If you remember the devils in the picture above, you are a legend. You might dislike the devils or what they represented (the Happy Hardcore CD collection, released by Arcade & ID&T), or you love them. I was (and still am) a huge fan of this collection. And when this megamix came out back in 1995, I bought it, and we never parted. This was one of those CDs you could never get rid of. And I cannot explain to you how many times I've played this CD over the years, especially around the glorious year 1995. 27 years old this CD is, I just realised! My God, where has the time gone to?
This collection of CDs were released by Arcade and ID&T, and ran between 1995 and 1997. In total it had 9 editions, excluding a School Edition version, which you would get when you purchased a school agenda. And I hated the collection at the same time (I'll explain): from the second instalment they used the devils as artwork, and the first one just never suited the collection. The artwork was as 90s as you can imagine: a lady dressed in weird clothing with weird colourful background. Proper artwork made on a Windows 95 PC lol. Give me the devils any time of the day!
They also had a German version, called 'Happy Rave', but we won't talk about that one. Why? Because it wasn't even worth being part of this fantastic CD collection. It's a different entity completely. Let's focus on Happy Hardcore, the Dutch series. I fell in love with the second instalment, and continued buying them all throughout the mid 90s. Were they the best? Well, I would say yes, but the later editions just got worst and worst. The commercial side of Happy Hardcore had more input, and the result were some terrible songs on it. But when it started, everything was fine.
And then, in 1995, ID&T and Arcade released the Happy Hardcore - The Mix CD. So called the greatest megamix of all time. 'The best Hardcore mix ever made'. Now that's a statement and a half. But was it good? Was it worth your Dutch Guilders? Only one way to find out, and that's by looking at the tracklist, right?
TCM - Intro: This Is Only The Beginning
Bertocucci Feranzano - XTC Love (Radio Mix 2)
Cixx - Ride The Rhythm
DJ Pooch - Live For The Future
DJ E-Rick & Tactic - Bring The Noise
Lords Of The Underworld - For The People
Nina Feranzano & Buzz Fuzz - Keep It Up
Critical Mass - Burning Love (DJ Weirdo & DJ Sim 173.683 Remix)
Buzz Fuzz - Ill Behaviour
DJ Mongoose - Rip Shit Up (DJ Isaac Remix)
The Prophet & DJ Delirium - The Way You Make Me
DJ Weirdo & DJ Sim - Pump That Stupid Bass (DJ Friendly Mix)
DJ Waxweazle & DJ Delirium - Dreams Of Heaven
Better World - Ride To The Rhythm
Wicked Dimension feat DJ Orson - Together We'll Make It True (DJ Orson Remix)
Lovechild - All Out Of Love (DJ Weirdo & DJ Sim Remix)
Lords Of The Underworld - Making Moves
Midas - Take It From The Groove
Damage Inc - Turn Around (Live Version)
Creasemaster & Slamdog - Pump The Bass
Justin Time - Help Me (Demo Remix)
Rob's Project - Loving You
DJ Waxweazle - Come With Me
The Mad Pro's - One Step Beyond
Rigtig - Boombastic
Brothers In Crime - Forever
3 Steps Ahead - Drop It (Happy Mix)
Love Decade - See Me Jumping
Smile - Love Celebration
TCM - Outro: This Is Not The End
This is a fantastic tracklist, and it takes me back to the mid 90s. I remember it like it was only yesterday. I played this megamix over and over, and know exactly which songs start when. Basically, this CD has been etched onto my brain forever. I cannot live my life without hearing this CD every few months. This is literally my childhood on one disc. This is Happy Hardcore to me.
Where the tunes selected the best? Even back in 1995 I hated 'Boombastic' and 'One Step Beyond'. Fuck my life, these songs were horrible, and funnily enough, they still are extremely cringe. They could have used better tunes compared to these two. But still, the general feeling is good.
I really love the other tunes in this mix. A mixture of European and UK Happy Hardcore (which I didn't know at the time). This CD contains everything you needed to hear back in 1995. Were you into Happy Hardcore, this CD was the one to have. They were mixed together the same way all mixed CDs were done. Not the finest, but acceptable. Some transitions could have been better. But those were the 90s: cram as many tracks in a mix, and the end result no one cared about. But does this deserve the title 'the best Hardcore mix ever made'? No. Even at that stage there were better mixes. But hey ho, marketing at its finest.
But from a nostalgic point of view this CD has got everything. Happy Hardcore galore! This CD makes me happy, and that's all there is to it. Quantity over quality. Sadly the style would die a quick death around 1997-1998, which is a shame. But when it was big, it was big. And this CD fitted in nicely.
Is this the best Happy Hardcore megamix out there from 1995? I've not come across others, so my answer would be 'yes'. And is this mix a good representation of my youth? Yes, hell yes.
Big reveal of the day: best track of this mix: 'Together We'll Make It True'. Proper cheese fest, but it was the finest track of this disc. Hands down.
Did you purchase a copy back in the 90s? Do you still play it? Or, do you even remember this one being released? Are you 'old' enough to remember this one in the Arcade stand? Also, do you remember the promo video for this CD? As an added bonus you can find it below:
Artists: Various Artists
Genre/Style: Happy Hardcore
CD Info: Happy Hardcore - The Mix
Length CD: 01:07:05
CDs: 1 (one)
Tracks: 30 (thirty)
Release Year: 1995
Label: Arcade / ID&T
Product Number: 9902288
More Information: --------