Strut returns, but where?

So we're expected to be able to get hold of a "fresh of the factory" classic Strut compilation without searching the second hand and used market, great news! But how? They are nowhere to be found.

Last summer it was announced in "selected" (read: magazines in print) publications that Strut would return, it would have Grandmaster Flash on its roster, its catalog would get the re-issue treatment and its first new release of 2008 would be a "disco, Not disco" type of compilation.

In the last ... few months I searched and searched for more information and all I could find is the news about it, all hype, no evidence, even the original Strut website URL is still for sale (as of January 2008), since there was nothing to substantiate it, didn't even bother to mention it and that was in July 2007.

Since Strut has been acquired by K7! home of the highly respected "DJ Kicks" series, I went on their website, nope, nothing to be found.

Strut was notable for and a precursor to quality rare disco compilation cds starting in 1999, today, used copies are very pricy. When they folded in 2003, numerous labels entered the rare disco compilation cd trend.

They say patience is a virtue, fine, but my excitement wore off.


Image source: Strut's Danny Krivit Grass Roots at Amazon

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Net radio backlashes at major record labels

UpstageRadio.com participated in the "Day of Silence" on Tuesday, June 26th 2007, the next step is the deletion of thousands of songs from major record labels.

"There will be no U2, no Beatles, no Rolling Stones," said Gary Wien, program director for the net radio station Upstage Radio. "I'm taking many of my favorite artists out of the rotation. Once I learned about the new royalty proposals I made the decision that I would no longer buy records from major labels. Why give them more of my money when they're trying to put stations like mine out of business? I'd estimate that Upstage Radio has spent between $10-15,000 on major label records through the years to build up the station's catalog, but they won't get a dime more from us. It's sad that many artists thought online radio stations were trying to protest paying royalties when we've been paying all along; What we're protesting is the way the RIAA is trying to kill online radio in favor of big, corporate radio stations. And since the record industry is showing their support of the big guys, we're going to show our support for the little guys... "

UpstageRadio.com will still play artists from independent record labels because they generally support online radio and recognize the importance of internet radio stations. Wien estimates that about half of the 22,000 songs in the station database are major label artists who will no longer be part of the rotation, but he's looking forward to the challenge of creating a great station with indie artists.

UpstageRadio.com

Source: PRWeb

Editor's note: In 2007, there's so many new acts, new musicians around while the majors are trying to feed us pre-packaged dolls and puppets who know nothing about music, the timing is absolutely perfect, the majors can't stop fans from discovering indie artists on MySpace, absolutely nothing, unless they sign them all up.

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Blaze's Kevin Hedges leaves West End Records, Cheren retires

We do not know yet why Mel Cheren retired and what will happen next at West End Records. Here are excerpts from Kevin Hedges' farewell ...

"It is with sadness that we announce the retirement of a music industry legend, Mr. Mel Cheren, b.k.a. Uncle Mel."

"Mel's retirement saddens me because I will miss our daily conversations and his gentle management style. However, I am taking all that he has taught me and applying it to our new company, Blaze Imprints. With this new label, my team, Josh Milan and I will strive to continue to find, produce and distribute the very best Soul Music we can create and discover." ...

Blaze has remixed Dreamgirls "Family" recently with the fabulous voice of Jennifer Hudson

Blaze Imprints

UPDATE: Mel passed away December 7th 2007

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Hed Kandi flying high

Da plane! da plane! Herve Villechaize would have said. Hed Kandi now have their own plane to fly clubbers from the UK to the islands of Ibiza.

Hed Kandi has long been famed for its glamour and extravagance but never more than now, as they boldly tread where no music brand has gone before with their very own aircraft. Their summer partnership with Monarch is a truly inspired alliance, which marks a first for both brands.

The stunning aircraft was unveiled on Friday 27th April 2007 at London ... Luton Airport for its inaugural flight and will be taking to the skies over the coming months as part of this sensational summer deal.

High quality, low cost flights, from 4 major UK airports, means you can travel in style to the white isle, with prices starting from as little as £38.99 (one way including all taxes and web booking discount). Hed Kandi CDs will be available to buy on all Monarch flights and Ministry Of Sound radio will be just a touch of a button away as you prepare for, or wind down from, the holiday of a lifetime.

Monarch flights to Ibiza from Manchester commence on 19 May. Flights from Birmingham, London Luton and London Gatwick commence on 24 May 2007

All about it at FlyKandi.com

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50 years of Stax in Memphis June 22nd 2007

Isaac Hayes, Booker T & the MGs, Eddie Floyd, William Bell, Mavis Staples, Mable John, the Soul Children and Angie Stone. Additional Stax stars and special guests will be announced shortly.

In an unparalleled celebration of Stax Records' 50th anniversary, the heart and soul of the legendary label's lineup will reunite onstage for "50 Years of Stax: A Concert To Benefit the Stax Museum of American Soul Music." The event will be held Friday, June 22 at Memphis' Orpheum Theater at the foot of Beale Street...
Founded by Jim Stewart (the "ST") in 1957, and co-owned by Estelle Axton (the "AX"), Stax's contribution to popular music, both sonically and socially, continues to be felt to this day. Stax, a racially integrated label in a then notoriously segregated city, released hit after hit from such seminal soul artists as Otis Redding, Booker T & the MGs, the Bar-Kays, Isaac Hayes, Sam & Dave, the Staple Singers, Rufus and Carla Thomas, Eddie Floyd, Johnnie Taylor, and William Bell amongst many, many others.

The Stax studio, in a cavernous former theatre with a sloping floor, featured an atypical layout with no directly parallel surfaces where soundwaves would "ping pong" around the room, resulting in a very live, reverberant sound. The Stax studio sonics-- combined with the prominent use of horns, a heavy gospel influence, uniquely emotional vocal deliveries, and a delayed backbeat-- resulted in what came to be recognized as the "Stax Sound."

The Stax Sound defined such classic compositions as "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay," "Respect Yourself," "Hold On I'm Comin'," "Mr. Big Stuff," "Soul Man," "Green Onions," "Knock on Wood" and "I'll Take You There."

This year, on Stax's 50th anniversary, Concord Music Group announced the relaunch of Stax Records as the creative home for present-day soul stars (Angie Stone, Soulive, Lalah Hathaway and Leon Ware), alongside heritage artists such as Isaac Hayes, who has now returned to the label home of his hits. Throughout the year,Stax is participating in a reissue campaign that includes the just released "Stax 50th Anniversary Celebration" 2 CD Deluxe Box, new individual artist "Best Of" CDs, and many rare or currently unavailable Stax albums, from such artists as Carla Thomas, the Staples Singers, Booker T and the MGs, Isaac Hayes and much more.

Isaac Hayes, a key artist both in Stax's past and future, adds: "I am excited to be part of this concert . . .it will be like old times!""

Tickets for the "50 Years of Stax" show go on sale on Monday, May 7, and may be purchased at Ticketmaster.

Source: PR Web

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Mel Cheren's life in a doc coming near you

Largery inspired by Mel Cheren's autobiography "My Life and the Paradise Garage: Keep On Dancin", The documentary "The Godfather of Disco (G.O.D.)" offers a "mesmerizing overview of the rise and fall of '70s-era dance music," according to Max Sparber of the Pulse of the Twin Cities (4/18/07).

Through a series of interviews with a who's who of the dance music community, G.O.D. uses the arc of Mel's life to examine the early 70s musical and cultural currents that gave birth to disco, West End Records' contribution to that scene, the rise of the Paradise Garage, and the onslaught of HIV/Aids and its impact on New York City. It look at Mel's activist years as he harnesses the power of music to fight Aids via his charity work for GMHC and 24hrs for Life/LifeBEAT.

Gene Graham, director of "The Godfather of Disco (G.O.D.)" says:

"Through it all, Mel has been there, done that, lived to tell the tale and continues to do it all today. Pioneer, activist, survivor, Mel Cheren is The Godfather of Disco. I'm happy to report that the editing is complete and the response has been very positive"

On Thursday April 26th, The Godfather of Disco had its World Premiere at the 2007 Minneapolis/St. Paul International Film Festival. Gene Graham received their Emerging Filmmaker Award.

For upcoming screening schedule, additional info and film clips - QuickTime player's latest version required -
go to www.thegodfatherofdiscodoc.com

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Strictly Rhythm reissues on Defected

Defected started re-issuing Strictly Rhythm's classic catalog last January, here are the first 20 classics now available again on vinyl and downloads...

1. Aly Us Follow Me
2. Armand Van Helden Witch Doktor
3. Black Magic (MAW production) Freedom
4. Code 718 (Danny Tenaglia) Equinox
5. Erick “More” Morillo Dancin'
6. George Morel Morel's Grooves 4
7. Hardrive (Louie Vega) Just Believe
8. Lil Mo Yin Yang (Louie Vega & Erick Morillo) Reach
9. Logic Blues For You
10. Michael Moog That Sound
11. Mone (Brian Tappert and Roy Grant) We Can Make It
12. Photon Inc Generate Power
13. Phunkie Souls (Richard F) Tha Music
14. Robbie Rivera Feel This
15. Sessions No.9 (Tedd Patterson) Welcome to the Magic Sessions
16. South St Player Who Keeps Changin Your Mind?
17. The Believers (Roy Davis Jr.) Who Dares To Believe In Me?
18. The Boss (David Morales) Congo
19. Underground Solution (Roger Sanchez) Luv Dancin'
20. Wink (Josh Wink) Higher State Of Conciousness

By March 19th 2007, there will be 61 Strictly Rhythm classics available, see the whole listing here at Defected.com

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UK djs with good music taste wanted by Hed Kandi

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House music on its way out

Have you heard the latest Hed Kandi compilation, the "disco" one...

What they did is remixing last year's hits electro style.

I almost fell for it, I'm digging electro a lot lately.

Hed Kandi are recycling last year's "categorized as house" records and repackaging them with an electro sound, whether we like that or not proves one thing. House will be dead soon.

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