BBE 15 - 15 years of Real Music for Real People - compiled and mixed by Chris Read

BBE Records first released the acclaimed ‘Stop and Listen’ series late in 1996, a series that set the benchmark for latter day copies such as ‘Late Night Tales’ and included compilers such as the legendary Masters At Work.

This journey has always broken new ground and 15 years young we’re still ahead of the curve.

Pete has continued to develop the label since 2000 and has successfully taken it to new heights. BBE prizes itself on the motto of ‘real music for real people’ and this has been borne out by the fact that there are now over 160 compilations and artist albums released, a dazzling variety of sounds and styles from funk and soul to disco and Latin as well as house and hip hop and beyond. Compilers, producers and musicians from around the globe have been brought in to add their expertise to the mix and in turn the label has profited from an extremely rich amalgam of diverse artists and a plethora of musical genres.

Mixed by recent addition to the BBE roster Chris Read, ‘BBE15’ is a master class in bringing this music together in one seamless mix, your very own memory lane of BBE ‘s endless highs. From the Beat Generation series which featured Hip Hop legends Pete Rock, Jay Dee, Marley Marl and DJ Jazzy Jeff to household name Will I am to the eclecticism of DJ Spinna, King Britt, Madlib and for best measure MFSB string arranger Larry Gold to unreleased gems from Jazz Funk pioneer Roy Ayers. Moreover Aaron Jerome who first cut his teeth with BBE with his debut
album Time To Re-Arrange released in 2006 – and has recently been outed as UK Bass talent SBTRKT.

This is not to forget: ‘From Russia with love’ air miles millionaire DJ Vadim, north of UK borders Al Kent with his limitless knowledge of never heard before disco records, to ‘Emergency on Planet Earth’ drummer Nick van Gelder to Canadian silky RnB from Slakah the Beatchild to rising Antipodean stars Electric Wire Hustle and Space Invadas.

I hope we’ve included some of your favourites and if not why not put together your very own BBE15? Looking forward to the next 15 years; please stay with us for the ride.