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Showing posts with label MIKE ALLEN. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MIKE ALLEN. Show all posts

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More Ideas From Style Warrior

Posted by admin on Thursday, October 6, 2011

Seems like LG is getting his mojo on recently with a great number of ideas straight outta the Style Warrior think-tank.

Groove Records, Mike Allen and a new Hijack design. And that's just this week!
Cop a load of these and if you would like to perhaps buy one in the not-to-distant future then please click on the links below which take you to a very short - and I mean very short - questionnaire. This is just a survey to gauge interest - it is not a commitment to buy.





What do you think? Pretty abso-bloody-lutely firing, would you agree?

Here are the links to the surveys.
Remember, if you don't vote for them,  then these designs may just continue the rest of their existence as jpegs* on a Mac. If you want to see them on a t-shirt then demand it, godammit!

Hijack Questionnaire - CLICK HERE

Mike Allen Questionnaire - CLICK HERE

Groove Records Questionnaire - CLICK HERE





* or PNG....or AI...... ;-)
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Download - The ABU! Mike Allen Tribute Show

Posted by admin on Thursday, June 30, 2011

He Could Crush A Grape
For anyone that missed it, here is the link to the show which went out live on www.discoscratch.co.uk/radio on Thursday evening.

There was a lot of banter in the chatroom and a full house with the usual suspects and extra guests including the one and only Morgan Khan making a brief surprise appearance.

Apologies as the usual precision-tight editing was slightly off on the broadcast due to some nerdiness, the details of which I'll not bother you with. Save to say Waxer was on point and managed to bring the show to a great conclusion.
Last-minute editing may be some people's bag, but not mine baby.

Sadly to anyone who didn't catch it live, you will have missed the Easter Eggs after the show.
This included Straight Outta Tipton, a play on NWA's tune from their first album. Just writing about it now is bringing grins to my mush and tears to my eyes. The producer of this version is clearly a very sick individual who needs medical help.

Finchy's Theme was played also. This is a remixed version of Rolf Harris' Tie Me Kangaroo Down with added scratch from Waxer utilising a certain vocal ident spouting the recognition of the one and only Agent Finch by none other than our very own Simon Harris.

Lastly, Wax hit us with a very, very exclusive and hot off the press playing of his intro track to the upcoming Heroes Of UK Hip Hop Mix Swap 2011.
As with the other tracks here, these were played, as Rakim would say, only for the listeners. It pays to listen live. And to the very end.

Remember, the next ABU! Takeover is Thursday 28th July.

Tracklisting:

01  Marley Marl & MC Shan - Marley Marl Scratch
02  Lil Jazzy Jay & Cool Supreme - B-Boy Style
03  Latin Rascals -  Axel F (New York Rap Remix)
04  Freestyle - The Party Has Just Begun
05  Roxanne Shante - Bite This
06  The Willesden Dodgers - Gunsmoke Breakout (for Laz-E)
07  Dedications 1
08  Two Sisters - B-Boys Beware
09  LL Cool J - I Can't Live Without My Radio
10  Sweet Trio - Non-Stop
11  Run DMC - Jam Master Jay
12  Egyptian Lover - Dance
13  The LA Dream Team - The Dream Team Is In The House
14  DJ Born Supreme Allah - 2, 3, Break (The Sequel)
15  Man Parrish - Hey There Homeboys
16  Krush Groove Allstars - Krush Groovin'
17  The Hardrock Soul Movement - Do It Any Way Ya Wanna
18  The Dynamic Duo Ft Shaquan - Knights Of The Turntables
19  Dedications 2
20  Sparky D - He's My DJ
21  Z3MC's - Triple Threat
22  MC Shy D - Rap Will Never Die
23  Boogie Boys - Breakdancer
24  Sanny X & P-Rez - Splashdown
25  Dr Funkenstein - Scratchin To The Funk
26  Kid Frost - Terminator

A big respect to Ramses for coming to the rescue with some of the tracks and massive props to Simmo for providing the Groove Chart as well as other info from his website.
I advise you all if you haven't already, to visit the best Mike Allen website on the internet:

More about → Download - The ABU! Mike Allen Tribute Show
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Next Podcast...Mike Allen Tribute Show. Help Needed.

Posted by admin on Wednesday, June 8, 2011

I wasn't talking out of my butt when I said in the last Podcast that I wanted to do a Mike Allen Special. Nope.

After reading the PDF that LG put up recently got me thinking that Mike isn't likely to ever revisit the studios to take up his reign as (arguably) the King Of Electro.

So.....I want to do the next ABU! Disco Scratch Takeover Show as a 2-hour journey back into a random month in 1985 that Mike would be proud of.
That's right, I'm pulling out all the big guns here, people. I've tracked down the original source material as used on Allen's Army On Maneuvers and am aiming to make this a real trip down memory lane.

But I need you all to get involved just as you may have done back in those days.
Instead of calling 388 7919 I want you to either drop me an email to ageingbboysunite@yahoo.com or leave a comment here at the end of this post giving a shout to your crew.

Now this can be real or imaginary. Or maybe you might want to shout out your old crew from back in the day? Come on, let's get our 80's groove on!
More about → Next Podcast...Mike Allen Tribute Show. Help Needed.
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Mike Allen Interview from Essex Rockerz

Posted by admin on Tuesday, May 10, 2011



This is a great, wordy interview with 'The Boss In London', the UK's Godfather of hip hop, Mike Allen.
It stems back to 2002 when Mark & Howard from The Essex Rockerz spoke at length to Mike about his times during the heady days at Capital Radio in London and what took place around him.

This is well worth spending some time with as there are a great deal of facts that you never knew about the man and he speaks his mind on a manner of subjects.

Big, big thanks to LG of Style Warrior for unearthing this piece of treasure and sharing it. And a massive shout to The Essex Rockerz who took the trouble to track the man down in the first place. Respect.


DOWNLOAD PDF HERE
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Lost In Music

Posted by admin on Monday, April 25, 2011

I dunno, sometimes I just feel like a musical version of Burgess Meredith from that Twilight Zone episode. But without the apocalyptic ending.

I was quite late in discovering the world of mp3's what with being an old bugger an' all. Vinyl was still my medium of choice up to about 4 years ago with the occasional cd coming into action now and again.

Thinking back, I might be able to pinpoint the late The Essential Elements blog as being my introduction into the thieving, despicable world of free music.

Now I'm not saying that I agree with this. But then, as someone on a budget to be able to try out new (to these ears, at least) music or grab stuff that I always wanted, it is a god-send.

And add in the fact that not a day goes by that I find something that I wasn't actively looking for but just knew that I needed it.
For instance in the last few days I've downloaded The Tomorrow People soundtrack, Ministry Of Sound 80's Groove, Beastie Boys 'To The 5 Boroughs' and 'Hot Sauce Committee Part 2', a BBC Radio 2 piece on Bill Mitchell, The Jungle Brothers instrumentals album, Websta's Living In The Attic LP, various Jerky Boys bootlegs, A Stephen Fry series from Radio 2 and some albums of Ceefax and Testcard music.

The problem here is this. I get that same feeling when I see something like any of the above listed albums as I did when I was in my 20 in Berwick Street in the early '90's, stood in Groove Records, Reckless or Music & Tape Exchange.
Thinking about it as I lie on my virtual psychiatrist couch, maybe this is all just a continuation of days spent being in actual shops looking through dusty racks of records. The fact that proper record shops don't exist any longer is the way that I can justify my downloading sprees. Just a lot cheaper is all.

But back to my original point. My collection is growing daily yet I don't seem to have the time to listen to them. But I KEEP. ON. DOING. IT.
It's a habit, I know. It is becoming an obsession? Who knows?

I was speaking to Waxer the other day and we both had a similar wish that we could back in our teenager days, 14-years old, lying on the bed, copy of Street Scene, Mike Allen playing in the background on a Dixons C-90 cassette. Obviously it's the summer, which for some reason I can't fathom that the whole of 1985 was spent in gorgeous sunshine according to my memory.

Life just gets in the way sometimes, doesn't it (cue Wu Tang's "Can It Be All So Simple")?
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BBC 6 Music Street Sounds Special

Posted by admin on Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Especially of interest to the European b-boys and possibly the more open-eared US counterparts is news that Street Sounds' mogul Morgan Khan will be taking part in a special 2-hour special on the radio.

Yes, on 20th June tune into BBC Radio 6 Music at 8pm and we'll hear the man elaborate on a few stories from the once-great British record label from the 80's.
Maybe we'll hear tales of how he watched in awe of the legendary Mastermind in a blur around his precious GLI as he mixed Electro 9? Or maybe how he guffawed to himself as he coined the immortal 'Electro is aural sex' tagline?

However, I feel my 'Hat Of Scorn' calling to be placed atop my noggin whilst listening in.
Why?
Well, for a start it's being hosted by Dave Pearce.
A lot of you reading this will already be feeling a sharp jab in your sides at the mere mention of his name which is a shame as this man was responsible for a lot of people getting into hip hop in the late 1980's via his A Fresh Start To The Week show on Radio London.
Unfortunately he dropped hip hop faster than a fat man discovering that he's inadvertently picked up a salad stuffed-crust pizza before it's descent.
Dave employed the prefix 'Dangerous' and jumped on the Techno bandwagon, not forgetting to add 'Eating Pies' to his list of hobbies on his CV along the way whereby playing as much rap in his sets as Steve Wright currently does in the afternoons.

Another reason I have my doubts is that a few years ago there was a much pant-wettingly, anticipated special on BBC's 'yoof' (that's the first time I've ever spelled it like that. Does that mean I'm officially an old git?) station BBC 1Xtra which featured the Grand Daddy of Electro and Hip Hop on UK radio, Mike Allen.
It ended up being a rather tame affair in which nothing new was learned about the man. And he didn't even spin the tunes himself. He'd sold his collection. And the choice of music was mediocre to say the least - no obscure classics that we remembered from days of yore. More like Our Price Presents Some Right Hip Hop Stonkers and presented by Timmy Mallet.

But I can't help thinking like this. Hip Hop has hurt me in the past and my defences are already up ready to shield me to the upcoming knowledge that maybe Morgan Khan wasn't always the smiliest and nicest man in Electro after all I'd read in The Street Scene back in my bedroom in 1985.
Fingers crossed, eh?

Link-a-rama:

BBC Radio 6
More about → BBC 6 Music Street Sounds Special
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Thankyou

Posted by admin on Friday, April 23, 2010

Just want to say a big shout to everyone who tuned in to my man Waxer's Disco Scratch Radio last night on which I was his guest.
It was broadcast as the complete chat we had a couple of days before. Yes. Unedited! Including my choice of tracks throughout the show it all added up to a hoo-mungous 2 hours and 50 minutes.
I think it should have included a subtitle stating 'Special Trainspotter Edition' as we got nerdy on an unparalleled level. Fortunately as the chatroom rolled on we saw that there was a common geekiness amongst ageing b-boys. Yes, I am not alone.
To those in the chat such as Dan Flan, Ridla, Scenes, Biz-Martski, Eclectro, Monk, CrimesForMinds, Random I hope you enjoyed it. And to anyone wanting to cop it you can find it over here at Waxer's Disco Scratch.

Massive props to the one and only Waxer for organising it.
Your Thursday evenings are now found at Freestyle FM at 9pm. There's tons of guests lined up for upcoming shows from superstars to those behind the scene and fans. Next week, unconfirmed reports of Overlord X in interview.  SCENES14 sooncome.

It rolls like this:

1.Disco Scratch Radio Intro
2. Russell Brothers – Party Scene (Instrumental)
3.Gang Starr – Manifest
4. Gang Starr – GotchU
5. Captain Rock – Cosmic Glide (instrumental)
6. Pieces Of A Dream – Mount Airy Groove (Instrumental)
7. T Ski Valley – Catch The Groove (Instrumental)
8. Disco 4 – Let It Whip (Instrumental)
9. Trouble Funk – Pump Me Up
10. Jonzun Crew – Pac Jam (Look Out For The OVC)
11. Warp 9 – Nunk (Instrumental)
12. C Bank – One More Shot (Instrumental)
13. The VHB – Beethoven’s 5th Street Symphony (Short Version)
14. Fantasy 3 – Biters In The City (Scratch Version)
15. Bobby Broom – Beat Freak (Dub Version)
16. B Boys – Girls Part 2 (Snippet)
17. Fantasy 3 – The Buck Stops Here (Instrumental)
18. Great Peso & Mr Nasty – It’s Time To Rock (Instrumental)
19. Newcleus – Jam On It (Instrumental)
20. Byron Davis – My Hands Are Quicker Than The Eye (Instrumental)
21. Eric B & Rakim – Eric B is President (Dub)
22. Justice – Put That Record Back On (Instrumental)
23. Kid Frost – Terminator
24. Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Price – A Touch Of Jazz
25. Kid n Play – Last Night (Dub)
26. Kool G Rap & Polo – Rikers Island (Instrumental)
27. Hijack – The Contract (Instrumental)
28. Hijack – The Badman Is Robbin
29. SL Troopers – Knowledge (remix instrumental)
30. K Solo – Letterman (Instrumental)
31. Kool G Rap & DJ Polo – Ill Street Blues (Instrumental)
32. A Tribe Called Quest – Award Tour (Instrumental)
33. Beatnuts – No Equal (Instrumental)
34. Diamond D – Sally (Instrumental)
35. Onyx – Throw Ya Gunz (Instrumental)
36. Run DMC – Down With The King (Instrumental)
37. Word Of Mouth & DJ Cheese – King Kut


Those in white are background tracks.
Those in gold are played in full.
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New Mike Allen Rips

Posted by admin on Friday, March 26, 2010

I've added 3 Mike rips which can be found here. Scroll down to the bottom of the list to find the latest.
Thanks to Dutch and Ramses.
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Mike Allen-sampled track

Posted by admin on Sunday, December 20, 2009


 DJ Jazz T

I've had this great Mike Allen-inspired mp3 for a little while now and thought I'd share it.

"Where I'm From" is by Guildford's Diversion Tactics crew and is produced by The Last Skeptik and the UK ITF Champ, DJ Jazz T.
As you'll see, it's a great tale of yesteryear with a chorus from The Great Man himself.

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Rock, Rock, Electro Rock!

Posted by admin on Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Unfortunately I wasn't allowed to visit the Hippodrome in London in 1985 to witness Mike Allen and his amazing technicolour Hawaiian shirt while he compered the legendary b-boy event that was Electro Rock.
Featuring some of the best-known UK artists at the time (spot a young Goldie credited under his real name of Clifford Price in The B-Boys crew) as well as a special appearance from the mighty Afrika Bambaataa, there are some great moments in this video.
I used to have this on vhs until someone skanked it, and my BBC doc A Hip Hop History and come to think of it my home-recorded, Westwood doc, Bad Meaning Good.
If you were in the crowd, shout out and let us know where where you are!
Highlights include (but not limited to)....

KC's flying headphones (22.14)
Bloke who used to be on Eastenders (28.10)
Mike's strange attire (5.38)
Junior Gee's mullet (8.01)
Strangely arousing legs akimbo action from Uprock (33.32)
Is it a girl, no it's Sipho (RIP) before they dropped although that doesn't explain the bizarre moves (35.40)
And my favourite, watchthecamera, watchthecamera, watchthecamera, watchthecamera...SHIT! (50.10)

N.b. According to Wikipedia, Mike Allen was born in 1942 which made him 43 years old when he appeared on Electro Rock. He's now 67.......!?

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Old School Dazzler Rips - Part 1

Posted by admin on Thursday, February 26, 2009

Some more tape rips and this time full of obscurities that have been long-lost and forgotten from Bobby Dazzler's archives.
There's 12 rips here in this zipped bundle including live audio from Melle Mel and some Mike Allen interviews (Real Roxanne, Doug Fresh....and more) and Mike chatting about the upcoming Fresh 86 show.

Dazzler Tape Rip 1
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Mike Allen Re-Ups & New

Posted by admin on Saturday, February 14, 2009

More about → Mike Allen Re-Ups & New
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Mike Allen Show & UK Fresh mp3's

Posted by admin on Tuesday, December 23, 2008

A massive thanks to Mr Bobby Dazzler who has very kindly been ripping some old cassettes of Mike Allen shows.
Check these out, the links are below as are the performing acts.


Mike Allen - The Best Of 1985 Part 1
http://rapidshare.com/files/174609505/Mike_Allen_1985_The_Best_of_PT1.cue.html
http://rapidshare.com/files/174609509/Mike_Allen_1985_The_Best_of_PT1.mp3.html



Mike Allen - The Best Of 1985 Part 2
http://rapidshare.com/files/174621758/Mike_Allen_1985_The_Best_of_PT2.cue.html
http://rapidshare.com/files/174621760/Mike_Allen_1985_The_Best_of_PT2.mp3.html





UK Fresh At Wembley Arena, London, Saturday July 19th, 1986

Mike Allen UK Fresh 1986 Part 1
http://rapidshare.com/files/174673068/Mike_Allen_1986_UK_FRESH_PT1.cue.html
http://rapidshare.com/files/174673071/Mike_Allen_1986_UK_FRESH_PT1.mp3.html


Mike Allen UK Fresh 1986 Part 2
http://rapidshare.com/files/174811137/Mike_Allen_1986_UK_FRESH_PT2.cue.html
http://rapidshare.com/files/174811139/Mike_Allen_1986_UK_FRESH_PT2.mp3.html


Mike Allen UK Fresh 1986 Part 3
http://rapidshare.com/files/174895518/Mike_Allen_1986_UK_FRESH_PT3.cue.html
http://rapidshare.com/files/174895522/Mike_Allen_1986_UK_FRESH_PT3.mp3.html


Mike Allen UK Fresh 1986 Part 4
http://rapidshare.com/files/174910339/Mike_Allen_1986_UK_FRESH_PT4.cue.html
http://rapidshare.com/files/174910342/Mike_Allen_1986_UK_FRESH_PT4.mp3.html




Acts performing at UK Fresh

Part 1

Word Of Mouth & DJ Cheese

Steady B

The Cosmic Crew
Captain Rock

Sir Mixalot

Dr Jeckyll & Mr Hyde

Lovebug Starski



Part 2

Captain Rock

Grandmaster Flash

Just Ice

World Class Wreckin Kru

The Real Roxanne

Mantronix



Part 3

Sir Mixalot

Word Of Mouth & DJ Cheese

Grandmaster Flash

World Class Wreckin Kru

The Real Roxanne



Part 4

Sir Mixalot

Afrika Bambaataa
More about → Mike Allen Show & UK Fresh mp3's
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Mike Allen Special on 1Xtra (2005)

Posted by admin on Friday, July 25, 2008






This a bit of a special one here. Way back in one of my earlier posts I mentioned that I'd love to hear again the one-off show that Mike Allen did for the BBC's 1 Extra digital radio station in October 2005. The other day my prayers were answered as I was sent the whole 2 hour show.
A massive, massive shout goes to FatLaces71 who provided me with this.


If you haven't heard it before, you're in for a real treat as The Boss waxes lyrical about how he actually got involved in the Capital show in the first place. There's also a smattering of anecdotes as Mike name-drops and forgets key facts but its just so good to hear him again after all these years. He plays some tracks but unfortunately no real obscure cuts, rather just big, more well-known ones. But that's a minor quibble.





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Mike Allen Capital Radio Shows

Posted by admin on Tuesday, May 13, 2008


This post is a list of all the links which have previously been posted here on oldschoolhiphop.com
I have collated all the 'live' links to shows and have listed them in one place. This is intended to be a resting place for Mike's shows and as such will be kept up-to-date. Therefore if any of the links are dead let me know and I will re-up them unless you already have done yourself in which case send me the new link and I'll update the list.

Thanks to Ramses (for starting the thread in the first place!), Simmo, Fiasko1, Dutch Old School Fan, Richiek and Mister G.




Feb 1985 (Ramses)
Side One:http://www.sendspace.com/file/fljgnx
Side Two: http://www.sendspace.com/file/qanirm

Mike Allen @LBC (Public Enemy & LL Cool J 1988) (Repo136)http://rapidshare.com/files/114433269/Mike_Allen_PE_LL.mp3.html

Mike_Allen_Groove_Electro_Sales_Chart_from_1985.mp3 (Repo136)http://rapidshare.com/files/113557774/Mike_Allen_Groove_Electro_Sales_Chart_from_1985.mp3.html

Mike Allen End Of 1985 Show.mp3 (Repo136)http://rapidshare.com/files/113552621/Mike_Allen_End_Of_1985_Show.mp3.html

Mike Allen Saturday 10th May 1986 8.00-9.00pm (Simmo)
http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=7C10AF8327248F6A

http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=E4E0AF1F13F50D07


Allen's Army best of year show from 28th Dec 1985 (Ramses)
Part 1 http://www.sendspace.com/file/l2ywi9

Part 2 http://www.sendspace.com/file/fq5xiu

mike allen august frontline chart 1985 show.mp3 - 39.46MB (Repo136)http://www.zshare.net/audio/1123412868a46e96/

Mike Allen National Fresh 1987 (Ramses)http://www.sendspace.com/file/859lo3

Mike Allen Capital Radio 28-02-86 (Ramses)http://www.sendspace.com/file/5h4yxq

Mike interviewing Doug E Fresh. (Fiasko1)http://www.megaupload.com/?d=MQ7J28FL

Capitol Radio_Mike Allen_1986_Tape_1 (Mister G)http://www.sendspace.com/file/ov15kt

National Fresh - last one before Christmas '87 (Ramses)http://www.sendspace.com/file/y1xd9i











Mike Allen Friday 21st February 1986 10.00-11.00pm (Simmo) (added 17 May 08)


Capitol Radio a.mp3 - possibly April/May 1987 (Dutch Old School Fan) (added 18 May 08)



Mike Allen interviewing New York graffiti artist T-Kid probably 1986 or 1987. 12mins (Fiasko1) (added 18 May 08)
(These next 5 courtesy of Dutch Old School Fan) (added 02 June 08)


First part of the 28th feb. 1986 "wind chill factor -15" show (22.00-23.00) (Dutch Old School Fan) (added 07 June 08)


20th December 1985 (Ramses) (added 07 June 08)
(Unknown) (Dutch Old School Fan)
http://www.megaupload.com/nl/?d=5C5UFNRI
27th June 1987 (Dutch Old School Fan) (added 20 June 08)
20th June 1987
Mike Allen National Fresh - Christmas 1987 Show
31st January 1986 (Ramses) (added 21 June 08)
Friday show from June 27th 1986 (Simmo) (added 21 June 08)
4th Oct 1985 (Ramses) (added 26 June 08)
Saturday 26th July 1986 (Simmo) (added 28 June 08)
National Fresh from 1986 (Richiek) (added 30 June 08)
National Fresh Mid 87 (Richiek) (added 01 July 08)
July 27th 1987 & some Jan '87 (Ramses) (added 03 July 08)
Friday 23rd January 1987(Simmo) (added 04 July 08)
https://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=batch_download&batch_id=TTdGcHBIQzNwcFhIRGc9PQ





August 3 or 10th 1985 (Simmo)  (added 28 June 08)
https://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=batch_download&batch_id=TTdIUWVvWlRYSHp2Wmc9PQ



18 October 1986 (Dutch) (added 26 March 2010)
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=2STQO8VF

25th October 1986 (Dutch) (added 26 March 2010)
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=XKLPU15L


Various 1984 (Ramses) (added 26 March 2010)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/yftdu9
More about → Mike Allen Capital Radio Shows
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Mike Allen

Posted by admin on Wednesday, April 23, 2008


Touching again on this legendary man. There are a small number of 30/40 year-olds who remember the name with warm nostalgia. There is an even bigger number of people who don't know who the hootin' heck he is.

He is the one and only Mike Allen. The Boss in London. Allen's Army On Maneouvres.

Yes, Friday and Saturday nights were spent listening to this dj on London's Capital Radio 95.8FM around 1984-1987. He introduced a unknown multitude of kids to this new sound out of America simply called hip hop. However I will always use the name Electro as that was what he primarily played, either East Coast or West Coast, Bambaataa or Egyptian Lover he played it.


I since heard years later that the radio station wanted to get in on this new music and bizarrely stuck a thirty-nine year-old white guy with no former knowledge of hip hop to present it. Can that really be true?

I thought Mike's delivery was unique as there was no real style to derive from as there had not been a British hp hop dj on the airwaves prior to this. He would have a great enthusiasm and continually drop Alan Partridge-style one-liners into his patter and not be afraid of making the odd mistake. And he used to scratch, too. Not with any great finesse, but he had a go.

Fridays would feature the Groove Electro Sales Chart which took the best-selling singles from the West London store, Groove Records on Greek Street, W1. Saturday would have a Top Ten of that week's most popular songs as voted for by the listeners who would phone in and leave a message on Mike's answer machine (which unfortunately broke down one week!).

Later on in the show there would be a feature called Kiss In The Car which needs no explaining. Suffice to say I never listened to this section, being a 13-year old who was more interested in Star Wars figures than girls.

Mike eventually was headhunted and after a brief break emerged on another London station, LBC. While it was good to hear him again it was never the same as the audience had now grown and Mike was now more regimental in his presenting style.


Mike can now be heard at Smooth FM where he presents a talk show and doesn't play hip hop. He still though retains his sense of humour as evidenced on his Smooth FM Bio.

Strangely enough he did do a one-off special for BBC Xtra a few years ago where he talked about his time at Capital. If anyone has a copy I'd love to hear it again.

More about → Mike Allen
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Electro: The Ultimate Boxed Set

Posted by admin on Monday, April 21, 2008


I don't know about you but when I was a lad the only way to hear the latest Electro (rock/funk) tracks was by listening to 'The Boss in London', Mike Allen on Capital Radio.

I used to tape some of his shows and although these cassettes are badly edited (by a younger Benzini) they still have a special place in my achy-breaky heart.


The only other way to hear Electro back then was to purchase the essential Streetsounds' Electro series on vinyl or cassette. I've long since collected the whole series from the Crucials to the UK special but so far these have never made it onto cd.

Until now that is. You can get the whole lot in a fancy, spanky package with the same old classic design on the front. I just wonder if it will still sport the immortal slogan, 'Electro is aural sex'?



More about → Electro: The Ultimate Boxed Set
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