (...)", and brilliantly mixed together with a original Detroit groove structure made by Kevin Saunderson, 'Liaz - House Sensation' with an effect by 'Candido - Jingo'; later, another passage of a Master Reese tune appears: Simianne's vocals "Definition Of Love!" from his project Kaos.

Even the fragment of Sylvester's scream "Yeaaaaaahhh!" from 'You Make Me Feel' is present on this oeuvre, whose references from the past seem to be endless (not to mention Run DMC's classic MC classic "Ah yeah! Check this out!")
The amount of samples is just so extense that it is almost impossible to list them all.
Enjoy the Piano Groove.
Review by BomberOne Jul 21, 2006 (edited over 3 years ago)

referencing Grand Piano, 12", 876 579-1

Take a classic Chicago House piano riff, mix it up with the piano line of "People Hold On" (Lisa Standfield & Coldcut) and add various samples taken in several Chicago Hits, and boom, you got it!
This does not take away the fact that this said, it was, and still is a marvelously energetic piano house anthem, and a vibrant picture of 89.
B)side is just boring.
Rated 5/5
Review by DJTURN Nov 01, 2002

referencing Grand Piano, 12", BCM 344 X, BCM 12344

This album actually became a classic a few years after it was released (early 90's.) I remember at one time, used copies were being sold for about $30, in the special record store "display case." This is THE piano house jam.
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Master Release

Shortcut Code: [m118020]
Data Quality Rating: Needs Vote

Ratings

3.68 / 5 (142 votes)

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