Although it may sound pretty rough around the edges by today’s standards, Greg Wilson’s ‘Best Of 83’ mix was viewed as groundbreaking back in the day (as was the previous year’s ‘Best Of 82’), and revered as inspirational by a new generation of DJ’s who’d take up where he left off. These end of year mixes would become something of a tradition on Piccadilly Radio (later Key 103), which broadcast throughout the North-West of England, with the series continuing on into the next decade, courtesy of Chad Jackson (84/85) and Stu Allan (86-92), including DJKA’s mix in ’87.

 

The mixes focused on the biggest tracks played on the black music scene during the previous year, ‘The Best Of 83’ cramming in as many floorfillers as possible (even if it only be a brief snippet) from the main clubs of the time, Wigan Pier and Legend in Manchester. It features the following tracks:

 

MARY JANE GIRLS all night long / THE GAP BAND outstanding / MTUME juicy fruit / S.O.S BAND just be good to me / B BOYS two, three, break / THE PACKMAN I’m the packman / NEWCLEUS jam on revenge (the wikki wikki song) / INGRAM dj’s delight / WRECKIN’ CREW chance to dance / CASHMERE do it anyway you wanna / THE SYSTEM you are in my system / FATBACK is this the future? / THE RAKE street justice / INDEEP last night a dj saved my life / AURRA baby love / RP BAND you are in my system / TIME ZONE the wildstyle / HERBIE HANCOCK rockit / B BOYS cuttin’ herbie / THE WEBBOES under the wear / ADVANCE take me to the top / BOOKER NEWBURY III love town / BRASS CONSTRUCTION walking the line / PURE ENERGY spaced out / MAN PARRISH hip hop be bop (don’t stop) / TWO SISTERS b boys beware / GRANDMASTER & MELLE MEL white lines (don’t don’t do it) / G.L.O.B.E & WHIZ KID play that beat mr dj / TONEY LEE reach up / SANDY KERR thug rock / I LEVEL give me / SALSOUL ORCHESTRA ooh I love it / DAVID JOSEPH you can’t hide your love / UNIQUE what I got is what you need / TWO SISTERS high noon / C.O.D in the bottle / SHANNON let the music play / WEEKS & CO if you’re looking for fun / TONEY LEE love so deep / JAZZY DEE get on up / VISUAL the music got me / SHARON REDD love how you feel / KASHIF I just gotta have you / FREEEZE I-dub-u / SOUL SONIC FORCE looking for the perfect beat / TOM BROWN rockin’ radio / CAPTAIN ROCK the return of captain rock / MIDNIGHT STAR freak-a-zoid / CANDIDO jingo breakdown / CAPTAIN RAPP bad times (I can’t stand it) / SHIRLEY LITES heat you up / D TRAIN music / CHOCOLATE MILK who’s getting it now / HOT STREAK body work / CLASS ACTION weekend / RUN-DMC it’s like that / HASHIM al-naafiysh / THE JONZUN CREW we are the jonzun crew

 

 

 

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