Track Listing

1. You're Not Alone - Olive
2. Flash - BBE
3. Plastic Dreams - Jaydee (1)
4. Remember - BT
5. Prophet - Bolland, C.J.
6. Schoenberg - Marmion
7. X Ray - Space Frog
8. Nightmare - Brainbug
9. Home - Chakra (1)
10. Reflect - Three 'n One
11. Cafe Del Mar - Energy 52
12. Mysteryland - Y-Traxx
13. Prophase - Transa
14. Rendezvous - Tilt (2)
15. Y - DJ Scot Project
16. Breathe - Prodigy (1)
17. Block Rocking Beats - Prodigy (1)
18. Cowgirl - Underworld (1)
19. Free - Ultra Nate
20. Belo Horizontal - Heartists
21. Get Up Go Insane - Stretch n' Vern
22. Offfshore - Chicane (2)
23. Your Face - Slacker
24. Ajare - Way Out West (1)
25. Nine Ways - JDS
26. Don't Be Afraid - Moonman
27. Gunman - 187 Lockdown
28. Planet Funk 2 - Neri, Alex
29. Sunchyme - Dario G
30. Every Time - Lustral

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #64679 in Music
• Released on: 1997-11-01
• Number of discs: 2
• Dimensions: .25 pounds

Customer Reviews

Your companion for the winter, and the tag line says it all...
..."Thirty of the biggest club tracks on this planet"

'97 was a quite an interesting year in club land. Their was a transition in that trance music starting to develop, and the general feel of the years music felt quite darkx and acid like. I had the opportunity of listening to both of the years round of the best club tunes - MoS' The Annual III, and this, Cream Anthems 97. While both have unique styles, I can honestly say this was the first year MoS had failed to win the round up - this is quite simply, an excellent album.
Though its hard to tell, the album cover is actually of a cream style space station, and this suits the albums theme, it does indeed sound quite out of this world, and has a wintery/night feel. This is where Cream Anthems 97 wins - its not an annual of the latest tunes, its a mix of some of older classic tunes that complete the 'space' theme, where dark, mystical, and powerful rhythms come together to create not just a chilling companion for the winter nights, but a great dance mix. Whereas The Annual III comprised of mainly house music with break beats (the only annual to have half a cd of breakbeat!) this comprises of house and trance, which to me is a better outcome. It doesn't sound as commercial, and has a fantastic feel to it for those dark nights, I remember walking home from college, or at a rainy bus stop. Plastic Dreams and Ajare (1995)and two previous hits, and Ajare really fits the album well - speeded up and sounding amazing. Beautiful songs like Remember by BT (who else?) pretty much sum up the album with its mystical and space like sounds, along with Rendezvous (Known as Invisible by Tilt in 99). Songs like Reflect continue the theme of synths, and mixes very abrubtly, but cleverly into the one and only Cafe del Mar, which actually sounds fantastic on this album. The ending to this first first CD comprises of full on trance that completes the chilling atmosphere.
But their is a fair share of great summer tunes, from the incredible Everytime (not the Gatecrasher Wet version, this was the original version) with its lovely rhythm, to the fun Belo Horizonti, Offshore, Sunchyme, and of course Mystery Land. But again, when looking at that space station picture, I can't help but see why they chose these, as even these summer tunes match the awe and wonder of the this theme.
The mixing is slick, though I'll admit not as inventive as Boy Georges or Pete Tongs efforts, but still a fine example of what we miss in todays market. Their is no track worthy of skipping, with exception to Get Up, Go Insane which 'unfortunately' was a bad remix - a combination between 'Jump Around' and repitive vocals can get on your nerves, and not half as good as the original which was completly different (MoS had the right one!) With this slight niggle in mind, their is only one thing I don't like about the album. And its the poor presentation of the tracklisting, which is impossible to work out which is next! The songs are randomly ordered on the back, so you need to look in the booklet, where it doesnt tell you which cd is which, and their the wrong way round! I've got alot of club albums, most of which have contemporary labels, but this is just... frustrating! Just remember to look on the cd label, under the 'cargo' title. And a final quiggle (is that a word?) you may want to get ready to cringe when you hear the mixing between 'Get Up Gp Insane' and 'Sunchyme'. Unfortunately, though it was a nice idea, it wasn't pulled off well at all, and you can hear the pitch suddenly go down on vinyl which sounds awful, but at least the beats matched in the end!
That doesnt put me off it though. Deep down this a fantastic winter album with character. Their are sections in the mixing that you can imagine being outer space (final 2 tracks, cd 1) as it moves into a simple orchestral/synth solo. This is album to keep you happy at that rainy bus stop, and you'll never get tired of it. If your looking for the acid/housey party sounds of 97, get The Annual III for Disc 1 alone (amazing! but the 2nd disc was boring). If your looking for an album that captures the wintery/summer sounds of 97 with a few other fillers that complete it, this is the only album. My winter wouldn't complete without it!

Ahh, the old days
Probably one of the best compilations of its era, and still holds it own even today. Mixed by cream legends Nick Warren and of course Paul Oakenfold this is fluid mix of trance that is sure to take you on an euphoric journey. Both CD's are distinct from one another resembling each DJs style of Music. A must have for anyone who's been to this infamous club during this age, as this will certainly bring back all those distant memories, with tunes such as The Prophet and BT.

What can I say?
I originally bought this album when it was released. A friend of mine worked in a record shop, and convinced me to buy this album instead of Ministry 3, as I had intended. Thank you! Quite often when I buy dance compilations, I skip to the ones I know, but not with this album. There is barely a turkey among any of the tracks here, and I hardly ever find myself reaching for the skip button. My CD then got nicked at a Party, and I searched high and low for a replacement, eventually finding one on the net.

In all, a fantastic CD, well worth owning, and still remains one of my favourite Cds, and my fave Dance CD. This CD seems to work in the car, at home, at a party, the songs are so good, so varied, and the mixing is top notch.

BUY IT!