Larry Levan is universally regarded as one of the greatest DJs who ever lived, he was the star act of the legendary Paradise Garage, a venue which was built specifically with Larry in mind, and through his unique and experimental DJ style he would effortlessly deliver maximum emotional impact in his sets.
Taking his unique style over to music production in order to create sounds he wanted to hear in the club, he made stars of singers like Gwen Guthrie and Taana Gardner and created tracks that became hugely influential in the development of dance music. Here we take a look at 13 tracks that define Larry Levan, whether they be his own remixes or tracks that he loved to play...
Gwen Guthrie - Seventh Heaven (Levan Levan Mix) [4th & Broadway]
Logg - I Know You Will (Larry Levan 12'' Remix) [Salsoul Records]
Gwen Guthrie - It Should Have Been You (Larry Levan mix) [Island Records]
“Larry Levan was one of the best DJs I ever heard and one of the most creative and one of the most fearless” - Arthur Baker
NYC Peech Boys - Don't Make Me Wait [West End Records]
Class Action - Weekend (Larry Levan Mix) [Sleeping Bag Records]
Loose Joints - Is It All Over My Face? (Masters At Work Remix) [West End Records]
“He was incredible because a lot of the music he played I knew, I’d say about 70/80% I knew, I was aware of but I hadn’t heard the versions he was playing, I hadn’t heard it mixed the way he was mixing it and I hadn’t heard it played the way he was playing it… And it was absolutely inspiring to me” - Norman Jay MBE
MFSB - Love Is the Message [Philadelphia International Records]
David Joseph - You Can't Hide (Your Love From Me) (Original 12" Mix) [Island Records]
Change - A Lovers Holiday (12" Version) [Warner Bros]
“Larry Levan is the man, he was really the maestro of maestros… A lot of the music that he chose and played ended up being the soundtrack to a lot of our lives… All the DJs followed what Larry did, we went out there, heard what he was playing and then bought those records… I learned so much about music just listening to the great Larry Levan” - Louie Vega
Janice McClain - Smack Dab In the Middle (12" Version) [Warner Bros]
Taana Gardner - Heartbeat (Club Version) [West End Records]
“He did the best he could do without getting jammed up, other people taking his product from him or snatching his opportunity to work and become well known but the garage was a fixated place for him, he became a national star there and everybody came to hear him play” - Jocelyn Brown
Inner Life featuring Jocelyn Brown - Ain't No Mountain High Enough (Larry Levan's Garage Mix) [Salsoul Records]
Check out the 'Larry Levan special' Glitterbox Radio Show
