Search - Various Artists :: Ultimate Dance Party 1999

Another winning dance compilation.

Distant Voyageur | Io | 03/01/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This third entry in the Ultimate Dance Party compilation series is in my opinion, the weakest of the UDP CDs. Some of the songs don't even have the punch like most of the previous entries. Some of the dance tracks can be downright annoying instead of getting me up on the dance floor. "Too Close" by the R&B group next is probably one of the last great R&B hits and it's a good and groovy track and in my opinion, a minor classic although some of the dirty content in the lyrics are a little much. "Walking On The Sun" by Smash Mouth is a 60s oriented rocker that definitely has a very 60s style fused with some electronic madness. As much as I like this song, it doesn't belong on here. This song I'm embarrassed to admit to liking but I still like this song and it has recovered from the `played out' syndrome. "Feel It" by Maya and The Tamperer is a harder edged song with a mix of church bell sound effects along with thumping beats. "Free" by the group Ultra Nate is a classic R&B style dance track with a 70s or early 80s feel to it and great guitars too. I think that it's a great mix of dance, R&B, rock, and pop. The version of Diana King's "Say A Little Prayer" is another great song with a somewhat early 90s sound to it. Love this track a lot. Those who like early 90s style dance music might enjoy this song. I do. The song transitions gracefully into the next song. "Nobody's Supposed To Be Here" by Deborah Cox in it's original version, is a ballad but the version on here is a lot better with a much more aggressive and crashing rhythm. "It's Like That" by Run DMC is a wonderful blend of old-school hip-hop and techno that harkens back to the lighter atmosphere of hip-hops early days. It's kind of sad listening to this song now considering that the group called it quits after Jam Master Jay was murdered last year and now rap has been deprived of its pioneering group. "Cruel Summer" by Ace Of Base is a more sketchy sounding song with a darker and more laser-like mood to it with it's strobe light keyboards and eerie atmosphere. "Kiss The Rain" by Billie Myers most of us remember back in late 1997 and early 1998. This version has some occasional chord structure altering giving the song a whole different feel. "One More Night" by Amber is an unforgettable dance number with a much darker, more urban nighttime mood as opposed to the sunnier original album version. The original on her debut album "This Is Your Night" is a mid-tempo ballad, the version on here is the dance track that we're more familiar with. Both versions are great but I like the dance version better on this compilation. I love it's futuristic mood. The Razer N Grind mix of Monica's "First Night" is in my honest opinion a monotonous dance number that doesn't do a whole hell of a lot for me. Not bad but one of my least favorite tracks on the CD. "I'm Leaving" by Lisa Stanfield is another decent song but not on par with a lot of the previous remixes of her songs but still good. The Rhythm Mix of Aretha Franklin's "A Rose Is Still A Rose" is a wonderful remix of the 1998 hit of hers. Aretha's voice sounds as great even at the time of this songs heyday as it was when she recorded "R.E.S.P.E.C.T." back in the early 60s. "Backstreets Boys "Everybody" is one of only two or three songs off their debut that I cared for. This song is not too bad and one of their better songs. The Halloween video for this song was absolutely dynamite. The album kind of goes in a bit of a slump after this song ends. "Still Not A Player" by the late Big Punisher is actually quite a good and memorable modern rap song and I actually like this song and it's kind of ironic considering how much I've come to despise the state that rap has gone into since this song's heyday. Big Punisher sadly died in early 2000. "Still Not A Player" would be the last great rap song for a while. "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See" by Busta Rhymes is a lightweight rap number that I think doesn't belong on this collection but on perhaps on the "Ultimate Hip Hop Party" compilation. Still it's not a bad song but I don't think it has enough punch to be considered a dance song. The final track "Shorty You Keep Playing With My Mind" by Imajin is a decent R&B hip-hop number and not a bad song but like the previous song, it doesn't belong on this collection either but on the "Ultimate Hip Hop Party" collection for the same reasons as the previous. Overall, this is yet again, another winning platter of music from the compilation series. Quite frankly, they did a pretty good job by picking the better songs from the hip-hop and dance music genre of the late 90s. Even the songs that don't belong on here are good as well and even the hip-hop oriented songs are quite good as well, considering how far into mediocrity that the two genres have sadly gone into in the years after 1998. This is a worthy CD of getting."

Get in the Car and pop this CD in the stereo NOW!

Eric Smith | Pittsburgh, PA | 03/12/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"...What FUN this album is! I Got this CD when I was just looking around in a used store and I can't believe how good the Remixes are! It includes so many of my favorite songs from that time including "Too Close" by Next, "Walking on the Sun" by Smash Mouth, "Nobody's Supposed To Be Here" by Deborah Cox, "Cruel Summer" by Ace of Base, "A Rose is still a Rose" by Aretha Franklin and "Still Not A Player" by Big Punisher featuring Joe. I really love this CD. It's just fun mixing! I was a little hesitant to listen to the one's I didn't know about but some of them ended up to be my favorites! I like listening to this album in the Car with friends...it's that much fun and takes you back a few years. There is No Britney or N Sync on this album...yeah!! If you're a fan of Remixes, do yourself a favot and Buy this album or tape, pop it in the car's stero and Rock the house!!"

Party hardy!!!

Eric Smith | 03/07/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD has every song you here in a college club. Its great to listen to while getting all spiffed up to go out. It gets you in a good mood, because its all happy and upbeat music. Its also great driving music...it just keeps you going. I suggest it to anyone and everyone."