Music : The Annual Vol.1: Mixed By Boy George & Pete Tong

Rating: - "Hold that sucker DOWN!"
Ministry of Sound has come along way since its origins in the early 90's. In fact, it literally has - their albums seem so far away from the famous club that it no longer resembles any relevance or any connection to the place that was once 'the' place to go to. Luckily, I own The Annual Vol.1 to remind of 'back in the day'...
If it's not special enough to just own this piece of history, then its lovely dark royal blue leather book-case will surely make you feel special. I would describe it as 'innocent' - the label MoS wasn't even recognised worldwide by the time this album was released. And just looking at this plain blue cover shows how un-commercial the club, and indeed the album was back then. It has a sense of pride with its silver lettering, and silver Crown on the book spine. Upon opening it, you may be lucky to have an original "Ministry of Sound 1995 Club S*x Survey", in which rather humorous yet eye opening questions were asked - 30 of them in fact. I laugh mainly because I just couldn't imagine this kind of thing in a modern album, now that they are aimed at kids.
The usual book is included too, which was included with all Leather Book editions (which stopped in 2001, enter 'commercial era'). I like the book in this edition. Again, it doesn't cross any boundaries set by Political Correctness. And if it were, they would do with out all the swearing from the DJ's, and indeed Boy Georges experiences with girl friends, as he tells the interviewer. Now that was very interesting, as you can imagine.
But of course, what about the music? Well, to sum it up in a nutshell, I can still stay that The Annual Vol.2, the album that followed this, is still by far the best MoS album ever made. I feel this album was maybe just setting the scene for what was to come. Whereas The Annual Vol.2 was crisp clear, with absolutely perfect beat matches, this album at times sounds at times like its being played on a radio. But to be honest, I think the gives the album a really good classic sound to it - sounding almost like it's live. And that was probably the idea, because this was when the album was, totally, related to the club. Just like Cream Live vol.1 (summer 1995) this really sounds authentic!
I could just reel off all the classic tracks on Cd1, from the excellent dark sounds of Short Dick Man, to the classic feel good organ sounds of Cry India. U Girls has a great beat to it, and another classic rhythm, as well as Keep Warm. Short Dick Man was the perfect choice to start the album, and its just one of the many, many tunes that you can imagine yourself in MoS back in the day. Its "Get the f**k out of this place" lyric will just be swirling around your head all day. Like with The Annual Vol.2, were Firestarter mixed in Born Slippy, Short Dick Man mixes with Don't You Want Me in the same effect that you feel the songs were made for each other. The gradual build up of the bass from Don't you want me sounds a little crackly at times, but its makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck. Of course, this was a song that just 'had' to be included, its one of the best club songs ever made.
Cd2 is probably better again, starting with the classic 90's sound of The Dreamer, again with its lovely organ sounds and fun bouncy and feel good rhythm. Hideaway is of course, another 90's classic, and the remixes of Weekend and Blue Monday are excellent dance remixes. Then I feel the album ends on two of the best songs your likely to hear on a 90's dance album. Hold That Sucker Down is simply, what 90's dance was all about - a classy rhythm, good beat, and that great organ style sound again that has just filled this album, accompanied with the lyrics "Hold that sucker.. Down!". Joanna is a nice way to finish off the album too, and one of the reasons this album is so truly excellent in the party catergory is because of the amazing track order. From start to finish, the songs were just made to go into each other, and you feel it keeps getting better. Whats more, it has the true sign of quality by ending on a track that peaks that euphoria feeling, and then ends on a high note. Thats the sign of a good DJ!
I'll admit, the annual that followed this will never be topped. But even before the biggest ever selling complimation album (The Annual vol.2) I love this album because it reminds me of Back In The Day more than any other album I've heard, simply because its so well done, and feel good sounds. It doesn't require a Nova with pathetically over-sized speakers in that back to enjoy this album. It was from a time when clubbing was for a different generation, and attitudes are so different now. MoS unfortunately, have lost this in their albums because they are now a 'brand', and they now aim at a market of budding kids who want to bop away in their bedrooms to the likes of 'Pussycat Dolls' and 'Eric Prydz'.

Recommended? Just wait till night time, get the stereo on, and be prepared for some 'real' dance music from what would be the beginning of a very special era...