Evergreen would be a good word to describe Greg Wilson. Despite recently turning 50, the Liverpool born DJ and electro-funk pioneer continues to compile diverse sets of music that put many of his younger peers to shame. Highlight achievements of Greg’s early years include him being the first DJ to appear on UK TV, the first UK DJ to get a record pressed on vinyl and even teaching Fat Boy Slim how to scratch back in 1983. It’s a much overused word, but Greg is a genuine legend.
To mark his upcoming performance at Bestival – which takes place 9-13th September on the UK’s Isle Of White – Greg has put together a stunning new mix. Featuring plenty of exclusive re-edits from the man himself, Greg’s mix takes in everything from The Beatles to hip young things, The xx.
For more info about Bestival, head to their website.
Tracklisting: 01 T-Coy – Carino (Greg Wilson Edit) 02 War – Youngblood (Livin’ In The Streets;Cosmic Boogie Edit) 03 William DeVaughn – Be Thankful For What You Got (Onur Engin Edit) 04 Banbarra – Shack Up (Revenge Edit) 05 Rocha – Feel The Love (Greg Wilson Version) 06 Florence & The Machine – Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up) (Leo Zero Mix;Greg Wilson Edit) 07 The xx – Night Time (Greg Wilson Version) 08 Goldfrapp – Dreaming (greg wilson version) 09 Hercules & Love Affair – Blind (Frankie Knuckles Mix) 10 The Clash – Casbah Breakdown (Joey Negro Edit) 11 The Beatles – Tomorrow Never Knows (Leftside Wobble Edit)
Greg Wilson’s ‘Credit To The Edit’ release in 2004 remains one of the seminal remix albums of the last 10 years and represents one of the most unexpected musical comebacks ever.
Greg began DJing way back in 1975. He was a pioneer of mixing and remixing in the UK and in 1983 he became the first ‘dance music’ DJ hired for a regular weekly session at Manchester’s now legendary Hacienda club. Greg was also the the first DJ to perform on UK television, the first UK DJ to have a remix pressed on vinyl and even taught Fat Boy Slim how to scratch back in 1983. However, despite this Greg retired from DJ’ing in 1984 whilst at the top of his game. As Acid House took hold in the late 80′s and was superceeded by the super club era in the ’90′s; Greg Wilson’s name was largely consigned to dance music’s history books and was rarely given the credit his pioneering work deserved. Greg’s ‘Credit To The Edit’ release helped rectify that.
Compiling previously unreleased edits and remixes, some of which were over 30 years old and had been made with nothing more hi-tech than a reel-to-reel tape player and a razor blade, the compilation took both familiar and overlooked music from the last 3 decades and re-introduced it to the listener in a totally unique way. Whether it was the sublime extended mix of Chaka Khan’s ‘I Feel For You’ or Greg’s vigorous reworking of Rockers Revenge that gave hints of house music years before the term was even conceived; the work on ‘Credit To The Edit’ showed just how far ahead of his time Greg Wilson really was.
The release of ‘Credit To The Edit’ also coincided with a transition in the fortunes of dance music in the mid ’00′s. A rise in the popularity of darker, more stripped down club music coupled with an increase in digital music vendors which offered an almost unlimited supply of brand new music meant that fewer and fewer DJ’s were digging out old records and recontextualizing them. Greg Wilson’s ‘Credit To The Edit’ flew in the face of this and became one of the catalysts for the rise of the Disco/ Balearic scene in the late ’00′s that saw countless new producers experimenting with their own re-edits of obscure disco, funk and soul tracks.
Thanks to ‘Credit To The Edit’ and a stream of consistently exciting DJ sets and remixes, Greg is now one of the most in demand DJ’s not just the UK but in the world – ranking 91st in Resident Advisor’s influential world DJ poll.
Check out Greg’s appearance on UK TV in 1983. Look out for a totally clueless Jules Holland interviewing the man himself:
As the Festival season continues on, next weekend sees the return of The Big Chill Festival. Treading the line between boutique and behemoth the festival attracts huge acts, as well as a weird and wonderful crowd that make the weekend so special. With a capacity of 35,000 the festival has retained some of the intimacy that has made it so appealing since its inception in the mid nineties. Located in Hertfordshire’s Malvern Hills, The Big Chill offers a festival experience in a truly picturesque location. The site surrounds a deer park and those wishing to “take a moment” can relax next to the site’s lake.
The Big Chill always seems to pull some great headline acts out of the bag – and this year is no exception. Former Talking Heads maverick David Byrne headlines Friday, while Saturday will have you reaching for those torch glasses when the newly reformed Orbital play. The weekend is capped off with a performnace from Basement Jaxx, who may quite possibly be one of the best bands to see at a festival. The Jaxx will be debuting songs from their forthcoming album ‘Scars’ as well as dipping into their plentiful back catalogue.
But as we know it’s not all about the headliners. Other highlights will come from Brighton indie eccentrics British Sea Power, Friendly Fires (fresh from their awesome Glastonbury set) and Spiritualized, who continue to be one of the most stunning bands to see live. Big Chill will also play host to some of the best DJ’s around, including the legendary Norman Jay MBE, Shazam favourite Greg Wilson and fresh from recording his new Fabric mix, ToddlaT.
The Big Chill team always aims to set themselves apart with a lineup that encompasses the music, art, comedy, dance and film. Where else could you flip between the cosmic-disco of Lindstrøm, the weird and wonderful stand up of Noel Fielding and an art car boot sale? For line up and ticket info, head to their website
