As editor for the site, I get a lot of CDs for review and just scan through them before sending them off to writers Ultimate Dance Hits Volume 1 came across my desk and it caught my eye because it's produced by the Dance Factory, a radio station family in Chicago, and because it had an incredible line up of all the current and recent dance radio hits.
Popping the CD in my car stereo, I set out for a drive to the sound of David Guetta's international smash "Love is Gone" (purchase/download). The electro house jam, featuring vocals from Chris Willis, which won several International Dance Music Awards, has been watched over 14.7 million times on YouTube. And people say that dance music doesn't cross over.
I was singing along to "Love is Gone" and then the song came to an end. There was a pause of a few seconds and the next song started - Kyara "Kill 4 Love" (purchase/download). I was wondering if "Love is Gone" was separated for some special reason - so I started skipping through the CD and listening to the transitions between tracks (sort of like when I get a demo from a new DJ looking for a booking) and I quickly realized that Ultimate Dance Hits is not a mixed CD but a compilation of radio edits.
With the concept of a dance radio compilation in mind, the tracks chosen are spot-on. Big club/crossover hits by international superstars Paul Van Dyk, Armand Van Helden, Bob Sinclar and Tiesto blend seemlessly with radio hits from Chris Lake, Funkerman, GetFar, and Leonid Rudenko. There are so many big names on here it feels like Now That's What I Call Dance Radio or K-Tel Dance Radio (for those who remember). I can picture the TV commercial in my head.
The Grammy award-winning Benny Benassi mix of Public Enemy "Bring the Noise" (purchase/download)is the closest the CD comes to hip-hop, which is kind of cool. So much of US dance music right now is focussed on remixes of top 40/r&b artists rather than real dance artists. That this CD focuses solely on dance artists/producers is definitely refreshing - especially in a radio context. Though this could also be a result of the cost of licensing major label top 40 acts - but since I enjoyed singing along to most of the CD, I will give the producer/arranger/programmer Too Cool Chris the benefit of the doubt and credit him by saying that he is staying true to real dance artists/producers. That there are only two cover versions/remakes on the CD is another point in his favor as it can easily be said that US commercial dance music can often quickly devolve into europop karaoke.
This format for consumption of dance music is kind of unique. Most of the times when you purchase a compilation of dance music it is either beatmixed together or extended remixes of the songs. Since the CD contained 22 tracks and was from Chicago, I assumed it would be the latter, mixed in a Bad Boy Bill style. Thinking about the format of the CD, I can see several groups of people who would enjoy it - those who have iPods and whowant to rip the songs they hear on dance radio for Shuffle play - this CD is ideal. Or if you have a friend in the military who wants to keep up with the dance industry. Or simply if you like listening to dance radio stations, but don't have the time or resources to track down all of your favorites - this CD would be great for you.
Released February 12, 2008 on Toucan Cove Records
