Customer Reviews

Move Your Body: The Evolution of Chicago House

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The selction here is hot, it's just too bad the mixing isn't. I was a regular house party goer in the 80's in Chicago and it's great to hear some of these older, rarer tracks. But the mixing on this seemed a little off sometimes and I didn't like the cheesy voice-over interludes between the tracks. I have recently come across a website which has several mixes by the true god of Chicago house- Ron Hardy (R.I.P) online. Since I went to the Music Box many times, it takes me right back in time when I hear those old tapes from the sessions right from the club. So instead of this CD, check the website with the Ron Hardy sessions online and save your $$$.......

Any househead who was in or around Chicago in the 80's can testify that Mr. Jefferson has compiled the essential Chicago House retrospective. I mean, we could quibble over the exclusion of Loleatta's "Love Sensation", Jamie's "Waiting on My Angel", Paris Grey's "Don't Make Me Jack" or Sharon Redd's "Beat The Street"; OR you can just get over it and "move your body" to this outstanding set.

Opening with the bass and brass explosion that is The Pockets' COME AND GO WITH ME, the heat doesn't let up for 2 1/2 hours. Jefferson pumps up the killer bassline in Isaac Hayes' I CAN'T TURN AROUND and goes right into Jocelyn Brown's firecracker vocal on CAUGHT UP IN A ONE NIGHT LOVE AFFAIR. And before you can catch your breath we go headlong into the alpha track of Chicago House, the gospel-fire of First Choice's LET NO MAN PUT ASUNDER ("It's NOT over!"); followed up by Cheryl Lynn's YOU SAVED MY DAY ("Thank Ya! Thank Ya! . . ."). Then a nice cool down with the Frankie Knuckles/Jamie Principle classic YOUR LOVE which still sounds fresh 20 years later. The whole 2-CD set is seamless and there is NO filler -- each song deserves to be here: E.S.G's MOODY, Ten City's DEVOTION, Peech Boys DON'T MAKE ME WAIT, Farley Keith's LOVE CAN'T TURN AROUND, Ralphi & Xaviera's YOU USED TO HOLD ME, Ce Ce Rogers SOMEDAY, Marshall Jefferson's own MOVE YOUR BODY and all the rest are quintessential Chicago House. The price is no joke, but it's worth every cent.

All of these compilations are missing too many of the most powerful trax from back in the day. where is Born this way? A path? 7 ways? I mean don't get it twisted this set is a-ight but until a best of Traxx records comes out this will do. House music all night lone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Steve Silk

This CD highlights an era of music when Chicago was years ahead of NY, LA and SF. Some of it sounds a little dated 20 years later, but much of it still sounds so futuristic. Incredible.