Browse by Label: Z RECORDS (UK)

Artist:	JOEY NEGRO AND SEAN P.
Title:	The Soul Of Disco
Label:	Z RECORDS (UK)
Format:	2CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	ZEDD 007CD

Reissue of a long out-of-print 2005 Z Records fave. Disco got soul! As all fans of the music know, disco was a musical umbrella under which so much was possible. There were no restrictions on style or tempo -- it had to have a beat for dancing... other than that, the only other prerequisite was that it had to be DISCO. Its early commercial successes -- records by George McCrae, Gloria Gaynor, Disco Tex and Andrea True were as varied as you like, but there's no denying where their collective heart lay. Towards the late '70s, disco became a marketing man's dream and virtually every other musical form received the disco treatment, usually with disastrous results. A dedicated contingent were, however, more interested in the R&B aspects of the music than its Euro leanings and many disco-influenced soul records appeared (mainly from the U.S.) alongside Euro-disco and pop-disco. The northern and modern soul scenes in the UK were generally good for filtering out a certain style of soulful disco. Records favored on these scenes were invariably more song-oriented, with an emphasis on quality vocals. The more soulful and stylish, the better. On The Soul Of Disco, UK crate-diggers Joey Negro and Sean P. uncover some of the lesser-known, but equally deserving tracks from the disco days, with original 12" versions and some exclusive DJ re-edits by Joey Negro himself. With the exception of one semi-instrumental, the tracks here are largely bound by an accessible earthiness, rawness, funkiness, and, in the case of a few, downright soulfulness. Disco's influence was such that, of course, it's still shaping music 30 years after it broke into the mainstream. The Soul Of Disco attempts to shine the spotlight on the less obvious side of the genre, for today's listeners... and a few first-timers. This collection spans the years 1976-1982, with an R&B slant and more song-based material, and is intended to show that there were a few more sides to one of the last century's biggest musical phenomena. Tracks by Tenderness, Jesse G, Disco Fox, Eddie Chiba, Aura, Milton Hamilton, Masterforce, Velvet Hammer, Jeany Tracy, Chain Reaction, Eastside Connection, King Tutt, Jahneen, Sandi Havens, Letta Mbulu, The Sparkles, Laura Greene, Natural Order, Mahogany, The New Yorkers, Sargeant And Malone, Zebra, and Le Frank O.

Artist:	NEGRO, JOEY
Title:	Locked In The Vinyl Cellar
Label:	Z RECORDS (UK)
Format:	2CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	ZEDD 015CD

Joey Negro is one of the UK's best loved connoisseurs of house, disco, funk, soul and everything in between and is renowned for pushing the boundaries when it comes to delivering amazing DJ sets featuring rediscovered gems. With an obsession for vinyl collecting and crate digging, Joey has locked himself in his very own music vault and surfaced with an amazing collection of specially chosen nuggets for his brand new Locked In The Vinyl Cellar compilation series for Z Records. Having blown off the dust and adding a sprinkling of studio magic, Joey unearths a vast selection of dancefloor classics on this double CD oozing with an array of soul-drenched funk, disco, reggae and house jewels, essential for any music lover. He kicks off the album with the hilarious Disco Dick track "DIY Disco," then follows on with "Slip Your Disc To This" from the music genius behind many a Michael Jackson hit, Rod Temperton, with his disco band Heatwave. Other highlights include the super funky "Maxx Axe" from George Clinton collaborator Roger Troutman, the obscure Brit-funk from The Oceans, the sublime boogie of Trentemøller's "Le Champagne" and the impeccable jazz sounds from Australia's best-known jazz band, Galapagos Duck. If that's not enough to blow your mind, on CD2 Joey gets busy in the studio and toys with a selection of tunes from the album, offering a selection of exclusive re-edits, including extra tracks from Le Cop with "Le Rock" and Alan Kaufman's "Ivory Fantasy." It all adds up to an eclectic selection of specially chosen gems, compiled with love, devotion and humor from Joey Negro. Other artists include New Deep Society, L.E.B Harmony, Mohjah, JamNowGen, George Soule, Tom Moulton, Coldcut, Lisa Stansfield, Marly Duffy & Joe Jones and more.

Artist:	NEGRO AND THE SUNBURST BAND, JOEY
Title:	The Remixes
Label:	Z RECORDS (UK)
Format:	2CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	ZEDD 016CD

This double CD collects remixes of The Sunburst Band produced by Joey Negro and others. The Sunburst Band have built up a strong following with a sound that has been compared to Earth Wind and Fire and a style that combines the great feel good vibes of boogie and disco, but putting them in a modern setting. This double CD collects the best remixes of songs from the previous 3 albums (many of which were vinyl only) by the likes of Dennis Ferrer, Henrik Schwarz, Milton Jackson, IG Culture, Yam Who, Grant Nelson, Simon Grey, Audiowhores, Electrons, Idjut Boys, and Joey Negro himself -- as well as adding brand new reworks from Cool Million, Recloose, Kaje Trackheads, DJ Meme, Domu and The Revenge that are exclusive to the package. Whereas the band's sound is generally very organic, with live instrumentation aplenty, these remixes are more electronic and synthesized -- ranging from deep, techy, broken beat, to straight-up disco house and downtempo boogie. The release of their debut album Here Comes The Sunburst Band won critical acclaim with both old school heads as well as nu breed disco and house fans. Tracks like "Garden Of Love" and "Delicious" became scene classics, championed by DJs from Pete Tong to 4 Hero to Dimitri From Paris. The follow-up, Until The End Of Time, featured cuts like "Far Beyond" and soul anthem "Everyday." 2008's Moving With The Shakers was widely regarded as the best CD of the year within the modern soul/jazz funk scene. These Sunburst remixes have all been supported by the likes of Carl Craig, Groove Armada, Glenn Underground, Roger Sanchez, Laurent Garnier, Prins Thomas and more.

Artist:	NEGRO, JOEY
Title:	The Many Faces Of Joey Negro Volume Two
Label:	Z RECORDS (UK)
Format:	2CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	ZEDD 017CD

Many Faces Vol. Two showcases some of the best productions from the UK's Dave Lee aka Joey Negro, predominantly covering the last 18 months of studio work, but also featuring some classic tracks from his catalog. The 2CD features full-length versions, many never available on an unmixed CD before, making this a great value purchase for both the digital enthusiast and vinyl hoarder alike. Tracks exclusive to this album include the druggy underground "Sax My Bitch Up," a taster of Akabu's debut album to come in 2010. "Beyond The Dance" sees new material from Joey Negro getting deep with this mid-tempo chugger, and David Penn remixes the classic track from '98, "Can't Get High Without U" into a minimal tech-influenced main-room monster. Other highlights from CD1 include Joey Negro's revamped take on "Love Hangover," this time with Diane Charlemagne (Goldie, Inner City Life/52nd Street) on vocals, the recently massive old school house of "Ride The Rhythm," the stomping Philly disco from Doug Willis in the shape of "Nu Dimension," a new edit of "Rough Times," one of the standout tracks from the Sunburst Band album Moving With The Shakers, and the big, bass line-driven "We'll Keep Climbing" under Dave's Z Factor guise. CD2 highlights the breadth of remixes that have been commissioned for release on Dave's Z Records imprint, as well as some of his own remixes for other labels. Highlights here have to be the undiscovered Marshall Jefferson gem from '88 which Joey faithfully brings into the digital age, Dennis Ferrer's deep take on "Journey To The Sun," the vinyl-only dub mix from Henrik Schwarz, Jimpster at his very best taking on Akabu, and Joey showing why he is still a very much in-demand remixer with his rework of Roisin Murphy. Finally, "We Rap More Mellow" was one of the tracks Dave Lee released on his Republic Records in the late-'80s. Originally from 1979, here Grandmaster Flash appears with his fellow MCs Cowboy, Melle Mel, Raheem, and King Creole under their pre-Furious Five moniker, The Younger Generation. Dave remixed/edited the track a couple of years ago, adding much-needed breaks with extra keys and solos, giving it a more jazzy feel. Other artists include: Sessomatto, DJ Spen, Dave Spoon, Mark Grant, Nicola Fasano, Kaje Trackheadz, and Conan Liquid.

Artist:	AKABU
Title:	The Phuture Ain't What It Used To Be
Label:	Z RECORDS (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$15.50
Catalog #:	ZEDD 020CD

The debut album from Akabu is a retrospective yet futuristic delivery from Dave Lee, inspired by over 20 years in dance music's history and touching on live instrumentation, contemporary sounds and dexterous electronic craftsmanship. Akabu is the deep house pseudonym of British DJ/producer/remixer Dave Lee, who has released under a plethora of other monikers, including Joey Negro, Jakatta, Doug Willis, Raven Maize, The Sunburst Band, Sessomatto, and Z Factor. Dave was one of the first artists to incorporate disco samples in house music when he began his production career in 1990. Fast forward 20 years and little has changed -- Dave is still experimenting with new techniques, taking inspiration from new artists and using this knowledge of the past in new, original creations. The Phuture Ain't What It Used To Be is an ode to an inert love of electronica, "I wanted to call on the first wave of deep, warm, acidic house like Marshall Jefferson and Larry Heard as an influence, combined with some of the contemporary stuff I like such as Carl Craig, Jimpster, Martin Buttrich," explains Dave. Revisiting the sound of some of his first productions back in the late '80s, such as "Ride The Storm" and "Phuture Bound," whose Âme remix took the track to a new level, Akabu's The Phuture Ain't What It Used To Be explores the electrifying analog sounds of Dave Lee. The album features collaborations with Norway's Boomclap Bachelors on "You Want It All" which has been supported by everyone from Gilles Peterson and Ewan Pearson to Groove Armada and Laurent Garnier. André Lodemann gets involved on the cinematic "Another World" while Johnny Dangerous aka Foremost Poets adds his quirky vocals to "Crystalized." Incognito front-man Tony Momrelle features on the beautiful, deep Stevie Wonder-ish "Life Is So Strange," Paris-based Canadian blues singer Tanya Michelle features on "Behind The Mask" and Joel Edwards guests on the title track. Expect this album to appeal to lovers of more musical house music, those who want a modern-sounding CD that stands up at home or in the car as well as on the dancefloor.

Artist:	JD73
Title:	Pure Gold
Label:	Z RECORDS (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$15.50
Catalog #:	ZEDD 021CD

Dan Goldman aka JD73 is a multi-talented producer/keyboardist/multi-instrumentalist hailing from Leeds, UK. JD73 encompasses a myriad of influences from boogie to funk through soul and disco to more twisted and broken/electronic/popular styles, incorporating a bit of everything else along the way. This album will definitely appeal to fans of Reel People, Incognito and The Sunburst Band. During the mid-'90s, Dan played keys for Corrine Bailey Rae as well as keyboard and bass sessions for Morcheeba on four albums, co-wrote tunes on Morcheeba's Dive Deep album, played sessions and co-wrote with Nightmares On Wax on the Thought So album, while also remixing and sessioning for The New Mastersounds and for many more acts, too, including playing live with the Jamiroquai band musicians for a series of gigs in Cambridge in 2007. Pure Gold, the hotly-anticipated second JD73 album is now complete and ready to take the world by storm, featuring a broad mix of world-class UK vocal talent including Nate James, Fraser, Lana, Miss Modest, John McCallum and Fuzzy Jones. From the sunny, strutting vibe of "Be Mine" featuring Lana, the seductive charm of Nate James' soulful inflection on "Written In The Stars" and the soul-funk of "Pure Gold" featuring Miss Modest, this is one album that does exactly what it says. Herbie Hancock, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, and Sun Ra would all be proud. Funk infused electro-jazz is alive.

Artist:	NEGRO, JOEY
Title:	The Soul Of Disco Volume 3
Label:	Z RECORDS (UK)
Format:	2LP
Price:	$31.00
Catalog #:	ZEDD 022LP

Deluxe gatefold 2LP version. Following on from Backstreet Brit Funk (ZEDD 018CD), the ever-popular Soul Of Disco series returns for a third thrilling installment and the general consensus is that this is the strongest volume yet. Compiled by unashamed musical trainspotter Dave Lee (aka Joey Negro), this selection is the fruit of some serious digging -- both in the real world and online. Conceptually, the Soul Of Disco albums are about showcasing the blacker, funkier end of the disco spectrum where the 4/4 groove collided with the musical sensibility of Philly and Motown. Musically, this collection offers a wide variety of styles within the parameters of soulful disco. As always with Z Records, the masters sound as good as possible.

Artist:	REVENGE, THE
Title:	Reekin'Structions by The Revenge
Label:	Z RECORDS (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$15.50
Catalog #:	ZEDD 023CD

The Revenge finally delivers his debut album for Z Records. He has been crowned the king of the edit, quickly reaching dizzying heights in recent years, conquering a style that escapes labeling. His engineering experience has been turned to material for Mark E, Jisco, Under The Shade and Fine Art Recordings and his collaborative projects include Deportivo Street Team, OOFT!, Cronk Family Enterprises, The Hong Kong Micros and 6th Borough Project. Now harboring production skills for over 15 years, Graeme Clark continues to put his fingers to work on a variety of projects in the studio. Featuring 10 reconstructed productions, Reekin'Structions glistens with a silvery sheen and masters a standout soundtrack to satisfy all manner of music lovers. Bubbling with sultry, soulful vocals, brass-funk solos and inspired dancefloor moments, The Revenge illustrates his talent for reinvention and reaffirms why he has become a spearhead for a new musical trend. This supple and tactile collection of tracks approaches sounds of the past and creates new inspiration for the future. Fashioning Mid-Air classics in the style of Metro Area, adding pace and glamour to The Joneses' "Summer Groove" and setting Velvet Hammer in a luminous, filtered-disco ball of light, The Revenge showcases a deep passion and understanding for music and constructs an imaginative, breathing body of work that is sure to find favor where it lands. The Revenge has trailblazed a movement towards reinventing the music of the past 20 years. Embracing pure disco-heads, funk fanatics, soul worshippers and all contemporary electronic music lovers, Reekin'Structions marks the rise of The Revenge as one of the pioneers of a generation, rediscovering classic moments from decades gone and refreshing them through his individual interpretation. Other edited artists include: Johnny Adams, Sargeant & Malone, Chapter Three, Electric Smoke, Letta Mbulu, Vance & Suzanne and Nel Oliver.

Artist:	DJ RED GREG
Title:	Under The Influence Volume One: A Collection Of Rare Soul
Label:	Z RECORDS (UK)
Format:	2CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	ZEDD 024CD

...& Disco. Z Records continue to release high-quality compilations filled with lesser-known disco, funk and boogie. Now they launch a new compilation series named Under The Influence. The story behind UTI is this: being a seasoned record collector, Z label boss Dave Lee (Joey Negro) has made the acquaintance of many of the world's other vinyl junkies -- people that may be unknown to the general public but are hardcore enthusiasts who have built some of the best collections of soul, funk and disco on the planet. Volume 1 has been compiled by DJ Red Greg aka Darren Griffiths, a familiar face across the world at record fairs and second hand vinyl stores, as well as a DJ putting on his own Ebonite nights in Dalston (and playing in parties in the UK as well as Paris and NYC). Unlike many reissue comps, it's doubtful there will be anyone who picks up this CD and looks through the track list and has the all the songs contained. This selection is the result of years of digging, buying records on a hunch, acquiring a few turkeys to find the gems. Check his sleeve notes out for some detailed analysis and history. As always with Z Records, they've spent time and money to make the masters sound as good as possible. A word from Red Greg: "When pulling together some ideas for this compilation, it became apparent that so many superb soul and disco records of the late '70s, early '80s simply vanished into obscurity, due to the lack of finance, multi-million dollar recording studios or the promotional power of the major labels. Clearly influenced by the disco R&B sound of the time, smaller independent releases struggled to get their sound across to the mainstream and as a result, never received the success they deserved. From the raw and gritty to the gloriously orchestrated, by no means was their sound inferior to the great classics from the likes of Prelude, Westend or Salsoul, but yet many went unnoticed outside of their hometowns. With the classics and major label releases from the past still dominating the market today, it seemed only fair to delve into some of these lesser-known recordings for this series. From hidden B-sides to overlooked album tracks, my Under The Influence album showcases a collection of these under-exposed gems, finally giving them the attention they deserve. All have been favorites of mine in recent years and previously unavailable on CD or digitally, until now." Artists include: Donnell Pitman, Lo-End, Beckie Bell, Seaquence, Panache, Andy Crown, Free Spirit, Sophisticated Ladies, The Vandales, Sir Ted Ford, Chain Reaction, Aged In Harmony, Rim & Kasa, K.I.C., Arthur King, Percy & Them, Lafayette Street, New Love Ltd & Interstate 95, Miss Misty, Thunderbolt, Del Richardson, Jim Manns, Carl Marshall & The S.D's and Star Quad.

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