Christmas Special Editorial: 20 years of RKO (The charts revisited)
Published: 24/12/2020 by Neil Carr
In the year 2000 Jan Lund Thomsen's RKO (remix.kwed.org) was born. Finally, a resource that enabled remixers to uploaded their remixes for the world to enjoy. Before that time the remixing scene were made up of several websites spread around the internet. Finding these sites and jumping around from one to another was a painful and a somewhat chaotic experience. Over the years RKO would establish itself to be the one stop shop to get your c64 remix fix. In this Christmas editorial special we go back through the years and present the top 3 remixes voted by our readers from each year to the current day. So grab a cuppa sit back and enjoy whilst we take you on a nostalgia trip. Oh! and if you haven't voted yet on these remixes here's a chance to do so. Happy Christmas everyone.
*Ratings are correct at the time of publish. Ratings subject to varience should votes be cast.
YEAR: 2000
banador: Just so good and interesting picture of the Nemesis that this music creates.
das.Mordschaf: Its just GREAT ❤️
prq: Excellent tune
92%
PhunkyData: Love this old classic.
nonick: Excellent! But I'd like to know which Galway tunes have been recycled here.
soppa: Absolutely stunning remix, so simple (as the sid) but yet so eerie and deep feel to it, also love the selection of ambient sounds in this.
92%
countzorg: Shimmering
Nebdar: How such a small tune can be so much beautiful
Trydowave: Best version of zoids. Obvious Jarre influence. Great stuff
92%
Year 2001
machinae supremacy - Great Giana Sisters
Amiga4eveR: Outstanding!!!
kyl1000: Good job!
kokakoda: The best guitar rendition of a SID tune, ever. Period.
96%
Tonka - Last Ninja - Palace Gardens (Loader)
infamous: The transition in the middle is BRILLIANT, tonka really know's how to get into your head and make you listen up, top notch tune. Wish he'd do a few more such a great talent.
Dr Hambone: Absolutely perfect from start to finish apart from the snare build up at 1.15 which I find a bit over the top. Well done. This is my favourite remix I've heard!!!
Nebdar: Awsome remix cool one with proper soul
93%
DHS - Max Headroom (Orbital 3241 Elevator Mix)
legus: Gooood!!!
NecroPolo: I think it's the best tune pack of Whittaker. The first section doesn't really cut through for me as much as the following parts - but that's just a subjective footnote, the remix is very cool all the way.
chairmankaga: One of my favourite SID remixes.
90%
Year 2002
Glyn R Brown - Firelord - Symphonic
Sodden: Love it!!!
Man from Stars: Great!
datucker: Very impressive, and even more impressive considering it was made in Fruityloops…
96%
Mahoney - Armageddon Man (Vocal Jazz feat. Karin Öjehagen)
MORBID: This is brilliant!
Amok: Absolutely outstanding tune
LMan: Beautiful! And so intellectually superior.😊
95%
Glyn R Brown - Gordian Tomb Adventures
Reverend Kirdneh: This tune is epic!
Chappers: Glyn is a genius! You could be forgiven for thinking an entire orchestra was involved with this. Instant classic!
lonegunman: Really Cool. You do not hear the Synthi… Wonderful!!!
95%
Year 2003
Lagerfeldt - Dutch Breeze/Robocop 3 (Progressive Uplift)
LaLa: Totally awesome! Great punching beat, well-balanced mix, just one awesome piece of remix!
humorguy: Perfect instumentation, rockin' feet tapping… Well you know the rest!
tony.rc: I first heard this tune @ BIT2003 and I still love it to bits!
93%
Thomas Detert - Supernova (the slow tune)
Dumper: Truly wonderful.
lolicon: Love Vangelis, love this tune! Very well composed. This delivers!
Ryrynz: Beautifully done.
93%
Chainsaw: Very great
myicq: This one on repeat, in a flight across the atlantic against the sunset. Simply awesome!
bar: The art of Vangelis+The sound of Neuronium+The touch of Suzanne Ciani=one of the best tune on RKO
91%
Year 2004
monty_mole: Sounds like a moviescore 😊 Absolut perfect.
Gunhed: So dramatic. Like a movie score for a an expansive scene.
Chappers: Yet another masterpiece from Glyn. He is the new Jerry Goldsmith!
97%
97%
DHS - The Human Race (Bando alle Seghe)
vosla: STUNNING!!! But those hating Enigma won't love this one.
Dumper: I gave this an orange before, but hearing it quite a bit lately I now feel it deserves a nice big red one.
madrigal: DHS sei un grandissimo! Spero non ti stancherai mai di regalarci queste perle!😉
94%
Year 2005
Makke - Artura(Dublin Delight Mix) feat. Andreas Wallström
ulfepulf: Nice one 😊
moog: Absolutely fantastic! 😃
madfiddler: Brilliant stuff again. Could have recorded some nice violin for this though!😉
95%
Marcel Donné - Something Stranger Remake
Makke: Ok… Now I have to change underwear…
load_error: Splendid.
Melaure: Very relaxing
93%
merl: … Wow: O. I wish Glynn was my music-teacher!
humorguy: Now I understanded nothing ventured,. Nothing gained. Glyn ventured and boy! Did I gain!!! A little risky for the site and I love it!!!
raiden: Outstanding GREAT! Welcome Back Glyn! Good to hear That he's still alive! Great Mix.^^
92%
Year 2006
Andy Gilmour & LMan - Robocop Title
andy_mitchelluk: Brilliant. Takes me back to the old days again! A*****
Skitz: Thankyou Thankyou - this tune always made me think of the old Ariston advert in the UK - but now it reminds me of this! GREAT GREAT GREAT!
chabee: Good work! Well done!
96%
moog (Sebastian Bachliñski) - Tristess
lil_eve: Wow… Just wow. I'm such a piano fan. To hear it in combination with such non-classical elements is a great experience. Never imagined such a thing. This Remix found its way into my playlist ^^
soppa: Whenever I get fed up with customers at my work, I just put my voip in to paperwork mode and sit back and listen to this! I love how moogs remixes are of great quality and mixing but still have that oldskool demoscene feel to them!
chilli_uk: Its ok for a POLAK! LOL Gratuluję ;- Moog as you see my polish is getting better - this is my fav tune of yours Na Zdrowie
93%
machinae supremacy - Sidology 2 Trinity
NecroPolo: Badass! \m/,
LMan: Yes, they obviously still know their shit.
Caboose: This is definately top 10 on the whole remix64.
93%
YEAR 2007
Reyn Ouwehand - Green Beret (live at The Church)
dream_19: This is ultimate!
el sid: This is absolutely one of my top ten favourites around here. Absolutely brilliant performance and beautiful guitar play!
Hypnox: Absolutely stunning. Top-3 c64 remixes eva!
97%
Dafunk - Destruction - The New Beginning (rmx)
Waz: Now this is lovely. Not only does it really have that flow and feeling of the original but it develops on it without being too obtrusive. Another winner from DaFunk.
Skitz: Dafunk needs a god damn recording contract! Everything he is producing lately is seriously good and commercially viable!
Peter W: Here's that dreamy sound again with a taste of a melodic trance breeze, great stuff!
93%
_steve_: This is an excellent mix, thumping rhythm and beautifully placed vocals. Sounds better every time you play it.
clarence: This is really something cool!
kwed: Just gets better and better each time I listen to it. If this one doesn't end up in the top-5 ROTY 2007 list I'll be *very* disappointed.😊
93%
YEAR 2008
Mordi - Plastic Pop (I Miss You mix)
nummer2: What can I say its Mordi time again 😃 Nice to see that you read the song in a several way as Anthonys The Past Remix.
dafunk: Very interesting take. Thanks!😊
bratac: The arpeggios in the background are nice touch.
93%
Dafunk - Hardcore Power (We Believe In Goa - Remix)
Waz: Now this IS nice, and even nicer than the old version Dafunk did. Chucked this through my Mission m73 biwired floorstanders and that bass is pumping to say the least. The latter part sounds epic trance style too, it rocks!
migu: Simply great!
jailbird: Dafunk for teh win! /me dances
93%
Peter W - Stargate (Not As Trancelucent As)
Zilog: Simply PERFECT
Makke: All I can say is: Propper job, Peter! Very well done.
exo: Once again you deliver, Peter. 😀 Effortless flowing musical energy.
92%
YEAR 2009
Firestorm - Commando (Sound of SceneSat Edit)
Flyingsaucer: I like it so much wonderful old time.
alpi: Awesome arrangement and brilliant-sounding, thumbs up *cheers
Maegnuz: The perfect movie soundtrack, but not really worth listening to repeatedly and by itself. Nevertheless needs a full score!
96%
Jogeir Liljedahl - Synth Sample - The Stationary Ark
Alucard: Pulls you in a trance and keeps you floating.
Zlorfik500: A wild and unfettered masterpiece!
Remodeler: Flawless. Little point in anyone else trying to do better than this!
96%
FuzzyDweeb: My favourite version of the classic!
eliot: Sooo astonishing… Thx a lot
Twinbee: A classic then and a classic now.
94%
YEAR 2010
The SIE: Do u mean Tears in my eyes? Cuz I have them. Great Duo. Expand it.
horizoner: This one blew me away - AWESOME!!!
chabee: Amazing!
95%
Chabee - Baboon (Skydive ReMix)
Unreal: Yeaa! It is a great remix now!! I loves the feel, and the various elements and samples in the music! Congratulations, I am waitin' the next one, my friend!😊
Mitch van Hayden: Superb!
Karmar: Beautiful
92%
SIDrip Alliance - From First to Last (AROK12 tribute mix)
Mordi: Flakey lead, but otherwise great.
Arne: All in all a very good sounding remake of different Last Ninja musics. Thumbs up for this music!
catcher40: Amazing is all I can say. Took me back to the good old days of playing LN, loved every minute.
92%
YEAR 2011
moog (Sebastian Bachliñski) - Jazzcat (007)
LMan: The name's Funk. Moog Funk.
NecroPolo: _steve_: Someone needs to grow taste or ears, maybe both 😊 I'd really appreciate some explanation coming with bad rating instead of trolling with no name. That's coward in a way, eh?
Melaure: What a wonderfull piece of Jazz. Sax, guitar,. … Not far from perfection!
93%
omoroca: Wonderful, as always! Mordi=Jogeir? Added to my collection.
soppa: One of my personal favorites, could listen to this all day long.
Melaure: Excellent work again, and as unreal says with a touch fo Amiga! Congratulations!
94%
Peter Clarke - Ocean Loader 3 (Cinematic remix)
Foxfield: I want to see a movie with this one in it's soundtrack.
karl_xii: Fantastic, gives me the shivers when listening
Staticborris: Excelent. Love the movie score feel to the track, keep up the great work
94%
YEAR 2012
mfe: This one just pips Moog's version as my favourite. Well done!
Rubenbs: Great. Just great.
LMan: Perfect, just perfect, mate.
94%
Andreas Wallström and NecroPolo - DMC demo IV 2 (Celtic Mission mix)
Chainsaw: Wow!
Mordi: Sweet track!
DHS: Wow! I mean… WOW! Fuckin' WOW!
94%
teo: Great remix, has it all what's needed!
Vaggelis Papadopoulos: Amazing and powerfull Remix NecroPolo!! Kudos brother!!
Zilog: Powerful & Sweet as always, a masterpiece!
94%
YEAR 2013
Dees Productions: Impressive work there mate! You really managed to capture the OMP sound and made it sounds like JMJ! 😊 Right on there!
N3XU5: A masterpiece 😃
Mayhem: Not a SID familiar with, but the remix sounds great 😊
94%
LukHash - Supremacy (youtube vid)
MORBID: Such a brilliant remix!
JustPhreak: Solid and powerful remix! Thumbs up, LukHash!
p2: Love it! Just like all the other work of LukHash!
93%
BeeZerk - BeeZerk - Blasphemy (Feat. Pallaso & Kage)
weasel: Yeah!!! What LMan said!!! 😃😃😃
Amiga4eveR: Wow!!!
omoroca: Brilliant! Amazing! This year's summer smash hit! Added to my collection.
93%
YEAR 2014
Slaygon - Platoon (Inexperti belli)
Mordi: Very nice soundscape! Not familiar with the original tune.
80sFreak: Just awesome!
LaLa: Grungy, metallic, dirty. Just like war. I can just see the platoon marching through the muddy jungle. Very, very well done!
95%
Robert Engstrand - The Mansion Gardens (Last Ninja medley)
Mayhem: Excellent for what's there, now how about the whole track?😊
Hoylander: WOW! This is one of the best remixes I've heard here in a long time! Very expressive and emotional, very well arranged and produced. Totally loved when the Palace Gardens theme was introduced towards the end. Again great job with this one!
Acceptus: Magic
93%
Markus Schneider - Enlightenment - Druid II
LaLa: Cinematic! Epic! Orchestral! Welcome back, Markus!!!
rico: … Gives me a lot of Game of Thrones vibes - in a very good way!
Sokratekk: A think 90 % of all tunes here are only transcriptions of the original tune - but this is a real great remix
93%
Year 2015
Slaygon - Never Die (Skitz lives forever)
Kate Eternal: Incredible remix!
Dr-Duke: OMG, this is awesome Slaygon. Well done in memory of Paul. Pls, extend it!
Jonazz: Oh… Yeah my film composer do it again! He really are on fire…!
96%
Dr Future - Fist II - The Legend Continues
omoroca: Wonderful! Added to my collection.
XxDUSTYxX: Great work! Very enjoyable!
NecroPolo: All I can say, it nailed the feel of the original to the bone. Goosebumper.
95%
MRT - Eagles (Easy Flight mix)
blubberdiblub: Wow, just wow! The reverberation creates a dreamy atmosphere, the bass line so powerful and the strings simply lovely.
mfe: Takes a few too many liberties with the melody for my liking, but it's well mixed.
JustPhreak: Awesome job!!
94%
YEAR 2016
Samarium13: Very punchy feel, great beat!
Mordi: Cool! Very original take on the source. I like the mood.
spavatch: Excellent remix, wonderful in every way!
96%
Johan Andersson - Out Run - Splash Wave (surf mix)
Sanjo Ride: Loved this, was juming around in my seat
Aule: The Beach Boys would have done it exactly that way!
Supergrobi123: Beautiful, nicely-balanced Remix
94%
95%
YEAR 2017
SIDNIFY - Supremacy (Overprime mix)
chabee: Great work guys!
MORBID: Oh yeah!
Mayhem: Well this is a fine way to introduce yourself 😊
97%
NecroPolo: Not my kind of stuff at all (there is no blood) but it is quality at its best. Great work!
redhot: Awesome, especially the bass line
Mordi: Well done! A pleasant listening experience. Edit: Relistening two months later. It's really nice!
94%
96%
YEAR 2018
FastLoaders - Commando High Score
Mordi: Awesome rendition. Superb guitar work!
xgener8or: Really good vibes 😊 Could be at the end of a movie with a ferrari driving into the sunset along a mountain road. Haha
Marcus: Well done!
96%
96%
FastLoaders - Ghouls and Ghosts
LaLa: Straight off their Progressive 64 album. Superb there, superb here.
drm: Quality tune!!
L0rd3vyL: Lovely.
94%
YEAR 2019
Peter Clarke - Firelord - Symphonic (a nod to Glyn)
C64_Gamer: Love the 2002 version and now I love this too
_steve_: Love Glyn's original - this re-imagining of that is very well put together and is a great addition to it. Not sure omoroca is hearing the same tune as eveyone else.
Poppykuk: Great arrangement. Keeps the atmosphere of the original but sounds huge.
97%
Glyn R Brown - Firelord (from 8Bit Symphony)
SID-Spieler: Epic Tune
Ryrynz: Love this but prefer the 2002 version's overall expression, just needs a remix up to this level of quality and boom… Masterpiece.
grin: I really love these interpretations, very effective ear libricators!
98%
omoroca: After 20 seconds I knew I have to vote Outstanding. Because… It is. Great job!
symbols: Funkyness!!
PixelGrinch: Outstanding Remix! THANK YOU, Jogier
97%
YEAR 2020
peltazoid: Amazing!
Ryrynz: Oh my lord. Is anyone else basically after a version of this but with a bit more of a drawn out emotional vibe to it?
Unzen: Epic tune as per usual!
96%
Peter Clarke, ziona & Slaygon - Tales of Boon (The Collaboration Mix)
NecroPolo: Welcome to the movie 😊
XxDUSTYxX: Excellent collaboration! Thank you very much for this Remix, ziona, Slaygon and Peter Clarke!😊
MagicMosher: You guys should absolutely keep up the work together the harmony between the 3 styles of music takes me on a journey
95%
SIDNIFY - The Last Ninja - The Wilderness
MatrixRevolution: Amazing!
Mano: Solid, Well done.
Ahriakin: Great remix, lots of energy while respecting the source.
95%
People, we should considder ourselves lucky to be part of a community diverse enough to cover everything from the solitary hobbyist with a copy of Fruityloops to an 80-piece symphonic orchestra. The solitary remixer can afford to be out of pocket on a remix since the music isn’t his/her day job - the professional musician doesn’t have that luxury. Dismissing one over the other isn’t a way to take the hobby in new directions. If you prefer the freely available renditions, that’s fine by me - but don’t knock commercial efforts simply for having a cost. No one is in this to get rich.
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