As far as we’re aware, these old broadcasts have never been shared in their entirety on the web. These are ALL OF THE ‘UK FRESH 86’ PERFORMANCES that were broadcast by Mike Allen on Capital Radio in London over the course of the 1986 August Bank Holiday weekend. The featured artists are Dr Dre & World Class Wreckin’ Cru/ Word of Mouth & DJ Cheese/Steady B/Captain Rock/Sir Mix-A-Lot/Dr Jeckyll & Mr Hyde/ Lovebug Starski with Brucie B/ Grandmaster Flash/Just-Ice/ Real Roxanne/Mantronik & Afrika Bambaataa. And tell ya kids, this was Dr Dre, 3 decades ago !!!
If you are from outside of the UK, this may be the first time youve heard of the UK Fresh 86 shows. These were at Wembley Arena [NB: ARENA Rap in the UK in 1986] and were billed as ‘The event of the decade’. Following the Fresh Fest template on offer in the US from the previous year, and with only 16000 people witnessing what became a pivotal performance of iconic 80s artists, this has arguably become the largest and most important LIVE event in old school UK Hip Hop history. These recordings are all that seem to be available, at least, they are all that Mike Allen broadcast as far as we know….
Household name Dr Dre, performed alongside [fellow NWA member DJ] Yella and the rest of the World Class Wreckin’ Cru, as did park jam pioneers Grandmaster Flash, Lovebug Starski & Brucie B. Bambaataa and the Family also played as did the legendary Mantronix with MC Tee! One of the most incredible DJs to walk the planet, the ‘master of the crossfader’ Cutmaster DJ Cheese, scratched his way through his set along with KMC and MC Original G, the unsung heroes from the Word of Mouth crew as did pioneering space age sounds of Captain Rock. Tickets were available for both an afternoon and an evening show, but so many kids in the UK were affected by it as the festival energised future generations with its impact. It also made British fans aware that Rap and Hip-Hop wasnt just blastin outta boxes in New York, with Sir Mix-A-Lot from Seattle and World Class representing LA.
The World Class performance is polished and Dre is tight on the cut. Sir Mix-A-Lot drops the novelty track he’s known for, and retains credibility with b-side bangers. Mantronik gets busy on the version excursion, triggering drum machine pads in addition to whats on the decks. Steady B is outta breath at times and Roxanne is impatient while Howie Tee enjoys his time behind the wheels. But all of the performances are to old school Hip Hop entertainment. And of course, the whistle posse was in full effect at this party.
The Bambaataa performance is reminiscent of a school disco, it’s a classic show, it’s an alluring and appealing snapshot of the period, but be warned, it was 86, and it sounds insanely amateur at times. Especially when Bam and the Soulsonic Force take the stage. Maybe Bam was busy during rehearsals ;]
It’s clunky in its arrangement, the sound is all over the place, the levels are waaay off and if you have a keen ear, or affection for these classics, you’ll barely recognise some of the keyboard riffs and synth licks.
HUMUNGANOID propers to Richard Pooles and Mark Devlin for helping out with this incredible collection of recordings. They are a composite of various pause tape recordings from my own and others archives, but the majority of the segues are intact. As ever, massive respect to Simmo for keeping the spirit of Allen’s Army preserved. You can find loads of info and images from the event, and alot more about a British broadcasting hero; Mike Allen, over at http://www.mikeallencapitalradio.com/
1 –
Word of Mouth & DJ Cheese
Intro
King Kut [Version]
Trouble Funk – Pump Me Up Scratch Session
Run DMC – Peter Piper Scratch Session
Chic – Good Times Scratch Session
Doug E Fresh – The Show Scratch Session
MC Boob [Steady B] & DJ Grand Dragon
Intro
Do The Fila And The Peewee Dance
Captain Rock
Intro
Cosmic Blast
Mic Break
Sir Mix-A-Lot
Square Dance Rap
Fast Rap Session
Dr Jeckyll & Mr Hyde
Genius Rap
A.M. / P.M.
Butt Naked
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2 –
Lovebug Starski & Brucie B
Eighth Wonder Intro
Saturday Night
Say What You Wanna Say
House Rocker
Amityville [The House On The Hill]
Captain Rock
Capt. Rock To The Future Shock
The Return Of Capt. Rock
Mic Break
Grandmaster Flash And The Furious Five
Superappin
U Know What Time It Is
The Adventures Of Grandmaster Flash On The Wheels Of Steel [Version]
Freedom
MS. Thang
Just-Ice DMX & Mantronik
Latoya
Put That Record Back On [Version]
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3 –
World Class Wreckin’ Cru
B.S.
Mission Possible
Juice
The Real Roxanne & The Hitman Howie Tee
Intro
Bang Zoom!
Untitled
Freestyle
Romeo
Mantronik & MC Tee
Fresh is the Word
Needle to the Groove
Hardcore Hip Hop
Sir Mix-A-Lot
My Studio
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4 –
Word of Mouth & DJ Cheese
Intro
Untitled [Live drum machine]
Coast to Coast
Grandmaster Flash And The Furious Five
Fastest Man Alive
Style
The Message
Zodiac sign routine
World Class Wreckin’ Cru
World Class [Version]
Surgery
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5 –
The Real Roxanne
Bang Zoom Let’s Go
Untitled
Mic Break
Sir Mix-A-Lot
My Studio
Square Dance Rap [Version]
Afrika Bambaataa & Family [Prince Ikey Cee/ Mr Biggs/ GLOBE/ Shango]…
Intro & Scratch Session
Bambaataa’s Theme / Assault On Precinct 13 [Version]
Planet Rock [Version]
Looking for the Perfect Beat
RANDOM RAP RADIO 