Essential Mix [Import]

Francois K | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 23, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import
• Label: Polygram Int'l
• ASIN: B00004S2E9
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #347,083 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. M 4.5 Basic-Maurizio

2. Love Money-Funkmasters

3. La-Kou-A-Jephte Guillaume

4. Just Pillau-Akwaaba

5. Starchild-Level 42

6. Squib Cakes-Tower Of Power

7. There Was A Time-James Brown

8. Song For My Brother-George Benson

9. In The Stone-Earth Wind And Fire

10. I Know You I Live You-Chaka Khan

11. Nacer Do Sol-Kyoto Jazz Massive

12. Free Yourself-Virgo

13. Learn 2 Luv-King English

14. Law & Order-Love Committee

15. African Drug-Bob Holroyd

16. Mambo-Wally Badarou

17. Dark-Renegade

18. Storm-Billy Cobham

19. Atmospheric Beats-Kerri Chandler

20. No Way Back-Adonis

See all 33 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

UK dance collection. Mixed by disco & house legend FrancoisK. This Album is a celebration of 25 years of New York dance music. 33 tracks from such artists as Earth, Wind & Fire, Chaka Khan, Kim English, Kraftwerk, Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Lisa Tayl

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A music critic's fantasy but nothing special for a listener, October 15, 2000

By 

Richard Diaz - See all my reviews

This review is from: Essential Mix (Audio CD)

I could go on about Francois K's legacy as a DJ for over two decades, and how this collection of trend-setting tracks constructs a crucial framework for New York music of the past 25 years. But not so fast. Let's strip away the names and critical raves - how does this two-disc set sound now?

Be aware that the selection is based more on important or influential songs, not the crowd favorites or those that later improved on the dance formula. Within that context, many of the choices are still credible (and some incredible) with disc one displaying a more consistent rare groove and house vibe. "Love Money" by Funkmasters, "Squib cakes" by Tower of Power, and offerings by Chaka Khan and James Brown (and others) still retain the magic to move you.

Francois K aims for the broadest possible picture with only 33 tracks to pick, which makes the surprisingly duff choices even harder to take. Level 42's "Starchild," while holding some corny novelty, certainly doesn't belong; Earth, Wind and Fire drop a clunker with "In the Stone," and Wally Badarou's "Mambo" is simply too basic. Those are the obvious choices, the rest will depend on your tastes. Come disc two the frenetic flipping of styles reaches a frenzied pitch: from drum and bass to garage to echo-techno into Kraftwerk then De La Soul rap and gospel house- that's the first half of the album. A music critic's fantasy but neither a journey nor smooth listen. Eclectic scope by itself isn't a virtue; without consistency you end up with a cleverly packaged mix tape of some classic cuts. I don't mind the history lesson, but learning could have been more fun. Grade: B-

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars yep, April 28, 2000

By 

Curmudgeon "grantc" (West Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Essential Mix (Audio CD)

A great compilation showcasing more than two decades of dance music. Mr Kevorkian's taste is impeccable so what's on offer is excellent, even if the canvas is just a little too broad and the tracks don't so much flow as remain individual examples of specific styles. What we want now is a compilation of Mr K's favourite remixes: he's remixed everyone from Kraftwerk to Cesaria Evora to Romeo Void (O where can I get his mix of A Girl in Trouble?). His Essential Mix is a good indicator of where this man's musical boundaries lie.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars almost like being there, April 28, 2002

By 

Zain Rashid "chick magnet" (Irving, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Essential Mix (Audio CD)

this one IS meant for the multitudes... yes, throw 'em all into a closed hall, pump a couple of drinks in 'em, put some dude with a 5pm shadow in a dark corner up there somewhere (they'll think it's HIM, heh he), start the cd... wait 30 minutes and turn on the sprinklers... they'll thank you later!