Dimitri from Paris

06 Dimitri From Paris - Charanga 76 - Aint No Stopping Us Now

10 Dimitri From Paris - Touch - Love Hangover

The track that was used as the base for Gym-Tonic gets a little re-lift

Mytown Sounds - Loud Mouthin DFP Re-Edit

Classic 90's Nu Jersey House prod from cult label Nu-Groove. This edit is From the the Knights Of The Playboy Mansion release out April 2011
Will be on limited edition vinyl

A little foreword about my set on the comp:

The Playboy Mansion, nicknamed "A Disneylanf for adults" is all about hedonism. So the music I wanted to showcase here had to be hedonistic. After releasing three Playboy themed compilations centered around the 70's Disco sound I wanted to move a little forward in time. 
To me, Disco is the ultimate dance music, and aknowledgedly the blueprint for House Music.
But right after Disco "sucked" and before "House Music was born" there was a very interesting period of transition for dance music: the early '80's. 
Five, seven years where experiments where made, different styles tried. A period when the "Rap" and the "Funk" from key cities in America gradually went from ghetto to top 40 "Hip Hop"and "House". The raw, unformatted hedonistic music of the "hoods" was just too good to stay there, and it went on to become the mainstream. 
So my mix focuses on this transitional period. A time where dance music had no formatted tempoes, rules, boundaries. 
More than just a wall of in your face energy, it was crafted to provoke exhilarating emotions. 
An instrument of pleasure In the hands of a DJ, the sonic equivalent of the Playboy Mansion in the hands of Hugh Hefner.

Tracklist & Notes For CD 1:

1-Jestofunk-I'm gonna love you (MC Turbosax mix)

I've always been a sucker for slower House tracks. Back in the '90's they were not so uncommon, and while they went below the radar in the '00's there seems to be a current trend of those coming back. This Jestofunk cut from '91 is in my top 10 of downtempo tracks that manage to rock many a dancefloor. Sexy and energetic it's the perfect opener to start building up my 4 th enrty in the Playboy Mansion series

2-Tensnake-I need your loving

First time I heard this song I couldn't believe it was made today. German wiz-kid Marco aka Tensnake perfectly captured the spirit of the mid '80's dance music that was being played in the legendary clubs of  New York. A mix of funk, pop soaked in primitive digital sounds that paved the way for House music to burgeon .

3-Dimitri From Paris Presents Electra 80-Rock this town (Dimitri From Paris is Nightdubbin')

My personal take on the pre-house sound. Mid-tempo and dubby. This is the kind of music I was playing when I started DJ-ing 25 years ago, inspired by luminaries like Larry Levan and François K. No particular format just a mix of different things that would make a crowd dance and smile. After years of merciless uptempo domination, we can return to a little more variety and fun in dance tracks.

4-Tensnake-Coma Cat

I'm probably Tensnake's biggest fan. I love his highly detailed yet straight to the point production and I couldnt resist to compile a second cut from him.. Coma Cat is truly a masterpiece of the '00's. Introducing forgotten and new textures in dance music it inspired and urged many a producer, including myself, to step up their game. Coma Cat is the proof that club music can be clever, sophisticated yet highly danceable.

5-Precious-Definition Of a track + Logic-The Warning (Acapella) (on CD only)

Let's rewind a little and go back again to the basics of House music. Back to how it sounded. Very basic, quite raw but irrestibly infectious. Groovy drums a fat bassline and some deep spoken word thrown in courtesy of Logic's The Warning acapella

6-Basil Hardhaus-Make me dance (DFP re-edit)

This is one of the rawest form of House music and I love it. Quirky, twisted, and on a tight budget. Sounding straight of a sweaty basement its limitations and lack of frills  make it incredibly charming, and rather sexy too. The shout outs to select New York DJs in the end deliciously dates it as well. Might be a bit of an acquired taste but as the famous record once said "Not everyone understands house music"


7-DJ Spen & The Muthafunkaz-Reason to love (Dimitri From Paris is Nightdubbin')

DJ Spen, is one of the longest running House Music producer. From his early days of producing Crystal Waters to his new Muthafunkaz project, he blazed through multiple trends over a 20 years plus time. Sticking to his sure fire guns, he constantly delivered Soulful, Gospel tinged music of the highest caliber. It was an honour for me to remix one of his songs featured here in a old school vintage House flavour.

8-Bas Noir-My love is magic (DFP re-edit)

Despite their french moniker (Bas Noir = Black Stockings) this girl duet is actually from Newark. Initially out on cult label Nu-Groove in the mid '90's this act pioneered the soulful House sound of New Jersey alongside Adeva, Blaze and Tony Humphries. This exclusive edit regroups 3 different mixes.


9-Dimitri From Paris and DJ Rocca present: Erodiscotique Ft Fred Ventura-I need a reason for livng (Dimitri From Paris Dubstrumental)

In the mid 80's just before House Music exploded, the latino side of New York's clubbing community was grooving to a  sound of its own. Known as latin Hip Hop, or Freestyle it was flamboyantly merging elements of campy Disco with the current Electro Rap sound. Eventually it made its way into pop teritorry inspiring artists like Shannon (Let The Music Play) and The Pet Shop Boys (Domino Dancing). This song I produced with DJ Rocca from Italy is a loving tribute to that melodic, beat heavy, over the top genre.


10-Breakbot-Baby I'm Yours (Aeroplane remix)

Parisian Breakbot is a new talented producer of the French Touch v2.0, signed on the über-trendy label Ed Banger (Justice, Cassius...) he takes a poppier melodic approach, deeply rooted in vintage Funk & Disco. He is remixed here by fresh Italo-Belgian sensation Aeroplane who turns the original into an '80's flavored club monster.

11-Sebastien Tellier-Kilometer (A-Trak remix)

Sebastien Tellier is not your usual club hero. The spiritual child of Serge Gainsbourg and Daft Punk, he mixes sex infused chanson with vintage, yet ultra modern soundscapes. Former turntablilist and one half of Duck Sauce,  A-Trak is respectfully pumping up the original adding beautiful Disco strings into the mix.

12-Jimi Tenor-Take me baby (Slappers, Organ And RX70 Chorus Mix)

Jimi Tenor is another excentric, this time hailing from Finland. He produced songs like no one else with his tongue firmly planted in his cheek. This delicously corny mix of  "Take me baby" is an orgasmic Disco-Tech-y ride, that sound as if played on the cheapest ever, living-room organ.

13-Cookie Watkins-I'm attracted to you (Original mix) (on CD only)

And from Finland we go to Zanzibar in a quick transition. Not the African town though, but its namesake New Jersey club, home of legendary DJ Tony Humphries. Club Zanzibar often referred to as the "Other" Paradise Garage,  is where black, soulful, house music was refined throughout the 80's. A place where the gospel roots of black suburban america met the new wave of europe's electronic beats. 

14-Darryl Pandy-Just Came To Party (Dimitri From Paris Classic Instrumental)+Blaze-I remember house  (Acapella)

In 1986 "Love Can't Turn Around" sung by Darryl Pandy was the first House music record that crossed over to pop teritorry and it forever changed the face of Dance music. My remix of "Just Came To Party" is a hommage to that musical milestone with the addition of  Blaze "I remenber House" acapella that brings some humor to the historical angle.

15-DSK - What would we do (Original Version)

Another House music crossover hit. I always liked vocals that were a little twisted, I find it adds an irrestible charm to a song. The lead singer here has a particular nonchalance that always reminded of Crystal Waters, and I love this old school sound where hip-hop breakbeats were mixed into House tracks.

16-Photon Inc. - Generate Power (Instrumental mix)

Here comes another House Classic, producer DJ Pierre AKA Photon Inc. From the mythical Stricly Rhythm label, he 
was famous for his "wild pitch" sound. A signature frantic build up of vocal samples, filtered loops, hip hop and house beats. Often imitated, never equalled.

17-Markus Nikolai-Bushes (The first recreation version 1.1)

You must have understood by now that I have a soft spot for excentrics. Frankfurt's own Markus Nikolai, optician by trade, is yet another one of them. Each of his works is unique and different from one another. Bushes, a clever combination of acoustic and electronic instruments wins the prize for "weirdest lyrics in a House song" category. It is very nicely Disco'ed up here by Chicago veteran DJ Derrick Carter.  

18-Endangered Species - Ping Pong

Ping Pong is one of the very first records that back in the 90's incorporated elements of big band Swing Jazz into House music. A great combination that is now a growing trend. I wanted to show it is something that had its roots way further than we would think.

19-Biboulakis Ft Nina Zeitlin- If only alarms didn't ring

For those who don't know, a sign at the Playboy mansion's door says "I you don't swing, don't ring" So I couldn't find a better track to conclude this set than this Swing flavored song by young fellow frenchman Biboulakis.

Bäs Noir - My Love Is Magic DFP Edit

Another classic edit from me that never got to see the light of the day, til now 

Steve Woodwind- Higher Love Dimitri From Paris Re-Edit

02 - Star Original Centerstage mix

In 1994 this was one of my first international artist remix. Björk had just left her Sugarcubes band to go solo, and she was only mildly know back then. I was commissioned to remix Human Behaviour by Island France who were releasing it domestically. I did 2 sets of mixes and they were grouped on a single promo 12" that was pressed to only 500 copies making it a pretty rare item today. She apparently didn't like the remix much and it stayed commercially unreleased. Luckily for me, I had a chance meeting with David Morales at the time and gave him 2 copies. Months later I was told he and DEF mix partner Frankie Knuckles were killing it in the NY clubs. Thanks to them my name got out of France and it kickstarted my carreer outside of my country.

Björk  - Human Behaviour Dimitri From Paris Underground Behaviour Remix 1994

I heard this song a good 5 times the past weekend. Since I loved it every time again,  I figured I'd dig out this old edit of mine. Pretty mild job on this, just piecing together my fave parts from the original 12" mix and the M&M remixes

Dimitri from Paris

Joey Smeraglia