Karl GuestThe global dance music community has suffered a massive blow today as news broke of the legendary Keith Flint’s passing this morning. Keith and The Prodigy have had a massive impact on the electronic music landscape since they first burst on to the scene back in 1991 with the iconic ‘What Evil Lurks’ on XL Recordings.
With over 30 million records sold, two Brit awards and even an MTV Video Music award, The Prodigy are one of the most decorated dance acts of all time. They are known for compiling many different genres together including, rave, hardcore techno, electro-industrial, jungle, breakbeat and big beat. Tracks like ‘Charly’ and ‘Firestarter’ shaped the rave scene in the 1990s and still sound as crisp as ever today. We take a look below at 10 tracks that defined The Prodigy and a whole generation of young ravers.
1. The Prodigy – Poison
This was the bands ninth release and came from the album, ‘Music for the Jilted Generation’. The track featured sampled drums from ‘Skull Snaps – It’s A New Day’.
2. The Prodigy – Breathe
Released in November 1996 as the second single from the album The Fat of the Land. The song became the group’s second consecutive number-one in the UK and several other countries singles charts.
3. The Prodigy – Smack My Bitch Up
A highly controversial track at the time due to its music video and lyrical content. It features a first-person point of view of someone going clubbing and consuming large amounts of drugs and alcohol.
4. The Prodigy – No Good
Have you ever wanted to know where this iconic vocal came from? Look no further. Kelly Charles – You’re No Good For Me was released in 1987 and repeatedly sampled by the guys on this track.
5. The Prodigy – Voodoo People
Liam Howlett was without doubt, one of the best in the business when it came to finding and manipulating samples in his productions. The main riff in this hit is from ‘Nirvana – Very Ape’. To be honest, it suits the track perfectly.
6. The Prodigy – Your Love
‘Your Love’ captures the zeitgeist of the 90’s rave scene perfectly through it’s use of energetic breakbeats, a euphoric piano riff and an infectious vocal sampled from Gary Taylor’s ‘Compassion’.
7. The Prodigy – Firestarter
The groups first number one single and by far their most recognisable track. The lyrics along with its spooky music video was subject to major controversy in the UK when it was released.
8. The Prodigy – Everybody In The Place
This one was just shy of a UK number one, peaking at number two. It was the bands second ever release. The artwork is a photograph of the now dismantled Corkscrew roller coaster at Alton Towers.
9. The Prodigy – Charly
Liam Howlett wrote and produced this track, one of the most iconic dance tracks of the 90’s. It samples a 1970s BBC Public Information Film, ‘Charley Says’.
10. The Prodigy – Out Of Space
One of the greatest tracks ever released from the band. It samples classic reggae track “Chase the Devil” by Max Romeo as well as “Critical Beatdown” by the Ultramagnetic MCs.
“I’ll take your brain to another dimension, pay close attention.”
Words: Jordan Kinlan & Karl Guest