Hooked on Classics (series)

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Hooked on Classics was a series of record albums first introduced in 1981, toward the end of the disco era's peak in popularity.

Louis Clark, former arranger for Electric Light Orchestra, conducted the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra playing a collection of very recognizable extracts from classical music pieces played over a continuous beat (sometimes an overtly disco fast beat, sometimes a slower and more subtle rhythm) which linked the segments together.

The first cut of the initial album was a very successful single, reaching Number 2 on the UK singles chart and Number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in late-1981/early-1982. At least two more "Hooked on Classics" albums were produced by Louis Clark in 1982 and 1983, as well some other "Hooked on..." albums on subjects such as swing music. The series was still running as late as 1988, when "Hooked On House" placed classical music extracts against a synthesised bassline and house music-style drum pattern. In 1989, the orchestra released "Mixed Up Classics", dropping the "Hooked On..." name but recognisably continuing the same style of medley.

The phrase "Hooked on" gained some wide usage for various media products. One of the longer-lasting ones was the learning series, Hooked on Phonics.

Track listing - Hooked on Classics

1. Hooked On Classics (Parts 1 & 2) - 5:06
2. Hooked On Romance - 6:42
3. Hooked On Classics (Part 3) - 6:02
4. Hooked On Bach - 5:59
5. Hooked On Tchaikovsky - 5:29
6. Hooked On A Song - 5:11
7. Hooked On Mozart - 4:09
8. Hooked On Mendelssohn - 4:25
9. Hooked On Can Can - 4:56

Track listing - Hooked on Classics 2 - Can't stop the Classics

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1. Can't Stop the Classics
2. Hooked On America
3. Hooked On Romance (Part 2)
4. Can't Stop the Classics (Part 2)
5. A Night At The Opera
6. Tales Of The Vienna Waltz
7. Hooked on Baroque
8. If You Knew Sousa
9. If You Knew Sousa (And Friends)

Track listing - Hooked on Classics 3 - Journey through the Classics

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1. Also Sparach Zarathustra
2. Journey Through The Classics
3. Hooked On Haydn
4. Hooked on Romance
5. Viva Vivaldi
6. Dance Of The Furies
7. Scotland The Brave
8. Journey Through The Classics (Part 2)
9. Journey Through America
10. Hooked on Marching
11. Symphony Of The Seas
12. Hooked on Rodgers & Hammerstein

Track listing - Hooked on Classics 4 - Baroque

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1. Hooked On Baroque 2
2. Hooked On Adagio
3. Hooked On Gigue
4. Hooked On Fugue
5. Hooked On Handel
6. Hooked On Vivaldi
7. Hooked On Scarlatti
8. Hooked On Baroque 2 (Reprise)

Track listing - The Classics In Rhythm

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1. Symphony No. 5
2. William Tell Overture
3. Canon
4. The Phantom Of The Opera
5. In The Hall Of The Mountain King
6. Flight Of The Bumble Bee
7. Ode To Joy
8. Arrival Of The Queen Of Sheba / Brandenburg Concerto No.3
9. Aranjuez Mon Amour (Instrumental)
10. Post Horn Gallop
11. Toccata And Fugue In D Minor
12. Sabre Dance