Anyone know if there's a definitive electro collection out there?

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like a boxed set? i'm basically looking to catch up on 20 odd years of electro and freestyle in a really quick way. alas, no time to do this via vinyl bins...

― ken taylrr (ken taylrr), Saturday, 8 January 2005 01:26 (twenty years ago)

thank you for asking this question, ken!

― .adam (nordicskilla), Saturday, 8 January 2005 01:28 (twenty years ago)

I'm sure there have been a few mainstream compilations of 80s electro and breakdance stuff out. I have one called (surprisingly) "ElectroBreakdance" on BMG/Telstar that does the job. As for a comprehensive 20-year mix, that's another story.

― dog latin (dog latin), Saturday, 8 January 2005 01:31 (twenty years ago)

I wouldn't call it definitive at all simply because I just don't know enough about it in depth to say, but I have this 3 CD thing called Absolutely...the Very Best of Electro on a UK label called Deepbeats that's pretty enjoyable, covers the early eighties. I figure some true compilation along those lines would have to have early Afrika Bambataa, though, which this does not.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 8 January 2005 01:31 (twenty years ago)

There's also the Street Jams: Electric Funk series on Rhino in the US.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Saturday, 8 January 2005 01:32 (twenty years ago)

I posted this on another thread here. This is my 'portable' Electro classics CD80 Go!

1. Kano - I'm Ready
2. Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force - Planet Rock
3. Rockers - Revenge - Walking on Sunshine
4. Hashim - Al-Naafiysh (The Soul)
5. New Order - Confusion (original mix)
6. Freeze - A.E.I.O.U.
7. Freestyle - Don't Stop the Rock
8. Egyptian Lover - Egypt, Egypt
9. Newcleus - Jam On It
10. Shannon - Let the Music Play
11. Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam with Full Force - I Wonder If I Take You Home
12. Debbie Deb - When I Hear Music

(80:49 - classics to my mind from L.A. urban radio from the mid/late-80s)

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Saturday, 8 January 2005 01:33 (twenty years ago)

The Tommy Boy 'Perfect Beats' series is excellent although out of print. It'll cost ya, but it's pretty great (I was about to write "worth it" but they're currently going for $50+, so I dunno about that...)

― Mike O. (Mike Ouderkirk), Saturday, 8 January 2005 01:42 (twenty years ago)

There's also the Street Jams: Electric Funk series on Rhino in the US

Heh, I was just thinking it would be nice if they did something along the lines of their Disco Box.

Donut christ to thread!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 8 January 2005 01:46 (twenty years ago)

Alex In SF recommended that I get one of The Perfect Beats comps (Amoeba had it, Ken!) and it is AMAZING.

― .adam (nordicskilla), Saturday, 8 January 2005 01:49 (twenty years ago)

What's the difference between the Perfect Beats comps and that Greatest Beats box set that came out, exactly?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 8 January 2005 01:53 (twenty years ago)

I always forget how much of this stuff I like(d). This was very happening when I was an undergraduate. And I got to finally dance a little.

― RS LaRue (rockist_scientist), Saturday, 8 January 2005 01:55 (twenty years ago)

(I didn't know what "electro" was until recently though.)

― RS LaRue (rockist_scientist), Saturday, 8 January 2005 01:55 (twenty years ago)

I own "Electric Kingdom" on vinyl.

― RS LaRue (rockist_scientist), Saturday, 8 January 2005 01:56 (twenty years ago)

I'm not sure who that's supposed to impress, considering the vinylists and djs around here.

― RS LaRue (rockist_scientist), Saturday, 8 January 2005 01:56 (twenty years ago)

the perfect beats comps are great!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Saturday, 8 January 2005 01:58 (twenty years ago)

there's no one definitive collection

mastercuts: classic electro

this is a good one-disc precis of the sound expressed on the street jams : electric funk series.

of course it's a bit "smurfier" than some of the other comps, ie it's got a bit more of that slo-mo miami bass sound, a bit more of the stilted old-school hiphop awkwardness, and much less of the finesse and panache of spencer's collection or the perfect beats comps, which to be fair are about 50% freestyle/italo disco (whether or not the "electro" tent is big enough for those genres is a whole other discussion).

― vahid (vahid), Saturday, 8 January 2005 02:16 (twenty years ago)

similarly the comp dog latin brought up is really good too but about 50% hiphop and disco. for whatever reason when questions like this come up i'm always tempted to go straight for the tracks that could only reasonably called electro, as opposed to broader material that could be called electro, or disco, or miami bass or hiphop or techno or 1/2dozen other things (for example: debbie deb's "when i hear music" - what the fuck kind of music is THAT?)

― vahid (vahid), Saturday, 8 January 2005 02:19 (twenty years ago)

i guess the question here is when you say "definitive" are you talking about defining the "core" of the style (ie the mastercuts comp) or seeing how far out the boundary lines of the style lie (the perfect beats)?

― vahid (vahid), Saturday, 8 January 2005 02:21 (twenty years ago)

I've got to echo the recommendations for all 4 volumes of The Perfect Beats and Street James: Electric Funk. Note there is also a Street Jams series that focuses on early Hip-Hop. The Perfect Beats throws some disco and italo numbers into the fray, while Street Jams leans a bit more towards hip hop and "Planet Rock" style grooves.

See also the Mantronix "That's my beat" comp on Souljazz.

And if you are on 515k, you can grab Pappawheelie's excellent History Of Miami Bass compilation.

― Michael F Gill (Michael F Gill), Saturday, 8 January 2005 02:36 (twenty years ago)

Street James: Electric Funk

I do like that misspelling. Rick James or James the band or...

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 8 January 2005 02:54 (twenty years ago)

Street James & The Giant Peach

― Michael F Gill (Michael F Gill), Saturday, 8 January 2005 03:19 (twenty years ago)

(I didn't know what "electro" was until recently though.)

I guess I still don't. What is it? pop with electronic dancey elements? is this a UK label?

― kyle (akmonday), Saturday, 8 January 2005 03:48 (twenty years ago)

I don't know exactly how to describe it, but I hear the similarities in the songs I know that share that label.

― RS LaRue (rockist_scientist), Saturday, 8 January 2005 03:52 (twenty years ago)

What's the difference between the Perfect Beats comps and that Greatest Beats box set that came out, exactly?

Ned, that's like asking the difference between PERFECTION and GREATNESS!

― .adam (nordicskilla), Saturday, 8 January 2005 03:58 (twenty years ago)

I could make a great tape for someone from the archives if anyone's interested. but i tend to like some of the more oddball stuff when it comes to electro and freestyle. and people hate tapes. one of these days i will join the 21st century. i should go thru the stacks and make a list of some of my fave tracks.

― scott seward (scott seward), Saturday, 8 January 2005 04:04 (twenty years ago)

yes please, scott

― .adam (nordicskilla), Saturday, 8 January 2005 04:07 (twenty years ago)

e-mail me yer address, adam. (but don't tell ned, cuz i still owe him some music.)

― scott seward (scott seward), Saturday, 8 January 2005 04:23 (twenty years ago)

Ned, that's like asking the difference between PERFECTION and GREATNESS!

I am going to beat your ass next month.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 8 January 2005 04:39 (twenty years ago)

The Greatest Bumps box set is just a label retrospective. It has like House of Pain and De La Soul and stuff on it. It's not an electro set, although disc one is electro-heavy.

― Mike O. (Mike Ouderkirk), Saturday, 8 January 2005 05:02 (twenty years ago)

i like the mantronix that's my beat comp, def'ly not strictly electro but it is goodness. especially as it is 3 (maybe 4?) 12"s. it is a real good thing.

― s1ocki (slutsky), Saturday, 8 January 2005 05:05 (twenty years ago)

just on monday i went to tower because my dad bought me a gift certificate for xmas and one of the things i bought was that Mantronix "Perfect Beats" on Souljazz (for like 20$), and i liked it, but when i brought it home the wife said, "couldn't you just download all this stuff?" and i kinda grunted because really i could have. so the next day, i burned the Perfect Beats & i went back to tower and made up some lie about copyright protection and my computer not reading it, so they gave me credit and i bought some other things. but while i was there i almost bought this comp just called "Electro". i think and it was 2 cds of really good looking shit, but it also had some weird shit like some Heavy D. i woulda bought it but it was 28$. anyways, these are the electro & freestyle mp3s i've downloaded lately:

Electro:
Play At Your Own Risk - Planet Patrol
Battle Cry - Rockers Revenge
Funky Soul Makossa - Nairobi and The Awesome Foursome.
I Didn't Know I Loved You - Planet Patrol
Cheap Thrills - Planet Patrol
Breaker's Revenge (Freestylers BBoy Mix) - Arthur Baker
Jam On It - Newcleus
Computer Age (Push The Button) - Newcleus
Hip Hop, Be Bop (Don't Stop) - Man Parrish
Walking On Sunshine - Rocker's Revenge
Al-Naafiysh (The Soul) - Hashim
Boogie Down Bronx - Man Parrish

Freestyle:
When I Hear Music - Debbie Deb
Point Of No Return - Expose
I Can't Wait - Nu Shooz
let the music play - shannon
No reason to cry - Judy Torres
A Day In My Life - Lisette Melendez
Fascinated - Company B
Temptation - Corina
Change On Me - Cynthia
Should I Say Yes - Nu Shooz
come into my arms - Judy Torres
Clave Rocks - Amaretto
Set U Free - Planet Soul

― JaXoN (JasonD), Saturday, 8 January 2005 06:11 (twenty years ago)

haha i'm tempted to ask what you bought at tower that you couldn't just download?? $20- of blank cds??

― vahid (vahid), Saturday, 8 January 2005 06:15 (twenty years ago)

German Ska!

― Michael F Gill (Michael F Gill), Saturday, 8 January 2005 06:17 (twenty years ago)

haha, very true. my answer is gonna be really silly. i've never heard Exile on Main St or Blonde on Blonde.

i also bought The sound of Philadelphia on Soul Jazz & an OV Wright 2 cd (3 full records of his) comp on Hi Records

― JaXoN (JasonD), Saturday, 8 January 2005 06:23 (twenty years ago)

Play At Your Own Risk - Planet Patrol

Another one I like. I actually do have a tape of some of this stuff, but it's taped off the radio and kind of choppy.

― RS, Saturday, 8 January 2005 14:41 (twenty years ago)

I think I like Cybotron's "Clear," if anyone knows that one.

― RS, Saturday, 8 January 2005 14:42 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, that's the one.

― RS, Saturday, 8 January 2005 14:45 (twenty years ago)

Perfect Beats is excellent. Also, if you can tolerate mixes, I-F's "Mixed up in the Hauge" is good:

1 E.O.G - Solid Liquid
2 Patrick Cowley - Primitive World
3 Pluton & Humanoids - World Invasion
4 Giorgio Moroder - The Chase
5 Man Parrish - Manmade
6 Jonzun Crew - Space Is The Place
7 Charlie - Spacerwoman
8 Q - The Voice Of Q
9 Hipnosis - Blade Runner (End Title)
10 Message From The Future - Robot Is...
11 Alden Tyrell - Love Explosion
12 Kraftwerk - Tour De France
13 Camaro's Gang - Super Shuffle
14 Alexander Robotnick - Problemes D'amour
15 Mr. Flagio - Take A Chance
16 Klein & M.B.O. - Dirty Talk
17 B.W.H. - Living Up
18 Doctor's Cat - Feel The Drive
19 Sun La Shan - Catch
20 Electronome - Een Drumcomputer En Een Synthesizer III
21 Electronome - Influence
22 A Number Of Names - Sharevari (Vocal Version)

― Matt B. (Matt B.), Saturday, 8 January 2005 14:51 (twenty years ago)

I was able to download the original "Street Sounds Electro" compilations which are pretty good although not terribly varied.

I might try my hand at an electro mix when I get a chance - Ill post it here when I do.

― dog latin (dog latin), Saturday, 8 January 2005 15:32 (twenty years ago)

If we're recommending mixes now, then I highly recommend Dave Clarke's Electro Boogie Vol. 1.

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Saturday, 8 January 2005 18:11 (twenty years ago)

I've got all the perfect beats on slsk if you want to hit me up. (teenydreams)

― teeny (teeny), Saturday, 8 January 2005 18:20 (twenty years ago)

what about David Toop's electro primer, Booming on Pluto? too academic? (Michael Prime?!) but unmixed. and it bumps.

― echoinggrove (echoinggrove), Saturday, 8 January 2005 20:35 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, good luck finding Toop's compilation.

― Jeff Sumner (Jeff Sumner), Sunday, 9 January 2005 17:38 (twenty years ago)

two months pass...

wow, the mother lode... 10 hours of electro classics, available for free download either track-by-track or as one long-ass mix. hosted by I-f

this is killing me

http://www.elektrosonik.com/cbstop100/

― ken taylrr (ken taylrr), Thursday, 31 March 2005 21:00 (twenty years ago)

-1: FREAK ELECTRIQUE - P.H.A.S.E.R. (VIEWLEXX V-010)

-2: MR. FLAGIO - Take A Chance

-3: CHARLIE - Spacerwoman

-4: 'LECTRIC WORKERS - ROBOT IS SYSTEMATIC

-5: I-F - SPACE INVADERS ARE SMOKING GRASS

-6: ALDEN TYRELL - LOVE EXPLOSION

-7: DANNY BOY & THE SERIOUS PARTY GODS - Castro boy

-8: M&G - WHEN I LET YOU DOWN

-9: B.W.H. - Stop

-10: GINO SOCCIO - Remember

-11: TANTRA - THE HILLS OF KATMANDU

-12: PINEAPPLES - Come on closer

-13: UNIT 4 - Body Dub

-14: THE CONSERVATIVES - Lonelyness

-15: EGYPTIAN LOVER - Egypt Egypt

-16: EGYPTIAN LOVER - Freak A Holic

-17: STEEL MIND - Bad Passion

-18: EXPANSIVES - Life with you

-19: PLUTON and the HUMANOIDS - World invasion

-20: CASCO - Cybernetic Love

-21: KRAFTWERK - Computerwelt

-22: WANEXA - The Man from Colours

-23: SOME BIZARRE - Don't be afraid

-24: VISITOR FROM ANOTHER MEANING - Hills of Honolulu (VIEWLEXX V-015)

-25: NICE & WILD - Diamond girl

-26: RUDE 66 - Overkill (VIEWLEXX V10-19)

-27: SQUADRA BLANCO - Night of the Illuminati (HOLO-1)

-28: DREXCIYA - Wave Jumper

-29: SUN LA SHAN - Catch

-30: I.M.S. - Dancing Therapy

-31: FREAK ELECTRIQUE - BODY DUB (Remix)

-32: EXPERIMENTAL PRODUCTS - Glowing in the dark

-33: I-f - I Do Because I Couldn't Care Less (VIEWLEXX V12-1)

-34: BETA EVERS - Confusion

----: ALDEN TYRELL - Knockers (CLONE X-12)

-36: NIGHT MOVES - Transdance (NY mix)

-37: JO SQUILLO ELETRIX - Avventurieri

-38: JOJO - Mind Games

-39: KRAFTWERK - Numbers

----: MIRAGE - Woman

-41: HELL INTERFACE/MASK 500 - Midas Touch/03

----: Z-FACTOR - FAST CARS

-43: GAY CAT PARK - I'm a vocoder

-44: TECROC - Freeze

-45: VOYAGERS - Distant Planet

-46: FOCKEWULF 190 - Gitano

----: AUTOMAT - [the] Rise [the] Advance [the] Genus

----: GIORGIO MORODER - The Chase (Midnight Express version)

-49: KRAFTWERK - Heimcomputer

----: NAMI SHIMADI - SUNSHOWER (Legowelt rx)

-51: CARL CRAIG - At Les

-52: CIRCUIT 7 - Video Boys

-53: THE FLIRTS - Passion

-54: Q - THE VOICE OF Q

-55: PETER RICHARD - WALKING IN THE NEON

-56: BRAND IMAGE - Are you loving?

-57: KRAFTWERK - Das Model

-58: STELEE UP - I'm waiting for you

-59: EAST WALL - Eyes of Glass

----: DISCO DREAM & THE ANDROIDS - Dream Machine

-61: GHECKO - Firelight

----: VIVIEN VEE - Blue Disease

-63: APHEX TWIN - Polynomial-c

-64: PATRICK COWLEY - Tech-No-Logical World

-65: ALDEN TYRELL - Disco lunar system (CLONE 37)

-66: CELLOPHANE - Gimme love

-67: GOBLIN - Flashing

-68: SYLVESTER - I Need Somebody To Love Tonight

-69: R.E.M. - Computer Communication (Remix)

----: AZOTO - Exalt Exalt

----: BEVERLY HILLS 808303 - The American lie (rx) (REFERENCE HM 12108 TEST)

-72: SENSITIVE - Don't Stop

----: VENISE - Playboy

----: JOHN CARPENTER - Assault on 13th precinct-End credits

-75: THE UNKNOWN DJ & DJ SLIP - X-Men

-76: MR. MASTER - A dog in the night (instr)

-77: ELECTRONOME - Een drumcomputer & een synthesizer

----: BLACK DEVIL - One To Choose

-79: GIORGIO MORODER - From here to Eternity

-80: PHUTURE - We Are Phuture

----: ANTHONY ROTHER - Sex with the machines

-82: EASY GOING - Fear

----: B. ROSE - Hey DJ

----: CRAZY GANG - Every sunday

----: EMAK 1 - Tanz in himmel

----: ENDGAMES - The first the last for everything (inst)

----: GROOVECHASER - Deuteronomy brown

-88: MR. FINGERS - Stars

----: BOURBONESE QUALK - Lies

-90: GIORGIO FARINA - Disco cross

----: LECTRIC WORKERS - The Garden

-92: FRED VENTURA - The Years

----: BAZOOKA - Alive

----: DEN HARROW - Broken Radio

----: FAST EDDIE - Acid thunder

----: JUNIOR BYRON - Dance to the music

-97: STOPP - I'm Hungry (Caramba Mix)

----: JOLLY MUSIC - Minimoog dreaming

-99: PATRICK COWLEY - Mind Warp

100: JOE YELLOW - Take my heart

― ken taylrr (ken taylrr), Thursday, 31 March 2005 21:01 (twenty years ago)

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