Monday, September 08, 2008

Shep Pettibone's Mastermixes Vol. 1  

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)

D Train - You're The One For Me (Shep Pettibone Mastermix)

France Joli - Gonna Get Over You (Shep Pettibone Mastermix)

Posted by Magnum | 8 comments

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8 comments: to “ Shep Pettibone's Mastermixes Vol. 1


  • September 8, 2008 at 8:37 PM  

    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!


  • September 26, 2008 at 11:31 AM  

    Yes! 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?
    Check 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.


  • October 15, 2008 at 12:32 PM  

    sick man! thanks for posting.. that France Joli song is so essential


  • November 6, 2008 at 3:45 PM  

    Wow never heard the secret weapon mix before. Defo more dance floor oriented this one!


  • January 4, 2009 at 2:38 PM  

    The Mastermixes Pettibone did for Kiss were incredible. I'm trying to get a hold of the following Mastermixes:

    Out 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


  • January 18, 2009 at 4:20 AM  

    awesome stuff, love it.

    my favourite was 'body music' by the strikers. anybody have that?!


  • March 15, 2010 at 10:50 PM  

    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.


  • March 15, 2010 at 10:53 PM  

    1 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.