A couple of weeks ago I went to the Leftfield concert with my friends Syreeta & Peter. While on the way there we were discussing my Top 10’s. Syreeta mentioned she was curious about my favorite parties I joined over the years. Quite the challenge since I started clubbing in the early nineties, and now 32 years later I still occasionally make some moves.
I am still working on a list, but there were just too many parties, and in some occassions my memory is a bit blurry. But I am working on a shortlist, and with still 40 days to go, that list will definately follow. We also discussed favorite venues, but I already did a list with favorite clubs earlier.
Anyway, on to today’s list. Last week I did a list of favorite record labels. Today I do a sort of follow up. Because some of these labels release very great mix cd’s. And some don’t. But today I had a look at my favorite mix cd series. Have to admit I have most of them only as mp3s. But that did not prevent them from becoming favorites.
1. Global Underground
One of the longest still active cd series. Started in 1996 with GU001 mixed by Tony de Vit. Recently GU045 mixed by Danny Tenaglia was releases. In between dj’s like Sasha, John Digweed, Deep Dish, Paul Oakenfold, Nick Warren and many others mixed one of these cd’s. I especially love those longboxes.
Since I already shared my favorite (GU013: Sasha – Ibiza) some more times. Let’s share another favorite today.
2. Pure Trance
The label and mix series from (Pure) Trance legend. He started his own movement with great succes. The basic recipe is one cd mixed by Solarstone, the 2nd (or 3rd) one mixed by guest dj’s like Gai Barone, Bryan Kearney, Giuseppe Ottaviani etc. Pure Trance 10 which came out last month contains 3 mixed mixed by the master himself.
3. Renaissance
This label started off in 11994 with the brilliant Renaissance Mix Collection by Sasha & Digweed. After that other cd’s were mixed by Dave Seaman, Robert Miles, Deep Dish & Nick Warren. While the label is still active, the latest mix cd seems to be some time ago.
4. Northern Exposure
Just a short series. Sasha & Digweed mixed all 3 of them. Through this mix series I got introduced to Sasha & Digweed. Got a CDR copy of one of those through a trade with a guy from the Orb mailing list. So this got me into the whole progressive trance thing.
5. Journeys by DJ
I shared my favorite DJD CD in an earlier blog: Dance Wars The Return Of Judge Jules Vs. John Kelly. But besides that one there are many more great mixes by dj’s like Coldcut, John Digweed (again), Justin Robertson und so weiter. The first JDJ mix was by Billy Nasty in 1993.
6. In Search of Sunrise
Another serie that is still going strong. Tiesto mixed the first 7, running from 1999 till 2008. After that Richard Durand and Markus Schulz took over. The 19th relaese just got released.
7. Trance World
Another great trance mix cd series. Between 2007 and 2013 18 mixes were done by trance heroes like Signum, Sean Tyas, Aly & Fila, M.I.K.E. and many more. My personal favorite is Trance World 5 from 2008, mixed by Robert Nickson.
8. The Annual
The Annual is a series from Ministry of Sound. Especially the first three mixes by Boy George & Pete Tong were great. Have to admit I lost track after that.
9. In Trance We Trust
Another long running mix series that is still going strong. This one featured dj’s like Misja Helsloot, Cor Fijneman and Mark Norman. My favorite is ITWT 003, mixed by Norwegian dj Lars Holte.
10. A State Of Trance Yearmix
Since 2004 dj Armin van Buuren presents his yearmix. Each edition a double cd with all the important releases from that year. Mixed Ben Liebrand style, short mixes and lots of tracks.