congrats on 20 years pete! been up and down a lot of motorways at stupid times with your tunes as company since the 90s! here's to another 2 decades

Contratz mate! I have to agree with John above, been all over the country thanks to you!

We even drove past some friends who had broke down in case we missed your set!

My biggest memory of you was being interviewed by a tv crew at gatecrasher in Sheffield. ( I don't know why they picked me to talk to that night cos it had defo gone Pete Tong that night ). But you dropped "Music sounds better with you" mid interview and it had only been heard a few times, must have been around 97-98. I politely told the person with the mic to "get out my face as I had a hole to burn on the dance floor" ha ha will never forget it.

The line up for that night was yourself, Jules, Roger Sanchez (back room) and Scott Bond, one of the best nights I had at GC when it was still a community.

Thanks for the last 20 years and long may it continue, hey and Energy 52 as number one, it couldn't have been anything else!!

Gonna try do the all nighter, so lets have it!

You are the John Peel of my era.

All the best mate.

Rob

Super!
I'm only 19 yo, but already for 5 years listened to your show in Ukraine!
We love you so much, don't stop!
Wanna dance on your 40 radio years anniversary)

Congratulations Pete!!

I can't believe it's been 20 years! I've listened to the show from the start right up to now. Still love dance as much now as then. My Dad used to say that me playing my music ".. sounded like the builders were in..." to me it's music I can get lost in.

Like other posters as times gone on you've kept me going up and down motorways on the friday night drive home.

Each of the tracks on the shortlist holds a memory for me.
Your show has always been a delight and usually an education too.
The Jaguar Skills mix is GENIUS -made me grin my head off the first time I heard it.

I think Rob Purdie has summed it up in one sentence - "You are the John Peel of my era." Couldn't agree more.


Long may you continue.

Nice one.

Jo x

i am currently listening to the mix i listened to when i left school in 1994 with the essential mix with sasha which i later named my daughter, [Personal details removed by Moderator]

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You are a true legend Pete, never miss a beat when it comes to dance music, always listen to your show and have done for the past 20 years. Awesome essential mix too, long may you continue at Radio 1. Thank you so much, the music you played brings back some memories. Voted for Sasha Expander as my favourite track and it come in the top 3. Again, massive thank you!!

Congrats Pete and huge Props! I'm a bit of a newcomer (only been listening since radio 1 got on the internet about 15 years ago). Your show has been at the heart of what I played as a DJ for a good part of that time in Portland and Seattle in the U.S. The music has changed a lot over time but for so many of us worldwide "Welcome to the weekend!" was and still is officially _THE_ kickoff for the weekend. Listening to the show was like a trip into the record shop to go find the latest hot tracks. I cannot the number tracks I heard on the show bought records from england and dropped on the unsuspecting dancefloor, a good 3-6 weeks before the vinyl hit the shelves here in the U.S.

The show is the beginning to several hours of pure magic every week. I cannot begin to tell you how many people I have introduced dance music to by getting them listening to the Essential Selection.

The 12 twelve hour show was absolute magic from beginning to end there are som many highlights it hard to say which was best. The standouts for me was Andy and Toms Essential New Tune Set and The Chemical Brothers Hour!

I've managed to record several shows over the years in varying qualities, Whaty I would give to get into the BBC Archives to get recordings of ALL the shows. what a trip in dance music that would be!!! You can be certain that I will be recording every second I can of the 12 hours.

It was almost anti-climatic listening to the last 2 hours with Rob Da Bank, but it was still a wonderful insight into what makes Pete day musically.

MANY CONGRATULATIONS! Thank you for being such a great ambassador of dance music and bringing it to so many ears for all of us to enjoy with you. Here's to 20 and many more happy years of dancing, wherever you may belt it out to the pople! Thanks! :)

A stunning and timeless essential mix, some proper gems I'd never heard before among some true classics.

Congratulations on 20 fine years at Radio1, I salute you sir.

Big up on being the host with the most essential dj, Tongy. I first tried hard to tune in 1992 using MW on radio in Cork, Ireland. Word of show went viral in Ireland. You were on everyones tongues.It was so difficult to get a good reception....but what a music selection! I have never heard this amazing music before. I was heavily into Deep House & you opened up a new rave world to me.

I went clubbing mad for the next 20 years. Yes, I am still clubbing.

When I heard your live show from Cafedelmar in 1995, I had to go & see the experience for myself.

Have been clubbing in Ibiza now 15 years. Every year gets better. I saw your first big weekender in Ibiza Rocks Hotel. What a scorcher. The hear was unreal & everyone was going mad for your tunes. Sam Black guest was brilliant, too.

Off to Ibiza for the closing parties & can't wait. THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR TOP TUNES. It certainly went all Pete Tong when you played them.

May you long continue to discover amazing tunes, just like John Peel discovered amazing talent.

RESPECT!

Oh, the memories! It's enough to bring a tear to the eye.

I used to set the timer on my stereo system every Friday to record the Essential Selection onto cassette, then I'd take my walkman into work and listen to it all week to help brush off the post-weekend blues.

The only problem, what with cassettes being 45mins on each side, was whether to record the first half, and get all the anthems, or record the 2nd half and get the essential new tune and the hot mix. It was always a tough decision.

These days, the technology has changed, but my love for the music is just as strong as ever.

Thanks for all the good times, Pete, and long may they continue.

Now, where's that loudness button...

Is it at all possible to listen again to the full 12-hour programme beyond the 4 days that are left on the 'Listen Again' function?

Thank you
Leyna

OMG Pete 20 years? only seems like yesterday. Best wishes mate and long may you continue. Middlesbrough adores Pete Tong xxx

I have listened to this mix daily since Friday night. Can we just give the award today for The Essential Mix of The Year for 2011 to Pete Tong, please?

Pete smacks the critics with an instant classic taking listeners on a musical journey which is exactly what a real DJ is supposed to do.

Having seen Pete at Gatecrasher in Sheffield on New Years Eve 1999 to the countless Miami Pool Parties, Space in Miami and now The Masquerade Motel, it never gets old.

Congratulations & Cheers To Another 20 Years Pete!

Tim Martin
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
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I have listened to this mix daily since Friday night. Can we just give the award today for The Essential Mix of The Year for 2011 to Pete Tong, please?

Pete smacks the critics with an instant classic taking listeners on a musical journey which is exactly what a real DJ is supposed to do.

Having seen Pete at Gatecrasher in Sheffield on New Years Eve 1999 to the countless Miami Pool Parties, Space in Miami and now The Masquerade Motel, it never gets old.

Congratulations & Cheers To Another 20 Years Pete!

Tim Martin
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

Just listening to this now, and I'm so glad I did before it went from the iPlayer. All I can say is TUNE!!! Awesome stuff Pete and congrats on 20 years. Now, where is that volume up button......

I believe we already have Essential Mix of the year, amazing Pete Tong, I discovered REAL dance music through you from about 1995 when you were playing tracks like Crescendo "Are You Out There" & Way Out West "Domination" & Robert Miles "Children".

From then on you were Friday nights & nothing else mattered.

From the being at The Essential Mixes at Gatecrasher Summer Sound System 2000, 2001, 2002 & in Ibiza in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 & 2010 you & Radio 1 have given me some of the best memories of my life - god bless you Pete Tong!

It´s all gone Pete Tong but you´re still here , through the music you bring a joy and happiness to our lives and wish that you done that for another 20 years.

excellent tracks, nice body work, out of control, turn off the light :)

Amazing!!! Listened to this at work and took me right back to my clubbing days and Ibiza during mid 90s through till late 00s

God i miss those days!!!!

Pete got me in to dance music and still love it to this day.

Pete you are a true legend buddy!

Pete, I had goosebumps from beginning to end, amazing.

I have listened to the Essential mix for as long as I can remember. I even vividly remember your announcement that the management had let you take the show to Ibiza. I finally managed to get out there (quite) a few years later to see you at Pacha which I will never forget. This mix has the memories flooding back.

You are pure class.

Keep it coming

Absolutely love the mix - true legend Pete - congratulations.

Oh and by the way, please put me out of my misery someone - was it Dani Behr who did the "It's Friday Night at Radio One and it's all gone a bit Pete Tong" jingle?

Hello Pete
You helped formulate my muscial youth providing a dance oasis in a sea of pop and rock mediocrity
This is a great mix and I'm impressed that K scope is one of your faves as thought I was alone in that love - respect to the Kupper.
Hope Auntie lets you carry on for another 20 at least

Instant classic Essential mix! Thank you, thank you for bringing us some sensational music mix sessions over the last 20 years via Radio 1 on Saturday night