DJ SAN FRAN In The Mix

Sunday, January 8, 2017

CD Review: Defected presents House Masters - Heller & Farley

Pete Heller and Terry Farley are UK House Pioneers, with a lengthy string of productions and remixes from their own underground productions on Junior Boys Own/JBO to club moving remixes for more mainstream Pop & R&B artists like Louise, Lisa Stansfield and Janet Jackson. As part of the House Masters series, Defected Records has released a 3 CD compilation featuring 30 tracks full of Heller & Farley goodness.

Personally chosen by Terry and Pete themselves, CD 1 and CD 2 feature specially selected remixes and dubs of major-label and underground artists done over their career. CD 3 features productions that were created by Farley & Heller themselves, under their Fire Island / Roach Motel / Heller & Farley monikers.

Highlights of CD 1 include the Fire Island remix of Ultra Nate's "How Long", the groove of which was the basis for the even more successful "Ultra Flava"; their radical re-working of Happy Monday's "Stinkin' Thinkin'" which turned the mild alt-rock groove into a Madchester House stomper; plus their classic remix of New Order's "Regret", with its funky grand piano solo.

CD 2 features a new 2016 reworking of "Ultra Flava", in lieu of the original version; the rare promo-only Zooromancer remix of "Salome" by U2; as well as my personal favourite, the Fire Island remix of Mone's "Movin'".

Even with the extended playing times on each CD, this edition of House Masters is just a beginner's taste of the brilliance of the Farley & Heller sound, and will hopefully lead the listener to delve further into their catalog of remixes and productions. There are so many classic remixes not included here that would probably require at least 2 or 3 more volumes of House Masters!

The CDs are packaged in a triple gatefold cardboard digipack case with only the track listings and credits inside. It would have been wonderful to have proper liner notes from Terry and Pete about each track and their comments on the production and what made them so special to be included in this compilation.

Also available as a digital release, the physical CD and digital versions do differ in a major way - all the big name artists on CD 1 and CD 2 - including Ultra Nate, Danny Tenaglia, Happy Mondays, Terry Callier, New Order, Simply Red and Michael Watford, have been removed from the digital version, replaced with alternate Heller & Farley tracks and remixes of F&H tracks by other producers including Joey Negro and Murk.

Note that the First Pressing of this CD release has a number of errors - CD 2 of the physical version is mispressed - GusGus "VIP" is not the Fire Island Dub, but actually the Masters At Work Vocal Mix! Terry Farley confirmed to me on Twitter that this is a known error on the first edition of the CD version. Also, as Jason Whittaker mentioned in his review on Medium, a number of the tracks are edited and/or transferred from inferior vinyl sources instead of the original master tapes or pre-existing digital masters. Hopefully these issues will be rectified on a subsequent 2nd pressing of the CD. The Digital Edition does have the correct version of VIP.

Unfortunate flaws aside, this is another welcome addition to the House Masters series and I highly recommend it for those who want a great career overview of the Heller & Farley sound. Essential Listening!

Defected presents House Masters - Heller & Farley

Tracklist

CD 1
01. Ultra Nate 'How Long' (Fire Island Remix)
02. Danny Tenaglia 'Music Is The Answer (Dancin’ & Prancin’)'
(Fire Island’s ‘La Musica Es La Respuesta’)
03. Happy Mondays 'Stinkin' Thinkin' (Junior Style Mix)
04. Jasper Street Co. 'A Feelin' (Heller & Farley Project Remix)
05. Tension 'A Place Called Heaven' (Fire Island Mix)
06. Junior Vasquez 'Get Your Hands Off My Man' (Fire Island Dub 4 Junior)
07. Terry Callier 'I Don't Want To See Myself (Without You)' (Heller & Farley Saturday In Chicago Mix)
08. Funky Green Dogs 'The Way' (The Way Into The Roach Motel)
09. New Order 'Regret' (Fire Island Mix)
10. Robert Owens 'Was I Here Before' (Fire Island Vocal)

CD 2
01. The Heller & Farley Project 'Ultra Flava' (2016 Version)
02. U2 'Salome' (Zooromancer Remix)
03. Simply Red 'Money’s Too Tight (To Mention)' (Fire Island Vox Remix)
04. DSK 'What Would We Do' (Eight Minutes Of Madness Mix)
05. Michael Watford 'Love To The World' (Fire Island Remix)
06. Gus Gus 'VIP' (Fire Island Dub)
07. Product Of Da Neighbourhood 'Living In Brooklyn' (Roach Motel Dub)
08. Moné 'Movin’ (Fire Island Mix)
09. The Believers 'Who Dares To Believe In Me?' (Roach Motel Dub)
10. Robert Owens 'Ordinary People' (Roaching The Bass Bin)

CD 3
01. Roach Motel 'Movin On' (Correct House Mix)
02. Fire Island feat. Mark Anthoni 'If You Should Need A Friend' (Fire Island Club Mix)
03. Fire Island feat. Love Nelson 'There But For The Grace of God'
(Original Live ‘N’ Funky Mix)
04. Fire Island feat. Ricardo Da Force 'Fire Island'
05. Heller & Farley 'The Rising Sun' (Summer Luv Rite)
06. Fire Island 'In Your Bones'
07. The Heller & Farley Project feat. Cevin Fisher 'We Built This House'
(Fire Island Mix)
08. Roach Motel 'Wild Luv' (Original Mix)
09. Roach Motel 'The Night' (Deep Nite Mix)
10. Fire Island 'White Powder Dreams' (Fire Island Vocal Mix)

Digital Version:
Same tracklisting as above except for the following:
CD 1 - Tracks 1, 2, 3, 7 & 8 and CD 2 - Tracks 3 & 5 are removed and replaced at the end with the following tracks instead:

01. Black Science Orchestra - Sunshine (Farley and Heller's Faith on a Sunday Vocal)
02. Roach Motel - Trouble
03. Roach Motel - Musica Loco
04. Fire Island - If You Should Need A Friend (feat. Mark Anthoni) (Sound Factory Dub)
05. Fire Island - There But For The Grace Of God (feat. Love Nelson) (Joey Negro Mix)
06. Heller & Farley Project - We Built This House (feat. Cevin Fisher) (Roach Motel Dub)
07. Fire Island - White Powder Dreams (Murk Vocal Mix)

Saturday, April 16, 2016

J-MIX LIVE Part 3 - Japanese Pop + R&B Selected & Mixed by DJ San Fran

J-MIX LIVE Part 3 - Japanese (& Korean) Pop + R&B Selected & Mixed by DJ San Fran
featuring 東方神起 TOHOSHINKI, BIGBANG, BoA, 2NE1 + more!

TRACKLISTING

01. 東方神起 TOHOSHINKI – 呪文 ~Mirotic~
02. DJ KAORI feat. JAY'ED – You're the only one
03. 2NE1 – 날 따라 해봐요 (Follow Me)
04. BIG BANG – ガラガラ Go!!
05. CL & Minzy - Please Don't Go
06. JAY'ED – Can't Let Go
07. BoA – ID: Peace B (Shinichi Osawa Mix)
08. MISIA – 忘れない日々 (Hex Hector Remix)
09. 浜崎あゆみ – M (Above and Beyond Vocal Mix)

Selected & Mixed with love by DJ SAN FRAN (Toronto, Canada)
For Promotional Use Only

J-MIX LIVE Part 2 - Japanese Pop + Dance Selected & Mixed by DJ San Fran

J-MIX LIVE Part 2 - Japanese Pop + Dance Selected & Mixed by DJ San Fran

01. 安室奈美恵 Namie Amuro – what a feeling
02. 浜崎あゆみ Ayumi Hamasaki – INSPIRE x ARMAND VAN HELDEN REMIX
03. AMI SUZUKI joins CAPTAIN FUNK - THe WeekeND
04. Lady GaGa – Bad Romance (DJ Dan Dub)
05. MISIA – CATCH THE RAINBOW (THE LOWBROWS "'Turn Up The Bass" Mix)
06. Black Eyed Peas - Meet Me Halfway (Richard Vission Solmatic Remix)
07. Richard Grey – The Weekend (DAISHI DANCE BOOTLEG Mix)
08. ravex – Golden LUV feat. MAKI GOTO
09. David Guetta feat. Estelle - One Love (Chuckie & Fatman Scoop Remix)

Selected and Mixed with Love by DJ San Fran (Toronto, Canada)
For Promotional Use Only

Friday, April 15, 2016

J-MIX LIVE Part 1 - Japanese Pop + R&B Selected & Mixed by DJ San Fran

J-MIX LIVE Part 1 - Japanese Pop + R&B Selected & Mixed by DJ SAN FRAN

01. JASMINE - Sad To Say
02. m-flo - saywhatchugotta (Rae & Christian Remix)
03. Crystal Kay - Ex-Boyfriend feat. VERBAL (m-flo)
04. SOULHEAD - AT THE PARTY reworked by OCTOPUSSY
05. CHEMISTRY - It Takes Two (OCTOPUSSY Remix feat. LISA)
06. Palm Drive feat. BoA & FirstKlas - Holiday
07. DOUBLE - You Got To feat. S-WORD
08. Crystal Kay - Konnani Chikaku De...
09. BoA - Eien

Selected & Mixed with Love by DJ SAN FRAN (Toronto, Canada)
For Promotional Use Only

Monday, February 15, 2016

BURN DOWN THE DISCO - Side B - Selected & Mixed by DJ San Fran

DJ SAN FRAN presents BURN DOWN THE DISCO - Side B

Remastered in 2016 from the original DAT tape

TRACKLISTING:
01. Ali - Love Letters (Todd Edwards Mix)
02. Mantra ft. Lydia Rhodes - Away (Todd Edwards Remix)
03. Two Tons Of Fun - Do You Wanna Boogie (BBE / Music Works Re-Edit)
04. Bob Sinclar - Gym Tonic (Thomas Bangalter Remix)
05. Dimitri From Paris - Ca Chauffe
06. Stardust - Music Sounds Better With You (Bibi & Dim's Anthem From Paris Mix)
07. Scott Grooves - Mothership Reconnection (Daft Punk Mix)
08. Armand Van Helden feat. Duane Harden - You Don't Know Me

Selected & Mixed with Love by DJ San Fran (Toronto, Canada)
For Promotional Use Only.

BURN DOWN THE DISCO - Side A - Selected & Mixed by DJ San Fran

DJ SAN FRAN presents BURN DOWN THE DISCO - Side A

Newly Remastered from the original DAT tape for 2016

TRACKLISTING:
01. Blue 6 - Sweeter Love
02. Abstract Truth - (We Had) A Thing
03. Incognito - Nights Over Egypt (MAW Mix)
04. Sao Paulo - Be Yourself Be Free (Joey Negro Sunburst Mix)
05. Nick Holder - Da Sambafrique
06. Ruffneck feat. Yavahn - Baby You (Choo Choo For The Headstrong Dub)
07. Basement Jaxx - Rendez-Vu
08. Chezere - Where Does Your Mind Go? (Roy Davis Jr. Remix)
09. Daddy's Favourite - I Feel Good Things For You

Selected & Mixed with love by DJ San Fran (Toronto, Canada)
For Promotional Use Only

STEPPER'S DELIGHT - 2-Step & UK Garage Classics Mixed by DJ SAN FRAN

STEPPER'S DELIGHT - 2-Step & UK Garage Classics mixed by DJ SAN FRAN

Featuring 2-Step/UK Garage remixes of tracks from So Solid Crew, Mariah Carey, Usher, Tina Moore, Artful Dodger, Fatboy Slim and more!

TRACKLISTING:
01. Usher - U Got It Bad (Soulshock & Karlin 2-Step Remix)
02. Mariah Carey - Loverboy (MJ Cole Vocal Mix)
03. Mariah Carey - Loverboy (MJ Cole London Dub)
04. So Solid Crew - Envy (They Don't Know Remix feat. Ms. Dynamite)
05. Artful Dodger feat. Melanie Blatt - TwentyFourSeven (Another Dub-A-Holics Injection Vocal feat. Miss Shortie-E)
06. DJ Pied Pier & The Masters Of Ceremonies - Do You Really Like It? (Sovereign Remix)
07. Phaze One - Nicole's Groove (Full Length MC Mix)
08. Tina Moore - Nobody Better (Dem 2's Luv Unlimited Mix)
09. Michael Moog - That Sound (Marvel & Eli's Vocal Remix)
10. Lonyo - In Ayia Napa (Todd Edwards Perfect Paradise Vocal)
11. Basement Jaxx - Jus 1 Kiss (Sunship Remix)
12. Fatboy Slim feat. Macy Gray - Demons (Stanton Warriors Vocal Remix)

Selected & Mixed with Love by DJ San Fran (Toronto, Canada)
For Promotional Use Only

DJ San Fran Live at Ciao Edie - Part 3 - In The House

Recorded live at Ciao Edie, Part 3 of this mix is all about Funky Disco House!

TRACKLISTING:

01. SummerHeadz vs. Michael Jackson - Get On The Floor
02. Cerrone feat. Jocelyn Brown - Hooked On You (Jamie Lewis Remix)
03. Seawind Project feat. Emily McEwan - Free (Knee Deep Classic Mix)
04. Martin Solveig - I'm A Good Man
05. DirtDiggers vs. Snoop Dogg - Let's Get Blown (DirtDiggers 'Crowd Pleaser' Main Mix)
06. DirtDiggers vs. Snoop Dogg - Signs (DirtDiggers 'Crowd Pleaser' Club Mix)
07. Blaze presents Underground Dance Artists United For Life ‎featuring Barbara Tucker – Most Precious Love (DF's Future 3000 Mix)
08. Wahoo - Make 'Em Shake It
09. Yves LaRock - Zookey (Lift Your Leg Up) (Bob Sinclar Africanism All Star Remix)
10. Class A - Same As It Ever Was
11. Tom Jones with Mousse T. - Sexbomb (Sounds of Life Half Vocal Mix)
12. Bobby Blanco & Miki Moto - 3AM
13. Cherie Amore - I Don't Want Nobody Telling Me What To Do
14. Joey Negro feat. Taka Boom - Must Be The Music

DJ San Fran Live at Ciao Edie - Parts 1 & 2 - Into The Groove

This is a live recording of a mix that I did at Toronto's legendary Ciao Edie, where I DJed with my good friend Nik Red for SET IT OFF Saturdays. This mix is from the earlier part of the evening. Part 1 starts with some chilled soul and R&B classics, then in Part 2, we get into more electro-type grooves.

Sunday, January 31, 2016

Remixed With Love by Joey Negro Vol. Two - Tracklistings

Two and a half years after the release of Remixed With Love, comes Volume 2 of the series with even more Disco goodness, painstakingly remixed from the original master tapes from the Master of Disco himself, Dave Lee, aka Joey Negro!

This time around Dave has again gone back to the original master tapes to bring us 20 new re-workings of classic Disco tracks, ranging from the Philly Soul of Patti LaBelle and The O'Jays to the MOR/Yacht Pop vibes of Christopher Cross, Robert Palmer and Nicolette Larson. Teasers of his remixes for George Benson, Pockets, Christopher Cross, Grace Jones and Patti LaBelle have been released over the last year, and I cannot wait to finally hear the full versions!

Two of the remixes featured, "Lotta Love" by Nicolette Larson and "Come Together" by The Trammps were previously released on a limited Record Store Day 2014 Vinyl-only release and now see a proper official release on CD. The third remix on that 12", which was the Breakdown Dub mix of "Hot Shot" by Karen Young, remains exclusive to that vinyl, plus a digital-only compilation.

Remixed With Love by Joey Negro Volume Two will be released on February 26, 2016 (UK) and March 4, 2016 (Canada) as a 2-CD set, along with two separate vinyl editions, featuring selected highlights from the CD version. A digital version is set to be released a few weeks after the physical editions.

Updated Feb. 13, 2016 with Digital Bonus Tracklisting and Z Records Store order links

Here are the Tracklistings, as per Amazon UK:

Mixed With Love by Joey Negro Volume 2 (CD Edition):

Disc 1

1. The O'Jays - I Love Music (Joey Negro Sweet Music Mix)

2. Patti LaBelle - Music Is My Way Of Life (Joey Negro Funk in the Music Mix)

3. Pockets - Come Go With Me (Joey Negro Found a Place Mix)

4. Gwen McRae - Keep the Fire Burning (Joey Negro Feed The Flame Mix)

5. The Trammps - Can We Come Together (Joey Negro Philly Dub Excursion)

6. George Benson - Love Ballad (Joey Negro Jazzy Reprise)

7. Gladys Knight & The Pips - Taste of Bitter Love (Joey Negro Disco Re-blend)

8. Kleeer - Open Your Mind (Joey Negro Seeekret Mix)

9. Nicolette Larson - Lotta Love (Joey Negro Yacht Disco Mix)

10. Robert Palmer - Every Kinda People (Joey Negro Multicultural Multitrack Mix)

Disc 2

1. Christopher Cross - Ride Like The Wind (Joey Negro Extended Disco Mix)

2. Thelma Houston - I'm Here Again (Joey Negro Ready to Roll Mix)

3. Grace Jones - Pull Up to the Bumper (Joey Negro Bumper to Bumper Mix)

4. Cheryl Lynn - You Saved My Day (Joey Negro Tell The World Mix)

5. Willie Hutch - Brother's Gonna Work It Out (Joey Negro Return of the Mac Mix)

6. Norman Connors - Stella (Joey Negro Jazz Ride)

7. Jean Carn - Time Waits For No One (Joey Negro Extended Disco Mix)

8. Loose Change - Straight From The Heart (Joey Negro Straight to the Groove Mix)

9. Wanda Walden - Don't You Want My Lovin' (Joey Negro Back to 81 Mix)

10. People's Choice - Here We Go Again (Joey Negro Philly Stomp Mix)

Digital Only Bonus Tracks:

1. Joey Negro vs Horse Meat Disco - Candidate For Love (Joey Negro Disco Blend)
2. Fibre Foundation - Weekend (Joey Negro Disco Re-Blend)
3. Doug Willis - Crystal Lover (Joey Negro Dub Disco Mix)
4. Soulpersona & Princess Freesia - Keep It Working (Joey Negro Disco Blend)
5. Joey Negro - Do What You Feel (JN Revival Mix)
6. Joey Negro - Can Feel Your Body Rock (JN Extended Mix)
7. The Sunburst Band - Only Time Will Tell (Joey Negro Club Mix)
8. Antonello Ferrari feat. Jennifer Wallace - Make Room For Me (Joey Negro Disco Boogie Dub Extravaganza)
9. Zo! feat. Erro & Phonte - We Are On The Move (Joey Negro Revival Mix)
10. Joey Negro & The Sunburst Band - In The Thick Of It (Joey Negro Endless Summer Mix

Vinyl Part A:

Record 1

A1. Patti LaBelle - Music Is My Way Of Life (Joey Negro Funk in the Music Mix)

A2. The O'Jays - I Love Music (Joey Negro Sweet Music Mix)

B1. Loose Change - Straight From The Heart (Joey Negro Straight to the Groove Mix)

B2. Kleeer - Open Your Mind (Joey Negro Seeekret Mix)

Record 2

A1. Christopher Cross - Ride Like The Wind (Joey Negro Extended Disco Mix)

A2. Willie Hutch - Brother's Gonna Work It Out (Joey Negro Return of the Mac Mix)

B1. Cheryl Lynn - You Saved My Day (Joey Negro Tell The World Mix)

B2. Norman Connors - Stella (Joey Negro Jazz Ride)

Vinyl Part B:

Record 1

A1. Gwen McRae - Keep the Fire Burning (Joey Negro Feed The Flame Mix)

A2. People's Choice - Here We Go Again (Joey Negro Philly Stomp Mix)

B1. Thelma Houston - I'm Here Again (Joey Negro Ready to Roll Mix)

B2. Pockets - Come Go With Me (Joey Negro Found a Place Mix)

Record 2

A1. George Benson - Love Ballad (Joey Negro Jazzy Reprise)

A2. Gladys Knight & The Pips - Taste of Bitter Love (Joey Negro Disco Re-blend)

B1. Grace Jones - Pull Up to the Bumper (Joey Negro Bumper to Bumper Mix)

B2. Robert Palmer - Every Kinda People (Joey Negro Multicultural Multitrack Mix)

For those of you who can't wait, here's a few samples of what's to come on this release:

Grace Jones - "Pull Up To The Bumper" (Joey Negro Bumper to Bumper Mix)