the>music:factory years 1991-94
Tuesday, November 22, 2011 at 04:42PM
At 9.30pm on November 23rd 1991 I played the first ever record at back to basics club in Leeds, UK. I had no idea it was going to last to be possibly the longest running weekly house music club in the world. Over the coming months I will be mixing my favourite musical memories from the club exclusively for this blog and hoping to build the definitive story of the club through features on the key players and characters as well as hopefully comments and content from yourselves.
So let's start with the music. I have completed the first mix which goes some way to documenting the start of the club at Rockshots (later re-named the>music:factory). Of course the mixes are not an accurate representation of a mix from a night in 1991. For a start we could hardly mix back then! Secondly, the selection covers the time period we spent at each venue, not each night. It was actually a pleasure to re-visit these records with the DJ skills and technology I now have. I could never hope to give you a definitive work in any one mix so I decided to do mixes where I just chose the next track from the box and followed where it took me.
At the>music:factory from 1992 onwards I played two sets. I would start the night at 9pm (changed from it's original opening time of 9.30pm to allow for people to get in quicker) and play until the guest came on at 11pm. I would then take over for the last hour to make sure everyone went home happy (hopefully). This led to me developing differently from most DJs as I learnt two very different skills; warming up a club and closing a club. Part One of the Music Factory mix represents what I would do from 9-11pm. I got a little excited though and carried on longer so it is around 2.5 hours long. You can find the tracklisting and label artwork in sleevenotes. And here it is...
The Music Factory Years 91-94 part one by ralphlawson
Basics 20, Mixes, The Music Factory in Basics 20
Reader Comments (9)
20 years....amazing! Here's to another 20 :)
Had so many great nights here right from the start. Used to catch trains, coaches & even hitched across the Pennines to get my fix. Met so many friends & was made to feel very welcome every time I set foot in the club (which never failed to push great music/DJs/Producers). Congratualtions Ralph, Dave, Ali. Happy Birthday. Viva Acid House!!
Wicked mix Ralph....brings back memories for sure.
Like the Pistols gig at the Free Trade Hall there may be hundreds who now claim they were there on the first night - well most of you weren't as there were only a couple of dozen at most but I can say it, cos I was there!
Absolutely awesome achievement, gutted I can't be there likely to be the best party the city has ever seen....wow...20 years that has seen some of Leeds finest truly provide the city with it's identity as one of the best clubbing cities of the north - great people, great music, I miss it like mad!! BIG LOVE to ALL the BASICS CREW OLD & NEW & the FUTURE ONES TOO - May it live on and never lose it's unique roots which are a testament to the people involved from the music makers, promoters, and generally all the people that create the all important VIBE that is Basics- Well Done Dave Beer, Ralph Lawson, Ali RIP, Mickey, Boggy, Craig Bucker's Tristan, Frenchy and all the rest have a great night....peace out Brother's and Sister's....envious like you can't believe....xox
Well what an you say, 20 years. 20 FUCKING YEARS! An astounding acheivement. I am proud to say I have partied in most if not all the clubs and venues Basics has been at down the years, and if I'm honest its probably the reason I moved to Leeds from Lancashire way back when. I have literally had some of the times of my life on the dancefloor at Basics and met many, many friends along the way. Its funny, sometimes I think I grew up on the dancefloor at Basics, thats probabaly not far off the truth!
Congrats on a great blog here Ralph, really enjoyed reading the sleeve notes. Cant wait to check out the mix, espcially after I read that you had to source many of the original vinyl,s convert them to WAV and compress them to be used in the mix! What tenacity! Truly a labour of love. Cant wait to here further installments, especially the Mint years...
Sadly I cant be there on Saturday but I will be there in spirit and I know the crew and clubbers will be absolutely having it. Happy Birthday Basics, and thanks for the memories.
Viva Acid House
Nice one Ralph - quite an achievement! I've written a piece about it:
http://www.gregwilson.co.uk/2011/11/back-to-back-to-basics/
Best wishes with the blog.
greg
I really enjoyed the quality information you offer to your visitors for this blog.I will bookmark your blog and have my friends check up here often.This blog is valuvable for me.
my homepage is wholesale electronics
Many a great night travelling over the penines to Basics, Pleasure Rooms and Mint!!! Morales at Love parade was a blast!!!