Farley Mixes, 1984-1986

Any study of influential Chicago DJs would be incomplete without Farley Keith (later Farley “Jackmaster” Funk). Farley started DJing at the Playground in 1981, where he would stay through several name changes until 1987; however it was his work with the Hot Mix 5 on WBMX that reached the largest audience.

Farley was one of five original members in 1981, and his mixes exposed the entire city to what was happening in Chicago’s black clubs. In 1984, Farley left for WGCI (after Scott “Smokin” Silz’s departure). In 1986, he was joined by the rest of the group. Then Farley returned to WBMX in 1987, only to see the station sold.

I’ve compiled track lists for the earliest Farley mixes I could find online. All are hosted by Deephousepage.com. It’s interesting to see the balance between older disco and soul and contemporary European imports. In 1984 and 1985, local productions began to trickle in, but it wasn’t until 1986 that there would be enough to fill most of a mix. Also of note are dark synthpop tracks, notably in mix 1277. By contrast, see the mainstream Billboard dance hits of 1985.

Some of the IDs below were first compiled by Mister_DJ at Old Skool Anthemz. Please let me know if you can identify any of the missing tracks.

2. farley2.mp3

WBMX, 1985 [~1986]

1. The Rude Boy Farley Keith: Give Your House To Me/Peech Boys: Don’t Make Me Wait (Acappella)
2. Serious Intention: You Don’t Know
3. The It: Donnie
4. Farley Funkin Keith: Jackin the Bass [Funkin with the Drums]
5. Mr. Fingers: Mystery of Love
6. Ron Hardy: Sensation
7. Mach: On & On
8. Alessandro Novaga: Faces Drums 3
9. Chip E.: It’s House
10. Farley Jackmaster Funk: Jack’n The House
11. Grant: Dance
12. Farley Funkin Keith: Snare Crazy
13. Stop: Wake Up
14. The Michael Zagar Band: Let’s All Chant
15. Alexander Robotnick: Problèmes D’Amour
16. Raz: Baila

43. farley7.mp3

WBMX, 1984 or 1985

1. Lee Ritenour: Countdown (Captain Fingers)
2. Brenda Taylor: You Can’t Have Your Cake and Eat It Too
3. Machine: Is It Love
4. Inner Life: I’m Caught Up (In a One Night Love Affair)
5. Herbie Hancock: Magic Number
6. Kasso: One More Round
7. Poopee and the N.Y. Squirrels: Bust That Nut (intro)
8. Sharon Brown: I Specialize in Love
9. Serge Ponsar: Out in the Night
10. Patrice Rushen: Number One (Instrumental)
11. Madonna: Holiday
12. Herbie Hancock: Autodrive
13. Man Parrish: Hip Hop Be Bop (Don’t Stop)
14. Two Sisters: High Noon
15. Two Sisters: B-Boys Beware
16. Freeez: I. Dub. U.
17. Freeez: I.O.U.

160. farley100.mp3

WBMX, 1980s [~1985]

1. Farley Jackmaster Funk: Farley Farley (Status IV: You Ain’t Really Down acappella, Colonel Abrams: Trapped acappella, First Choice: Let No Man Put Asunder acappella)
2. J.M. Silk: Music Is The Key
3. Thelma Houston: You Used To Hold Me So Tight
4. Master Jay & Micheal Dee: T.S.O.B
5. Serious Intention: You Don’t Know/Farley Jackmaster Funk: Farley Farley

326. farleywgci.mp3 (Farley on WGCI '80's), 439. farley252.rm

WGCI, 86-87?

1. Mr. Fingers: Can You Feel It?/The Source feat. Candi Staton: You Got the Love (House Apella)
2. Mr. Fingers: Beyond the Clouds/Martin Luther King speech
3. T.C. Curtis: You Should Have Known Better
4. ? [12:23]
5. Yellow House: Jack My Body
6. Frankie Knuckles: It’s A Cold World
7. Bohannon: Let’s Start II Dance Again
8. Taana Gardner: Work That Body
9. Nightlife Unlimited: Peaches & Prunes (sounds like Ron Hardy edit)
10. Kikrokos: Life Is A Jungle (edit)
11. The Housemaster Boyz & The Rude Boy of House: House Nation
12. John Rocca: I Want It to Be Real

665. Farley-WBMXearly80s.mp3, 1. farley.ra, 289. farley790.rm

WBMX, early 80s [~1984]

1. Billy Frazier & Friends: Billy Who?
2. Skatt Bros: Walk The Night
3. Loleatta Holloway: Love Sensation (Instrumental/Acappella/Walter Gibbons mix)
4. Diana Ross: Love Hangover (break)
5. First Choice: Let No Man Put Asunder (Instrumental/Acappella)
6. Phreek: Weekend
7. Tony Cook & The Party People: On The Floor (Rock-It)
8. Sylvester: I Need You

756. farleydave03.mp3

WBMX, Chicago, 1984-85?

1. unreleased Farley beats
2. Midway: Set It Out
3. Colonel Abrams: Music Is The Answer
4. Z-Factor: I’m The DJ
5. Knight Action: Single Girl
6. Pet Shop Boys: West End Girls (intro)
7. Plastic Mode: Baja Imperial
8. Klein & MBO: Dirty Talk
9. Alessandro Novaga: Eletronic Drums [sic] Fusi Four
10. L’Amour: Let’s Make Love Tonight
11. Starflight: Dance to the Beat
12. Alisha: All Night Passion
13. Kasso: Walkman

899. farleyjackmasterfunkwgci.mp3

WGCI Mastermixes, 1987? [~1986]

1. Teddy Pendergrass: Only You
2. Robert Owens: Bring Down the Walls/Ellis-D: My Loleatta
3. On The House with Marshall Jefferson: Ride The Rhythm/train effect/Virgo: Go Wild Rhythm Trax B3
4. Frankie Knuckles: It’s A Cold World
5. Dan Hartman: Vertigo/Relight My Fire
6. Wally Jump Jr. & The Criminal Element: Turn Me Loose
7. Nitro Deluxe: Let’s Get Brutal
8. Stephanie Mills: Put Your Body in It
9. Paul Lewis: Girl You Need A Change Of Mind
10. Jamie Principle: Waiting On My Angel
11. Two Tons of Fun: I Got the Feeling
12. The Michael Zager Band: Let’s All Chant
13. Modern Romance: Salsa Rappsody
14. Mr. Fingers: Can You Feel It?
15. ad break

914. farleyWGCI1980s.mp3

WBMX, 1980s [tracks 1-13 ~1986; tracks 14-25 Ralphi Rosario, WGCI ~1987]

1. The Crusaders: Street Life
2. Shot: Main Thing
3. Pam Todd & The Love Exchange: Let’s Get Together
4. First Choice: Love Thang
5. Five Special: Why Leave Us Alone
6. The J.B’s: Doing It to Death/Lyn Collins: Think (About It) intro
7. Virgo: Go Wild Rhythm Trax B2
8. Tracy Weber: Sure Shot
9. Alessandro Novaga: Faces Drums 3/Martin Luther King sample
10. Eddie Kendricks: Goin’ Up in Smoke
11. Farley Funkin Keith: Jackin the Bass [Funkin with the Drums]
12. David Joseph: You Can’t Hide (Your Love From Me)
13. Jago: I’m Going To Go
14. The Rude Boy Farley Keith: Give Your Self To Me
15. Princess: In The Heat of a Passionate Moment
16. Master C & J: Face It
17. Raze: Let The Music Move You
18. Raze: Jack The Groove
19. The House Rockers feat. Frankie “Hollywood” Rodriguez & Jimmy L.A. Perna: Everybody Do It
20. The Housemaster Boyz: House Nation
21. Marshall Jefferson: Move Your Body (The House Music Anthem)
22. Frankie Knuckles: You Can’t Hide From Yourself
23. First Choice: Let No Man Put Asunder
24. Fresh: Dum Dum Part Two
25. On The House: Ride the Rhythm

968. farleywgcimastermix86-87.mp3

WGCI Mastermix, 1986-87?

1. Project 122: Kiss Me Baby
2. Farley “Jackmaster” Funk & Jessie Saunders: Love Can’t Turn Around
3. Farley Jackmaster Funk/Ricky Dillard: It’s All Over (unreleased)
4. Bam Bam: You’ve Been Messin Around
5. Farley Funkin Keith: Jackin the Bass [Funkin with the Drums]
6. Sparque: Let’s Go Dancin’
7. Liz Torres feat. Kenny “Jammin” Jason: What You Make Me Feel/What You Make Me Feel (Jack Track)
8. Darryl Pandy: Climax
9. Duane and Co.: Piano Traxx
10. The Force: It’s O.K., It’s O.K. (Tracks)
11. Tyree: I Fear the Night
12. The Housemaster Boyz: Trax U Lost
13. Kat Mandu: I Wanna Dance
14. Anthony and The Camp: What I Like

1023. FarleyFunkinKeithWBMX1985Disco.mp3

Friday Night Jams, WBMX, 1985, courtesy of Mario Luna

1. Frankie Goes To Hollywood: Welcome to the Pleasure Dome (Alternative to Reality) intro
2. Coati Mundi: Que Pasa/Me No Pop I
3. Bumblebee Unlimited: I Got a Big Bee (break)
4. Skipworth & Turner: Thinking About Your Love
5. Rose Royce: Do Your Dance
6. Savage Progress: Heart Begin to Beat
7. World Premiere: Share the Night
8. Touche: Just Like a Doorknob
9. The Montana Sextet: Heavy Vibes
10. Earl Young’s Trammps: What Happened to the Music (Dub Mix)
11. Visual: The Music Got Me
12. Colonel Abrams: Music Is The Answer
13. Jack Master Funk: Aw Shucks (Let’s Go Let’s Go)
14. Jamie Principle: Waiting On My Angel
15. Jesse Saunders: Waiting On My Angel [tape pause]
16. Plastic Mode: Baja Imperial
17. Master Jay and Michael Dee: T.S.O.B
18. Colonel Abrams: Trapped (Acappella)
19. Virgo: Go Wild Rhythm Trax B2
20. Freeez: Acappella U.
21. Klein & MBO: Dirty Talk/beats

1131. FarleyJackmasterFunk1985wbmx.mp3

WBMX, 1985, compliments of Mario Luna, Chicago

1. Yello: Vicious Games
2. Yello: You Gotta Say Yes To Another Excess
3. Yello: Bostich
4. Jesse’s Gang with Farley “Funkin” Keith: Real Love (Is It Real?) (Dub/Vocal)
5. Fresh: Dum Dum
6. Alexander Robotnick: Problèmes D’Amour
7. Candido: Thousand Finger Man
8. Stars on 45 Theme
9. Trilogy: Not Love
10. Stopp: I’m Hungry
11. Hugh Masekela: Don’t Go Lose It Baby
12. Farley Funkin Keith: Jackin the Bass [Funkin with the Drums]/Sharon Redd: You’re a Winner
13. Prince and The Revolution: When Doves Cry
14. Newcleus: Computer Age (Push the Button)

1277. FarleyFunkinKeithandJulianPerezWBMX1985.mp3

Farley Funkin Keith and Julian Perez, WBMX, Chicago, compliments of Mario Luna, 1985

1. Quando Quango: Love Tempo
2. George Kranz: Trommeltanz (Din Daa Daa)
3. Laid Back: White Horse
4. Karen Young: Hot Shot
5. ’Lectric Workers: Robot Is Systematic (break)
6. The Coachouse Rhythm Section: Time Warp
7. Powerline: Double Journey
8. Sylvester: I Need You (edit)
9. Persia: Inch by Inch
10. Harvey Mason: Groovin’ You (break edit)
11. Nightlife Unlimited: Peaches & Prunes
12. Bo Kool: (Money) No Love
13. Taana Gardner: Work That Body
14. Konk: Your Life
15. Night Moves: Transdance
16. Wet: That’s The Game
17. X-Posed (Exposé): Point of No Return
18. Mascara: Baja
19. Africa: A.I.E. (A Mwana)
20. Lime: I Don’t Wanna Lose You
21. John Rocca: Once Upon a Dub
22. Debbie Deb: Lookout Weekend

1339. Farley_JackMaster_Funk_031685_DHP.mp3

Saturday Night Live Ain’t Chicago Dance Party - WBMX, 3/16/85

1. Jamie Principle: Your Love
2. Black Gold: C’mon Stop
3. Billy Frazier & Friends: Billy Who? (break)
4. Geraldine Hunt: Can’t Fake The Feeling (edit)
5. The Salsoul Orchestra: Ooh, I Love It (Love Break)
6. Extra: Haven’t Been Funked Enough
7. Northend feat. Michelle Wallace: Happy Days
8. Alessandro Novaga: Faces Drums 1
9. Bumblebee Unlimited: Lady Bug
10. beats [30:01]
11. Klein & M.B.O.: The MBO Theme
12. Isaac Hayes: I Can’t Turn Around (edit)
13. Jesse Saunders: Funk-U-Up (Bonus Beats)
14. J.M. Silk: Music Is The Key
15. The Michael Zager Band: Let’s All Chant
16. Taana Gardner: Work That Body
17. Bohannon: Let’s Start The Dance (edit)

1354. Farley_Jackmaster_Funk_WGCI_121986_deephousepage.mp3

Power 107.5 - WGCI Mastermix, 12/19/86

1. Frankie Knuckles: It’s A Cold World
2. Virgo: Go Wild Rhythm Trax A1
3. Jesse Saunders: On and On (5A)
4. Fingers Inc.: You’re Mine
5. Mr. Fingers: Can You Feel It?
6. J.M. Silk: I Can’t Turn Around (House In E-flat minor)
7. Jesse Saunders: On and On (4A & B)
8. Farley Jackmaster Funk/Ricky Dillard: It’s All Over (unreleased)
9. Master C & J: Face It/Carl Bean: I Was Born This Way
10. On The House: Ride The Rhythm/Martin Luther King speech
11. The House Rockers feat. Frankie “Hollywood” Rodriguez and Jimmy L.A. Perna: Everybody Do It!
12. Yellow House: Jack My Body
13. Klein & M.B.O.: The MBO Theme

1361. FarleyKeithWBMX112484deephousepage.mp3

Saturday Night Live Chicago Dance Party - WBMX, 11/24/84

1. Serious Intention: You Don’t Know (Limited Edition Special Remix)
2. ? (Instr.) [6:17]
3. Tempest Trio: Do You Like The Way It Feels
4. Touche: Just Like A Doorknob
5. beats [15:25]
6. Loleatta Holloway: Love Sensation (edit)
7. Jago: I’m Going To Go
8. Evelyn Thomas: High Energy
9. Gaucho: Dance Forever
10. Frankie Goes to Hollywood: Two Tribes (Carnage)
11. Kikrokos: Life Is A Jungle (edit)
12. Kleeer: Keeep Your Body Workin’

1465. FarleyJMF_RalphieRosario1986WBMX.mp3

WBMX, 1986, compliments of Mario Luna [tracks 1-20 Farley Jackmaster Funk WGCI, 1986; tracks 14-20 Ralphie Rosario WGCI, 1986; tracks 21-33 Farley Keith WBMX, ~1984?]

1. Mr. Fingers: Mystery of Love
2. Farley Jackmaster Funk: Farley Farley
3. Mr. Lee & Kompany: Shoot Your Best Shot
4. Chip E: Like This
5. T.H.: Don’t Forget (To Buy This Record) [announcement, tape pause]
6. Mach: On & On [tape pause]
7. The It: Donnie
8. Raw Silk: Do It To The Music
9. Mr. Fingers: Mystery of Love
10. Virgo: Go Wild Rhythm Trax A1
11. The Rude Boy Farley Keith: Give Your Self To Me
12. Farley Jackmaster Funk: Jack’n The Trax
13. T.H.: Don’t Forget (To Buy This Record)
14. The Homeboyz feat. Renny: It’s Your Night
15. Mr. Lee & Kompany: Shoot Your Best Shot
16. Van McCoy: Soul Cha Cha
17. Mark Imperial: J’Adore Danser
18. ? [31:04]
19. Made in Italy: Made in Italy
20. ? [35:02]
21. Den Harrow: Future Brain (instrumental) [announcement, tape pause]
22. Trilogy: Not Love
23. Loose Joints: Is It All Over My Face [start of West End Records medley?]
24. Sparque: Let’s Go Dancin’
25. Master Boogies Song and Dance: When The Shit Hits The Fan
26. Taana Gardner: Work That Body
27. Loose Joints: Is It All Over My Face
28. Gibson Brothers: Cuba
29. Suzy Q: With Your Love
30. Starflight: Dance To The Beat
31. Magnum Force: Get in the Mix
32. My Mine: Zorro
33. Roni Griffith: Dancing Machine
34. Martin Circus: Disco Circus

1487. FarleyKeithWBMX102784deephousepage.mp3

WBMX, 10/27/84

1. Peech Boys: Don’t Make Me Wait (acappella)
2. MFSB: Love Is the Message
3. Paul Simpson Connection: Use Me Lose Me (Reprise Me)
4. Circuit: Release the Tension
5. Tempest Trio: Do You Like The Way It Feels
6. Culture Club: White Boy
7. Earl Young’s Trammps: What Happened to the Music (Dub Mix)
8. First Choice: Doctor Love (Special Remix)
9. Master Jay & Micheal Dee: T.S.O.B
10. Karen Silver: Nobody Else
11. George Duke: I Want You For Myself
12. Fantasy: You’re Too Late
13. Nick Straker Band: Straight Ahead

1487. FarleyKeithWBMXApril1984deephousepage.mp3

WBMX, Apr 1984

1. Skatt Bros: Walk The Night
2. Patricia Harris: Heaven Is... (In the Back Seat of My Cadillac)
3. Kasso: Walkman
4. Plastic Mode: Baja Imperial
5. MFSB: Love Is the Message
6. Sparque: Take Some Time
7. Denroy Morgan: I’ll Do Anything For You
8. Paul Lewis: Girl You Need A Change Of Mind
9. Loleatta Holloway: Love Sensation (Shep Pettibone Mix/acappella)
10. The Salsoul Orchestra: Ooh, I Love It (Love Break Groove)
11. Bruce Johnston: Pipeline
12. Project: Love Rescue

1487. FarleyJackmasterFunkWBMX102586deephousepage.mp3

WBMX WGCI, 10/25/86

1. The Housemaster Boyz & The Rude Boy of House: House Nation
2. Project 122: Kiss Me Baby
3. Raz: Amour Puerto Riqueno (Puerto Rican Lover)
4. Santos: Work The Box
5. Fingers Inc: A Path/Sinnamon: I Need You Now acappella/Serious Intention: You Don’t Know (Accapella)/
6. Billy Frazier & Friends: Billy Who?/Virgo: Go Wild Rhythm Trax A1
7. Adonis: W.R.D.T. House (Instrumental)
8. Frankie Knuckles: You Can’t Hide From Yourself
9. Klein & M.B.O.: The MBO Theme/train effect
10. Ronnie Dyson: All Over Your Face
11. Ecstasy, Passion & Pain: Touch and Go/train effect
12. J.M. Silk: Music Is The Key/The Source feat. Candi Staton: You Got the Love (House Apella)
13. Tempest Trio: Do You Like The Way It Feels

1509. FarleyKeithWBMX083185.mp3

WBMX, 1985-1986

1. ?
2. J.M. Silk: Music Is The Key
3. Farley Funkin Keith: Jackin the Bass [Funkin with the Drums]/Wham!: Everything She Wants
4. Jack Master Funk: Aw Shucks (Let’s Go Let’s Go)
5. John Rocca: Once Upon a Dub
6. Nick Straker Band: A Little Bit of Jazz
7. Koto: Visitors
8. Alexander Robotnick: Problèmes D’Amour
9. Rick James: Glow
10. Jack Master Funk: Jack The Bass
11. Raz: Baila
12. Laid Back: White Horse
13. Evelyn Thomas: High Energy

Jacob Arnold, Dec 5, 2011 in Features: Chicago House