Elektrons ‘Get Up’ (greg wilson special mix)

110 bpm

Previously one-sided DJ vinyl / promo only CD 2007.

Also shared for a limited period via SoundCloud in 2009/10.

In March 2007 I received an email from Justin Crawford (aka Justin Unabomber), who, along with DJ partner Luke Cowdrey (aka Luke Unabomber), was busy putting the finishing touches to their Elektons album ‘Red Light, Don’t Stop’, which would be issued later that year via Wall Of Sound / PIAS. Justin told me about an idea he had for me to put together a DJ only ‘party mash up’ of ‘Get Up’, the first single from the album.

I was more than happy to take it on - as you’re no doubt aware, I have massive respect for the Unabombers and their seminal Electric Chair parties at the Music Box in Manchester, which can be counted amongst the most influential British club nights of the last twenty years. The monthly events finally came to an end in January 2008, having originally kicked off in 1995, and I was fortunate enough to make a number of memorable Chair appearances at the Music Box, and other related gatherings both in Manchester and London, following my debut there in February 2005.

I got all the parts sent over and set about rebuilding the track, retaining some sections of vocal and speeding it up from around 100bpm to 110bpm, which sat better for my purposes. With carte blanche to sample whatever I liked, given that this wouldn’t be made commercially available, I had what might be called a field day. Listen closely (or not so closely) and you’ll hear a whole host of sources, including Marvin Gaye, Ladies Choice, Led Zepplin, James Brown, Missy Elliot, Chic, Public Enemy, Symarip, Michael Jackson, Brass Construction, Madness, The Doors and Ednah Holt; even Shrek got in on the act. I’d also switch from the original backing during the mid-section of the mix, dropping into the groove of the great mid-70’s Funk favourite, ‘Hollywood Swinging’ by Kool & The Gang, a change which generally provokes a noticeable surge of energy from the dancefloor.

It was a really buzzy thing to work on. I can certainly hear the playfulness in there as I trade the samples off against each other, vibing on the groove and creating tension. I suppose I approached it as a mini-epic, if that makes sense, with a few familiar faces popping up along the way to join the fun.

Greg Wilson – September 2011

Check out my label's music at: https://superweirdsubstance.bandcamp.com

Elektrons 'Get Up' (greg wilson special mix)

Bookings: matt@thepool-london.com 
Promos: promo@gregwilson.co.uk 
DJ Dates: https://blog.gregwilson.co.uk/upcoming-dj-dates/
Greg began DJing in 1975 and is regarded as one of the most important figures on the UK dance scene. He enjoyed hugely popular residencies in the early eighties at Wigan Pier and Manchester’s majorly influential Legend, having originally started out in his hometown, New Brighton. A pioneer of mixing in the UK, he became the first ‘dance music’ specialist hired for a regular weekly session at Manchester’s now legendary Haçienda club in 1983. Greg was instrumental in breaking the new electronic, post-disco records coming out of New York, a sound he has dubbed ‘Electro-Funk’.

In 2003 he set up electrofunkroots, a website documenting this crucial era in the evolution of dance culture. After a two decade hiatus from the booth, he returned to DJing and soon welcomed bookings throughout Europe and, subsequently, worldwide.

Greg was the first DJ to mix live on British TV, putting together the first UK radio mixes of their type for Piccadilly 261 in Manchester and showing a certain Norman Cook (later Fatboy Slim) how to scratch.

Nominated by DJ Magazine for outstanding contribution, and also named amongst their top twenty remixers of all-time, Greg’s remix credits include Grace Jones, The XX, Groove Armada, Bryan Ferry, Confidence Man, Gilberto Gil and Simian Mobile Disco, whilst he’s edited tracks by A Guy Called Gerald, Talking Heads, O.M.D., Electronic, Imagination and Missy Elliot.

In January 2009 Greg’s reputation was further enhanced when his Essential Mix on BBC Radio 1 received almost universal acclaim and was selected as one of 10 classics that spanned the show’s near 17 year history.

Greg’s Blog, ‘Being A DJ’, was launched in June 2010 for observations on various aspects of club culture now an online touchstone for an ever-increasing amount of dance enthusiasts and aficionados.

In August 2010 he co-curated areas at the inaugural Vintage Festival at Goodwood, which was named ‘Best New Festival’ at the UK Festival Awards.

He has produced a series of documentary podcasts, Time Capsule, Random Influences and Early 80’s Floorfillers, as well as the long-running blog series, Living To Music.

Greg has given talks on music and DJ culture at a number events at venues The Tate Gallery in Liverpool and London's Southbank and Institute Of Contemporary Arts, whilst in 2013 he was invited onto a panel alongside legendary figures Nile Rodgers and Giorgio Moroder @ ADE in Amsterdam. 

In 2014 he unveiled the multi-media label Super Weird Substance, focusing on recording and live events. In 2015, the label released 8 vinyl singles, brought together in the 2 CD comp, 'Greg Wilson Presents Super Weird Substance'. September 2015 saw a memorable Festival No.6 Happening in Portmeirion and Greg rounded off the year with the Liverpool-based celebration of the 40th anniversary of his first club date in 1975 as well as being presented with DJ Magazine's Industry Icon award.

Greg launched his Credit To The Edit club collective at 2016's Festival No.6 and since then has taken it to Liverpool, Berlin, Brixton, Bethnal Green and finally back to Portmeirion for Festival No.6 2017.

2017 saw his label host the epic 14 Hour Super Weird Happening at Liverpool's Florrie, following a mixtape collaboration with Alan Moore, who also appeared at the Happening, whilst it also saw the digital release of The Super Weird Society's 'Gone With The Vibe', released the following year on the first Substance Select 12" vinyl alongside 'The Ghosts Of Watling Street', 'The Best Is Yet To Come' and 'Summer Came My Way'. 2018 also saw the release of Vol.3 in Greg's long-running Credit To The Edit compilation series.

After a handful of further releases, the label was put into hibernation with the onset of covid. Diversifying, ‘Greg Wilson’s Discotheque Archives’ was issued during 2020 lockdown as a limited run paperback, with more books, both Wilson’s own projects and by other authors, now planned.