For those of you that thought good music died in the 90s, this is for you… part two [April 1998]
Looking back, 20 years later, on a list of the ‘best dance tracks of all time’ you would expect there to be a few duds.
But yesterday’s reveal of numbers 51-100 (taken from the April 1998 issue of DJ Mag), indicated that one or two exceptions aside, the late 80s and early to mid 90s truly were a glorious period for music.
The Top 50:
So without further ado, here are numbers 1-50, as voted for by DJs and members of the public some two decades ago, which is led by one of the most epic electronic symphonies ever committed to wax, Massive Attack’s Unfinished Sympathy.
And as for that Top Ten? All killer, no filler, as the saying goes… Enjoy.
1 Massive – Unfinished Sympathy
2 Beltram – Energy Flash
3 Frankie Knuckles Presents Satoshi Tomiie – Tears
4 Joe Smooth Inc. Featuring Anthony Thomas – The Promised Land
5 Ultra Naté – Free
6 Ce Ce Rogers – Someday
7 Energy 52 – Café Del Mar
8 The Future Sound Of London – Papua New Guinea
9 Alison Limerick – Where Love Lives
10 De’ Lacy – Hideaway
11 MFSB – TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia) / Love Is The Message
12 Young MC – Know How
13 Gat Decor – Passion
14 Faithless – Insomnia
15 Roni Size Reprazent – Brown Paper Bag
16 The Night Writers – Let The Music (Use You)
17 Jaydee – Plastic Dreams
18 Wink – Higher State Of Consciousness
19 Orbital – Chime / Deeper
20 Age Of Love – The Age Of Love
21 Fingers Inc. – Can You Feel It
22 Bizarre Inc – Playing With Knives
23 Robert Owens – I’ll Be Your Friend
24 Leftfield – Not Forgotten
25 Rhythim Is Rhythim – Strings Of Life
26 Slam – Positive Education
27 Wildchild – Renegade Master
28 Liquid – Sweet Harmony
29 Subliminal Cuts – Le Voie Le Soleil
30 Lil Louis – French Kiss
31 A Guy Called Gerald – Voodoo Ray
32 Sounds Of Blackness – The Pressure (Pt. 1)
33 Donna Summer – I Feel Love
34 Afrika Bambaataa & the Soul Sonic Force Music By Planet Patrol – Planet Rock
35 DJ Misjah & DJ Tim – Access
36 Da Hool – Meet Her At The Love Parade
37 Shades Of Rhythm – The Sound Of Eden (Every Time I See Her)
38 State Of Grace – Not Over Yet
39 BT – Flaming June
40 Robin Stone – Show Me Love
41 Sneaker Pimps – Spin Spin Sugar
42 Alex Reese – Pulp Fiction / Chill Pill
43 Underworld – Born Slippy
44 The Prodigy – Your Love
45 Robert Miles – Children…
46 Truelove Presents… The Source Featuring Candi Staton – You Got The Love (Erens Bootleg Mix)
47 State 808 – Pacific
48 A.S.H.A. – J.J. Tribute
49 Camisra – Let Me Show You
50 Mariah Carey – Dreamlover (David Morales Def Club Mix)
[Original list published in DJ Mag, April 1998]
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