OTBP :: The Show

It's about that time for OTBP to drop the next Free Form jewel.  'A Weekend With Gus' has to mean that you are in store for non-stop audible bliss.  Gus is definitely a DC legend and to have a mix involving Gus guarantees a real experience.  (I know that doesn't help many of you out there that don't know the legend of Gus but you'll have to trust me on this one.)  I just got done listening to this mix for the first time in about 5 years.  Have to say that I was blown away.  I really wish I had the track titles so I could give my take on the journey blow by blow...but alas it's a Free Form mix and that means the playlist is all in the mind of the listener.  What I can tell you is that there's some serious sampling, djing, and a vibe that brings you through a cloud of jazz, lounge, experimental, and who knows what I should call it.  Download it now. Free Form 24 :: 2005 [download - right-click (PC) or CTRL-click (Mac) > 'Save As'] [subscribe in iTunes]

For those of you keeping track out there in the blogosphere and who are down right detail oriented, you may have noticed that there was never a "Volume 5" of OTBP released.  After some digging through the archives from the studios in Abuja, Nigeria, I finally located the very first mix intended for OTBP.  It was originally recorded January 20th, 2008 but I'm bringing it to you now as the missing OTBP mix. Across the two plus hours of this show, you ride a wave of deep, garage, and broken beat house music.  The songs are mainly from the beginning of the decade of the 2000s.  So with that... I guess the message is that "Volume 5" is better late than never. OTBP Vol. 005 "The Lost Abuja Mix" [download - right-click (PC) or CTRL-click (Mac) > 'Save As'] [subscribe in iTunes] 01.  Mike Dixon | Love Is... 02.  The Magi | My Heart Skips 03.  Miss Me | Surprise Me (Frantz Kromer dub) 04.  Norma Jean Bell | Dreams 05.  Pound Boys vs. Martello Bros. | Jack It Up (Johnny Corporate Dub) 06.  Erro | Change For Me (Freestyle Remix) 07.  Zap Mama | Nostalgie Amoureuse 08.  Monday Michiru | Higher (dub) 09.  James Perri | Power 10.  The Rurals | I'm Lost 11.  Mr. V | This Is The Way We Dance 12.  Natural Rhythm | Go Chica Go 13.  No Assembly Firm | Rebels With A Cause 14.  Mr. Scruff & Swell Sessions | No No 15.  Moodymann | The Thief That Stole My Bad Days 16.  The Rurals | Lush (95 North TLC Mix) 17.  Martin Solveig & Stephy Haïk | Cabo Parano 18.  Ulysses | But I'm Trying (Club Mix) 19.  Michelle Shaprow | If I Lost You (Scuba Mix) 20.  Global Soul | Look Into Yourself (Seiji Remix) 21.  Steppah Huntah | Walk This Step (Seiji's Black Forest Gateaux) 22.  Da Lata | Serious (Seiji Vocal) 23.  Jazzanova | Boom Clicky Boom Clack (Mr. Scruff Vocal Mix) 24.  Soulstance | En Route 25.  The Saint | Another Day 26.  Brian Harden | Is It All From My Baby 27.  Corel Chiefs | Release Me 28.  Gemini | Where Do I Go 29.  Akufen | **unkown** 30.  Brian Jones - Chicago Jack 31.  Timmy Vegas | Call My Name (Knee Deep Dub) 32.  No Assembly Firm | Influence In Numbers 33.  No Assembly Required | All Jacked Up 34.  Stephanie Cooke | Everything (95 North Mix)

This edition of the Free Form series is a very special one indeed.  On March 3rd, 2005 Johnson spun live at the famous 18th Street Lounge in DC.  As far as I know, this is the only live set captured in the Free Form series.  It's been a while since I last listened to this fabulous mix of lounge and downtempo music.  From beginning to end, it's the type of music that you could just imagine a dimly lit, smokey lounge with people chillin' out with their heads nodding.  Unfortunately for me, I wasn't in the U.S. when he played live.  So now you can go back in time via OTBP to recapture the fun. Free Form 23.7 :: March 3, 2005 [download - right-click (PC) or CTRL-click (Mac) > 'Save As'] [subscribe in iTunes]

Good news everyone, LBS has posted another one of his mixes from some years back.  Here's what he wrote: Back in 2005 there was this guy named Fitsum who was a great photographer, designer, and all around interesting guy to have a beer with (I don't know why I'm talking of him in the past tense cause he's still alive)... We shared thoughts on music, shots of GM, and whatever we felt like spilling out of our brains whenever we ran into each other. At the time he was kinda throwing some parties at some local dives in DC and had put together a mini-website dedicated to music not of the norm and asked me to do a couple of mini-mixes for him. Here are both of them merged into one mix, each was originally 20 minutes or so, and running the spectrum of headphone nodders (Platinum Pied Pipers, Roy Ayers, MF Doom, Massive Attack, Rah Digga, Marvin Gaye, Junior Murvin, Edan, Brand New Heavies, Moodymann, etc.). Not alot of mixing involved here, just some good driving and pre-game music... The website is still up if you wanan check it out, and has a bunch of other mixes from DC djs that were hanging/mixing back in those days...good stuff for sure. Sacriforced 1 & 2 :: 2005 [download - right-click (PC) or CTRL-click (Mac) > 'Save As'] [subscribe in iTunes]

What can I say but that I'm very excited to have the latest mix from DC legend Ivan G.  He left DC some years back and is doing his thing in sunny San Diego.  You can catch him at several local venues there.  If you are looking for more of his recent work, please check his Soundcloud page.  I can attest that Ivan is one of the unsung heroes of the DC scene.  Back when I first started going out to parties and clubs in the early 90s, Ivan was always playing somewhere.  I remember him back in the days of his big afro and him bouncing up and down behind the decks as he dropped jam after jam.  I'm very happy to see him still spreading the love through his music. Unfortunately, I do not have a playlist for this beauty but don't fret because you can take my word that if you are yearning for some solid beats and no joke house, this is it. Beats and Spirits :: February 2011 [download - right-click (PC) or CTRL-click (Mac) > 'Save As'] [subscribe in iTunes]

This is a very special edition of OTBP.  It is not for the faint of heart nor those looking for some smooth house grooves or laid back lounge music.  This episode I focus on that which we call "Breaks, Breakbeat, Funky Breaks, etc."  The majority of these tracks were released between 1989-1995.  These were the tunes driving the underground rave scene across the United States and Britain.  You would hear DJs such as DJ Dan, Scott Henry, John Debo, DJ Icee, & DJ Spun rocking these tunes.  In roughly an hour and half, I've run through 30+ of the tracks that were prevalent during this era.  Because of this, I don't really think I can highlight the big tracks since all of these were pretty much hits in the scene.  So again, if you are ready to take a trip in the "Way Back Machine", download, sit back relax, press play, and enjoy.  If breakbeat ain't your thing, then it's best that you wait for the next edition of OTBP...but why not take a chance and expand your horizons??!! OTBP Vol. 011 "Break Into The Past" [download - right-click (PC) or CTRL-click (Mac) > 'Save As'] [subscribe in iTunes] 01.  Badboe | Loose Your Funky Self 02.  Franky Bones | At My House 03.  V.I.M. | Maggie's Last Party 04.  Nation 12 | Listen To The Drummer 05.  Bad Boy Orchestra | Hip Hop Salsa (dub) 06.  Faithhealer | Wicked Vibes 07.  Cheeky Boy | Once In A Plastic Time 08.  SL2 | On A Ragga Tip 09.  SL2 | Way In My Brain (remix) 10.  Kaotic Chemistry | Space Cakes 11.  Kaotic Chemistry | Illegal Subs 12.  Krome & Time | This Sound Is For The Underground (E.5 Remix) 13.  The Prodigy | Out Of Space 14.  Acen | Trip II The Moon Part 2 15.  DJ Seduction | Live Together (SL2 Remix) 16.  Ellis Dee | Nice Up Your Scene 17.  Origin Unknown | Valley Of The Shadows (31 Seconds) 18.  DJ Ruffneck | Biznizz (Midifusion Mix) 19.  Bassbin Twins | EP1 Untitled A1 20.  Awesome 3 | Don't Go (Kicks Like A Mule Mix) 21.  Sonz Of A Loop Da Loop Era | Far Out 22.  DJ Rap | Divine Rhythm 23.  Anoesis | Heavy Water 24.  D.O.P. | Electronic Funk 25.  John Debo | Uh-Yeah (Debo's Culture Mix) 26.  Bassbin Twins | A1 Love Is A Superstar (Extended Mix) 27.  Da Juice | C'mon C'mon 28.  BBR Streetgang | Sex You Down (Mike Wertheim Remix) 29.  Blapps Posse | Bus'It (Time To Get Busy) 30.  The Break Boys | My House Is Your House 31.  N-Joi | Phoenix (Remix) 32.  Rhythm Warfare | Two Notches (Warfare Mix) 33.  Central Fire | Central Fire (Remix) 34.  DJ Icee | Bonus Love

It's time for another Free Form jewel.  Edition 14 brings Johnson's infamous house sound back to the fray but intermixed with jazz, drum and bass, lounge, and funky breaks, too.  While it's only 48 minutes long, he gives you a glimpse into one of his authentic 4 hour live sets.  It's another keeper indeed. Free Form 14 - 2003 [download - right-click (PC) or CTRL-click (Mac) > 'Save As'] [subscribe in iTunes]

This mix is where Johnson starts his decimal numbering system for his Free Form series that I've never understood to this day.  That aside, it's another eclectic gem indeed.  It starts off with Depeche Mode, transitions to some Bossa Nova, next moves on to Sting, and what do you know, it's into some funk flavor.  That introduction alone shows you how the mix just keeps you your toes from beginning to end. Free Form 13.2 - 2003 [download - right-click (PC) or CTRL-click (Mac) > 'Save As'] [subscribe in iTunes]

This is a relatively new mix from Crazy P.  I brought you a live mix from Crazy P a couple months ago that was unbelievable.  Well this one is right up there in quality as well.  To tell you the truth, this mix is the style of music that's hitting home for me right now.  It's pretty deep, funky, and down right groovy.  I've been jamming out to it for the past few days.  I think it's time to start scouring for more mixes from the P! Mulletover - January 2011 [download - right-click (PC) or CTRL-click (Mac) > 'Save As'] [subscribe in iTunes]

It's been a couple months since our last release of Johnson's infamous Free Form series.  The whole motif on this mix is haunting and eerie.  It's definitely a sit back, relax, listen, enjoy, press rewind, and play again type of mix. Free Form 13 - 2003 [download - right-click (PC) or CTRL-click (Mac) > 'Save As'] [subscribe in iTunes]