Ron Hardy didn’t have the high profile of Larry Levan or Frankie Knuckles, but his contribution to dance music is immeasurable. Hardy first tried to produce live continuous mixes as early at 1974 on a reel-to-reel player (imagine what he would have thought of Ableton), influenced many of the most important players of Chicago house and helmed what would become the premier club of the early house days, the Muzic Box, after a stint at the Powerhouse.
He didn’t spend too much time in the studio, but the few tracks he recorded retain all the excitement of a genre on the brink of breaking open into something huge. “Baby, Baby, Baby, Aw Shucks,” Hardy’s complete reworking of First Choice’s “Let No Man Put Asunder,” was just released for the first time by itself on Partehardy Records. (In the comments Ilya informs the track was released under a different name in 1988; anyone care to corroborate?) At times its raucous drum track sounds cribbed from Liquid Liquid’s “Bellhead” and is matched in intensity by the chopped and looped scat vocals flying around the track. Just as fun is the “it’s not over” portion of the tune, flush with funky guitar licks, flirtatious swells, and a pack of vocalists petitioning Hardy not to end the tune. A must have for house historians and fans alike.
Ron Hardy, “Baby, Baby, Baby, Aw Shucks” [Partehardy Records] (buy) (buy)
I think this was actually released all the way back in 1988: http://www.discogs.com/release/2377
Which track is it on that mix? I don’t see it listed by name.
I think they are all pretty much the same track. I don’t have the record myself but a friend played it to me a couple weeks ago.
An interesting detail; thanks for the info!
Ahh.. sweet sweet tune!! Heard it first time 2years ago or so when derrick may played it at a gig in Copenhagen… been diggin it ever since, though I only managed to find the original track by ‘first choice’. Until now that is… its also available at hardwax, now where is my wallet??
I’ve heard a snippet of Ron Hardy’s edit of Denice Williams’ ‘Free’ .. oohhh man .. do I wish they’d release that .. maybe one day ..
I ALSO HAVE AN INTERESTING RON HARDY EDIT OF MARCUS MIXX’S THE SPELL…DEFINITELY LIVES UP TO ITS TITLE.
THIS MAN IS A TRUE LEGEND IN CHICAGO! RESPECT THE ARCHITECT.
WOW, THAT CATCHY OOOH BAY-BAY…WAS THAT USED IN ANOTHER FAMOUS TRACK? SOUNDS REALLY FAMILIAR…BY THE WAY THIS FIRST CHOICE RE-EDIT IS AN ALL-TIME FAVORITE