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Buyer Rating: 100.0% positive (30 ratings)

Arnold Jarvis - Take Some Time Out - 25-Feb-07 01:37 PM
Perhaps the finest Garage track ever! Probably one of the slowest Garage tracks but with an incredible bassline and superb Tommy Musto production. The horns on the Dub mix just keeping lifting the track into a higher orbit, without any need to artificially speed it up. And the vocals just sum up that incredible feeling and spirit of early House Music - spreading a universal message of sharing and loving, accompanied by a masterful soundtrack. A certified A1 five star Hacienda classic.

Graeme Park - 06-Sep-06 11:53 PM
Graeme Park or Parky as known to thousands of misty eyed devotees from 1988-95 was THE original British House DJs DJ. Along with Mike Pickering, he was the first British DJ to champion House Music in 85-87, long before Rampling, Oakenfold et al supposedly brought it back from Ibiza (& contrary to what the London-centric media would have you believe!). He was the first British DJ to really master the art of seamless mixing - which may not seem that great a feat nowadays. However back in the day when early House Music was making inroads into the UK club scene, most DJs couldnt mix to save their lives - the likes of Rampling, Oakenfold, Weatherall etc might have had an ear for a good tune but they were technically defunct. Park was a maestro for all up and coming budding DJs - Sasha, Garnier, Seaman and countless other DJs who listened to Park at the Hacienda in the early days will testify to that. What really set Parky apart from other DJs was the construction of his sets which always flowed so beautifully - almost like telling a story & he would mix vocals out of vocals seamlessly. Listen to DJs nowadays and anybody can mix beats after beats, but try mixing many of the classic vocal House & Garage records and get them to flow perfectly.

Parky used to sell mixtapes of his sets at the Hacienda from the DJ booth at the beginning of a night - the tapes were usually from the previous week. Thousands of lucky punters who have copies of many of these legendary tapes will testify what a fantastic DJ Graeme Park was. From the period 1988-1992, Graeme Park was without doubt THE GREATEST HOUSE DJ IN THE WORLD. This was confirmed by the fact that he won the prestigious DMC DJ of the year award in constant succession during these years. He broke so many fantastic records at the Hacienda during this period and many other DJs (Sasha included) followed his lead.
The fact that Graeme was such a humble down to earth guy, who would always spare the time for a chat at the DJ booth, and the fact that he wasnt a great self publicist or arrogant like so many other big name DJs, makes him a great DJ in my eyes. After Parky DJs got too big for their own boots and started believing they were some kind of demi gods - as Park himself said, "Im only a DJ playing other peoples records". However thats not to take away from the fact that he was an incredible DJ during his peak years at the Hacienda & he had many a big name American DJ eating out of the palm of his hands - legends such as Humphries, Knuckles and Morales all greatly respected and admired Graeme Park.

Although post 1995, Graeme for reasons only known to himself - probably due to the money from commercial radio and the fact that hed been there at the beginning of the dance music explosion & seen it & done it, started playing more and more obvious commerical dance music & lost his edge that made him such a great DJ. BUT the guy should be remembered as one of the finest British House DJs (if not the finest in my humble opinion) of his generation, who influenced and spawned a thousand imitators & spread the gospel of gorgeous, uplifting House Music to a generation that will never forget. RESPECT PARKY!

Gil Scott-Heron - 10-Dec-05 08:28 PM
Gil Scott-Heron is a poet come musical artist come political activist come founding father of socially conscious Hip Hop. His music encompassess Soul, Jazz, Blues, R NB.... His lyrical vision is incredibly powerful and poignant. The guy does not get the plaudits or the column inches as the Marvin Gayes, Stevie Wonders, Al Greens, Curtis Mayfields or Aretha Franklins - all great legendary artists but his phenomenal musical legacy is equally up there with all these names I have mentioned. His most famous song The Bottle rocked clubs such as The Paradise Garage and The Loft back in the day and continues to light up discerning dancefloors today. Check any of his albums from the 70s right thru to the mid-late 80s and you will find some of the greatest pieces of radical Black music of the last century. LEGEND - & THE ULTIMATE RESPECT IS DUE.

Aretha Franklin - Young, Gifted And Black - 05-Oct-05 06:01 PM
The Queen of Soul delivers a truly stunning album that is surely her finest and one of the greatest pieces of Soul music ever made. Arethas vocals on this album are breathtaking and incredibly moving. From the powerful black Soul power of Young, Gifted and Black, and the sweet soulful funk of Rock Steady right through to the stunning and mesmerising closing track that lifts your spirits through the sky Border Song (Holy Moses). This is essential and timeless Soul music.

Junior Murvin - Police And Thieves - 29-Sep-05 08:10 AM
One of the greatest Roots Reggae anthems of all time. Police & Thieves is a glorious piece of political/social commentary is true rastafarian style, mixed by the incomparable Lee Scratch Perry. Junior Murvins voice is achingly beautiful. Any self-respecting Reggae fan needs this record in their collection. ESSENTIAL & INSPIRING REGGAE MUSIC!

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