The 10 Best Frankie Knuckles Tracks of All Time

Image via Complex Original

While playing at the Power Plant, Knuckles met the artist Jamie Principle and began producing for him. Perhaps the most famous of their collaborations is “Your Love,” which they made on a four-track in the DJ booth; it became almost immediately ubiquitous in Chicago nightlife (even before its official release). To this day, “Your Love” is considered a foundational song for house music, and it became a hit in the UK when sampled by Candi Staton for her song, “You Got the Love.”

“The Whistle Song” is a standout record from Knuckles’ debut album, Beyond the Mix. It’s his fifth highest-ranking song on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart and was No. 1 during its first week out. Knuckles put a clever twist on his 1991 remix of Lisa Stanfield’s “Change” by using parts of “The Whistle Song.”

For “Baby Wants to Ride,” Knuckles worked with Jamie Principle again for a more pared down, poignant song than “Your Love.” It was played in clubs for over a year before being released on Trax Records, a label started by Larry Sherman and Screamin’ Rachael in Chicago.

Knuckles collaborated with singer Robert Owens and producer Satoshi Tomiie on “Tears,” marking a new moment in his musical output—it was an instant hit both in America and in the UK. It’s an overall glossier, more refined production than his previous releases, but it was well-received nonetheless.

“Keep on Movin” features vocals from Nicki Richards and came out during the peak of Knuckles’ remix work for other artists, including Michael Jackson. It’s tropical, bouncy, and has stood the test of time as one of his most essential songs.

Knuckles worked with Roberta Gilliam on “Workout,” a track that exemplifies his sound in the early ’90s. It’s a later track from his debut album, Beyond the Mix, released by Virgin Records.

Knuckles’ remix of Michael Jackson’s “Rock With You” is one of his most classic remixes, taking the smooth pop song and making it even more danceable than it already was. Knuckles also applied his house music magic to Jackson’s “Scream,” “Thriller,” and “You Are Not Alone.” 

Knuckles’ remix of Hercules and Love Affair’s “Blind” seemed to come out of nowhere, as he hadn’t been producing much in the years before its release. Though people from Hercules’ label, DFA, felt that it was a risk to work with Knuckles, they were overwhelmingly pleased with what he turned in. “Blind” proves that Knuckles’ work is timeless and that his ability to transform a song stayed with him throughout his lifetime.

Knuckles gave the already incredible “Ain’t Nobody” a dub remix, which he titled a “hallucinogenic version,” six years after the song originally came out. The remix is a great example of Knuckles’ mastery of keyboard and bass, and it topped the charts upon release.

Knuckles produced “Let the Music (Use You)” for the Night Writers, and though it came out in 1987, it’s a great example of a song that would sound equally fresh if it came out today. The perfect balance of bass, keys, and vocals provides a mystique that seemingly only Knuckles and his production sensibilities could provide.