Do you fancy starting a digital collection of classic tracks for a fraction of the vinyl equivalent? Way back in time you could easily pick up DJ friendly compilation CDs for under £10, some of which even came with a separate DJ mix.
Most of the albums also came on vinyl and at the time, were just, if not more popular. Granted a few bogus 12" multi trackers featured far too many tunes per side resulting in awful sound quality, however, choose wisely and you were pretty much always in for a treat.
Fast forward 20 plus years and we can now enjoy unmixed CDs for a fraction of the vinyl equivalents price tag. Sure, if you're still mixing vinyl like many of us this article is somewhat redundant, however, any digital DJs can rejoice at being able to snap up a bargain.
Here's a breakdown of some of the best that you really need in your collection.
The Joint LP - Suburban Base Records (1993)
1993 was certainly a key year for both hardcore and jungle and this excellent CD from Sub Base represents the vibe perfectly. If you're new to the genre, this is an excellent example of how early jungle music was being produced. A ton of ideas all crammed into a short space of time with little to no replication. Huge! Check 'Lords Of The Null Lines' for a real treat.
Foul Play - Open Your Mind
Boogie Times Tribe Feat. Q Bass - Real Hardcore
Hyper On Experience - Lords Of The Null Lines
DJ Hype - The Chopper (Johnny Jungle Remix)
2 Bad Mice - Underworld
Sonz Of A Loop Da Loop Era - Breaks The Unbreakable
Omni Trio - Mystic Stepper (Feel Better)
D'Cruze - Want You Now (DJ SS & EQ Remix)
Mixrace - Mixrace Outta Hand
DJ Krome & Mr Time - The Slammer
Blame - A21
Austin - Unity In Dub
Rob Playford, Dan Donnelly, Sean O'Keeffe, Dave Noddings - The Joint
Hardcore Leaders 3 (III) - Kickin Records (1993)
The diversity between the above from Suburban Base and 'Hardcore Leaders 3' is so impressive, it's almost as if the two came out in totally different time periods. A lot of early jungle beats on this one and certainly worth picking up to add some variety to your sets.
Tango & Ratty - Final Conflict
DJ Hype - Weird Energy (Hells Bells Mix)
Acen - Window In The Sky (Kingdom Of Light)
Tango - Timebomb
Bay-B-Kane - Hello Darkness (Remix)
Rhythm For Reasons - Music In Search Of Light
Andy C - Something New (Part 2)
DJ Distroi & Boykz - Darkside
DJ Solo - Darkage
Q-Bass - Funky Hardcore (DJ Hype Remix)
Omni Trio - Mainline (Techno Mix)
Bay-B-Kane - Bagpipes In Effect
Untouchables - Don't Be Afraid (Roachman Mix)
Jungle Pirate - Drug Me
Tango And Ratty - Tales From The Darkside
Jungle Mania 94 - Telstar (1994)
The first in a three part trilogy and by far the best introduction to the genre at the time of release. Jam packed with wall to wall smashers including the legendary 'Scotty III' by Sub Nation and 'Gangsta II' by Shy FX & Gunsmoke. It's worth noting that these releases were fronted by the jungle events promoter under the same name. Avoid the LP though as the sound quality is awful!
UK Apachi & Shy FX - Original Nuttah
Leviticus - The Burial
DMS & The Boneman X - Sweet Vibrations
M-Beat - Style
Aswad - Warriors (Jungle Remix)
Barrington Levy & Beenie Man - Under Me Sensi -Jungle Spliff (X Project Mix)
Deep Blue - Helicopter
Subnation - Scotty III
DJ Taktix - The Way (Shadow VIP Mix)
Firefox & 4-Tree - Warning (Powder Mix)
Bounty Killer & Dawn Penn You Don't Love Me - No No No (Reel2Reel Junglist Mix)
Ratpack - Tra La La Boom (Jungle Edit)
Tom And Jerry - Maximum Style
Krome & Time - The Licence
Nicky Blackmarket - Geese Tune
Shy FX & Gunsmoke - Gangsta II
Rumble in the Jungle Volume Two (Cutty Ranks & Poison Chang)
Some of the lesser known ragga remixes can be found on this unmixed CD which is becoming quite rare now. If you see it up for less than a tenner, quickly bag it.
Cutty Ranks - Limb By Limb (DJ SS Remix)
Cutty Ranks - Original Ranks (Just Jungle Remix)
Cutty Ranks - The Stopper (Kenny Ken Remix)
Cutty Ranks - As You See It (Marvellous Cain Remix)
Cutty Ranks - The Cutter (Dub Hustlers & Lenny De Ice Remix)
Cutty Ranks - Original Rude Boy Style (Mega Dangerous Remix)
Poison Chang - Love The Woman (DJ Rap Remix)
Poison Chang - Press The Trigger (Half Breed Remix)
Poison Chang - Over You Body (Dub Hustlers & Lenny De Ice Remix)
Poison Chang - Shot Fe Bust (Marvellous Cain Remix)
Poison Chang - God Head (Bizzy B Remix)
Poison Chang - Arm Strong (Timmy Magic Remix)
Drum & Bass Selection 4 - Breakdown Records (1995)
Fire from all cylinders here with a track listing so hot, it will melt your CD player into the carpet. Maximum jungle, no fillers (unless you're maybe counting 'Top Gun') and a certified must have in your collection.
Remarc - R.I.P.
Droppin Science - Step Off
Undercover Agent - Oh Gosh
Rude Bwoy Monty - Out In The Streets
Northern Connexion - The Bounce
Roni Size - All Crew Just Big Up (VIP Remix)
Dream Team - Stamina
Dillinja - Baby Your
Asend & Ultravibe - Real Love
Ganja Kru - Going Out For The Loot
Babylon 5 - Set It Up DJ (VIP Remix)
Shy FX - Simple Tings
The Original Vibes & Hellrazor - Future Beats II (Grill Up)
Marvellous Cain - Dub Plate Style
Hardware - Yout Man
T-Bone & Dextrous - Top Gun
Hopa & Bones Feat. Fats - Tings Could Be Better
Sponge - The Crash
Tom & Jerry - Maxi(mun) Style (Nasty Jungle Remix)
Bizzy B & TDK - Wicked Man
Highly Recommended L.P - Formation Records (1995)
Previously covered on Dubplate Created in 2019 here, this brilliant double CD contains every Formation Records hit you could possibly want in 1995. Featuring the excellent 'Lighter' remix (yes, another one!) and Tekniq's underrated 'The Bass', it sold incredibly well for SS and was a true representation of the labels golden era.
The High Intro
DJ SS - Highly Recommended
International Rude Boyz - Paragone (Tango VIP Mix)
Sound Of The Future - The Lighter (Mental Power & DJ SS VIP Mix)
Mental Power - Deep Soul
MA2 - Hearing Is Believing (LP Mix)
Drum + Bass - Low Down & Funky (ST Files Remix)
Grooverider - Jon Two
Tekniq - The Bass
Black - Black (VIP Mix)
Jumping Jack Frost - Pornography (DJ Krust Remix)
DJ SS - Rollidge (LP Mix)
In Between The Lines - 95 Rampage (Roni Size VIP Mix)
Matrix - The Message
Rhythm For Reasons - The New Style
MC Power - I Want You
CD 2 features some great DJ mixes which are below.
DJ SS
DJ Ratty
Best of Jungle Volume Two (1994)
One of 4 from the budget 'Best of Jungle' series by Low Price Music. If you can, pick them all up as every one of these compilations has multiple smashers. The 'Best of Jungle 95' series is also work checking out.
The House Crew - Super Hero (My Knight)
DJ Gunshot - Wheel Up
DJ Rap - Tibetan Jungle
The Rood Project - Thunder
Area 39 - Flute FX
Flytronix - Shadowlandz
The House Crew - Untitled
DJ Kane - Lost
Bay B Kane - Good Good Sensi
Money & Dubtronics - Jungle Jazz
Swoosh - Believe The Hype - Back 2 Basics (1997)
The Back to Basics collaboration was in full force way back in 1997 and this 10 tracker provides a ton of evidence as to why Swoosh were both criminally overlooked.
Swoosh - Kick It To 'Em
Swoosh - Bounce It Like This
Swoosh feat. DJ Ascend - The Wrath
Swoosh - Sunshine
Swoosh - I Think It's Time
Swoosh - Make 'Em Clap To This
Swoosh - Ya Rockin' (VIP Mix)
Swoosh - It's On
Swoosh - My Definition
Swoosh - Disaster
The CD also came with a wicked mix, well worth a listen.
Check the Top 5 Swoosh article out if you liked this mix.
Pure Rollers - Breakdown Records (1996)
One of the only places you are going to be able to pick up Paul's Z's 'Yeah' digitally plus a ton of hard step that was popular at the time. Quite a mixed bag this one so if you're after packing out your collection with some undercover hits, this is the one to go for. Top tip - check the '16 Track Ting' remix..
The X - New Dawn (ST Files Remix)
The Dream Team - Raw Dogs
Benny Blanco - Remember Me? (From The Bronx)
De Elite - Check Dis
Serious Intent - Easy Dread
L Double & Shy FX - The Shit
Dynamic Duo - Rolling Number (VIP Mix)
Bonafide - Super Bad
Dred Bass - World Of Music (Apollo 13 Remix)
Bizzy B - 16 Track Ting (Remix)
Swift - On The Beat
The Darkman - Let's Roll
Joker - Tonics Jazz Lick
P-Funk - P-Funk Era
Paul Z - Yea
Dynamic Duo - The Ride (Rollers Mix)
Andy C - Roll On
Joint Venture - Take Away
Marvellous Cain - Roll That Shit
Swift - Just Roll (VIP Mix)
An added bonus this Andy C mix is perfect for reminiscing about the good old times, murky basements and the smell of burning crack in the air.
Fancy something a little further back in time? Check the Desert Storm article.
Explicit Bass - Back 2 Basics (1996)
Another release from the Back 2 Basics hit machine including a great DJ mix by the legendary Micky Finn. Check out 'Real Love' by Asend & Ultravibe and Chimeira's 'Deeper Life'. Big shout to Tobie Scopes!
The Micky Finn DJ mix features the following tracks:
DJ Taktix - The Way (Exclusive Mix)
DJ Spice - Beats Back
Dred Bass - World Of Music (Exclusive Mix)
The JB - Go Back, Way Back
Asend & Ultravibe - Real Love (V.I.P. Mix)
Back 2 Basics - Horns 4 94
Decoder - Power Steppers
The JB - Back 2 Life (Exclusive Mix)
Asend & Ultravibe - What Kind Of World (Dream Team Remix)
Benny Blanco - Remember Me
Chimeira - Deeper Life
Dred Bass - Smokin Cans
Apollo 13 - Space Dust
VIP Volume 1 - VIP Champagne Bash (1995)
Covered back in 2019 here, this double CD features 14 jungle slammers and an epic DJ mix by Ron alongside MCs Moose, 5ive O, Navigator, Det and The Ragga Twins. A superb snapshot of underground jungle at the time with plenty of exclusive tracks including a great VIP of 'Crackman'. An essential purchase.
DJ Ron - African Chant (VIP Remix)
Marvellous Cain - Hit Man (DJ Hype Remix)
London's Most Wanted - Girls Dem Want It (VIP Mix)
The Man With No Name - VIP
Roni Size - All The Crew
Kenny Ken - Every Man (VIP Mix)
DJ Ron - New School Beats
Bizzy B - 16 Track Ting
Roni Size - Phizical
Randall - Melody Madness (VIP Mix)
DJ Ron - Crackman (VIP Remix)
Trinity - Gangsta
Rock & Original Vibes - Butter Pan Sound
DJ Nut Nut - Special Dedication
Part 2 of this article coming soon..