These days there are so many damn Kiss FM's floating around the dial that it is almost hard to fathom the brilliance that once was NYC's one and only Kiss 98.7 FM. Still at this pathetic stage in the game, Kiss is the best franchise on the market second to NPR. I so long for times past when radio programming was super diverse, the stations had legit DJ's, and the markets were regulated to keep corporate monopolies out of the system. Damn you telecommunications act of 1996!
Shep Pettibone made his name with the original Kiss 98.7 FM Mastermixes.
Armed with innovative tape delay and splicing techniques all his own, Shep launched his highly influential career producing a series of exclusive Mastermixes for the station from 1981 - 1983. This culminated with the release of the now obscure Prelude Mastermixes Volume 1 double LP in 1982. Shep's career in the world of dance music was quickly cemented as the mastermixes proved to be not only brilliant but a popular radio staple as well. Pettibone soon became the house mixer at Salsoul Records and went on to produce material for mainstream heavy hitters Madonna, The Pet Shop Boys and New Order amongst a plethora of others. Special thanks to Michael, check out his blog.
Nick Straker Band - A Little Bit of Jazz (Shep Pettibone Mastermix)
Secret Weapon - Must Be The Music (Shep Pettibone Mastermix)
Been a big fan of Shep Petibone ... since the 80s. Although haven't heard much of him lately so have to get back into listening to his stuff. These tracks here should be a good start. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYes! Thanks for the dose of classic Shep. But don't stop there! There are so many good ones. I think he did four volumes of the Kiss Mastermix series...Anybody remember?
ReplyDeleteCheck out his mix of "Come Let Me Love You" where he throws the synth break from Ian Dury's "Spasticus" right in the middle - insane. THANKS again for the great music and THANKS for the care taken in the recording. Much appreciated.
sick man! thanks for posting.. that France Joli song is so essential
ReplyDeleteWow never heard the secret weapon mix before. Defo more dance floor oriented this one!
ReplyDeleteThe Mastermixes Pettibone did for Kiss were incredible. I'm trying to get a hold of the following Mastermixes:
ReplyDeleteOut of Touch - Hall & Oates
Like a Virgin - Madonna
Baby Talk - Alisha (not the 12" version, which pettibone also did)
If you have any of these, would much appreciate it.
askari{AT}chandoo{DOT}com
awesome stuff, love it.
ReplyDeletemy favourite was 'body music' by the strikers. anybody have that?!
alittle tid bit for some, it was the middle spring of 1981 tht shep joined kiss fm, he had left wbls at this time, and also took his mastermixes he had been doing over at wbls in early 1981 like kleeer's Get tuff, billy oceans nights feel like getting down, empress dy'in to be dancin, grace jones pull up to the bumper, change, paradise, denroy morgan, i'll do anything for you...were all originally aired on wbls, but kiss fm PD offered shep to beable to showcase his skills and have his name be heard, something frankie crocker didn't do over at wbls.....the rest of the story.
ReplyDelete1 last thing those mastermix lps are good don't get me wrong, but in my previous post i gave titles and groups that weren't with prelude records, shep did mixes not soley from prelude artists.
ReplyDelete