Category: Studio House Sets

In 2007, I wrote:

“i typically end my abrasively hard techno sets with a touch of trance, melodic techno, or progressive house, but sped up to fit the tempo of that night’s set. this mix is comprised of the tracks that i would put at the end of a techno set, but spun at the speed the producers intended, around 128bpm. you might not know that i grew up listening to progressive house. but when i began to DJ in 1993 i largely shunned it due to its overwhelming success, and my intense desire to stay true to the underground. but now that so much time has passed, i can look back and see that this style was indeed brilliant at times. here’s a group of luxurious tracks carefully selected to demonstrate how possible it is to create beautiful dance music. after recording this 2.5 hour set in the studio, i felt the tracks might be too long, that some needed to be edited down for time, that they took too long “getting to the point.” but then i listened to the final mix and realized it was actually perfect. the nice thing about this medium is that there are no time constraints. no commercials, no schedule, no program. super long blends that ride into oblivion. the art of the blend is becoming a lost one; people are starting to mix with ableton live or other such software, eliminating the need to keep two records going without slipping. at my age now, you might consider me old school. i recorded this the old fashioned way – through serato via my 1200s!”

recorded at triboro studio, nyc 10.2007

tracklisting:

The Gladiator – Soundtrack (J&S Project Meridium Mix) – White
Perasma – Swing 2 Harmony – Vendetta
Holden & Thompson – Nothing (93 Returning Mix) – Loaded
Karen Overton – Your Loving Arms – Ego Music
Benz & MD – Mar Del Plata (Dousk Elaborate Mix) – Aurium
Elevation & Kenneth Thomas – Preen 2006 – Electronic Elements
Pig & Dan – Decisions – Submission
Rico Puestel – Interstate West – Minimal Sound Noise
The Timewriter – Is This Life – Plastic City
Aerosoul – Time Is By Your Side (Cala Azul Remix) – T.U.S.O.M.
Delerium feat. Isabel Bayrakdarian – Angelicus (Redanka Remix) – Nettwerk
Wally Lopez – Dark Sweet Piano (Moussa Clarke Remix) – La Factoria
Nikola Gala – Blue Impulse – Subterra
Simon Pierce – I’m Yours – King Kong
Roisin Murphy – Overpowered (Seamus Haji Remix) – EMI UK
The Oval Five Project – Vertigo (Dylan’s :92 Remaster) – Gee Zone
Elton D – I’m Happy – Code
303F – Rising (Neo Mix) – 303F
Glenn Morrison – Hydrology – Mau5trap
Deadmau5 – Jaded – Mau5trap
Deadmau5 – Faxing Berlin (Chris Lake Edit) – Mau5trap
Satoshi Fumi pres. Deptech – Sweet Sensation – Klik
Vince Watson & Paul Mac – Track 2 – Influenced
outro

Valley Stream (2007)

Beach Party 4 (2007)

Good Morning! (2006)

Barbecue 6 (2006)

I couldn’t believe five whole years passed since I did the original Barbecue, but I was honestly having trouble finding tracks in that genre that matched the quality of the original. But there was still some excellent tracks coming out here and there, so I decided to showcase them before it got too late. Rereading my description from back then makes me laugh. I really am insane.

“hey girl! it sure has been a long time! you look good, girl. work them pumps! and your family looks good too, but yo sista looks like she put on a few! anyway grrl, put the kids on the swingset, cuz we have some shit to take care of, yes we do! oh and it looks like you’ve lost some weight too, but screw all that healthy stuff, cuz tonight imma fill yo ass with sweet potato pie, ribs, fried chicken, collard greens and save some room for my sweet lemon meringue pie. maya angelou would be proud, girl, she really would. oh, you wanted to know about these beats? well girl, let me tell you, these tracks are two and a half hours of some of the nastiest vocal jams to hit the streets from three years ago to three weeks ago. we just pick right up where we left off back in 01. now I know it’s hot as hell up in here but that don’t make no kinda difference. get yo ass out there on the patio and shake ya rump!”

recorded at triboro studio, nyc 03.2006

DB Boulevard – Point Of View (Stringapella) – Airplane
Gwen Stefani – Holla Back Girl (Dom’s Rmx) – White
Shawn Christopher – You Can Make It – Soulfuric
Mark Grant feat. Russoul – Girl With U – Blackstone
Melba Moore – My Heart Belongs To You – Soulfuric
Terri Walker – Whoopsie Daisy (Beginerz Rmx) – Mercury
Kloud 9 – So Many Reasons (Reel People Rmx) Copyright
Eddy Meets Yannah – Reach The Sky (Reel People Mix) – Compost
Jon Cutler feat. Pete Simpson – Runnin’ – MN2S
Soul Central feat. Diana Waite – Faith – Clean Cut
Soul Central feat. Diana Waite – Memories – Clean Cut
Usher – Caught Up (Kings Of Soul Mix) – White
Dom & Alex feat. Lelani – (You Are) Head Candy – Deft
Cue Kids feat. Paula Bernadel – Blue Mood – Peng
Blaze – Found Love – West End
Markus Enochson feat. Ingela Olsson – Listen For It – Ricanstruction
Franck Roger & M’Selem feat. Chris Wonder – Reason – Straight Up
So Much Love – White
Miami Collective feat. Oliver Cheatham & Jocelyn Brown – Mindbuster – Vocal
Kenshyro – Sky City (Marquito Rmx) – Map Dance
Laura Pausini – Escucha Atento (T&F vs Moltosugo Klub Mix) – Airplane!

Beach Party 3 (2006)

Enhanced (2005)

Undercover 4 (2005)

Beach Party 2 (2004)

Beach Party (2004)

Only Deep (2003)

Deep Outage (2003)

Double Miles (2002)

Gayclub (2001)

dd22 Reject (2001)

Barbecue (2001)

I never realized what a commotion this marathon vocal set would cause, but it ended up being one of my most memorable mixes. I had accumulated so many years worth of soulful vocal house and never had any true medium to bring it out, I just needed to let it out and create a mix of all of them. My favorite period in house music is the 90s, and before the next decade could really take hold just yet, I’m happy to have showcased some of my favorite soulful jams from that decade. Here’s the original description, written in my usual bizarrely creative style:

“hey girl! welcome to my brooklyn barbecue. it’s hotter than a bastard out here. you got your tetanus shots, right? for the next five and half hours you’ll understand the deep vocal jams that have been moving me as a native new yorker for the past ten years. scattered throughout the five parts will be old and new records – classics and new feelings all rolled up in one. disco, dubs, r&b, full on hoboken house, ibiza happy and everything in between. every song in this mix shares three things – vocals, soul and depth. i turned my record collection upside down for this project, so show your love!!”

part 1 – reunion

back to the basics. settle into the sounds you used to know. Darryl James on the midday mix on WBLS or Tony Humphries on Kiss FM, saturday nights at 4am, cruising down the belt in mom’s datsun. say hi to old friends and make a few new ones. watch your kids – make sure they don’t fall off the swing set. have a drink before dinner’s on. yo, was that an Anita Baker track?

Jamie Lewis feat. Michael Watford – For You – Deep Vision
Cleptomaniacs feat. Bryan Chambers – All I Do – Defected
Romanthony – Trust (Chandler dub) – Downtown 161
Al Kent – Back in Love – Million Dollar Disco
Nigel Hayes – Back Together – Sunshine
Homecookin’ – All About The Mind – Solevisions
PB & Co feat. Yvonne Brown – I’m in Love – Suburban
Fierce – Sweet Love – Wildstar
Billie – Come Along – Purple Music
95 North – Unbelievable – Vinylicious
Planet – Friday Nite – PandaMonium
WPA – Where Da Party At? – DJ Promo
The Factory – Do What You Feel – i!

part 2 – ribs

gather round the grill y’all cuz the ribs is on! we in the thick of it now. the saucy vocal jams of our past and present. grab a few paper towels – you’re bound to get a little messy. it’s too bad kraft had to discontinue that oven pit rib sauce, but this outta do. home is where the heart is.

Blaze – Home Is Where The Heart Is – Shelter
Phlash 3000 feat. Marcus Begg – Participate – Estereo
Indigo feat. Joy Malcolm – Fly to the Moon – Defender
Donell Jones – U Know What’s Up (Jeremy B mix) – LaFace
Brownstone – Pass the Lovin’ (Maurice Joshua mix) – Epic Street
Disco Anarchists – You Are Everything – white
Homecookin’ – Stay Away – Sole
Paula Ralph – Ain’t No Runnin’ Away – Estereo
Moments of Soul – Live My Life – Wave
Shazz feat. Alec C – Fallin’ In Love – Epic
Robyn – Good Thang – BMG
The Rurals – Sweeter Sound – Pêng
DSE – Bound – Mood Music

part 3 – macaroni & cheese

the perfect side dish to make it go down smooth. we take it down a notch and gives it to you a bit deeper still. make room on your plate for melodies made not only for the dance floor. now that’s nice.

George Levin – When I’m With You – Recreation
Lovebirds feat. Marie – Tweak – Trax of Interest
Jersey Street – Step into the Light – Glasgow Underground
Weekender – Spirit in Your Soul – Toko
Modaji – Into Something – Laws of Motion
Taana Gardener – Heartbeat (Touch of Class rmx) – West End
Gemo/Fabrice vs. Street Vibes – Walking – Disco Inn
Microman – Too Mankind – Ahab
Losoul – Lies – Classic
Bougie Soliterre – Superficial – Quiet Riot
Soldiers of Twilight – Feeling So High – What’s Up
Seal – Latest Craze – white

part 4 – watermelon

the meal is almost over, but the party isn’t. eat up your juicy dessert as you expose your ears to some of the vocal depth from across the atlantic. this one’s a bit happier and uplifting.

South St. Player – Who Keeps Changing Your Mind (Paul Harris mix) – Cream
Tom & Joyce – Vai Minha Tristeza – Wave
Warm – It’s In The Music – 3345
Only Paradise – You Got The Way – V2 Music
Pure – U & I – Atletico
Ricky Montanari feat. Lisa Millett – I Believe – Azuli
Groove On Da Rocks – La Bonba – GDR 2
Nova Fronteira feat. Guida de Palma – Supernova – Z
Deaf’n Dumb Crew – Feel The Funk – Riviera
Negrocan – Cada Vez – Swing City
Danny Tenaglia feat. Celeda – Music Is The Answer – Urban
Tony Esposito – Kalimba De Luna (Kamasutra mix) – DW Boys
Tony Esposito – Kalimba De Luna (Sebastian mix) – DW Boys
Electrix – Blame The Music – 3345

part 5 – sunset

can’t ever have enough of the local talent. as we say goodbye, here’s a handful of true classics for some perspective on how long we have come. love is the only way.

Presence feat. Shara Nelson – Sense Of Danger – Pagan
Yolanda Wyns – I Know You, I Live You – Suburban
Monday Michiru – Sunshine After The Rain – MAW
Abstract Truth – Get Another Plan – Streetwave
Can7 – Windjammer – ProgCity
Larry P. Rauson – Love Is The Only Way – Vinylicious
Tortured Soul feat. Christian Urich – I Might Do Something Wrong – Central Park
Sun Kidz feat. Chance – Rescue Me (MAW mix) – white
Kerri Chandler – Rain – Nervous
Lil’ Louis and the World – New Dance Beat – Polygram
Double Exposure – Ten Per Cent (Ken Lou mix) – Salsoul
Michael Jackson – Rock With You (Frankie’s Favorite Club mix) – Epic

Studio House Sets

Cosmic Spot Radio (Feb, 2023)

Down South (2013)

Eleganza 2 (2012)

Colors: West Side (2010)

Deep Cover (2010)

Valley Stream 2 (2009)

Beach Party 5 (2009)

Eleganza (2007)