The year is 1996. Hardcore growing so rapidly, it's seen as an unstoppable force. Hardcore is everywhere you look. With its growth, the market is filled with all kinds of compilations. From very good to very bad. And many of us spent a few bucks in shops like the Free Records Shop, van Leest, or other kiosks which you could find all over the country. But for the underground stuff I always went to Satisfaction records in Heerlen, the place to be for the obscure and rough stuff. The compilations that would not be sold in the general stores due to them being too 'out of place'.
I don't actually know if I purchased this CD back in 1996. I honestly don't think so. What I can remember is that I found this CD on a shelf somewhere for half the price. And me being a cheapskate, I took the offer, and bought it. I think I bought the 96 version before I even purchased the 1995 edition. I could be completely wrong, and that is often the case.
Not sure what the exact reason was behind this compilation. Probably a showcase of what awesome tunes were released during this magical year. The focus was on the best of both worlds: Happy Hardcore and of course Hardcore/Gabber. 1996 was a truly astonishing year for Hardcore in general, and with this 1 CD ID&T tried to showcase the best of the best. Have they delivered an album that resembles the year 1996, and have they done it well?
The tracklist is one you might need to look at, and it will make you understand my point of view on this album:
Rob Gee - Ecstasy, You Got What I Need
DJ Delirium & Buzz Fuzz - Immortality
Critical Mass - Believe In The Future (DJ Weirdo & DJ Sim Future Mix)
Miss Groovy - Jungle Sickness
50% Of The Dreamteam - Fatal Morgana
DJ Weirdo & DJ Phil Omanski - Young Birds (Original Mix)
The Prophet - I Like It Loud (Hardcore Mix)
DJ Delirium & Guitar Rob - The Way That We Rocked It (Live In NYC Shortcut)
Naughty Boys - 1 2 3 Fuck!
Pulp Shock - Far Away (DJ Sim's Hardcore Remix)
Masoko Solo - Pessa Pessa (DJ Cerla Rave Mix)
3 Steps Ahead - Drop It (Original Mix)
DJ Sim - Cartoons In Progress (Original Mix)
Pino D'Ambini - Up & Down Ballz (Buzzy Goes BZRK Mix)
Buzz Fuzz - Frequencies (Buzzy Goes BZRK Mix)
Lords Of The Underworld - Is Everybody Ready (Power Mix)
By looking at the tracklist it makes me wonder, what ever happened to the majority of these artists? Like Lords Of The Underworld, DJ Sim, Miss Groovy, etc. Some had great success within the scene, and all of a sudden disappeared. Sadly we are all aware of 3 Steps Ahead (RIP), but the others are just gone. Time flies by too damn quickly.
Was this compilation a good one? Was the selection a justified one? Were these the best anthems from 1996? Yes, and no. Some are really memorable anthems, and they have multiple reasons why they are on this compilation. And some are just, well, meh. I wouldn't put them personally on this compilation, but they did it anyway.
Some are really great, like 'Is Everybody Ready', 'Frequencies', 'Young Birds', and it does get me going. I immediately go back into time, and feel young again. They were literally on every compilation available, and featured in many livesets. Valid reasons to have them on this CD. But some I do question the reason why, because they are OK-ish, but not worthy enough to be remembered.
Like 'Fatal Morgana', '1 2 3 Fuck!'. and sadly the Rob Gee anthem. I don't know if I should like or loath this record. I've got this love and hate relationship with it: on one hand I grew up with it, and I actually had the single and found it amazing at the time, but years later I find it too damn cheesy, and out of time.
The compilation was OK-ish. Not a great one. Not better than the 1995 version. Did they ever do a 1997 or 1998 version? If they have, I might need to spend a few more pennies to complete my collection.
Anyway, thanks for a channel on Youtube for featuring this CD. Check out the channel for more Hardcore CDs, but for now enjoy this 1996 CD by ID&T. OK, not great.
Artists: Various Artists
Genre/Style: Hardcore, Gabber, Happy Hardcore
CD Info: ID&T 96 / ID&T '96
CD: 1 (one)
Length CD; 01:14:52
Tracks: 16 (sixteen)
Label: ID&T
Product Number: 4022562001444
More Information: ID&T - Official Website