BBC Radio 1 and its longtime host DJ, Pete Tong, have jointly unveiled The Essential Mix 30, a collection of 30 iconic Essential Mixes recorded from broadcasts over the last three decades.
Announcing the nostalgic mix rollout on Instagram, Tong shared a clip of his original introduction for Daft Punk’s Essential Mix debut back in 1997.
This famed mix from the legendary French duo is now available for listening on BBC Sounds, along with four more classic sets from Goldie (1996), Bicep (2017), Jamie xx (2011) and High Contrast (2003).
The remaining 25 mixes are slated to be released on the platform over the course of this month, following their live re-air on BBC Radio 1 Dance.
The BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix has long been an important benchmark for distinction in the global dance music industry. The weekly broadcast, “designed to keep the party rocking until the twilight hours,” was first introduced in 1993, transmitting uninterrupted two-hour mixes from some of the world’s best DJs straight to homes across the UK at 2AM.
The selection of mixes set for rerelease is jam-packed with legends and innovators from nearly every corner of dance music, with notable inclusions such as Paul Oakenfold (1994), Carl Cox live at Space Ibiza (1998), Sasha & John Digweed (2002), Above & Beyond (2004), DJ Snake (2014) Soulwax (2017) and many more. Tong’s own 1993 Essential Mix, the very first ever recorded, has also been uploaded for digital listening.
Check out the complete list of all 30 reissued BBC Radio 1 Essential Mixes in Tong’s post below and have a listen to the currently available mixes here.
View this post on Instagram
