DJ Kicks vs Back to Mine vs Another Late Night

Late Night Tales is the new name for the Another Late Night series

none of these compilations are actually that good (and i cannot stand that typeface used on the LNT one - -/design pedant) - it's so easy to pick 15 tracks you like and thats all these do - problem is you've usually already got them. the Audio Bullys one was dumb in that they put TWO Stranglers songs on that everyone already has - what was the point? DJ Kicks is better but has a different mandate really (aim is to reflect a typical DJ set from that artist, not a 'here's a bunch of favourite tracks ever lazily slapped togethre')

Yeah DJ Kicks is by far my favorite. And usually the choices on the albums are a little more obscure. LNT....I mean, look at this Jamiroquai(!) comp

  1.   Happiness  performed by Pointer Sister - 3:53
  2.   Girl, I Think the World About You  performed by Commodores - 4:26
  3.   Once You Get Started  performed by Rufus / Chaka Khan - 4:10
  4.   Fantasy  performed by Johnny Hammond - 4:30
  5.   Whisper Zone  performed by Ramsey Lewis - 2:57
  6.   What's Your Name  performed by Leon Ware - 3:56
  7.   Stay Free  performed by Ashford & Simpson - 4:50
  8.   Tonight's the Night (Good Time)  performed by Kleeer - 4:43
  9.   Pretty Baby  performed by Sister Sledge - 3:55
  10.   California Dreaming  performed by Jose Feliciano - 4:08
  11.   Here's to You  performed by Skyy - 4:11
  12.   Rainin' Through My Sunshine  performed by Real Thing - 3:35
  13.   Here, My Dear  performed by Marvin Gaye - 2:48
  14.   Music of the Earth  performed by Patrice Rushen - 4:00
  15.   Part 3  performed by White City / Brian Blessed - 9:30

Some of the better ones are:

Back To Mine - Groove Armada

Another Late Night - Zero 7, Rae and Christian

In a similar vein I *highly* recommend 'Strange Games and Funky Things 3' on BBE, compiled by Kenny Dope Gonzalez.

stevem otm. LNT and BtM fairly deserve the "cash-in" tag they get stuck with and are generally pretty yawnsome. dj kicks is the only "guest compiler" series with any credibility - the earlier techno/house volumes are awesome.