This is side b to one of the best mixtapes I've ever owned.  Enjoy. [download - right-click (PC) or CTRL-click (Mac) > 'Save As'] [subscribe in iTunes] 1_ Earth People_  Dance 2_ Xpansions_  Move Your Body (Elevation) 3_ River Ocean_  Love & Happiness (Junior Boys Own Super Dub) 4_ Nu Yorican Soul_  The Nervous Track 5_ Afrodesiac_  Life In A Day 6_ A Man Called Adam_  Techno Powers 7_ M People_  Movin' On Up (MK Like a Man Dub) 8_ Barbara Tucker_  Beautiful People (C.J.'s Dub) 9_ Banji Boys_  Love Thang 10_ Intruder_  U Got Me 11_ Longsy D_  This Is Ska 12_ The Epitome of Hype_  Let The Freak 13_ M People_  Movin' On Up (Roger's Hardubb)

Hands down, this has to be one of the most influential mixtapes I ever had.  It's by a "DJ Happy", who I never heard of at the time and never heard of again.  However, the songs and the mixing on this recording are impeccable.  There are many classics and I spent hours digging in the crates to amass the vast majority of these songs.  If you ever wanted to take a peek into what inspired me as a young DJ, this is it. [download - right-click (PC) or CTRL-click (Mac) > 'Save As'] [subscribe in iTunes] 1_ ???_ Now Is The Time 2_ Shock Wave_  The Mental Track 3_ Lectroluv_  Dream Drums 4_ Joe T Vannelli_  Play With The Voice feat. Csilla 5_ River Ocean_  Love & Happiness 6_ Mr. Roy_  Something About You 7_ The African Dream_  All In The Same Family Unknown Accapella (never forget) 8_ ???_ ??? 9_ Bizarre Inc_  Took My Love (MK What Up Dub) 10_ Pleasure Dome_  12 Minutes To Do It 11_ DJ Duke_  Blow Your Whistle 12_ ??? - ??? 13_ Inner City_  Good Life

Three years is quite some time for a podcast to be dormant but OTBP lives on.  Volume 12 has arrived with several new tunes from the last several months.  A big shout out to LBS over at Pounds Not Ounces for getting me motivated to start the OTBP machine back up. The mix is completely focused on deep house--at a very methodical and calculated pace.  Enjoy. OTBP Vol. 012 "Chuva na Cidade" [download - right-click (PC) or CTRL-click (Mac) > 'Save As'] [subscribe in iTunes] 00:00_ Marquis Hawkes_ Behold I Send You Out 04:20_ Detroit Swindle_ Woman 07:20_ Crazy P_ Virtuality 11:35_ HNNY_ Tears & No Tears 15:30_ Fantastic Man_ Wie Gehts 18:18_ Mat_Joe_ Showtime 19:50_ Earth People_ Reach Up To Mars (Martian Mix) 24:50_ David August_ Music Is The Place To Be 30:05_ Intruder_ Ámame feat. Jei (Long Ass Mix) 34:25_ Simon Backer_ Arpy 2 37:00_ DJ Assassin_ A Face In The Crowd (Intellidred Mix) 39:05_ Audiojack_ Stay Glued (FCL Weemix) 40:30_ Butch_ No Worries 45:45_ The Mole_ Lockdown Party (Sprinkles' Crossfaderama) 48:48_ Junktion_ Her Groove 52:00_ Cuthead_ Maputo Jam 56:00_ Crazy P_ My Love 59:25_ Mark E_ RnB Drunkie 62:58_ Osborne_ All Night (Tuff Cit Kids Remix) 63:15_ Detroit Swindle_ Monkey Wrench 66:25_ Alfabet_ Roundabout 70:00_ Romanthony_ Trust (Motor City Drum Ensemble Deep Mix) 73:25_ Greg Porter_ 1960 What? 78:25_ Escort_ Barbarians (JKriv Remix) 80:25_ Tinpong_ New Religion (Marcus Marr Remix) 84:10_ KiNK_ Don't Stop 87:45_ Jungle By Night_ Marsvin (Kraak & Smaak Remix) 89:05_ Tiger & Woods_ Pitch 93:00_ CTEPEO '57_ Mono 66 96:45_ Seven Davis Jr_ All Kinds 98:15_ Jazzanova_ I Can See feat. Ben Westbeech (Konstatin Sibold Remix) 101:50_ Cuthead_ Brother 104:20_ Motor City Drum Ensemble_ Send a Prayer 2 108:35_ Junktion_ Ambiguous

After a one year hiatus on the blog, I'm proud to say that we're back in business.  There's no better way to kick things off than with the legends Masters at Work -- Kenny Dope and Little Louie Vega.  If there were a  House Music Hall of Fame, these guys would be charter members.  Earlier this year they performed at 103 Harriet in San Francisco, California.  Luckily Red Bull Music Academy recorded the set.  I have all three sets ready for your listening pleasure.  The mix starts out with many classic MAW tunes and then about 40% in, the set shifts to some newer tunes.  Overall it is an A+ performance in which I wish I were present at that party. Here's the synopsis from Amoeba: Their name says it all – Masters At Work. "Little Louie” Vega and Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez celebrate 20 years together, shepherding dance music down new paths with their inventive production style and imaginative feel for different musical forms. The two native New Yorkers have amassed an overwhelming body of work in that time, one that includes hundreds of original productions, remixes, and side projects, redefining the way we think of music in clubs. They defiantly mix everything they can find – house, hip-hop, funk, disco, Latin, African and jazz – into a universal groove. And in doing so, MAW has become a cultural mélange unto itself, emblematic of the multicultural society in which we live. ENJOY... Masters At Work :: Live @ 103 Harriet (part 3) [download - right-click (PC) or CTRL-click (Mac) > 'Save As'] [subscribe in iTunes]

After a one year hiatus on the blog, I'm proud to say that we're back in business.  There's no better way to kick things off than with the legends Masters at Work -- Kenny Dope and Little Louie Vega.  If there were a  House Music Hall of Fame, these guys would be charter members.  Earlier this year they performed at 103 Harriet in San Francisco, California.  Luckily Red Bull Music Academy recorded the set.  I have all three sets ready for your listening pleasure.  The mix starts out with many classic MAW tunes and then about 40% in, the set shifts to some newer tunes.  Overall it is an A+ performance in which I wish I were present at that party. Here's the synopsis from Amoeba: Their name says it all – Masters At Work. "Little Louie” Vega and Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez celebrate 20 years together, shepherding dance music down new paths with their inventive production style and imaginative feel for different musical forms. The two native New Yorkers have amassed an overwhelming body of work in that time, one that includes hundreds of original productions, remixes, and side projects, redefining the way we think of music in clubs. They defiantly mix everything they can find – house, hip-hop, funk, disco, Latin, African and jazz – into a universal groove. And in doing so, MAW has become a cultural mélange unto itself, emblematic of the multicultural society in which we live. ENJOY... Masters At Work :: Live @ 103 Harriet (part 2) [download - right-click (PC) or CTRL-click (Mac) > 'Save As'] [subscribe in iTunes]

After a one year hiatus on the blog, I'm proud to say that we're back in business.  There's no better way to kick things off than with the legends Masters at Work -- Kenny Dope and Little Louie Vega.  If there were a  House Music Hall of Fame, these guys would be charter members.  Earlier this year they performed at 103 Harriet in San Francisco, California.  Luckily Red Bull Music Academy recorded the set.  I have all three sets ready for your listening pleasure.  The mix starts out with many classic MAW tunes and then about 40% in, the set shifts to some newer tunes.  Overall it is an A+ performance in which I wish I were present at that party. Here's the synopsis from Amoeba: Their name says it all – Masters At Work. "Little Louie” Vega and Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez celebrate 20 years together, shepherding dance music down new paths with their inventive production style and imaginative feel for different musical forms. The two native New Yorkers have amassed an overwhelming body of work in that time, one that includes hundreds of original productions, remixes, and side projects, redefining the way we think of music in clubs. They defiantly mix everything they can find – house, hip-hop, funk, disco, Latin, African and jazz – into a universal groove. And in doing so, MAW has become a cultural mélange unto itself, emblematic of the multicultural society in which we live. ENJOY... Masters At Work :: Live @ 103 Harriet (part 1) [download - right-click (PC) or CTRL-click (Mac) > 'Save As'] [subscribe in iTunes]

I just finished listening to this mix for the first time in about 8 years...and all I can say is: WOW!  This is a hidden gem of a mix by LBS that may not be as famous as some of his others but is just as great.  It is a non-stop ride though, as LBS puts it, "the deeper side of house music... moody, hypnotic, and easy on the ears." Needless to say, I'm reposting this because it deserves more press. LBS :: Barely Audible Vol. 1 (2002) [download - right-click (PC) or CTRL-click (Mac) > 'Save As'] [subscribe in iTunes] 01. Aqua Bassino - Baby C'mon 02. David Holder - The House Negro 03. Kenny Dixon Jr. - January 04. The Rurals - Fallin 05. Solid Gold Playaz - I Wouldn't Stop There 06. Trackheadz - Our Music 07. DJ Oji & Una - We Lift Our Hands In The Sanctuary (Ron Trent Shelter Mix) 08. Jon Cutler - You Groove Me (Osunlade Mix) 09. Vincenzo - The Charmer 10. Brett Dancer - In Flight 11. BRS - House 12. Stephane Vera - Sitback 13. The Electric Circus - It's Magic 14. Urban Tribe - El Ritmo (Da Groove) 15. DJ Gregory - Damelo 16. 95 North - Te Quiero 17. Homecookin' - Bring Some 18. Moodymann - M Traxx

It's been 11 years to the month since this infamous 4 turntable live mix.  I thought it was definitely due for a repost or in DJ style a re-rewind...In fact there's history behind this recording from March of 2000. This mix was the very first collaboration between Avery & Johnson. After realizing what great musical chemistry they had between them, they soon formed a partnership which you now know as District Soul. So to say it was an important mix in lives of both us would be an understatement. The playlist below is a little more complicated than a typical one. What we did was represent what songs were being played during each track of the original CD that we distributed. Obviously since this is a continuous audio file format you won't have the advantage of using track numbers but it should be good enough as a general guide. A Little Bit Higher :: March 2000 [download - right-click (PC) or CTRL-click (Mac) > 'Save As'] [subscribe in iTunes] 1. The Songtress - Seeline Woman Feel the Beat (accapella) Ricard F Good Love (accapella) Bye-e-ya (accapella) 2. Lil' Louis - Clap Your Hands Johnny Corporate - Sunday Shoutin' 3. Johnny Corporate - Sunday Shoutin' Feel the Beat (accapella) A Man Called Adam - America 4. A Man Called Adam - America Johnny Corporate - Sunday Shoutin' Oscar G - Movin On D-d-d-da (accapella) 5. Oscar G - Movin On Roger Sanchez - I Never Knew 6. Abstract Truth - We Had a Thing Roger Sanchez - I Never Knew D-d-d-do (accapella) 7. The Deep - Dom Dom Jump D-d-d-do (accapella) Gene Farris - Summer Affair 8. Summerland - Soulmate Gene Farris - Summer Affair The Rurals - Corker 9. The Rurals - Corker Summerland - Soulmate Sunship - In the Pocket Jess & Crabbe. Big Booya Mike 303 - Things Never Change 10. Mike 303 - Things Never Change Joss & Crabbe - Big Booya Powder Productions - El Loco Armand Van Helden - Break The 80's 11. Lenny Fontana & DJ Shorty - Chocolate Sensation Armand Van Helden - Break The 80's 12. Powder Productions - EI Loco Lenny Fontana & DJ Shorty - Chocolate Sensation Armand Van Heiden - Break The 80's Move Your Body - (accapella) 13. Kings of Tomorrow - Fade to Black Move Your Body - (accapella) Derrick Carter - Get Up Everybody Tim Deluxe - I Know 14. Derrick Carter - Get Up Everybody Southern Comfort - Let's Go Disco Daft Punk - Burnin' 15. Tim Deluxe - I Know Daft Punk - Burnin' Southern Comfort - Let's Go Disco 16. Sounds of Blackness - The Pressure Vernessa Mitchell - Higher Southern Comfort - Let's Go Disco Bucketbootlegs - Five-Oh Fantasy

I definitely want to give some love to this recent post from LBS at pounds-not-ounces: I think every DJ who is into the "MAW" sound has attempted to do a tribute mix at some point in their life. With the amount of selections to choose from, and the variations of style within those selections, the mix will be filled with quality music no matter what...and even then, you've only touched the tip of the iceberg. I'm happy I did this in 2001 though, it was right after their switch into the "Elements Of Life" direction and therefore, an end to that driving sound that made them famous in the 1990's. Their hypnotic 5AM-esque dubby production style is a thing of the past, I guess everyone has to mellow out sooner or later... Masters At Work Tribute :: 2001 [download - right-click (PC) or CTRL-click (Mac) > 'Save As'] [subscribe in iTunes] 01. Masters At Work feat. India | I Can't Get No Sleep (Her Fantasy Mix) 02. Masters At Work feat. India | I Can't Get No Sleep (MK Dub) 03. Hardrive | Deep Inside (The Dub) 04. Lou2 | Freaky (The "Bar Heads" Mix) 05. Hardrive | No Cure 06. Masters At Work feat. India | La India Con La Voe (Viva Puerto Rico) (MAW Tribin') 07. Kenlou | What A Sensation (Sensational Mix) 08. Barbara Tucker | I Get Lifted (The Bar Dub) 09. Masters At Work | To Be In Love (MAW Dub) 10. Nuyorican Soul feat. India | Runaway (Spanish Underground Mix) 11. Nuyorican Soul feat. India | Runaway (Mongoloids In Space) 12. Gypsymen | Babarabatiri (Tee's Latin Mix) 13. "Little" Louie Vega feat. Arnold Jarvis | Life Goes On (Dance Ritual Mix) 14. Kenny Bobien | Rise Above The Storm (Vocal) 15. Mondo Grosso | Vibe PM (Masters At Work Remix)

Like I was mention in a previous post, I have no idea what's with the decimal number system when it comes to the Free Form series.  What I do know is that the number 2, 3, and 7 are quite significant to Mr. Lee so you figure it out from there.  I was quite happy when he dropped this mix in my hands a couple years ago.  It had been quite some time since I heard him rock out his patented house style.  When I listen to this mix, it reminds me of when I first started DJing with Johnson back in 2000.  It's got that uptempo energy that makes you just want to be on that dark dance floor with lights strobing on and off as you dance 'til the wee hours of the morning.  Two thumbs up for Johnson on this one. Free Form 27.3 :: 2009 [download - right-click (PC) or CTRL-click (Mac) > 'Save As'] [subscribe in iTunes]