Underworld Pay Tribute to Frankie Knuckles With New Cover
Nearly a year after the death of “the Godfather of House Music” Frankie Knuckles, a trio of electronic music artists the late DJ inspired – Underworld, Heller & Farley and the Misterons – have teamed up to re-record Knuckles’ 1987 classic “Baby Wants to Ride.” Proceeds from the single will benefit the Frankie Knuckles Fund for the Elton John AIDS Foundation, the charity that debuted the updated single.
While the charity download is available now at BabyWantsToRide.com, on March 31st, the one-year anniversary of Knuckles’ death, Terry Farley’s dance label Junior Boy’s Own will release a 12″ vinyl version of “Baby Wants to Ride.” Underworld will appear on both sides, teaming up with Heller & Farley on the A-side and the Misterons on the flip side.
“My relationship with Frankie goes back a long way,” Farley said in a statement. “Twenty-five years ago, Frankie championed the early music Pete Heller and I made and many of the first releases on Junior Boys Own. He helped turn a group of suburban London music fans into DJs and producers who could travel the world, simply by his patronage.”
“As the creator of house music, we owe Frankie a huge debt. Karl [Hyde] and I have always seen Frankie as the source and, as Underworld, we’re always swimming in his river,” Underworld’s Rick Smith said, while Elton John added of the new “Baby Wants to Ride,” “It’s fabulous. I have always LOVED Underworld. This is a great track and tribute to Frankie. Thanks to everyone involved from me and everyone at the Elton John AIDS Foundation.”