HOUSE MUSIC for HP+

I suddenly remembered that I had this one sitting around — it belongs to my “imaginary in-store BGM” series, except this time it’s not imaginary. It’s the real thing. The DJ mix “HOUSE MUSIC for HP+.”

As the name suggests, this was a DJ mix made specifically for the store of “Head Porter Plus,” the apparel line that operated in the basement of the Head Porter store in Harajuku. It’s a 2002 DJ mix by Hiroshi Fujiwara. This was the period when he was releasing the mix CD series “LOST HF MIX” on Steppers Records. He had stepped back from regular DJ duties but was still playing a few times a year at venues like Basement Bar and Wedge in Shimokitazawa, Yellow in Nishi-Azabu, and Air in Daikanyama — and the mood of those gigs comes through clearly in this mix. I wonder if it was recorded at home on his UREI 1620. Playing on vinyl, the mixing really is incredibly smooth.

Unofficial In-Store BGM Playlist

“WEEKEND”

"PLAYLIST" for Over 40 ! 40代以上のためのプレイリスト「WEEKEND」

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“NOWHERE 1993”

"PLAYLIST" for Over 40 ! 40代以上のためのプレイリスト「NOWHERE 1993」

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DJ Mix “HOUSE MUSIC for HP+”

M1	Rock With You (Frankie's Favorite Club Mix)	Michael Jackson
M2	I Ain't Gonna Stand For It (Hiroshi Fujiwara House Dub Mix )	Eric Clapton
M3	Ain't No Runnin' Away (Ricanstruction Vocal Mix)	Willy Washington
M4	Dancer	Gino Soccio
M5	???	???
M6	Open Your Eyes (Celestial Mix)	Marshall Jeferson & Truth
M7	Stars (Tom & Joyce Vocal Mix)	Jiva
M8	Moody (Joey Negro Club Mix)	Sessomatto
M9	Love So Special (Extended Original Club Mix)	Ceybil
M10	Big Fun (12" Mix)	Inner City
M11	Temperamental (Spen & Karizma Mix)	Everything But the Girl
M12	Saturday (Club Mix)	Joey Negro

A Quick Guide to the Tracks

M1：Rock With You (Frankie’s Favorite Club Mix) / Michael Jackson

An official remix of Michael’s classic by Frankie Knuckles. The building piano is absolutely sublime.

M2：I Ain’t Gonna Stand For It (Hiroshi Fujiwara House Dub Mix ) / Eric Clapton

HF’s own remix of Eric Clapton. This promo-only 12-inch has remained elusive on the used market to this day — a true rarity.

M3：Ain’t No Runnin’ Away (Ricanstruction Vocal Mix) / Willy Washington

A smash hit from 1999. Frankie Feliciano’s remix weaves together guitar and emotional female vocals into light, breezy Italo house.

M4：Dancer / Gino Soccio

A garage classic released in 1979 by Canadian disco producer Gino Soccio. A track that appeared in virtually every HF house mix around the turn of the 2000s.

M5：??? / ???

This one I can’t identify. If anyone knows what it is, please do get in touch.

M6：Open Your Eyes (Celestial Mix) / Marshall Jeferson & Truth

A classic from the early days of house, released on Big Beat in 1988. A deep, smoky tune made for dimly lit dance floors.

M7：Stars (Tom & Joyce Vocal Mix) / Jiva

This may have been a new release at the time the mix was recorded. Quality house built around a thick bassline with jazzy elements floating simply over the top.

M8：Moody (Joey Negro Club Mix) / Sessomatto

Joey Negro covers ESG’s classic new wave disco track under the Sessomatto alias. It preserves the feel of the original while making it far more DJ-friendly — a masterful rework.

M9：Love So Special (Extended Original Club Mix) / Ceybil

A house classic from 1991. This was the track Tony Humphries used to power-play on Kiss FM at the time.

M10：Big Fun (12″ Mix) / Inner City

Another house classic, this one from 1988. The effortless way he drops tracks like this speaks to a career built on experiencing house music firsthand on the floor as a DJ from those early days.

M11：Temperamental (Spen & Karizma Mix) / Everything But the Girl

Everything But the Girl house remixes were everywhere at the time — both official and bootleg. Ben Watt himself put out a lot of bootleg house remixes under the Lazy Dog alias.

M12：Saturday (Club Mix) / Joey Negro

A standout Joey Negro track featuring a powerful female vocal. It was also used as the name of one of HF’s events at Yellow in Nishi-Azabu.

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