One of the best experiences that I had early on in my DJ career was working at the legendary Gramaphone Records from 1998 to 2003. It brought me out of my comfort zone and able to experience music styles that I never heard of. This weekend, another staffer from the store at the time, DJ Greg Norwood published an image of the ‘Top Tunes at the Warehouse Club’. This pivotal club had a huge impact on house music and it was also at the record store that I met its founder, Robert Williams. The Warehouse was a nightclub established in Chicago, Illinois in 1977 under Mr. William’s direction. It is today most famous for being what many consider to be the birthplace of house music, specifically Chicago house, and the genre's center in the United States while under its first musical director, DJ Frankie Knuckles (Rest in Peace).

To make everyone’s life easier, I searched out the Top Ten tunes on this list for you on Youtube.

#1: Mfsb: Love is the Message
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xe3Q7uajzYM

#2: Atlantic Starr: Circles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUzqXwxtzVo

#3: Montana Sextet: Heavy Vibes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QnSmtwfGvc

#4: Hugh Masekela: Don’t Go Lose It Baby
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4Nk-dCm8B4

#5: Powerline: Journey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLqp1_y5DjQ

#6: Donald Byrd: Love Has Come Around
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl0gVNWwBA0

#7: TW Funkmasters: Love Money
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46XkzEo0-LA

#8: Inner Life: I'm Caught Up (In a One Night Love Affair)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uq6HQG-cce0

#9: Inner Life: Moment of Life
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-Z8PN_yqS0

#10: Taana Gardner: Work That Body
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8jsipjjZR4

I hope you have enjoyed this trip down memory lane (for some). This is for those old enough to have been there to those too young to even have been alive at that time. A special shout-out to Gramaphone Records, Robert Williams and Greg Norwood for the fun morning looking up these classics.

Peace + Love,

DJ Mani Midi