Featuring Mickey Oliver, Ralph Rosario, Pierre and others. 12-inch, Vinyl record

A classic compilation from the Chicago scene – one that stood as one of the key full-length releases of house music that was bubbling under in the Windy City – important at the time, as most other albums of house music were from overseas labels issuing Chicago recordings! As you'd guess from the title, Mickey Oliver's at the helm throughout – producing the work with a nicely soulful quality – one that takes things a bit past some of the starker, colder modes that sometimes showed up on Trax Records – and which really illustrates that great second chapter as Chicago house was maturing a bit. The beats are nice and crispy throughout, the keyboards get cool and moody – and titles include "I Can't Stop For You" by Pierre's Fantasy Club, "Take It To The Top" by Joe Magic, "House Rights" by Phortune, "Suavesito" by Ralphi Rosario, "I Want Your Love" by Jamie, "Lost Me Boy" by Mickey Oliver with Dari Mor, and "Anticipate" and "I Need A Beat" by Mickey Oliver. CD featuers bonus tracks – "Anticipate (12" rmx)" by Mickey Oliver and "I Need A Beat (12" mix)" by Ralph Rosario. CD

A killer classic from a time when the Chicago house scene was really taking off – that second generation of underground productions that was tagged with the "acid" term, because of the way they were using older riffs and keyboards to change things up! The Brits got that all wrong, and thought the word was a drug reference – and ended up taking way too much E in the process – but in Chicago, the term meant a new sort of sophistication for house music, and a warmer sound than the first few years too – deeper soul, more interesting keyboard parts, and a door opening to vocals and other elements that would help build a bridge between underground club and a rising tide in the mainstream. There's few records that document that shift as well as this one – a gem on the Hot Mix 5 label, put together by Mickey Oliver, who also had a hand in some of the music too. Titles include "Dream Girl" by Pierre's Fantasy Club, "Can You Feel The Bass" by Phortune, "151" by Armando, "World Turns Around" by Cool McCool, "Jiggerwatts" by Phortune, "The Juice" and "Ecstasy" by Fingers and "Mix Pump Up The Acid" by Mickey Oliver & Ralphie Rosario. CD