Listen to Daft Punk’s Essential Mix… first aired 20 years ago
It was 20 years ago this week.
Before they became the robots, before they became mega-selling global artists, before they were known as dance music mavericks to most, and just weeks after they released their seminal debut album Homework in 1997, Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo recorded their first and only Essential mix on March 2nd, 1997.
Have a listen to the entire two-hour mix below which prefaces their domination and bears all the hallmarks of their sound: funk-house, bass-driven disco, ghetto house, French touch, techno and pop melodies. Tunes include Armand Van Hleden, Cajmere, Fantom and aa lot of Daft Punk too.
Daft Punk – 1997 Essential Mix tracklist
01. Daft Punk – WDPK Essential Intro
02. Paul Johnson – Hear The Music
03. Armand Van Helden – Funk Phenomena (Dope Mix)
04. CZR – Chicago Southside
05. Unknown – Git Down Saturday
06. Remix Delux #1 – Dee’s Knots
07. Parris Mitchell – Ghetto Shout Out
08. Daft Punk – Teachers
09. Martin Luther King – I Have A Dream
10. The Godson EP – Drum Patterns & Memories
11. Jammin Gerald – Get The Ho ’94
12. DJ Attack – Da Way U Work
13. Thomas Bangalter – Spinal Beats
14. Thomas Bangalter – Spinal Scratch
15. Tha West Siders – Waxscratch Trax
16. Fantom – Faithfull (Prassay Mix)
17. Fantom – Faithfull (Original Mix)
18. Fantom – Faithfull (Da Cracy Mix)
19. I:Cube – Disco Cubizm (Daft Punk Mix)
20. Daft Punk – Rock ‘n’ Roll
21. DJ Hyperactive – Chicago
22. Daft Punk – Oh Yeah
23. Cajmere – Only 4 U
24. Trankilou – Champagne
25. Unknown – And Da Beat Goes On
26. DJ Funk & Gerald – Hold Up
27. Ween – Freedom Of ’76
28. Zdar + Boombass – Foxy Lady
29. Gusto – Disco’s Revenge
30. DJ Deeon – Deeon Doez Disco
31. Sweet – Somebody’s Watching
32. Da Mongoloids – Spark Da Meth
33. Roller Rink 2000 – Shining
34. Roy Davis Jr. – Gabrielle
35. Robert J. Hairston – Preacher Man
36. Daft Punk – Around The World (Motorbass Mix)
37. Kenny Dixon Jr. – U Can Dance If You Want 2
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Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005 . He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Cara Magazine, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, founder of Lumo Club, club promoter, event curator and producer of gigs, listening parties & events in Dublin.