1998-2001 is widely regarded by many as the period where dance really made it big. People were going out all the time, big name DJs became superstars and were playing 3 or 4 gigs a week, nights like cream/gatecrasher/godskitchen became global brands, ibiza absolutely exploded and even your mum knew who judge jules was.

I actually consider myself very lucky to have been a part of it as i first got the dance bug around 1998 just when it was starting to snowball. The most popular music at the time of course was trance which I think was no coincidence why the bubble got so big, as a music form it is very "musical" and naturally accessible and appealing, yet it also has punch and drive so you can pound away to it on the dance floor.

So on this subject gotta few things wanna put out there:

1. It's occurred to me that whenever anyone first gets the dance music bug they naturally think the first few years of when they are listening to it are 'the best years' as its when its all fresh and romantic to them. So do people think any other eras were actually the golden years? eg. Piano house prior to this period? the Funky House explosion afterwards? Electro at the mo?

2. After about 2001, the bubble kinda burst, club attendance plummeted and everything died down. Who's fault was that:

a) the music ie people got sick of the same thing and nothing good enough replaced it

b) the DJs ie disappearred up their asses and started playing dull prog and demanding too much

c) the club brands ie all got corporate and the magic died

d) or your own theory...

3) Lastly, there is a reason for this being on my mind, i didn't just wake up with the notion. WARNING PLUG HERE: Doing a party to celebrate 1998-2001 where all the old tunes will be coming out, i'll let the poster below do the talking.

Thanks for any comments people, be as controversial as possible. Rob N feel free to wax lyrical..

As long as someone plays Boris Delugosh "Hold your head up high" I'll be a happy man...
I have a vinyl copy if you wanna borrow it..unfortunately it jumps just as she's getting excited..

Awesome Idea! See you there..!

Dusting off my vinyl will untoubtedly create more dust than sanding down my whole staircase. Hoover at the ready. Looking forward reliving all my bygone eras. Think this is making me feel a bit older than i want to.

I EXPECT to hear wide open space!!!

i can see Vinyl only nights makin a huge come back i think it will seperate alot of the current DJ's from the old skool, i think the exposion of DJ's is part to do with this CDJ revolution makin it possible for anyone or there Dog to be a DJ nower days, in my opinion there is way tooo much on and its havin an effect of the scene that some peeps will never understand

;0)

c) the club brands ie all got corporate and the magic died

nail on the head. started going to godskitchen in 2000 when it was a small (ish), intimate weekly party. Every week was amazing, and it was kind of like a cool secret that a lot of my 'non' clubbing mates just didn't understand. Then, all of a sudden the whole superstar dj/clubbing thing exploded, and GK went monthly. gutted. thier reason..? 'to concentrate on GK as a brand' i.e. to make more money doing other stuff, selling compilations etc.. they'd obviously seen the commercial bandwagon rolling towards them and were ready to jump on. everyone else did the same, crasher, cream, ministry - and clubbing as we knew it would never be the same again...

so in answer to the question, yes, this period before and around 2000 was in my eyes an awesome era - there was so many good tunes around, most of which I cant remember until every now and again you hear one and go 'ahhhh remember this..?'
Great idea for a party, will be good to hear some classic choons!

For me the thing about this era and especially the 'trance explosion' is the timelessness of the records being produced at the time and the effect they had on people.
To most people these days unless your a DJ or an avid music collector/fanatic there never seems to be anything that stands out and stays with you like they did around this time.
I know so many people that can listen to these records on various compilations and name 90% of the tracks and each one holds a different memory for them, and that is what makes them special.
Maybe we were just at the right age and got into the scene at the right time. Either way its about time to relive the past!!

my views...broadly agree with Adams, but a few other observations of my own.

1. I dont have a 'golden age' of music, i have enjoyed each period for what it offers, obviously theres loads of crap as well but my ears filter that out....i am always looking for new music directions, otherwise i would be stuck in the 60's if not.
2. yes, 2001 everything went tits up, all the shit being pushed out by the labels, superclubs and superstar DJs saturating the market, and clubbers voting with their feet.....

the music got stale and repetitive, and TBH the rise of funky house helped put fun back into clubbing, although that is old hat now. music is dynamic and demands change, but theres no reason why we should forget the golden age of trance...i for one wont.

John Kelly what a legend back in the day!!
Gutted im missing it, good luck with it fellas

Hang on a minute....

This is Russ playing at/promoting a vinyl only party?! After the lectures you've given me!!

;o)

I would say at 98 the scene went a bit turd, but i guess cus you got into at 98 you didnt see what it was like before then.

Although only still a young clubber, this is the music which first got me hooked on dance music and will always mean a lot to me!! Time to dust off my Trance shoes me thinks.. coincidentally my last exam falls on this day too... lets get the gurnstraps out again :)

i loved 2004, the funky and latin house that we were going out to, but agree with ray as well, there isnt really a golden era with me, i keep changing what i like, but still liking the old stuff as well, pretty easily pleased, me!

66 was a great year

66 was a great year for football, Eric was born...

Personally cannot wait for this.... Ivee been on and on at Russ to do a Trance night and finally got my way :-) Tio Yallopos, your a legend! - Just a shame we couldnt do it on my bday weekend.

Trance is my first love and will always be my last - you cant beat trance - its feel good music - its what Ibiza began with.

Hoping you'll be playing all the classics! I do have to ruin it and request a few cheesys though

Tiesto feat Andain - Beautiful things (absolute tune)
Hybrid - Theory
Motorcycle - as the rush comes
Tiesto - Just Be

Oh ill shut up il be here all day listing off all the vocal tracks just so i can stand there singing along, hands in the air and a jaw sticking out halfway to calcutta!

Good one Russ, i hope theres a good turn out so there can be more of these nights - they are so rare now!! xxxx

get the Gurnstraps out boys, will do a roaring trade for this one...

they're rare for a reason babe where trance is concerned but i think russ has definately got something here. good effort bro - great to see all those labels back again for a night,makes me want to dust off all mine and stick a needle on them. think it'll be a great success. i'll definately pop my head in but WONT be dancing to trance. ;))

Some amazing memories from around this time, as so many wicked tunes that still even now if dropped at a non classics night will still sound just like they had been released and the whole place still goes off BIG time !!!

Everything did go tits up to say the least and not going to go into that as Chris has summed it up really well, but with funky house coming along it did bring things back again especially with the early Hed Kandi days, just hope something can come along again now to save the club scence once more !!!!!

Good luck wth night Russ will definitely try and make it along buddy

Very nice idea mate! 1998 was the year i went to uni and the birth of my djing! I used to love the trance back then, esp Euro trance! Good luck with it.

Rob N feel free to wax lyrical..

Not really sure what you meant by that mate, is there a reason why you singled me out?

Hope the night goes well though Russ, of course being trance i'm in full support.