Ron Hardy playing a record backwards

[thehassinator69]

boss



[g1a1h1]

What Ron Hardy did at the BOX was the shot heard round the world. A true original

[beatles5445]

also the first track is "is it all over my face" by loose joints (arthur russell)

[beatles5445]

ya it would be easier to play a reel-to-reel backwards than carrying around a flipped turntable.

[cap15670]

the first dj ever that can play music backwards

[djjaaz]

ALL RIGHTTTT RONNYYYY..........

[mikechorizo]

Wow... what a mind fuck! Thanks for the legal drugs...

[rishibawa]

holy shit......try doing that with some CDJs and a DJM800 :P

[RIPOFFROZ]

He Left a HUGE impact on music.... WORLDWIDE..... often duplicated...House it up n heaven brother in law...you did EXACTLY what you meant for your music to do... and THEN SOME...HOUSE IT UP WITH BRIAN AND DEBRA!!!.....will never forget the times...the Underground...in the Basement....all of us getting screamed at when the smoke got too thick..n making me feel PRETTY...even while I was pregnant.. you are TRULY missed but NEVER forgotten..Tony still cant dance...

[AndPlus]

I think it sounds better backwards! Hearing this on a powerful sound system with people delirious in a club would have been awesome

[natgirrl]

@AndPlus It was.

[coolhand1966]

the word is he played it backwards on the tape reel, not the deck

[1KillaSkrilla1]

FUCKING AWESOME. First time i ever heard this.

[g1a1h1]

I will never forget the Fall of '85 at the Box, and everything after. No place on earth jacked harder, it was crazy...

[freeeekyyy]

That's a pretty clever idea. I wonder if anybody else has ever done that.

[Themissionmars]

@freeeekyyy Yes, It's been done in my city (St. Louis) by a Dj named JaJo (RIP) in '93 or so. He was also a bit of a house legend that left us to early after moving to America from Spain to study in our city and dying of an overdose later 90's. The exact same method Ron did it is how he did It. I saw it live and it freaked my mind. He was truly a talented kid. He left us a classic mixtape "House Colours" that is coveted to this day and hard to find. I have it, and many others i keep under wrap

[mrpascall]

FUCK, I'VE JUST CUM IN MY PANTS! WHAT A WICKED TUNE!!!

[ProggyHeadZ]

one of the creators of house. one of its pioneers, respect. and thank you for HOUSE MUSIC!

[wackko2003]

YES the KIng still lives throw recording Ron Hardy is the true house king.

[papagrizz]

Yes Ron Hardy was edgy and inventive but what made him a great DJ in IMHO was his music selection and how he dealt with it. He seemed to get the most out of the track . for instance on this clip when he comes out of reversing the track he spins a song with the perfect tempo and feel that keeps the vibe rolling along.

[xmasdee]

I will never forget this man and his great gifts he gave us.. "The Musiz Box" will always be with me!!!!!! R.I.P Ronnie!!!!!!!!!!!! Detrice:)

[TheRich7000]

The track that is both first in the mix and then the one he plays backwards from 3.20 or so is 'Is it all over my face (love dancin')' by Loose Joints.

[seewhale]

yup, this is definitely backwards

[djliljohnwgci]

@Smokeg1016 : but I do agree, the poll would lean heavier in Ron's favor :)

[djliljohnwgci]

@Smokeg1016: I have no intent on being politically correct, but rather pay an even amount of respect to two legends I know/knew personally... As for the poll, that's like comparing McDonald's to Burger King, Ford to Chevy, or Tupac to Biggie: you'll have a lot of peeps rooting for one preference or the other; and the rest will roll with the most popular "hearsay", due to lack of experiencing the real deal...

[djliljohnwgci]

@noiz87 No, that wasn't directed 'towards" you. It was a piggy-back on your reply to nasteeboy101's Kanye comment. I put my 2 cent's in for the rest of the readers...

[djliljohnwgci]

All-in-all, I just wanna say that RON HARDY (as well as Frankie Knuckles) are true House Music legends. It's NEVER about which DJ or nightclub was better than the other, cause ALL these elements helped to pioneer what is known as House Music - then AND now. Ask ANY Chicago DJ/producer/artist/club patron from that era, and MOST of us will tell you that we wouldn't HAVE a career TODAY without one or BOTH of them!!

[Smokeg1016]

@djliljohnwgci You know what, alot of us househeads from the Chi always give props to the 2 main giants of house and we always say they were both great, none greater than the other. But if you took a poll, from every single househead from the Chi, and ask who was better from the 70's up until 1990, I know for a fact the Ronnie would win and it would prob be a 65% to 35% vote maybe a little bit higher. I always hear people giving the politically correct answer, which is fine, ...

[thearchiveable]

Taken from Ron Hardy on wikipedia..

Hardy played a lot of reel-to-reel edits and was always tweaking the soundsystem and playing with the EQ. A Ron Hardy trademark was playing a track backwards. Although there are rumors he did this by turning the needle upside down and putting the record on a cylinder so the needle played the underside of the record, this is not true. The truth is that he did this with the reel to reel deck. The Music Box was also known for its insanely loud sound volume.

[326muzic]

come on Im 43 and still remember all of this !!!!!!! THIS WAS A GOD TO USE TRUE BOX HEADS!

[777ALLAH]

YAW REMEMBER MENDEL!!!! ROSELAND WHA!!!

[djliljohnwgci]

@777ALLAH I remember Mendel parties... he he he :)

[soudoit]

I'm now in Toronto, going on 10yrs now, and Ronnie will never leave my heart and soul.....I'm a Chicagoan, and yet I can't stay away from the music that I grew up with!!! I'm glad that I experienced the Box in my era, and those memories will never fade.....EVER!!! His style of music never dies out, and his memory lives on forever..... Too bad my children can't enjoy REAL music!!!!

[777ALLAH]

@soudoit SALAAM!!!! MENDEL,LEO, OF OUR LADY HYDE PARK RAC BALL CLUB

[miirie7]

shotkider you definately have copies of recorded gems that will never be repeated in chicago...wow, i thought i'd never hear this sound again...is it possible to get a copy of these classics as only ronny can do it?

[TheOptimo420]

RON HARDY beat da chi up all thru da 80's i was there and still have da pluggers! LIL LOUIS had a run also but not like RON!!! IM SCOTT LUST mad respect to da ancestors! CHICAGO home of real house!!!

[nasteeboy101]

KANYE WEST GOT HIS STYLE FROM RON HARDY.*-LIL CHICAGO SECRET.

[noiz87]

@nasteeboy101 You dare to even drop Kanye's name next to Ron's? That takes balls, putting a commercial piece of junk such as Kanye shoulder to shoulder with Ron. That's about all the appreciation I'm ever gonna give you :)

[TheEdddi]

@noiz87 its a shame people here show no respect for ron hardy... 

[noiz87]

@TheEdddi I sometimes hate the internet so much cuz it gives insight into all the pricks.

[djliljohnwgci]

@noiz87 Real talk: MANY Chicago "noteables" today were influenced by House music BEFORE they became "noteable"... Some even produced House music before they EVER made Hip-Hop beats... COMMON himself used to buy House records with legendary DJ Twilight Tone from Loop Records when I was the 12 inch buyer (lil' know fact). Just listen to Common's "I Am Music" feat. Jill Scott (Electric Circus LP), listen to the track AND his lyrics... :)

[noiz87]

@djliljohnwgci Not following bro, why did you tell -me that, I'm very well aware of the roots of hip-hop, crate digging, and the producers' love for other genres such as house, funk, jazz and so on.

I totally agree with you, maybe you aimed the post at someone else :)

[misterchupps]

I can imagine this driving the dancefloor crazy in 1986 - a real "wtf" moment!

[BoogieboyzAnjiStone]

Ron Hardy was my inspiration 4 getting in2 deejaying in the first place. We met, and I spoke w/him before the music box was to open he was outside smoking a cig. I told him that I had been spinning, and he told me 2 bring him a tape, and if I was good, he would allow me 2 open 4 him. I was soo afraid to submit the tape in fear that I could NEVER match up 2 this "man-god!" He was PURE Energy when on the tables. No other can compare 2 his sound 2day!!..R.I.P. Ron Hardy!!..A True House Legend!!!

[ojflater]

what is the name of the track.. it begins at 6.06.. fantastic

[shotkider]

@ojflater welcome to the club by blue magic (hardy edit)

[nytemare440]

@ojflater

No guys! Imfromchicago for one and im a dj for two, and i was going to Ron's parties, as well as frankie, lil louis and the others, but the first track that is playing backwards is loose joints is it all over my face again. he just had another copy of the same record and played it in reverse on the other table. Now if you guys dj or know someone who did and spinned house or disco, it was common or a LAW for us to have more than one copy of the same album! trust me! listen carefully!

[TheEdddi]

@nytemare440 please shut up

[djliljohnwgci]

@nytemare440 Actually, it spun backwards on the reel-to-reel, not another turntable... Either he edited that way or his tape flipped over... I'm not gonna tell u that I was in the booth & saw it first-hand when it happened, but I DID SEE his tape flip before with another song, and I went home to try it on my OWN reel-to-reel, and it worked, LOL!! ( R.I.P. Ronnie )

[Smokeg1016]

When Ron played a record backwards, it was with the reel to reel, there was no flipping a record upside down and all of that. Not saying that you cant do it or that he couldnt do it, but when he did, it was done with the reel to reel.

[qahtani]

@Smokeg1016

Was going to chime in and say that myself but you beat me to it -- by 3 months.

[droopusmaximus]

@Smokeg1016 Not true. I used a similar technique starting in 1981 when I got my first 1200. Roll the counterweight all the way to the end, put an ashtray upside down on the platter, lay the record on it, flip the headshell, then place it on the record upside down. Plays fine. You can't take off the counterweight, you have to run it all the way to the end to get upwards pressure. Anyone who hung out at Better Days from 81 - 89 heard me do it. Ron did it as well, the same way.

[Smokeg1016]

@droopusmaximus, hmmmm-Like I said, he prob could do it that way, and maybe from time to time he did. But majority of the time, he used the reel to reel. You have to remember, he would be way to high to be trying to do all of that.

[droopusmaximus]

@Smokeg1016 Thinking about it, and how toasted Ron usually was, you're probably right. Sad, he was a quirky, really talented guy.

[djliljohnwgci]

@Smokeg1016 Took the words outta my mouth. And that's NO diss to Ron... Just the factual actual TRUTH!

[djliljohnwgci]

@Smokeg1016 - Reel talk (pun intended)! Those of us who knew Ron personally knew that his focus was on working the sound system & the crowds at the Music Box. In the short time I did know him, he didn't strike me as a guy with the kind of patience to sit at home perfecting some "upside-down needle/spindle" trick! R.I.P. Ronnie...

[southsidegirlforlife]

What is the artist/track that comes in around 6:10?? I have that on several mix tapes, but I want to find it in MP3.

[residentialblue]

I loved the music box. We used to leave ISU on a Saturday just to go to the Box!

[thickframes]

This is not just Ron playing a record backwards on a turntable. It's obvious that he recorded a custom remix on reel to reel and dropped it sped the hell up while tweaking the EQ's, especially the bass!

[DjDedan]

pure magic - so much creativity back on those days

[32degrees]

Anyone remember the track from back then called "melody" or at least thats what I think it was called - high pitched female voice that sang it - was an instant classic but trying to find a song named melody that they played in the 80s on google is next to impossible.

BTW - Hardy was a legend in Chicago back in 86 - 88.

[festivalsfunerals]

he's still a legend... now even more.

[aggressiveFRUIT]

The song is called Melodies by Made in USA - it's on youtube! Just listened to it!

[32degrees]

Thanks man - I was 18 back in 88' so most of the songs stayed with me but only in my head as I was just the average party goer and not the actual DJ. To this day there are songs I used to dance to and know some of the lyrics to but couldnt tell you the name. thanks again

[erange]

Made in the usa "melodies"

[adangme]

For those of you who went to the music box, how did Ron Hardy play the music? Just hooks, the first verse? 2 minute edits or what?

[zoniggboum]

Love the weird solo at 6:20: Any idea what that tune is?

Thanks for sharing this rare stuff!

[howmuch85]

The tune at 6.20 is a re-edit Ron Hardy did for the artist Blue Magic, happy hunting

[DjDedan]

@howmuch85 there are captures on youtube... pretty decent quality for listening pleasure until you get your hands on the vinyl... sick re-edit tho!

[PrinceDirt]

Welcome To The Club

Can't remember by who, have to dig up the track an have a peak.

[braaset]

yessssssssssssss

[SteveLikesVideo]

According to Wikipedia, he did this with a reel to reel. Any witnesses?

[zoniggboum]

read so too. it was in an recent interview with one of the music box people. i guess a turntable manipulation would have been WAY to complicated...

[whispers0268]

Man i remember getting off that lake street train running to the box...me and my boy..we'll scrap up $10 a piece hop the train there and back..lol..we were ron hardy hypes

[aggressiveFRUIT]

those were the days!!!!!!!!

[gator18111]

This man is a true genius!  he didn't just mix the music , he was the music!

[eureka94114]

bringing me ta tears!!!!!!

[MrDJNuclear]

The Power Plan's sound system was so powerful that you could feel the ground shaking well before you entered the club.  Both Ron and Frankie were legends. There was something special about the Muzik Box however... Unbelieveable!!! Incredible!!!

[lad4eva09]

Amen I was there too. I am an original House head and we used to go to all Ron Hardy parties. As well as Lil Louis, Frankie Knuckles, and Pharris Thomas. I am an Atlantan but, I still love and miss Chicago's House style that is not duplicated anywhere. New York's is so not like ours.

Smooches

[DoubleMM70]

amen

[miirie7]

I remember it was Frankie on Friday at the Powerplant and Ronny at the Muzik Box on Saturday. Ron could definitely out mix Frankie but, Frankie could hold his own. People would be standing in line dancing all the way to security. Every Sun morning you'd leave the muzic box w/your ears ringing; Ronny also had an ear for music/mixes, truly an original dj. Dj's today the mixes are good but sometime you miss the human error...mixes 2day are clean and perfect unlike back in the day///

[erickliddell]

I know exactly what you mean about mixes being too clean an perfect....can hear the new song coming in as much and the slight time lapse can create some nice sonic effects.

[erickliddell]

can't

[JD7101968]

the powerplant was the best club-period

[jamfam4083]

Man "Welcome to the Club" by Blue Magic one of my favorites Ron only plays about 1:30 of this song the rest of it is truly garbage.

[schildno5]

It even sounds cute when it's spun backwards. I LOVE the second song it takes me there.

[saliym1]

No one can forget the Music Box marathons. So many nights at the water cooler!!!

[lad4eva09]

Ok me and my friends swear to this day they spiked the water! We felt like even if there were chairs we wouldn't sit down!

[ranus69]

Ahhh.... the fruit bar any remember Ron's 72 hour party's at the Box damn I? I'm so glad I was able to be a part of this whole scene back than. It's just sad that kids today don't know how to party. The track at 6:06 Ron used to beat the hell outta this shit. It's sad House isn't what it use to be.

[1KillaSkrilla1]

@ranus69 72 hours parties? and exctasy just came out......yoooo why was i born in 85 dis sum bullshit lol

[koolzainski]

I was too young for Ron Hardy, but I remember Armando, Lil' Louis, Robert Owens, etc... very good Dj's too!!!!

[koolzainski]

amazing!!!!

[lordoid]

The modified Turntable Story isn't true according to different Articels. He used a Reel to Reel Deck instead. Less more complicated but the same innovative result.

[ranus69]

Your right a lot of Ron's backwards playing were on reel-to-reel

[NPC82]

I think that's probably the case, playing a record backwards with the headshell trick gives you way too much wow and flutter.

[MALINFAN]

Miss GUY needs to work this shit

[partsixx]

@ shadowpapito: Frankie vs. Ron-why compare?

Both were at their prime. Both brought much to the table. Be thankful you got a chance to hear both.

[livewire363e]

My favorite DJ of all time!!!! ALRITE NA RONNNNNYYY!!!! I am quite sure after JACKIN for hours and eating out the fruit bar it was some babies being made on thoes nights!!!! DAYUM I MISS THE PARTIES!!!! And i've never seen a 2 KNOB EQ again in my entire life OMG!!!!

[rozzr]

Awesome.

The first track that is played - Loose Joints - is it all over my face - which edit is it??

[yakin2]

i think it's the S-man edit

[murrayalexander]

woman vocal

[wobblebits]

From an epidemiological standpoint, if you were a man born before 1966 in the gay clubs of Chicago in the 70's, chances are you're not alive today. That's what's sad about the poor legacy constructed for Hardy--there's few living today that can genuinely do it . No good footage, minimal celebration of his style--you have to be very deep in the know to have any appreciation and that shouldn't be. Why do you think Stanton includes a "Reverse" button on their turntables now? ;)

[ranus69]

I'm still alive and from where I'm from Ron Hardy is always paid with huge homages. Those were great and fun times.

[justhuman43]

@wobblebits So true what a loss I hope there will be some who have the skills for a true revival and not compromise the sound I would be there every weekend filling my soul and shedding these mid life pounds

[bigbrobunny]

Blimey! I wish I could have been there to hear that! I would have FREEEKED!!

Thanx for posting this!!

[UmaLuca]

what's the last song? after welcome to the club?

[chab0041]

The name of the song is The More I Get (The More I Want) by Teddy Pendergrass

[chab0041]

UlmaLuca, the name of the last song after welcome to club is The More I Get(The More I Want) by Teddy Pendergrass

[shadowpapito]

I remeber the walls of The Music box use to Sweat!! Sorry Power Plant but it was THE BOX wit Ron playin 5 songs at once.

[DEFEND95]

took some friends to hear ron at the POWERHOUSE they got struck the first minute they walked in damn these was the days!!ALRIGHT RONNNNYYYYYY!!!!when he played records backwards (backmasking)people FLIPPED

[edgefield2]

felander, from whitney young 1986.Ron was ahead of his time good memories . All is truly well

[losador]

MAN I wish I was 15 years older!! I can only imagine the buzz of these places back in the day...Yowzers!

[sony7837]

OMG!! This has brought back memories. I remember trying to sneak into the Muzic Box when I was in 10th or 11th grade. When I would come home on break from college the first place I would go would be the Warehouse! I went to EVERY party they had at the Hyde Park Racquetball Club when I was in HS. I was/am a house junkie. I went to grammar and high school with Armando. Those were the days. RIP Ron Hardy!

[jnnx]

RIP Armando

[teejayandrade]

hi sorry, which armando ?

[vincelavalle]

Armando Gallup (RIP)

[kevo527]

What did they put in that fruit bowl...im still high!!!!!!!!

[Abdurazz]

Man...such memories...all I can say is....AWRIGHT RONAIIIIII!!! O-RIGHT, O-RIGHT, O-RIIIIIIIIIGGHHHHHHHHTT!!!! WOOOOOOO!!! Boy, that felt good....

[mavrikstndaln]

LOL, yes, yes..

[haikousei]

wow some of you were there in person and met them? cool! i want to learn the true history of house and techno music. please teach me the facts. if you are a veteran of house scene please teach me the truth. i want to know the good and the bad, everything. house is a feeling :)

[NoLinkage]

haikousei wow some of you were there in person and met them? cool! i want to learn the true history of house and techno music. please teach me the facts. if you are a veteran of house scene please teach me the truth. i want to know the good and the bad, everything. house is a feeling :)

NO.

[haikousei]

no need. i already have friends who were there in person.

[themack1970]

6:07 welcome to the club i believe blue magic

[lrmxr1]

Like I always say....If you were born before 1966 - You were not there at the Birth of House and 326 was the bomb but...Ronnie did his best work on 16th & Indiana.

[scorpiogirl39]

For all you old house heads who used to go to the 36hour parties and before that when the "Box" was called "The Underground!" We love u and miss u Ron!

[lrmxr1]

Well if You DIDN'T HEAR RONNIE at the ORIGINAL Music Box of 16th & Indiana...you missed out. 326 Lower Wacker Drive was called The Underground due to it's location and not because it was a UNDERGROUND Club. U.S. Studio / The Warehouse 206 S. Jefferson was called the Warehouse due to it's location (The Warehouse District of Chicago) The Music was called Rice & Bean by the people that went there & Frankie was Serving Em Hits!!!

[mavrikstndaln]

LOL, teach.

[shadowpapito]

It was about THE MUSIC BOX AKA THE BOX!! Frankie did not no were near have the skill of Ron. Frankie would Slam the records in he did not even tight mostly Slams, but he had a vast collection and great ear, but Ron was the mix king playing 4 and 5 songs at one time ON BEAT when did Frankie ever ever ever do that! We love Frankie but he could not come close to Rons' Mix and waaaay out there selections!

[sbarrauka]

THANX SHOTTY!

[plainlazy2097]

could anyone plz tell me the tracks featured on this video they're awesome!

[shotkider]

first one is loose joints, is it all over my face. second is welcome to the club by blue magic(hardy edit)

[john18610]

The best time of my life. Getting a gallon of Gill's beer from 47th street. Going down Lake Shore Drive. 10 below or 95 degrees. We had fun then. Lower Michigan Ave here we come..

[byronbenguche]

I was so luck to grow up in Chicago in the 80's listening to WBMX and the hot mix five Ron Hardy,Farley Jackmaster Funk,Ralphi Rosario,Frankie Knuckles,Steve Silk Hurley,and Juilian Jumpin Perez are my idols.

[cliklab]

Playin the record backwards is wicked and works beautifully with that track; but his sugue out of it at 6:05 is pure class; and follow thru track selection at 8:55 had me on my feet dancin in my living room alone at 3:45 in the A.M. Ron Hardy served it up raw and for real; unlike so many of today's "jet-set", pre-packaged, re-imaged, over produced, and over-paid djs; most of them seem to have forgotten why they even started playing records to begin with.

[thenewrapstyle]

madman -sick!

[discoharo]

Wow, this is old school, great dance music, love it

[csj3rd37]

Love Chicago and what Ron left us with..R.I.P.

[2godio]

Ron Hardy just made me join You Tube!

I remember the nights all night long if you were not there you missed it!

[koolzainski]

This is really good, God Bless Ron Hardy!

[daneby1]

he would push the record to the max get everything out of them dj today are boring wankers

[Tideh]

Depends who you watch, some DJs today still push the boundries with what they have.

[mrdeedz1]

This shit is hot!!!!!!

[jimmykyriacou]

what is the first track playing?

[shotkider]

Loose joints ,is it all over my face

[JMSwaine]

OH YEAH...........Im up dancing right now!

[thereal001]

Would you believe I saw Ron back in 1987 after I got out the army and I thought he sucked cause he played stevie wonder at about 45rpm's SHAME ON ME!!!! IT WASN'T UNTIL 10 YEARS LATER THAT I REALIZED WHAT A GENIUS HE WAS!!!! BUT MAN HE HAD EVERYONE IN DA BOX SCREAMING HIS NAME!!! R.I.P. HE IS THE TRUE GODFATHER OF HOUSE .... SORRY FRANKIE!!!!!

[stewbie59]

I didn't know that Ron passed away. I used to go to the "Box" back in the day and he was Great. However, it was Frankie that got all this started at the Warehouse, 206 S. Jefferson where we were screaming HIS NAME!!! Sorry....

[mscurvy]

No baby Ron started it in the 70's in the gay clubs and crossed it over mainstream, and I use to hang out at the box all the time to!!

[djdmanone]

Hey my man this is hot...what's the song that starts at 6:07?

[shotkider]

Blue Magic , Welcome to the club. poss unreleased edit.

[OohEehOohAhAh]

It was released last year (?) on a 12" on a label called Partehardy records, which is run by one of Ron's relatives I think. Slightly different edit though.

[peachesncreamme]

It's his nephew Bill Hardy, that's who runs Partehardy records...

[4442malik]

same record he is playing the record backward

[attaalib]

Is it all ova my face........."Helll Yeah!!", The whole crowd came alive when Ron played and it was like that every nite, I can honestly say, there was NEVER a time when the Box was "DEAD"

[4442malik]

you are not lying

[mscurvy]

That was the spot to be!!!