An iconic figure in house, Roger Sanchez continues to help shape electronic music and DJ culture since he first got behind the decks in the eighties.
Born in New York City, the Grammy Award winning DJ and producer successful straddles the underground and mainstream producing mega hits like Another Chance alongside a conveyor belt of chunky, vocal-laced club focused, dance floor hits.
Roger is currently in the midst of a heavy summer touring schedule and will be touching down at BCM Mallorca, the biggest club on the Balaeric island on August 17 and you can catch him back on UK soil at Boogietown in Surrey on Sunday September 8.
We caught up with Roger this week and he compiled a list of feel good house classics for us which you can listen to below and read what he had to say about each track.
First Choice – Let No Man Put Asunder
This record was such a staple for my early disco sets and to me was the prototype for what became House music. The drums, the bassline and the soaring vocals of “It’s Not Over!” repeating in a syncopated rhythm really struck home for me.
Roy Ayer’s – Running Away
Roy Ayers started off as a jazz musician but really caught fire when he entered his dance floor phase of recordings. From the opening drumroll and the bass, drums and guitar drop, Running Away was absolutely massive for me. In addition to the soulful vocals and funky guitar chops, Ayers vibraphone solo absolutely makes this track a killer for me.
ESG – Moody
99 Records was the label that put out dark yet quirky records that became dance floor classics in clubs like the Loft and Paradise Garage in New York. ESG is a band of sisters whose sparse and stripped back funky drums , bass, guitars and weird effects and off kilter vocal approach to music made them a stand out band. Moody was the track that instantly connected for me with its slinky drums ,massive bassline and haunting vocals.
Art Of Noise – Beatbox
Trevor Horn’s Art Of Noise project laid the groundwork for early Hip Hop- when Beatbox came out, I was in High School and heavily into breakdancing- this was the soundtrack to many break dance battles I participated in.
Third World – Now That We Found Love
A perfect blend of Reggae and Disco, this song was not only one of my secret weapons at my gigs, but as a dancer in clubs like Paradise Garage, when this came on I would hit the floor with a vengeance! It’s all about the floating organ, driving beat and funky bassline for me.
T La Rock & Jazzy J – It’s Yours
At the start of my DJ career it was all about mixing soul, funk, disco and early hip hop for me. It’s Yours was a completely new lyrical approach to Hip Hop at the time by switching from a simpler party cadence to a much more technical and structured flow. It was considered the start of “intelligent rap” and quickly became a highlight of my Hip Hop sets.
Mr Fingers – Can You Feel It
I consider this one of the earliest examples of “Deep House”. Larry Heard is a master of deep and emotional house and when I first heard Can You Feel It at Vinylmania record store in New York, It completely drew me in. The atmospheric pad chords, the enveloping bassline and the soft 909 ride that permeates the track sets such a vibe and has been one of my late night staples when I go deep.
808 State – Pacific
I love atmospheric vibes in dance music and when I first heard Pacific, it reminded me of Larry Heard but with much more driving drums. This track was a key point in my sets at my own Egotrip parties in New York at the early point of my DJ career when I was carving out residencies in Manhattan and beginning to create my own music and was very influential in the development of my sound.
The Clash – Radio Clash
This is a bit of a wild card as The Clash were a punk band but were SO funky with drums and basslines. Radio Clash was a staple of my sets as I could cut up 2 vinyls of the intro break for the breakdancers on my dance floor and they would lose it!
Inner City – Good Life
This track was the crossover between techno and house that really made an impact of my dance floors. I bought my first copy at Rock and Soul record shop in New York and when I heard the synth hit from the top of the track, I knew that was an instant floor filler. By then I had many other tracks from Kevin Saunderson and knew he was a go to producer for solid dance floor tracks- this one solidified his legendary status for me.
