Flashback to fabric’s 16th Birthday: Sunday evening, ravers begrudgingly waiting for Room 3 to open up again to experience what is one of the highlights of the weekend’s birthday celebrations. Unexpected back-to-backs are commonplace and, soon, party vibes fill Room 3, as Felix Dickinson takes to the decks for his second set of the weekend.

Dickinson proved once again that he is the king of the party atmosphere, perfectly understanding the mood and proceeding to play an expertly crafted set that ensured the party spirit was kept very much alive deep into Sunday evening.

With Urban Essence in full attendance for this set, and upon hearing a sample of his latest release A Day’s Reality forthcoming on FutureBoogie and featuring legendary vocalist Robert Owens, we thought it was about time we caught up with Felix. Thankfully, he was kind enough to provide us with a very special edition of Five Essentials: Felix Dickinson’s all-time favourite Robert Owens tracks. This one’s special.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIh3_XVuDno&list=PLR6HFlepplFb4BZ6SI284Gfpb4e2tL6UG

Fingers Inc – Another Side (the whole album!)
I could probably choose my top five Robert Owens tracks just from this album, every track’s a winner. This (along with the Virgo album) would usually be the last record we’d put on after a heavy session when no one could be bothered to play records anymore. When I started making music with Kyle Chandler as Foolish and Sly, he didn’t have much idea about house or dance music as he came from a Reggae/Dub background; so I sent him away with a copy of this to give him an idea of good house vocals.

Jus Friends – As One
Great track from Robert and Bobby Konders, acid tinges, positive lyrics, I used to play this at many a free party in my youth.

Frankie Knuckles Presents Satoshi Tomiie – Tears
This is probably the most well known of Robert’s records, I remember hearing this everywhere when I first started going out at parties like Tonka. Still gives me shivers 26 years later.

Robert Owens – I’ll Be Your Friend
The drums from No Smoke’s Koro-koro on this have been used on so many tracks. This time they’re given the Morales treatment with Robert’s vocals. I remember when this first came out it was everywhere, a bona-fida classic.

Block 16 – Can’t Stop ft. Robert Owens
I’ve just realised I’ve managed to pick records from every decade over the last 30 years, there’s not many artists who’ve been consistently producing tracks of this quality for that long! This one’s produced by my good friend Raj Gupta with keyboards from the talented Mr. Pete Z.

Felix Dickinson – A Day’s Reality ft. Robert Owens is out 11th December on FutureBoogie. Grab your digital copy here.

Comments