Move It!

Last updated
Move It!
Albumcover moveit.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 10, 1994
Length56:02
Label
Producer Erick Morillo
Reel 2 Real chronology
Move It!
(1994)
Reel 2 Remixed!
(1995)

Move It! is the debut album by American electronic dance music project Reel 2 Real, featuring vocalist the Mad Stuntman. The musical project had seven top 10 hits on the US Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in the 1990s including "I Like to Move It", which was a big hit in many other countries around the world. Other singles released from the album were "Go on Move", "Can You Feel It?", "Raise Your Hands" and "Conway".

Contents

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Smash Hits 2/5 [2]

AllMusic said, "Heard in clubs all over the world and still one of the most frequently licensed compilation tracks, Reel 2 Real's 'I Like to Move It', still sounds as hot today as it did when it first came out in 1993. The pulsing synths and sirens of the song made for an instant wall shaker. The mastermind of super DJ and remixer Erick Morillo, Move It combines the textures of Latin house music with a reggae vibe. Morillo is one of the world's bussiest and most sought-after DJs and remixers. Some of Move It's other standout tracks are 'Raise Your Hands', 'Can You Feel It?', and 'Conway'." [1] Caroline Sullivan from The Guardian wrote, "The first single by this handbag-techno crew, 'I Like to Move It', lingered in the chart for 20 weeks. This album doesn't quite match its growly catchiness, but it's a respectable enough debut. The mood is upful, and singer The Mad Stuntman is equally proficient on ragga tracks like 'The Stuntman's Theme' and Eurodisco affairs such as 'Conway'. But partner Erick Morillo makes only the expected noises on his keyboards, and when will we see an end to cliches like 'Respect in every aspect?'" [3]

Pan-European magazine Music & Media commented, "Scientists couldn't invent it, but these New Yorkers headed by the Mad Stuntman could: the pocket-size jukebox. It contains the hits 'I Like to Move It', 'Go on Move' and 'Can You Feel It' plus the future chart-busters, all made according the same "Euro-goes-ragga" concept, with 'The Stuntman's Anthem' being the purest reggae effort of the lot. As such it's vaguely reminiscent of Double Trouble & The Rebel MC's 1989 hit 'Street Tough'." [4] Lucie Cave from Smash Hits gave the album two out of five, writing, "Reel 2 Real have conjured up an album jam-packed with booming bass lines. And the Mad Stuntman proves that shouting loudly is not his only talent. 'One Life to Live' captures hints of a mellow Jamaican mood, but generally most of the tracks rely on all too familiar dance beats." [2]

Track listing

All tracks written by Erick Morillo and Mark Quashie, except where noted.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."I Like to Move It" (UK Radio Edit) 3:51
2."Can You Feel It?" 4:25
3."Raise Your Hands"
  • Morillo
  • Quashie
  • Keith Litman
4:56
4."One Life to Live"
  • Morillo
  • Quashie
  • Peter Tulloch
4:19
5."The Stuntman's Anthem"
  • Morillo
  • Quashie
  • Tulloch
3:47
6."Erick "More"'s Anthem (Can You Feel It?)" 6:43
7."Conway"
  • Morillo
  • Quashie
  • Litman
4:40
8."Wine Your Body" 4:41
9."R.E.X."
  • Morillo
  • Quashie
  • Tulloch
4:27
10."Toety" 4:05
11."Go on Move" 4:11
12."I Like to Move It" (DJ Dero NRG Remix) 5:51

Personnel

Adapted from the album's liner notes. [5]

Musicians

Production

Charts

Chart performance for Move It!
Chart (1994)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [6] 135
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [7] 37
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [8] 71
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [9] 63
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [10] 42
Scottish Albums (OCC) [11] 28
UK Albums (OCC) [12] 8

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maxx (group)</span> German Eurodance project

Maxx is a German Eurodance project that was internationally successful in the mid-90s with the hit singles "Get-A-Way", "No More " and "You Can Get It". The name 'Maxx' is a special acronym for Maximum Xstasy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Positiva Records</span> British record label

Positiva Records is a subsidiary of Universal Music Group and concentrates on releasing dance music in the UK. The record label was set up in 1993, by Nick Halkes, who previously ran XL Recordings. Its headquarters are at the Universal UK offices, where it is the only large dance music label under the EMI banner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erick Morillo</span> American DJ (1971–2020)

Erick Morillo was a Colombian-American disc jockey, music producer, and record label owner. Having produced under a number of pseudonyms, including Ministers de la Funk, the Dronez, RAW, Smooth Touch, RBM, Deep Soul, Club Ultimate, and Li'l Mo Ying Yang, Morillo was best known for his international work in house music, in particular for the label Strictly Rhythm, and the 1993 hit "I Like to Move It", which he produced under the pseudonym Reel 2 Real, and which was featured in commercials, movies, and ringtones. His label Subliminal Records produced the number-one Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play hit "Fun" by Da Mob, and won the Muzik magazine "Remixer of the Year" award in 1999. Subliminal also brought attention to artists like Eddie Thoneick, Carl Kennedy, and DJ DLG. He was a three-time winner of DJ Awards "Best House DJ" in 1998, 2001, and 2003 and a three-time winner of "Best International DJ" in 2002, 2006, and 2009 receiving a total of 15 nominations in all from 1998 to 2010. He died from a drug overdose at his home in Miami Beach, three days before he was due to appear in court to face rape charges.

Deborah Cooper is an American professional dancer, musician, singer, backup singer, award-winning composer and entertainer, with several number one and top charting dance music and house music hits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Like to Move It</span> 1993 single by Reel 2 Real

"I Like to Move It" is a song by American solo project Reel 2 Real, featuring ragga vocals by Trinidad and Tobago rapper The Mad Stuntman. Released by Strictly Rhythm in October 1993 as the second single from the project's debut album, Move It! (1994), it appeared on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1994, peaking at number 89, and reached number five on the UK Singles Chart the same year. It was a number-one hit in Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and Zimbabwe. On the Billboard Dance Club Play chart, it peaked at number eight.

<i>Muddy Waters</i> (album) 1996 studio album by Redman

Muddy Waters is the third studio album by American rapper Redman. It was released on December 10, 1996, through Def Jam Recordings. Recording sessions took place at Mirror Image and Rockin' Reel Recording Studios in New York City. Production was handled by Erick Sermon, who also served as executive producer, Rockwilder, Jerry Duplessis, Pras, Ty Fyffe, and Redman himself. It features guest appearances from Erick Sermon, Jamal, Keith Murray, K-Solo, Method Man, Napalm and Rockwilder. The album debuted at number 12 on the Billboard 200 and topped the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in the United States. It was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on February 12, 1997 for exceeding shipments of 500,000 copies. The album spawned three charted singles: "It's Like That", "Whateva Man" and "Pick It Up" and a promotional single "Smoke Buddah".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Mad Stuntman</span> Trinidad and Tobago musician

Mark Quashie, better known as The Mad Stuntman, is a Trinidadian-born American electronic dance artist and vocalist. Quashie's moniker was inspired by the 1980s action/adventure television program The Fall Guy which starred actor Lee Majors as a Hollywood stuntman, moonlighting as a bounty hunter. Making his home in Brooklyn, New York, The Mad Stuntman was introduced to producer/DJ Erick Morillo by Panamanian reggae artist El General, who is dubbed the "Father of Reggaeton". Morillo was looking for an act to be featured on his upcoming single "Go On Move" and to ultimately join him on tour as a group. "Go On Move" was originally intended to be an underground dub track, primarily instrumentals with minimal vocal showcasing on the hook, however the distinct energetic rough reggae style vocals of The Mad Stuntman propelled the 1992 single into mainstream success, and prompted its modification for commercial release.

<i>Born to Reign</i> 2002 studio album by Will Smith

Born to Reign is the third studio album released by American actor and rapper Will Smith. The album was released on Columbia Records in the United States on June 25, 2002 and was considered a drop from his previous level of success, having only reached Gold status by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), whereas Big Willie Style and Willennium both reached multi-platinum status. This album includes "Black Suits Comin'", which was also the lead single from the original motion picture soundtrack of Men in Black II. The album also spawned the European hit single "1000 Kisses", which features vocals from Smith's wife Jada Pinkett Smith.

<i>Insomnia</i> (Erick Sermon album) 1996 compilation album by Erick Sermon

Insomnia is a hip-hop compilation album presented by American rapper and record producer Erick Sermon. It was released on April 23, 1996 via Interscope Records. Recording sessions took place at Mirror Image, at the Music Palace, and at Rockin' Reel Recording Studios in New York, and at Chuck Simone Studio. Production was handled primarily by Sermon, who also served as executive producer, Redman, and co-producers Rockwilder and Ty Fyffe. Beside Sermon, it features contributions from fellow artists affiliated with or discovered by him, such as Calif, Domo, Duo, Jamal, Keith Murray, L.O.D., Passion, Redman, The Wixtons, Xross-Breed, and Thomas "Tommy Gunn" Blincoe, who was murdered shortly before the album's release, and to whom this album is dedicated. The album peaked at number 53 on the Billboard 200 and number 10 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the United States. It spawned three singles: "Funkorama", which peacked at No. 81 on the Billboard Hot 100, "It's That Hit" and "I Feel It".

<i>All Eyez on Me</i> 1996 studio album by 2Pac

All Eyez on Me is the fourth studio album by American rapper 2Pac and the last to be released during his lifetime. Released on February 13, 1996, by Death Row and Interscope Records, the album features guest appearances from Dr. Dre, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Redman, Method Man, Nate Dogg, Kurupt, Daz Dillinger, E-40, K-Ci & JoJo, and the Outlawz, among others.

<i>Reel 2 Remixed</i> 1995 remix album by Reel 2 Real

Reel 2 Remixed, the second album released by the house/reggae-influenced musical project Reel 2 Real, is a remix of their first album, Move It!.

<i>Are You Ready for Some More?</i> 1996 studio album by Reel 2 Real

Are You Ready for Some More? is the third and final album released by the house and reggae-influenced musical project Reel 2 Real. By the end of 1996, the producer, Erick Morillo, had abandoned the alias Reel 2 Real and began establishing himself as an underground DJ.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saturday (Basshunter song)</span> 2010 single by Basshunter

"Saturday" is a song by Swedish musician Basshunter. It was released in the United Kingdom on 18 July 2010 as the lead single from his forthcoming fifth studio album. The song samples Reel 2 Real's "I Like to Move It". "Saturday" peaked at number twenty-one on the UK Singles Chart and number five on the UK Dance Chart. In Ireland, it peaked at number thirty-seven.

Reel 2 Real was an American hip house musical project that had seven top 10 hits on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in the 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elephant (Alexandra Burke song)</span> 2012 single by Alexandra Burke

"Elephant" is a song by British singer Alexandra Burke from her second studio album Heartbreak on Hold (2012). It features Colombian-American DJ Erick Morillo, who co-wrote the song with Burke, Britt Burton, Josh Wilkinson, Harry Romero, and Jose Nuñez. The song was produced by Morillo, Romero and Nuñez under their stage name Sympho Nympho, and Mike Spencer. It was released in the United Kingdom on 11 March 2012 as the album's lead single. The song was released as Burke's debut single in the United States on 13 March 2012.

<i>Peace Is the Mission</i> 2015 studio album by Major Lazer

Peace Is the Mission is the third studio album by American electronic dance music project Major Lazer. It was released on June 1, 2015. The album was preceded by the international hit single "Lean On" featuring DJ Snake and MØ. The single reached number one in Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, Denmark, Finland and the Netherlands and peaked within the top ten in an additional fourteen countries including the United Kingdom, the United States, and Germany.

This is the discography of American DJ and producer Erick Morillo.

<i>The Thrill of It All</i> (Sam Smith album) 2017 studio album by Sam Smith

The Thrill of It All is the second studio album by English singer and songwriter Sam Smith. It was released on 3 November 2017 through Capitol Records.

<i>7</i> (David Guetta album) 2018 studio album by David Guetta

7 is the seventh studio album by French DJ and record producer David Guetta, released on 14 September 2018 by What a Music, Parlophone and Big Beat Records. Released as a double album, the collection features commercial pop collaborations on the first disc, whilst disc two features underground house music akin to Guetta's starting roots as a DJ. The latter is credited to Jack Back, which Guetta revealed to be his alias and as a means to release more dance music alongside his pop collaborations. This side of the album is known as the Jack Back Project and was also released independently as a mixtape titled the Jack Back Mixtape, preceded by the release of the song "Overtone". 7 is David Guetta's first album since 2014's album Listen .

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Go on Move</span> 1993 single by Reel 2 Real

"Go on Move" is a song by American solo project Reel 2 Real, featuring ragga vocals by Trinidad and Tobago rapper the Mad Stuntman. Originally released in 1993 by Strictly Rhythm as a single from the project's debut album, Move It! (1994), it was re-released in 1994 after the success of "I Like to Move It". "Go on Move" became a top-10 hit in Canada (6), Finland (4), Ireland (6), the Netherlands (10) and the UK. In the latter, the song reached number seven on the UK Singles Chart. But on the UK Dance Singles Chart, it was an even bigger hit, peaking at number two. In the US, it peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, while it peaked at number one on the Canadian RPM Dance/Urban chart. Its accompanying music video was directed by Craig McCall, who had previously directed the video for "I Like to Move It". "Go on Move" was A-listed on Germany's VIVA in August 1994.

References

  1. 1 2 "Reel 2 Real – Move It!". AllMusic . Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  2. 1 2 Cave, Lucie (12 October 1994). "New Albums". Smash Hits . p. 65. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  3. Sullivan, Caroline (14 October 1994). "Music: Your essential guide to the new CDs - Pop". The Guardian .
  4. "New Releases: Albums" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 11, no. 47. 19 November 1994. p. 15. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  5. Move It! (liner notes). Reel 2 Real featuring The Mad Stuntman. Positiva. 1994.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. "Reel 2 Reel ARIA Chart history complete". ARIA. Retrieved 26 July 2024 via Imgur.com. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.
  7. "Austriancharts.at – Reel 2 Real feat. The Mad Stuntman – Move It" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  8. "Dutchcharts.nl – Reel 2 Real feat. The Mad Stuntman – Move It" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  9. "Offiziellecharts.de – Reel 2 Real feat. The Mad Stuntman – Move It" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  10. "Swisscharts.com – Reel 2 Real feat. The Mad Stuntman – Move It". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  11. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  12. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 10, 2022.