Show Notes
It's taken me some time to get around to making my next Essential artist compilation but I never had any doubt it would be Kelly Clarkson. Her voice is undeniable. The range, the power and the control. There is literally nothing this woman cannot sing. I remember her audition on the first season of American Idol way back in 2002 and unlike many singing talent show winners, Kelly did not fade from public view after her debut single and album. In fact, she increased he fan base becoming more popular with each album release. Three of her most successful albums Breakaway, All I Ever Wanted and Stronger are some of the highest selling albums by a female pop artist, and all of this by 2011. Kelly's appeal is global as she has had songs chart around the world. She reinvented herself when she became a regular judge on the US version of The Voice with 4 winning contestants to her name. In 2019 Kelly became the host of her own talk show where a highlight of each episode was her "Kellyoke" where she would cover songs by other artists, putting her unique spin on them. This first edition of essential songs features 22 tracks remixed by producers such as 7th Heaven, Division 4, Chris Cox, Barry Harris, Shanghai Surprise, Cosmic Dawn, Wayne G & Andy Allder, Russ Rich, JRMX, David Guetta and DJ Laszlo to name a few. The final track is a duet with Cher but I didn't realize that the remixer had cut most of Kelly's vocal from the mix, so enjoy the final song by Cher I guess. I love listening to Kelly sing so here is a compilation of her biggest hits for you to do the same. Enjoy Anthony
1/ "DANCE WITH ME" (Young Bombs Remix) 2/ "THE TROUBLE WITH LOVE IS" (Mauve Classic Vocal Club Mix) 3/ "HEAT" (Kokiri Club Remix) 4/ "BROKEN & BEAUTIFUL" (Barry Harris Club Mix) 5/ "MISS INDEPENDENT" (Shanghai Surprise Club Mix) 6/ "SINCE U BEEN GONE" (Division 4 Remix) 7/ "STRONGER" (WHAT DOESN'T KILL YOU) (7th Heaven Club Remix) 8/ "SECOND HAND HEART" (Wideboys Club Mix) ft. Ben Haenow 9/ "DARK SIDE" (DJ Laszlo Dark Anthem Club Mix) 10/ "THIS IS FOR MY GIRLS" (Tracy Young First Lady Remix) ft. Chloe & Halle, Missy Elliott, Jadagrace, Lea Michelle, Janelle Monae, Kelly Rowland & Zendaya 11/ "I DARE YOU" (Russ Rich & Andy Allder Private Club Mix) 12/ "WALK AWAY" (Chris Cox Full On Club Mix) 13/ "BECAUSE OF YOU" (DJ Dennis Rublev & DJ Anton Remix) 14/ "LOVE SO SOFT" (Cash Cash Remix) 15/ "WRAPPED IN RED" (Ruff Loaderz Club Mix) 16/ "FAVOURITE KIND OF HIGH" (David Guetta Remix) 17/ "CATCH MY BREATH" (Wayne G. & Andy Allder Anthem Club Mix) 18/ "PEOPLE LIKE US" (Cosmic Dawn Club Mix) 19/ "INVINCIBLE" (Tom Swoon Remix) 20/ "MR KNOW IT ALL" (Liam Keegan Remix) 21/ "HEARTBEAT SONG" (JRMX Club Mix) 22/ "DJ PLAY A CHRISTMAS SONG" (Colin Balmer NRG Remix) ft. Cher
More from Anthony Whitlock's Podcast
Speaking of divas, it's time I focused some attention on the fabulous Deborah Cox. Canadian born Deborah Cox signed to Arista records in 1994 and her first album launched her career with the second single "Who Do U Love". From there, she climbed the charts around the world with hits such as "Nobody's Supposed To Be Here", It's Over Now", Absolutely Not" and Mr Lonely" in the late 1990's and 2000's. In the 2010's she continued with hits such as "Let The World Be Ours Tonight", "Beautiful U R" and "If It Wasn't For Love". While it was the urban and R&B versions of her songs that hit the mainstream charts, it was the club mixes that launched her in the night club scene. Her songs were mixed by the heavy hitters of the time including Hex Hector, Junior Vasquez, Davis Morales, Wayne G and Tony Moran. This was the 90's and 00's where club mixes regularly clocked in over 10 minutes. This first edition of the sublime Ms Cox features songs from the start and middle of her career right up to her more recent releases. More to come from this amazing singer. Enjoy Anthony
The October edition of UP! is filled with chunky house and vocal house anthems. I'm on annual leave this month so I'm in a happy/camp mood :) The front end of the set is vocal house with tracks from Toya, Alex Newell and Clubland. Russ Rich & Andy Allder have a brand new original song out which Russ very kindly gave me an early copy of. "Disco Lights" is an absolute euphoric slice of dance floor heaven. Russ wrote the song himself and the production and vocals are extraordinary. Andy also features a mix later in the set for ELMNTS. Wayne G. features two exceptional mixes in the set. The first is Miley's "Bass Persuades" which he has previewed as a fund raiser only release for Dementia UK, a very worthy cause. The second is Rita Ora's "Ask & You Shall Receive". I first met Wayne about 500 years ago on one of his regular visits to Sydney and we've stayed in touch over the years. He is an extraordinarily generous man and just a wonderfully kind soul and I can't thank him enough for the private mixes he has given to me. Madonna's renaissance is in full swing and her collaboration with Kylie Minogue on "Love Sensation" is a great example of it. Producer eSQUIRE features two awesome remixes before the set heads into camp, main room territory with standout remixes from Dirty Disco, GSP and 7th Heaven. I'm releasing this month's edition of UP! on my younger brother's birthday so, Happy Birthday Nick. Enjoy Anthony
The September '26 edition of UP! is jam packed with wall to wall vocal house anthems. The set kicks of with a great song "Let There Be Love" from Tess Merkel followed up by Harry Styles' "American Girls"' I pulled a classic Mariah Carey track from the vaults as well as Madonna's smash hit "Danceteria" from her current album Confessions II. Kristine W is back with her new song "Music's Gonna Save Us" and club diva Gypsy Love has a new song "Synchronicity" gaining traction in the clubs. Stand out remixes come from pretty much everyone featured here including Division 4, Dirty Disco, Rafael M, Andy Allder, Matt Moss and Tracy Young. Take yourself on a house journey with this month's edition of UP! Enjoy Anthony
This month's edition of UP! has been one of the most difficult for me to put together. One of my dearest friends of over 30 years passed away this month and it has been difficult to reconcile the profound feelings of grief and loss that have swallowed me, his beautiful partner, his family and friends. David was a bright light in the lives of everyone who knew him. I wasn't sure how I could translate that into a musical set that would do him justice. We had so many amazing nights out and in over the years. I have selected some songs that have uplifting, positive and powerful messages. These are some of my all time favourites mixed by some of my favourites in a T-Dance format. And to Derek, if you are reading this then you will know the significance of the closing song. This is the one that pulled David out of his mood on the dance floor at the Midnight Shift all those years ago. David, you will be missed but never forgotten. xx
Heading into July '26 is the latest edition of UP!. This set starts out with some fantastic house and pop tracks and progresses into some big room anthems. The set kicks off with Russ Rich and Andy Allder's brand new original track "Body And Soul". This is a beautiful house track with excellent vocals and production. The pair also lend their remix magic to "Raise it Up - Together" by Stephen Jusko & DJ Blacklow ft. Debbie Holiday. Andy appears again on his remix of "Eternal Flame" with Matt Consola. Division 4 turns in two stellar remixes for Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo respectively and of course Dirty Disco delivers thumping remixes for Lady Gaga & Doechii and Peyton respectively. There are some excellent covers in this set including "Eternal Flame", "In The Air Tonight" and "Freedom". Kylie Minogue's "Light Up" is transformed by Edson Pride and Tony Moran and Danny Verde also features a couple of tracks here. Enjoy Anthony