Bonkers (compilation album series)


The Bonkers series was one of the leading happy hardcore compilation series in the UK. The first release was in 1996 on the record label React. It was available on 2xCD and 2xTC formats. DJs Sharkey and Hixxy were signed by React, and they released "Bonkers", the first in a series of albums that has become the best-selling hardcore compilation series of all time. As of 11 May 2009, the series had reached its nineteenth release, titled Bonkers: The Original Hardcore.

History

The Bonkers name was based on the bar with the same name at Butlins Minehead. DJ Hixxy said in an interview with Vice “React wanted to sign 'Toytown', so we went up to London to meet them. I said, 'Listen, forget ‘Toytown’. You can have that, no problem. But I’ve got a bigger idea.' It totally changed the meeting. We sat and discussed 'Bonkers' for hours. The name came from a bar in Minehead Butlin’s that we’d played with Ramos and Supreme. I just loved the name.” Frequent contributors to the Bonkers collection include DJ Hixxy, DJ Dougal, DJ Sharkey, Neophyte and Scott Brown.
In 2019, the music publication DJ Mag published a retrospective article about the Bonkers album series, highlighting how it had "ushered in a new era" even though the critical reception at the time had been varied.
Bonkers has also been licensed for local release in Australia via Central Station Records. Bonkers 1-15 was also licensed to "Get over the records" in 2005 for Japanese branded releases. The Japanese edition of Bonkers vol. 1 went on sale on 26 October 2005 with a full TV advert in Japanese. "Get Over the Records" only released Bonkers 1-7 in the Japanese market and has since 2007 stopped releasing albums altogether.
In June 2008, Hardcore online news site 'happyhardcore.com' announced that British dance label All Around the World had purchased the rights to Bonkers starting from what would have been volume 18, set to be released in 2009. There had been speculation about a label change for some time, but AATW finally confirmed it. The UK Hardcore genre, which has seen a recent unprecedented rise in popularity, has already helped AATW in securing number one chart positions with its Clubland Xtreme Hardcore releases. The label also expressed their desire to expand the Bonkers brand, suggesting the use of Universal Music TV as their distributor for future releases, as they do for their successful Clubland compilations. All Around the World relaunched the Bonkers series on 11 May 2009 under the title Bonkers: The Original Hardcore, which was mixed by Hixxy, Sharkey and Chris Unknown.
In 2017, Scottish rave promoters Twisted Events and Intenzifi revived the name with annual Bonkers events in Scotland.
In 2021, Scottish Internet Radio Station Beat 106 created the Bonkers Beats radio series alongside Hixxy, Sharkey, Dougal and Scott Brown. The show features previous Bonkers contributors.
In 2022, Bonkers started touring events up and down the United Kingdom.
September 2023 - Bonkers published a Mission Statement regarding is to relaunch in October as two record labels by Sharkey and Al Twisted. The main "Bonkers" which would have a multi-genre approach with all forms of Hard Rave and "Bonkers Legacy" celebrating the past.

Compilation Series overview

''Bonkers''

  • Disc 1: Mixed by Hixxy
  1. Hixxy & MC Sharkey - "Toytown"
  2. Dougal & Eruption - "Party Time "
  3. Hixxy & Ikon - "The Wizard of Oz"
  4. Hixxy - "Thumper"
  5. Hopscotch & Dougal - "Steam Train"
  6. Hixxy & Bananaman - "Together Forever"
  7. Dr Who - "Love of My Life"
  8. A Sense Of Summer - "On Top "
  9. Highlander - "Hold Me Now "
  10. Bass-D & King Matthew feat. DJ XD - "Like a Dream"
  11. Seduction & Eruption - "Bust the New Jam "
  12. Seduction - "Step To The Side'"
  13. Vinylgroover & Quatro - "Calypso Summer"
  14. Brisk - "Airhead "
  15. Eruption - "Let the Music "
  16. Force & Styles - "Funfair "
  17. Hixxy - "A - Ha Ha Ha"
  18. Scott Brown Vs DJ Rab S - "Now Is the Time "
  • Disc 2: Mixed by Sharkey
  1. Marc Smith & Sharkey - "Truth"
  2. Force & Styles - "All Systems Go"
  3. Terrible Twins - "Burn This Joint "
  4. Seb - "Rainbow Islands "
  5. Billy Bunter, D-Zyne, Supreme - "Outside World"
  6. Vampire - "Teknostorm "
  7. Ham - "Is There Anybody There"
  8. Druid & Bananaman - "Tweedledum"
  9. Sy & Sharkey - "Feel the Heat"
  10. Druid & Sharkey - "Bonkers Anthem"
  11. A Sense Of Summer - "Techno Round the World "
  12. Druid & Sharkey - "Pumpin'"
  13. Druid & Sharkey - "Rocket to the Moon"
  14. Druid & Sharkey - "Frantik"
  15. MC Sharkey - "Revolution "
  16. Brisk - "On & On"
  17. Force & Styles - "Wonderland"

    ''Bonkers 2: Now We're Totally Bonkers''

  • Disc 1: Hixxy Mix
  1. Evolve - "The Living Dream" - feat Lisa - 4:51
  2. Antisocial - "My Way" - 4:19
  3. Demo - "I've Got a Feeling" - 1:37
  4. A Sense of Summer - "On Top " - 4:13
  5. Antisocial - "Now You've Got" - 5:00
  6. Antisocial - "Forever Young" - 4:49
  7. Antisocial - "Whistle" - 4:17
  8. Hixxy & Sunset - "People's Party" - 4:38
  9. The DJ Unknown Project - "Critical Heights " - 4:28
  10. Vinylgroover - "Wham Bam" - 1:25
  11. Fade & Melody - "Is This Love?" - 2:43
  12. Fade & Bananaman - "A Dreams Surprise" - 2:30
  13. Dougal & Mickey Skedale - "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" - 2:52
  14. Antisocial - "Antisocial" - 3:46
  15. DJ Demo - "Your Mine " - 4:07
  16. Evolve - "Sugar & Spice" - 2:41
  17. Blitz, Blaze & Revolution - "Big Up the Bass" - 2:09
  18. Antisocial - "24-7" - 5:43
  19. Antisocial - "Scream" - 3:56
  20. Force & Styles - "Paradise & Dreams" - 4:39
  • Disc 2: Sharkey Mix
  1. Ramos, Supreme & UFO - "Ravestation " - 5:39
  2. Ramos, Supreme & UFO - "Tekniq" - 3:32
  3. Druid & Energy - "Future Dimensions" - 3:53
  4. Bang the Future - "Body Slam" - 4:57
  5. GSI - "Twister" - 5:49
  6. Darryl - "Whores in the House" - 3:07
  7. Quatro - "Rock 'n' Roll" - 3:52
  8. Druid & Trixxy - "E-Motion" - 4:01
  9. Rapido - "Inside Beat" - 4:32
  10. Marc Smith - "Boom 'n' Pow " - 4:21
  11. Fury - "Droppin' Bombs " - 3:15
  12. Sharkey & Trixxy - "Genesis" - 5:59
  13. Helix - "UR Everything" - 5:03
  14. Sharkey & Trixxy - "Therapy" - 5:52
  15. Sharkey - "Revolution pt.1" - 4:27
  16. Trixxy - "See The Stars" - 2:54
  17. Eclipse - "Ultraworld 5" - 4:15

    ''Bonkers 3: A Journey into Madness''

  • Disc 1: Mixed by Hixxy
  1. Hixxy & Bananaman - "Together Forever " - 5:06
  2. Hixxy & Sharkey - "Return to Toytown" - 4:45
  3. Daydream - "Galaxy" - 5:06
  4. Q-Tex - "Power of Love '97 " - 2:44
  5. Visa - "Fly Away" - 2:38
  6. Daydream - "Make Your Own Kind of Music" - 3:52
  7. Bang! - "Cloudy Daze" - 4:03
  8. Spitfire - "Feel This Way" - 4:23
  9. 4 Tune Fairytales - "Take Me to the Wonderland" - 2:24
  10. Fade & Melody - "Liquid Night" - 4:17
  11. Antisocial - "Fairytale" - 4:29
  12. Antisocial - "See Me Through" - 5:19
  13. Antisocial - "Legends" - 4:57
  14. Antisocial - "Happy Days" - 4:00
  15. Hixxy - "Starry Night" - 4:35
  16. Antisocial - "Need Your Love" - 5:02
  • Disc 2: Mixed by Sharkey
  1. Sharkey & UFO - "The Beginning of the End" - 1:53
  2. UFO - "Inner Sanctum" - 4:48
  3. Ramos & UFO - "The Ravechief" - 4:25
  4. Supreme & UFO - "Trip to the Other Side" - 6:34
  5. Brisk & Trixxy - "Back to the Top" - 4:20
  6. Druid & UFO - "Temporal Rift" - 4:19
  7. Sharkey & UFO - "Terra Nova " - 5:31
  8. Quattro & Dizzy D - "Future Trance Project 2" - 4:47
  9. Brisk & Trixxy - "Rock the Beat" - 4:15
  10. Energy & Loopy - "Overdose" - 4:03
  11. Slam - "Influence " - 3:34
  12. Slam & Helix - "Acid Break" - 3:33
  13. Trixxy - "Here to Invade" - 4:17
  14. Eclipse - "Devastator" - 4:31
  15. Marc Smith - "Nothing More" - 4:14
  16. Go Mental - "I Can Feel It " - 4:47
  17. Sharkey - "Sound Assassin " - 3:41
  18. Marc Smith - "The Procrastinator" - 5:47
  19. Sharkey & UFO - "The End of the Beginning" - 0:29
  • Disc 3: Mixed by Dougal
  1. Dougal & Mickey Skeedale - "Gotta Go " - 4:22
  2. E-Logic & DNA - "Going All the Way" - 4:07
  3. Innovate - "It's Out There" - 3:44
  4. Dougal - "Tranquility" - 4:18
  5. Triple J - "Follow the Sun" - 4:30
  6. Euphony - "Dancin' in the Rain" - 3:32
  7. Hopscotch & Dougal - "Steamtrain " - 4:52
  8. Dougal & Mickey Skeedale - "Re-Create Creation" - 4:52
  9. Triple J - "Have It All" - 5:07
  10. Ham, Demo & Justin Time - "The Big Spill " - 3:47
  11. Breeze - "Jump a Little Higher" - 5:03
  12. Dougal & DNA - "Tears in Your Eyes" - 4:40
  13. Demo - "Muzik " - 4:18
  14. Fade & Bananaman - "Dream's Surprise " - 3:58
  15. Innovate - "Talkin' 'Bout Love" - 3:35
  16. Stompy - "Follow Me" - 5:20
  17. Innovate - "Stop Me" - 4:22

    ''Bonkers 4: World Frenzy''

Disc 1: Hixxy's Mix
  1. Slashing Funkids - "Imagination" - 5:07
  2. Los Bonitos - "The Lights" - 4:10
  3. Sequel Base - "The Third Chapter" - 3:05
  4. OMG - "Different Outlook" - 5:22
  5. The Saints - "Fire" - 4:56
  6. Sub-Ace & Aura - "A Guiding Light" - 2:12
  7. OMG - "14th Dream" - 4:58
  8. Bananaman & Blitz - "The Quickening" - 1:51
  9. Q-Tex - "Equazion Pt 9" - 4:03
  10. 2 without Heads - "U & Me" - 2:23
  11. Visa - "Don't Go Away" - 4:03
  12. Devil Licious - "By My Side" - 5:30
  13. OMG - "The One" - 4:24
  14. Q-Tex - "Power of Love '98" - 3:40
  15. Unique - "Distant Skies" - 3:20
  16. Devilicious - "Better Days" - 4:20
Disc 2: Sharkey's Mix
  1. Johnny Go Mental - "Acid Rain" - 6:48
  2. Fury - "De-Sensitize " - 4:25
  3. Equinox - "The Hustler" - 5:21
  4. Marc Smith - "Encounters" - 6:44
  5. Brisk & Trixxy - "Back to the Top " - 4:39
  6. Energy - "Future Dimensions Pt 2" - 4:37
  7. Helix & Tekno Dred - "Mindless Pleasure" - 4:28
  8. Energy - "The King of Rock" - 4:48
  9. Slam - "The Bell" - 4:37
  10. Eclipse - "Light Cycle" - 3:54
  11. Marc Smith & Sharkey - "Death by Stereo" - 5:34
  12. Marc Smith - "Gotta Hold on" - 5:33
  13. Marc Smith - "On Two Turntables" - 4:22
  14. Sharkey - "It's a Hard Life" - 5:02
  15. Sharkey - "Product of Society" - 3:50
Disc 3: Dougal's Mix
  1. Innovate - "Innovate Anthem" - 4:35
  2. Dougal & Mickey Skeedale - "Don't You Realise" - 3:36
  3. Datcha & DNA - "Dub Star" - 3:28
  4. Brisk & Trixxy - "Eye Opener" - 4:09
  5. Dougal & Mickey Skeedale - "Life Is Like a Dance " - 4:41
  6. S-Scape - "Express Yourself" - 3:56
  7. Bang! - "Shooting Star" - 4:07
  8. Seduction - "Leaving the World Behind" - 4:30
  9. Unique - "Feelin' Fine" - 5:14
  10. Dougal & Skeedale - "Words of Wisdom" - 5:13
  11. Bang! - "Sailaway" - 3:39
  12. Breeze - "Let's Fly" - 4:24
  13. Sub-Ace & Aura - "My Dreams" - 5:24
  14. Dougal & Skeedale - "Zurich " - 4:29
  15. Dyanoiss - "The Underground" - 3:44 -
  16. The Projek - "Sweet Thing" - 2:51
  17. Innovate - "The Universe" - 5:22