why don't you poll me I feel like flying to... the UNDERWORLD Poll Results thread -- produced by Smith & Hyde for ILM Artist Poll #102

whaaaat are we doing now? What's with hard vs soft? And bonus?!

strange, i thought the first link was taken down too... then it was fine when i opened it in a private window. But I think it was ok anyways and it was just some sort of ad? Anyways.

What's with hard vs soft

I aimed to make each one a flowing listen as an album; they often did two (and occasionally three) different remixes on a job; the probably-the-last-ever-Emerson-and-Rick remixes were named Soft Mix and Hard Mix; the Hard album tends to be more knocking techno and the Soft album more housey or balaeric, but mostly both bang and it's just a way of separating the alternate mixes.

And bonus?!

Other stuff that doesn't really fit the definition of an Underworld '90s remix poll, but is of interest to hear / satisfyingly completist anyway.

(I threw some extra Karl stuff into the albummy-things to give him some more representation, and because they fit in the listening flow, but won't include 'em on an eligibility list.)

I was supposed to have done an imgur collection of all the images by now - for anyone who would like that rest assured it is on the way.

Examining Discogs afresh, the editors believe that their earlier attempts to scry the various mislabelled Cafe del Mar singles resulted in inaccurate conclusions; it is likely that the "Underworld Mix" here is in fact the Hip Hop Mix, and not by Underworld. Mix Three is probably the "regular" Underworld Remix, and the unnumbered two are different takes of Dub Heaven: a 10-minute version featuring Mr Hyde on guitar on the 1993 UK CD single, and a 12-minute guitarless version on the 1996 reissue 12".

🎧 🤷

My Underworld review from Glastonbury 1999. Dictated down the phone to my editor after I’d done a pill. Oh dear. pic.twitter.com/bfHZ5z5ueS

— Ian Wade (@WadeyWade) June 26, 2020

lol i wrote "it takes a nation of shopkeepers to hold us back" as a lyric once

fuck me these lads were good

Imgur'd Images album for which some additional annotation may be provided and with a couple updated.

is it smith & hyde or hyde & smith tho

Smith Hyde Productions is their company

😺 at gallery

🐆 chonky floof emoji

That Ian Wade live review is great! They just don’t write ‘em like they used to.

Finally caught up on all the tracks I had not heard before. I think most of the favorite Drift tracks ended up on the sampler, but it was cool seeing the videos. "Why Why Why" was my favorite new find - it certainly would have made my ballot if I'd heard it before. the band that keeps on giving

I should say all the placing tracks I had not heard before

12 Drift tracks in the 77 but only 5 of them on the Sampler

I'm going through the YouTube playlist and it's great so far. Underworld are like Stereolab or Saint Etienne for me where no matter how thoroughly I try to acquaint myself w their intimidatingly vast catalog, I STILL find non-album singles or compilation tracks or b-sides that blow my mind (this morning it's "Big Mouth").

I'm also surprised that 2 of the 3 Riverrun releases placed but not "Lovely Broken Thing", and that someone said upthread that it was clearly inferior to the other 2?? I always thought it was the strongest but haven't spent that much time with them, and "I'm a Big Sister, and I'm a Girl, and I'm a Princess, and This Is My Horse" was WAY better than I remembered.

LBT has JAL to Tokyo and I like Peggy Sussed a lot but the rest feels a bit undercooked

TWELVE BY TWELVE: the best remixes made by Underworld in the 1990s, as voted by four ILX0rs

12. Mental Generation -- Cafe Del Mar (Underworld Mix Three)

Released 1993, probably done in 1992.

11. Björk -- Human Behaviour - The Underworld Dub (1)

Paired with its rarer twin on a 1993 10" titled Björk In An Underworld Adventure, cat # BJ DJ 104.

10. Eagles Prey -- Tonto's Drum (Darren Emerson Remix)

Despite the credit, one of the only full-Underworld remixes, including Karl on guitar. This ^ appears to be an extra long exclusive-to-youtube version, possibly too long to fit on a 1992 12".

it's happening!!

i had Tonto's Drum high. Not sure I'd heard it before.

Weird the youtube link won't play for me. Looks to be the same as what's on Spotify, which just has some bonus ambiance after the track. It sounded like a scuffed CD rip anyways so better off with your file.

I'd love it if the digital edition just left the DAT running by mistake.

09. The Chemical Brothers -- Leave Home (Underworld Mix One)

From 1993, and oft-collected thereafter.

i haven't been in an Underworld mood but bookmarking to revisit - looking forward to these remixes, have only heard the Björk so far

08. One Dove -- Why Don't You Take Me (Underworld Up 2 Down Remix)

One of the only instances where they were playful about numbering the additional versions of a mix. 1993.

lh1 already!!

07. Dreadzone -- Zion Youth (Underworld Mix)

1995 is the latest we'll be seeing anything place from. (1997 made a showing at #24.)

06. Saint Etienne -- Cool Kids Of Death (Underworld Mix)

Also from 1995, and an outlier in that it was mixed by Rick Smith solo (whether because Emerson though The Et were just too twee, or by chance as Rick was producing tracks for the band at the time, history does not record).

05. Shakespear's Sister -- Black Sky (Dub Extravaganza Part Two)

Our second example of a "#2" remix placing, this one from 1992.

04. Drum Club -- Sound System (Underworld Mix)

Only one version of this 1993 mix - one wonders if vote-splitting affected many contenders, or if there was a clear choice for every one of our massive voting audience.

Aww, assuming I know what the top 3 is so sad to see the amazing Simply Red remix miss out.

The Eagles Prey remix is part of my musical DNA as a ridiculous amount of 1993 was spent listening to this fantastic compilation whilst driving to various clubs all over the country

Which of the three versions of the Simply Red mix, though?!

All good but the 13 minute ambient instrumental is where it's at

^ my #9

my #8!

Think it was my #4 so assuming a low number of ballots perhaps it hasn't missed out and my top 3 predictions are wrong

ah shoot I voted for the shorter ambient with vocals. That should be a combine?

03. William Orbit -- Water From A Vine Leaf (Underwater Mix Part 1)

Mixed by Darren & Rick, before the Underwater credit meant Emerson alone, in all instances after 1993.

02. Orbital -- Lush 3-3 (Underworld)

The outside mixes of Lush 3 on the 1993 single were all numbered sequentially, after the two-part originals, rather than having specific mix titles.

William Orbit too low (my #1)

Love the way it just slowly builds and then erupts into this euphoric Balearic wig out

The points span was pretty close for everything, but doesn't mean that much for a small voting pool. However, numbers 10 through 2 went from 100 to 122 points, and we leap ahead more than that range in total for a clear winner on 146:

01. Leftfield -- Song Of Life (Steppin' Razor Mix)

From 1992, and apart from Human Behaviour, probably the track with the biggest life outside of its not-yet-Underworld-again remixes.

Worthy winner. My girlfriend at the time was in Uni in Derby so used to go to Progress and Renaissance quite a bit and when this track was dropped (as it often was) the dancefloor would just go off when the bass riff kicks in.

The 13-minute Ambient Instrumental of Simply Red came in at #16. Goldie & Rob's The Shadow (Bing Here Mix) is categorically Rick's worst, with one point. Fair fucks to him for giving up on remixes immediately afterward!

The Process mix is highly regarded by the DnB heads tho

Two votes, 30 points. But it's possible that Rob Playford massaged the DnB back into it with his "additional remix production"!

get it together, Rick Smith!

/thread

Ummm... these remixes are all fucking amazing. Especially “Human Behaviour” and the “Gotta get up, gotta get up, downtown” one.

Really love their remix of Sven Vath - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikkX14qlIpo

Omg that graphic.

― Dirty Epic H. (Eric H.), Tuesday, June 9, 2020 3:53 AM (eleven months ago)

happy anniversary