Rhythm Nation DJ Trevor Nelson reveals his top six albums
TREVOR NELSON, 54, is the DJ best known for his Rhythm Nation shows on Radio 1 and Radio 2.
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His compilation Slow Jams is out today.
HERBIE HANCOCK: Head Hunters (Sony) People know me for R&B but I adore funk fusion.
Hancock is king of that. At college I found geeks like me and we’d trawl specialist jazz shops in London.
Chameleon is the funkiest track you’ll ever hear without James Brown’s involvement. I will never let this bit of vinyl go.
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Every black family I knew was aware of how important Bob was to the culture
BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS: Exodus (Universal/Island) I had just turned a teenager and every black family I knew was aware of how important Bob was to the culture.
But this was the first album where mates at school, who liked punk, would be talking about him.
It was the perfect crossover album.
MICHAEL JACKSON: Off The Wall (Sony) My three sisters and I loved the Jackson 5.
Disco was tacky then but this was something else.
He was like the Duracell Bunny and we were excited to see the Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough video.
STEVIE WONDER: Songs In The Key of Life (Motown) My musical god.
When I was at college I kept hearing different songs that I loved then I realised they were all on this album.
He mixed politics with joyous songs of love.
As is my favourite. I always smile when it comes on.
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A TRIBE CALLED QUEST: The Low End Theory (Sony) My favourite hip-hop band.
I was astounded when it came out because they used so many jazz samples.
Married with hip-hop, it was beautiful.
This stayed in my car for two years
LAURYN HILL: The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill (Ruffhouse/Columbia) From my heyday deejaying on MTV and Radio 1.
Hip-hop needed her: a female singer with credibility as a rapper without having to take all her clothes off.
It reminds me of interviewing Lauryn and her doing a concert for me at the BBC.
Magnificent.
