Frankie Knuckles, Director's Cut, Jamie Principle / Baby Wants to Ride

Label:  Sosure Music
Cat#:  SSMDC001
Format:  12”
Country:  UK
Date:  2019

Track Listing:A never before released version of a truly, legendary house record
from the late great Frankie Knuckles…working in collaboration with The
Frankie Knuckles Foundation who will receive 50% of the profits from
this project, SoSure Music is proud to present the Director’s Cut reproduction
of ‘Baby Wants To Ride’. Alongside this, a vinyl exclusive
edit by Jimmy Edgar, which was originally a tribute release after
Frankie’s passing in 2014, finally gets an official release.

2011 saw the launch of Frankie and long-time production partner Eric
Kupper’s ‘Director’s Cut’ project, with the aim to release new music,
whilst re-producing classic cuts to fit with the modern dancefloor.
SoSure Music is now working alongside Eric Kupper and Hector Romero,
with the blessing of both Def Mix and The Frankie Knuckles Foundation,
to bring a renewed focus to some of this material.

First up, the illustrious, evocative 1987 anthem, ‘Baby Wants To
Ride’. Rightly regarded as a masterpiece of early Chicago house and a
pioneering classic through and through. Knuckles and Kupper extend the
intro and outro to allow for those sweeping blends, whilst adding deft
touches and reprogrammed lines to give a crisper, more detailed feel
to this sumptuous slice of definitive house music. Couple that with
newly spiritualized vocals and fresh erotic ad libs from Jamie
Principle and prepare to rekindle that infectious energy 32 years down
the line.

On the B side, Jimmy Edgar showcases his trademark touch to provide a
fresh spin on the original whilst staying true to its essence.
Reworking the arps, adding atmospheric drops and crunchy percussive
elements, whilst holding off on the iconic vocal till the last
section, all combine to give this version a unique, big room character
that nods to the past, yet reinterprets for the present. A fitting
tribute from an artist whose own productions are clearly laced with
influence from Frankie Knuckles.