So here it is Lab people - my first blog post ever!!
The pic below was taken in my Rave infancy (16 years old), the summer before I went away to Boston to college. This was some park in Pennsylvania at around6:30 am. For some reason, I always thought it was cool to take my drugs late in the party, so that when everyone else was coming down already, i was still goin up. The party we went to in NYC had gotten shut down at 5am, so i was FLYING the whole ride home. We stopped at this park to smoke, and ended up dancing next to the car for like 3 hours.
For all the criticism and shit Lab heads gave Ayres for his Rave mix, truth is, dude is a HUSTLER, and beat me to it. Mad respect due. I'm not saying mine is better, but I did feel he missed on some key Rave classics, and also never should have put the Justice song on there.
Anyway, these are the tracks I remember (vaguely) that were either big hits, played often, or some of my personal favorites to drop. Here's the tracklistig, plus a little story about each track. Oh yeah, this was recorded in one take, all with records. Funny how saying that now makes it more "keeping it Real". Whatever. I've already had 3 recurring nightmares about DJing with Serato...

DJ SABO "Those Were The Days" (Old School Rave Mix)

01 "Give it Up" - The Good men
This was a huge track, and i heard a lot of DJs open thier sets with this one. At the time, i didn't even realize that all the drums samples were Brazilian. You can still play this and people go nuts.
02 "London Calling" - X-Press 2
These guys have been making records for decades. This one is pure RAVE HOUSE with the "raise your hands" sample and the siren. Classic.
03 "Bang the Box" - Basement Trax Vol 1
Big warehouse Chicago type track. Simple and powerful, just the word "Bang" repeated over and over.
DJ Osheen used to cane this one.
04. "In the Dark We Live" - Aphrohead aka Felix the Housecat
That's right, the father of electroclash, used to make good records. This one was really big, super drugged out and dark, hence the name.
05. "Drugs Work" - System 01
This is straight techno, from some Berlin/Tresor comp, but it was on one of the first "rave" mixtapes i ever had, so i had to include it. The message is clear and so appropriate. I'm also pretty psyched how the next track mixes out it.
06. "Higher State of Conciousness" - Wink
What can I say? Biggest rave song ever - hands down. I still cannot believe Ayres forgot this one on his mix.
I once heard Frank Ryde (Chocolate Factory) play this at an after party in New England, at some empty airport hanger. It was probably 10am, 2000 kids still going strong, high as can be. When the big acid build up came in, the whole sound system blew. That's it. Party Over. I think I had just dropped my 4th E. That was one hell of a sketchy ride home. 2 weeks later I blew another sound system at a loft party in Boston, at exactly the same moment in the track. That's some shit.
07. "To a Nation Rockin" Xpando
This label was owned by Eric Davenport, and definately established the West Coast breaks sound. This one is pressed on orange vinyl, and definately an "E" track. Those long space like stab sounds would go right thru your spine on a good system. It always mixed perfectly with Wink's track. In the story about Frank Ryde before, he played this one first, and then mixed in the Wink anthem.
08. "Ramjac" Massif
This was one of the most sought after rave tracks ever. Extremely rare, and oh so funky. This was another one of those "make you lose your shit" tracks. With the cricket noises, digeree-doo samples, the super slow hip-hop breakdown, and dude going "It's this joy that i'm feelin, i'm on planet E". Big up to Eamon for letting me borrow this one. He recently found a copy on Ebay for $25.
09. "A1 is a Superstar" Bassbin Twins
Bassbin Twins classic. These guys were waaaay ahead of their time production-wise. This is one of their bigger tracks, and it doesn't get more ravy than this. Big acid buildups were the shit. I remember having a DJ Tony (SF) mixtape that had this track on it, and he blended the (see next track) acapella "I feeeeeeel it" over top. Too sick.
10. "Hardcore Heaven" DJ Seduction
UK hardcore before it got too fast, and un-dance-able to. Gotta love that NYC Peech Boys sample, so perfect. Also, i think this is the only track on here that Pitts thinks is worthy-enough for a rave mix. Glad i got the stamp of approval bro!!
11. "Viva House" Me and Jack
One of my all time favorite feel good E records. The trumpet breakdown was so epic, and the bassline so thick. DJ Dale Charles used to kill this one.
12. "MotherEarth" Dubtribe
These guys put out mad records, all of them good. This one definately captures there "rave" period to its fullest though. People used to bug out on Sunshine's spoken word part, and then when the sirens kick in - forget about it. I heard them do this track live once in NYC at a rave called "Essense". On a side-note, DJ Spun (current labehead of Rong Music) was also on the bill that night. I probably heard this one 100's of times back in the day.
13. "Trip Harder" Ultraviolet Catastrophe
Another rare joint off Twitch records from San Francisco. Pressed on purple vinyl, this one has crazy drum solos over heavy 808 beats. Gotta love the title too.
14. "Listen to the Drummer" Nation 12
Super funky breaks record with tons of dope hip hop samples that many little crackheads would try to train spot me on. Good luck finding a copy of this one now.
15. "Shaken not Stirred" Dj Who vs The Bassbin Twins
Bassbin Twins vs. dj Who collaboration, with a really dope sample from "The Who" appropriately enough. Not sure how big or popular this track was, but i really like it, and played it quite a bit back then.
16. "Rhythm Annihilator" ?
No idea who did this, as I got a white label re-press of it. DJ Dan used to play this one a lot. That's right, DJ Dan, the gay dude who plays really bad progressive shit now. He used to KILL it at raves. He was the first DJ i heard scratch on a big sound system too. In retrospect, he couldn't really cut for shit, but this was before in even knew about turntablism or anything, so i was impressed. Plus i think he wanted me as his boy-toy, because one time i requested this song, and after he said "he'd played it just for me". I proceeded to get kinda freaked out.
17. "Energy Traxx Vol. 1 - DJ ICEE
DJ ICEE kinda gets a bad rap now, but when this record came out, it blew people away. This was the first ICEE record ever, and it was a 4 track white label bootleg. It was pretty rare, until it got re-pressed a few years later, but still not easy to find. You can't have a rave mix without at least one song from this dude. He started a whole rave movement down south, for better or for worse, called "Orlando Breaks" in the mid 90's. After about his 5th release, they all started to sound the same, but he was a cool guy. I opened up for him once in Boston, and he was mad humble.
18. "Chemical Beats" Dust Brothers EP
The first Chemical Brothers record, before they were called Chemical Brothers. Need i say classic? I remember this came out the same week as "Energy Traxx 1" and i was floored. It was a very exciting time for Rave Music then.
19. "Watch Me Now" - GrooveYard
I remember getting this priceless piece of blue vinyl before all my other DJ friends. I played it at a house party in Vermont - i think. We had the DJ booth set up in the kitchen, and everyone was in the living room getting faded and dancing. All 3 of my homies then - Rob Paine, O'Keefe, and Jon Gunshor- came running into the kitchen like "What the FUCK is that?!?!?" It was a proud DJ moment for me, knowing i had some shit before anyone else. A month later we went to a huge rave called Baby Blue, and Doc Martin rocked doubles of this record, teasing all 3000 kids for like 15 minutes until he let Jimmy Castor's vocals come in. The crowd went absolutely ballistic.
20. "U Got Me Up" - Cajmere
Yes I know, this is Chicago House. Whatever. This track for the longest time was known simply as the "Horn Song" by many people. It was a huge huge hit, when i first started coming to parties in NYC. Its also one of the first records i bought, when i knew i wanted to be a DJ. I recently heard Small Change play this out, and it made my week.
21. "Celtic Cross (Bangin Bass mix)" Ian Pooley
This was some hard NY house shit. I remember hearing this one at Tunnel the week it came out. Just simple 4 on the floor and banging hard. Perfect for a dark warehouse. Also pressed on crazy color swirled vinyl.

22. "Energy Flash" - Joey Beltram
Big big techno track, and supposedly the first song to ever say "Ecstasy" in the track. Admittedly, i never owned this one back in the day, and just recently bought a repress online. Good to know tracks like these have not been forgotten, and are still attainable.
23. "Believe This" - Johnny Viscious
Probably the only Johnny Viscious track i've ever liked, but it was a such a floor killer. This was another Osheen secret weapon. When the "Peter Piper" breakdown came in, people wents bananas.
24. "High Up" Funky Green Dogs From Outer Space
Murk just put out a "best of" type EP that we carry at the Lab. Thankfully this track was not on there. I cannot believe i gave that hint away just now! You could easily put this in my top 5 E records ever. Such an amazing piece of wax. I still get goose bumps every time i hear this.
25. "Plastic Dreams" - Jay Dee
This was my original import pressing copy, which I "aquired" from this gay house DJ Jesse, who was living on my friends coach in Boston, until they kicked him out for not paying rent. I got a lot of dope records from that guy actually...Anyway, from the number of clicks and pops in the recording you can tell that this got A LOT of rotation back then. Another all time classic, which should never be remixed. Its just too good as is. Sorry Switch...
26. "Dreams on Plastic" - Frankie Bones
I take it back. This is the only other remix of Plastic Dreams that should be played. The godfather of Techno's funky as hell miami bass rework. Good luck finding this one though...super rare.
27. "Untitled" - Bassbin Twins EP 01
The first white label put out by the infamous Bassbin Twins. Crazy sampling and incredible production. I only let it play for a minute but the full track is amazing, with a breakdown midway through with the Beatles sample "here comes the sun, little darling..." It was perfect for the 6am sunrise set.
28. "Bombscare (94 remix)" - 2 Bad Mice
Can't have a rave mix without at least one track by these guys. This is a later remix of the original UK rave hit. These guys were also on some shit with the production and sampling. Could be the first big song to steal the Jungle Brothers "I'll House You" lyrics as well.
29. "Compnded" - Edge Records 01
As far as I know, this is a pretty unknown track, except for maybe the catchy rave noise in the breakdown, but i though it was important because its the first release on this label. Edge Records put out tons of techno and breaks over the years, and i think they are still putting some joints out today.
30. "Feel The Bass" - Bass City Rollers
I picked this one up a little later (late 90's) on a one-sided white label. I know nothing about it, other than its too damn funky. Kinda wish i had this one back in the day, because it would have destroyed people.
31. "Eternal #2" - Zone
I first heard this one on one of those "This Is Techno" cassette compilations. Gotta love that Rakim sample they used. Frank Ryde played this on New Year's once in Baltimore at a huge 5000+ party. There was this one kid there who had taken like 30 hits of acid. He was naked rolling around on the dirty wet floor screaming "I'm Jesus, I'm Jesus". I've always wondered what happened to that kid...?
32. "Jump to My Beat" - Wildchild Experience
This is just pure funky house shit, with the vocal samples going "can u feel the beat" and then coming in with that PE / Justify My Love drum break. I still play this today and people trainspot it.
33. "Circus Bells" - Robert Armani
This track definately represents the dark druggy era of raving. I can remember being at an after party -at some skatepark in Albany I believe. It was probably 12 noon, and my friends and I were all hanging in parking lot, basically pushing the limits of how much more drugs are bodies could take. I had to take a piss, so I went back into the warehouse -which was actually a skatepark - to go to the bathroom. I remember there was STILL about 50 super trippin kids dancing, and the DJ was playing this song. I already owned the record and remember telling myself in my own sleep-deprived, drug-induced state, don't ever play Circus Bells again, its waaay to tripped out. On that note, I thought i'd end the mix with this incredible slice of acid house insanity.