Influences – Billy Nasty

Music

A man that will forever hold the Guinness World Record for being the first DJ to produce a commercially available mix CD, Billy Nasty will never be found too far away from a box of records. With a career that covers more than a quarter of a century, Mr Nasty is a successful DJ, record label owner and generally well-respected figure within the dance music community – still lighting up dancefloors around the world. For his influences, Billy has gone right back to this roots – offering a timely reminder of the funk that informs most of the world's greatest techno DJs. Even though Billy may be known for playing proper 'ard techno bangers, his past is full of boom bapping hip hop jams from Just Ice (with the inimitable Mantronix on production fact fans), 80s NYC punked up electro from Strafe, and the all time UK ska anthem Ghost Town – on a side note, we're starting to think The Specials may be the most influential group in British dance – the amount of legendary DJs who site them as an influence is amazing.. Over to Mr Nasty for the tunes and what they meant to him –

See Billy Nasty at 303 Liverpool's 2nd Birthday on Sunay 3rd May at Camp and Furnace, Liverpool – click here for tickets.

LISTEN

Donna Summer - I Feel Love (Patrick Cowley Mega Mix) [Hd]

I had to start with this as it’s the best 12″ ever.. and probably one of the longest running at just short of 16mins. Apart from being the best, the Moroder produced arpeggio heavy dance floor anthem is the ultimate tune to put on when you need to go to the Bar/loo or roll yourself a joint or what ever you fancy, and when you’re back in the booth you still have a good 5mins to sort your next mix out! 😀

Donna Summer - I Feel Love (Patrick Cowley Mega Mix) [Hd]

I had to start with this as it’s the best 12″ ever.. and probably one of the longest running at just short of 16mins. Apart from being the best, the Moroder produced arpeggio heavy dance floor anthem is the ultimate tune to put on when you need to go to the Bar/loo or roll yourself a joint or what ever you fancy, and when you’re back in the booth you still have a good 5mins to sort your next mix out! 😀
The Specials Ghost Town Extended 12inch Version

One of the best records ever by one of the coolest bands ever!! With it’s haunting vocals, whistling wind and killer bass-line this track really made an impression on me when I was younger. Jerry Dammers 2Tone label was also hugely important as it’s aim was to bring blacks and whites together through the mutual love of Ska Music at a time (1980) when there was quite of lot of racism and fighting in the streets.This is the extended version that goes dubwise around the 3.40 mark..Stunning!
[1985] Double Dee & Steinski ?- Lesson 3 (History Of Hip Hop Mix)

Double Dee & Steinski’s ?”Lessons 1, 2 & 3″ to me are the ultimate Hip Hop cut and paste style mega mixes…Lesson 3 is my favourite of them all. I remember being a young 17-year-old DJ obsessed vinyl junkie that would follow and listen to Jonathan Moore from Coldcut as much as possible. When JM would drop this the place would always go berserk with the main groove coming from Herman Kelly’s Lets Dance to the Drummers Beat – a timeless break beat classic!
Maceo And The Macks - Cross The Track ( We Better Go Back )

Another beast of a tune that I adored playing and dancing to around 1986. Cross The Tracks…rare groove anthem and the holy grail of James Brown’s ‘People’ label. The mighty Maceo Parker of Soul Power 74 fame smashes it. How much funkier can you get?
Strafe - Set It Off [Hq]

Y’all want this party started right now, Y’all want this party started quickly..right?? Killer early electro/pre house track 1984 seminal dance floor killer. One of the first Drum machine heavy groves I heard around the time when things were becoming more futuristic with the arrival of the Roland & DMX drum machines. It has been covered a few times but nothing comes close to the original. Strafe (real name Steve Standard) I salute you!! This record just gets better and better the longer you listen to it. Like buying your girlfriend nice underwear. It’s a gift that keeps on giving.
Cold Get Dumb--Just Ice

Another great track produced by the king of the beats hero Mantronix, with Just Ice’s killer rhymes (never the whack in actual fact) sitting on top of this tracks infectious distorted cow bell rhythm with the producers trademark stuttered drum rolls and fills. Ol’ Skool Hip Hop at it’s finest and well produced!
Meat Beat Manifesto 1987 12 Inch Radio Babylon

The last tune of my ‘Magnificent 7’ is widely known and credited as practically starting and inspiring the Trip Hop and Drum n Bass scene. This track sounds like no other record before or after..Period! Absolute filthy bass-line, distorted chopped up breakbeat and of all things a clever use of Boney M’s vocal from their “Rivers of Babylon” track. Who saw that one coming?? The world has not been the same since!!