Sessions is a series of DJ mix albums, each album normally by a different DJ who also compiles the tracks, released by the London-based electronic dance music label Ministry of Sound. Alongside The Annual, it is one of Ministry of Sound's better-known compilation album series.
History The Ministry of Sound record label began in 1993, and the first release on it was The Sessions Volume One, a 12-track mix compiled and mixed by Tony Humphries. It was critically acclaimed and more Sessions were released to critical acclaim and even charted higher in the UK Compilation Chart. Sessions 5, by Masters at Work, was the first double album in the series and every volume since has either been a double or triple album. In 1995, 1997, 1999 (and two later editions in 2003, and one in 2011) is the Late Night Sessions series. The first edition from 1995 was mixed by DJ Harvey. In about 2000, the Sessions series was a joint release between Ministry of Sound and Defected Records. This lasted for volumes 10-15. Volume 12 was the last of the original series of Sessions. It had become more of an Defected release than a Ministry of Sound release evidenced by the fact the Ministry of Sound's logo wasn't even present on the twelfth Sessions cover. Volumes 13, 14 and 15 actually didn't feature a number in the title.
After focusing on the spin-off series Chillout Sessions, which ran initially for 8 volumes between 2001 and 2003 (plus a 9th volume in 2006), Ministry of Sound "rebooted" the Sessions series with a brand new album released in 2005. This was the entirely live recording from Tim Sheridan and Smokin' Jo. This rebooted Sessions lasted for fifteen volumes until 2007. The last five albums of the 15 in this reboot had the issue number as a suffix to the title. 2007 also saw the release of Sessions Summer 2007. Another Summer edition was released in 2009. Various other Sessions were released such as Funky House Sessions.
Spin-offs The Chillout Sessions series is perhaps the best-known "spin-off" to the series, beginning in early 2001 when Ministry of Sound started get digital mixers to mix their albums as opposed to big-name DJs like Tall Paul, Pete Tong or Paul Oakenfold.
Series overview Note: These refer to the albums released in the UK under the Ministry of Sound label, and not any of the alternate releases from other countries or labels (unless it's Defected Records)
All releases that are a jointed release between MOS and Defected are mentioned in the notes sections.
Main series (UK) YearTitleDJ/compilerUK Comp. Chart positionThe Complete Book of the British Charts p. 1283. Book released in 2003 and therefore only contains chart positions from that year and beforeOnly certain listings have used this as a sourceNotes1993The Sessions Volume OneTony Humphries16The first ever DJ mix album. Also the first album released on Ministry of Sound's label.1994The Sessions Volume TwoPaul Oakenfold6First Released Paul Oakenfold DJ mix.The Sessions Volume 3Clivilles & Cole8Also released across Europe1995Sessions 4C.J. Mackintosh9Last single-disc album in the series.Late Night SessionsDJ Harvey –Not the same album as the Late Night Sessions released in 2003 or 2011The Sessions Volume 5Masters at Work15First double album in the series1996Sessions SixFrankie Knuckles8Disc 1 is Song Disc, Disc 2 is Track Disc.1997Sessions SevenDavid Morales4Allmusic rating: Late Night Sessions IIX-Press 2 –Sessions EightTodd Terry11Allmusic rating: 1998Sessions NineErick Morillo171999Late Night Sessions IIIFarley & Heller492000Sessions Ten: Subliminal SessionsErick Morillo, Harry "Choo Choo" Romero, José Nunez18First album in the series mixed by multiple DJs.2001Sessions Eleven: The R-Senal SessionsRoger Sanchez –First release on the Defected label.The Chillout Sessions?1First of the Chillout SessionsSessions Twelve: The Magic SessionsLittle Louie Vega, Tony Humphries and Tedd Patterson36Only some copies featured the Ministry of Sound logo. Released with Defected Records.The Chillout Session 2?2Ibiza Chillout Session?12Kings of Tomorrow SessionsSandy Rivera43Released with Defected Records.2002Defected SessionsFull Intention and Smokin' Jo –Released with Defected Records.The Chillout Session Ibiza 2002Alex Macnutt4Allmusic rating: Soulfuric SessionsJazz 'N' groove –Final release with Defected Records.The Chillout Session 2003 - Winter CollectionDave 'Deadly Turner'202003Late Night Sessions?9Not the same album as the Late Night Sessions released in 2003 or 2011. Allmusic rating: The Chillout Session Summer Collection 2003Alex Macnutt (compiler) Steve Canuento, Dipesh Parmer (mix producers)10The Chillout Session Ibiza Sunsets?11Disc one is As the Sun Sets, Disc two is After Sunset. Allmusic rating: Late Night Sessions Autumn Collection?28The Very Best of Chillout Session?48"Best of" for the Chillout Sessions.2004Saturday SessionsJohn Carter & Mark Hughes?Artwork is similar to the Australian Sessions series.2005Funky House SessionsDipesh Parmar5Sessions $Smokin Jo and Tim Sheridan –First release in the June 2005 – present revivalSessions $Derrick Carter –2006The Chillout SessionUnknown15Not the same album as that of the 2001 release. Liner notes list producer, mixer and compiler ("This album was brought to you by ...") Individual roles not specified.Sessions $Steve Angello –Funky House Sessions 06?2Sessions $DJ Sneak –Sessions $Josh Wink –Sessions $Mark Farina –Sessions $Seamus Haji –Sessions $Axwell –Disc one is The Club, disc two is The Villa.Sessions $Cajmere vs Green Velvet –Sessions $Andy Cato –Final "$" album2007Sessions 11Fedde le Grand –The numbering system returned on this album at volume #11 The volumes 1-10 in this system were the Sessions $ albums.Electro House SessionsUnknown3Subtitled The Sound of Electro House.Sessions 12Mark Knight –Funky House Sessions 07?2Sessions 13D. Ramirez –Sessions 14Sebastian Ingrosso –Contains a hidden track.Sessions Summer 2007Seamus Haji, Dave Spoon, Chris Coco?Sessions 15N.Y.N.C. Project –Sessions 16Harry "Choo Choo" Romero –The final album of the 16-part Sessions series of 2005–2007.2008Sessions 8.1Meat Katie2009Summer Sessions?4Disc 1 is Summer Dance, Disc 2 is Summer Funk, Disc 3 is Summer Chill.The Chilled House Session?132011Chilled House Session 2?40Late Night Sessions??Not the same album as the 1995 or 2003 albums.2012Chilled House Session 3??Saturday SessionsTBCTBCReleased 14 May 2012.
Australian albums YearTitleDJ/compilerARIA Position(Dance album chart)2001The Chillout Session (Same as UK release) -The Chillout Session 212002The Chillout Sessions 312003Chillout Sessions 41Late Night SessionsMark Dynamix7House SessionsGrant Smillie & Tim McGee82004The Chillout Session: Summer Collection 20041Chillout Sessions 51Sessions OneJohn Course & Mark Dynamix1Chillout Sessions 612005Chillout Sessions 71Sessions TwoJohn Course & Mark Dynamix1Kid Kenobi SessionsKid Kenobi6Chillout Sessions 812006Sessions ThreeJohn Course & Goodwill1Chillout Sessions 932007Sessions FourJohn Course & Dirty South1Kid Kenobi Sessions 2007Kid Kenobi4Electro House SessionsTommy Trash & The Stafford Brothers1Chillout Sessions 1022008Electro House Sessions 2Tommy Trash & The Stafford Brothers1Sessions FiveThe Potbelleez & Goodwill1Chillout Sessions XI12009Ministry of Sound Sessions SixGoodwill, Tommy Trash & Dirty South1Chillout Sessions XII32010Electro House Sessions 3Klaas & The Only3Sessions SevenStafford Brothers, Tommy Trash & Steve Aoki1Chillout Sessions XIII22011Electro House Sessions 4Timmy Trumpet & Rob Pix2Sessions EightSam La More & Tommy Trash1Chillout Sessions XIV42012SessioNZ (New Zealand exclusive released by Ministry of Sound Australia)General Lee & Daniel Farley -Electro House Sessions Vol. 5The Only & Rob Pix3Sessions NineTimmy Trumpet & Tom Piper1Chillout Sessions XV -2013Sessions 10Timmy Trumpet & Scndl -
See also Ministry of Sound Chillout Sessions The Annual DJ mix Defected Records
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