Essential Selection
Encyclopedia
The Essential Selection was a radio show on Friday evenings on BBC Radio 1
, hosted by Pete Tong
. It started in early 1991 and showcased the latest electronic dance music
, with an emphasis on house
. The show initially aired from 7.30pm to 10.00pm but was subject to scheduling adjustments over the subsequent fifteen years, varying in duration from 2 hours to 3.5 hours, broadcast within the timeframe from 6.00pm to 10.00pm. Since changing from a three hour show to two hour show on September 29, 2006, the show has been entitled simply, "Pete Tong", and is currently broadcast from 9.00pm to 11.00pm.
In addition, a one hour Sunday edition of the programme was broadcast at 7.00pm from April 1992 to April 1993, also hosted by Tong, and called "The Essential Selection - Part 2".
Versions of the show are exported outside of the UK. In Vancouver, Canada, the show, under its original name, had been aired Saturday evenings from 8:00pm–10:00pm on The Beat 94.5FM, but has been taken off air since the Summer of 2008
releases at the time. This is a significant accolade within the dance music community, and a number of Essential New Tunes have gone on to become classics in terms of club play
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
, hosted by Pete Tong
Pete Tong
Peter "Pete" Tong is an English DJ who works for BBC Radio 1. He is known worldwide by fans of electronic music for hosting programmes such as Essential Mix and Essential Selection on the radio service, which can be heard through Internet radio streams, for his record label FFRR Records, and for...
. It started in early 1991 and showcased the latest electronic dance music
Electronic dance music
Electronic dance music is electronic music produced primarily for the purposes of use within a nightclub setting, or in an environment that is centered upon dance-based entertainment...
, with an emphasis on house
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
. The show initially aired from 7.30pm to 10.00pm but was subject to scheduling adjustments over the subsequent fifteen years, varying in duration from 2 hours to 3.5 hours, broadcast within the timeframe from 6.00pm to 10.00pm. Since changing from a three hour show to two hour show on September 29, 2006, the show has been entitled simply, "Pete Tong", and is currently broadcast from 9.00pm to 11.00pm.
In addition, a one hour Sunday edition of the programme was broadcast at 7.00pm from April 1992 to April 1993, also hosted by Tong, and called "The Essential Selection - Part 2".
Versions of the show are exported outside of the UK. In Vancouver, Canada, the show, under its original name, had been aired Saturday evenings from 8:00pm–10:00pm on The Beat 94.5FM, but has been taken off air since the Summer of 2008
Format
A regular feature of the show is Tong's designation of one track as the Essential New Tune of the week. Often, the track in question may be only available in white labelWhite label
White label records are vinyl records with adhesive plain white labels affixed. Test pressings, usually with Test Pressing written on the label, with catalogue number, artist and recording time or date, are produced in small quantities to evaluate the quality of the disc production...
releases at the time. This is a significant accolade within the dance music community, and a number of Essential New Tunes have gone on to become classics in terms of club play