MC Tunes V 808 State - The North At Its Heights - 1990

Forget the fact that it's old school rap. Just listen to the music.  To me, it's 808 at their best.  Well, maybe not their best, but damn good.

My version differs slightly from the Japanese deluxe version released 6 years ago.  I don't have a couple mixes, and I didn't put Pump or More on as well.  I stuck with what I have, as it's what I remember as a kid (is 19 a kid anymore?)  Regardless, it's a great little album for 808.

MC Tunes V 808 State - The North At Its Heights - 1990

Untitled - A Compilation

This is the track listing from the very first time I sat down to make a real mixtape.  I was probably 18 or 19, and had dabbled with taping my favorite songs off of the radio or other tapes.  But those other tapes were cobbled together with no rhyme or reason, just a hodge podge of miscellaneous tracks that I had put onto tape so I could listen to them in my Walkman when I was out.  I mean, you can't very well take a record player out with you.

At the time I made this tape, you can look at the track listing and see that a lot of fantastic material had been released pretty much all at once.  I had my favorite tracks from every album release by these artists, and I wanted to listen to them all, without having to haul 10-12 tapes/CDs around with me, trading them out as each track ended.  So, I pulled my favorites, and sat listening to them, then arranging them in a way that sounded good.  Back then, you didn't have any music on your computer (if you even had a computer), so it wasn't like you could load the tracks in your WinAmp and hit shuffle.  No, this was a very careful and deliberate process that took a while for me to come up with the right arrangement.

I made the tape, though, and used it in my car, listened to it while I mowed the yard, and played it when I went to friends' houses.  It was pretty good.

I've rearranged some of the tracks as years have gone by - only added the Ian McCulloch about 1998 and traded the Cocteau Twins track from Heaven Or Las Vegas to Dials (and then plugged it on the end of the mix).  But, as for the rest, this is the same setup I made back in 1990-91.  And, I still listen to it about every other month or so, to this day.  To me, this comp represents the best these groups had to offer, at the peak of their popularity.  Every song is quintessential to what these groups/artists are.  They are all lush, romantic, and full of emotion.  They are perfectly written, and perfectly performed.

To this day, I still don't have a name for this collection.  It's still, to this very moment, Untitled.  But, to me, that might be the best way of describing it, too.

Untitled

808 State - Ninety & Utd. State 90 - 1990

I discovered and fell in love with 808 when I purchased their Ex:El album in1991.  I had to have it once I heard the Bernard Sumner guest vocals on it.  As I listened to the album, learned the history behind the band and it's association with this new music called Techno, I soon became an avid follower, buying all the vinyl I could of their releases.

From Discogs -
Manchester’s techno pioneers were formed in 1988 when Martin Price, owner of the city’s seminal Eastern Bloc underground record store, teamed up with Graham Massey, formerly of Factory Records’ Biting Tongues and more recently renowned as a producer. The debut EP, Newbuild was cut in collaboration with fellow Mancunian Gerald Simpson. The trio were also responsible for mixing tracks for local artists, including Inspiral Carpets. In 1989 Simpson departed to launch his own vehicle, A Guy Called Gerald, and DJ duo the Spinmasters (Andrew Barker and Darren Partington) were drafted into 808 State.
The new quartet cut the Quadrastate EP, a huge club hit, and the single Pacific which crossed over into the national top ten at the tail end of 1989. The timing of their rise to prominence worked in their favour, as the Madchester explosion began dominating the UK music and style press. 808 State were cast alongside the likes of the Stone Roses and Happy Mondays which aroused interest from the rock world and broke down barriers between the indie and dance factions. 808 State signed to ZTT in 1990 and delivered the classic 808:90, which was immediately adopted by the rave generation as a soundtrack to post-gig chill out sessions, as well as becoming a favourite with DJs and rock concert audiences.

From Wikipedia -

Ninety is the second full-length album and first on ZTT Records by British electronic music group 808 State, released in 1989 and featuring the single "Pacific State" which reached number 10 in the UK Singles Chart on November 1989. It was released in the US as Utd. State 90, without "The Fat Shadow (Pointy Head Mix)," but with other bonus tracks.
Slant Magazine listed the album at number 54 on its list of the "Best Albums of the 1980s" saying "A thrilling expansion of the possibilities for acid house and arguably the best LP ever produced in the style".

For my version, I combined 90 and Utd State 90, plus the relevant mixes.  I additionally added the mixes that they did for other artists from the same time period.  I specifically left the Quadrastate tracks separate, as I will include those on my Newbuild version, along with the Blue Monday mix.  I tried to hold true to the art from the original album cover, while adding my own style.  I hope it looks legit...

I'll see you all tomorrow, back to normal.

808 State - Disc One      808 State - Disc Two