Leading up to the foundational Motor City guitarist's new self-titled solo album, Detroit's own House Shoes takes us on a journey through Dennis Coffey's history of funk.  Including the psychedelic b-boy soul of Coffey's 70's solo material, classic recordings on which he recorded as a sessions musician, hip-hop cuts which have sampled his material, and even a couple of sneak peaks at the new album's music, Constellations is 45 minutes of straight heat, mixed by a master DJ intimately acquainted with Coffey's legacy, and his future.

Constellations - The A to Z of Dennis Coffey:A Mix By House Shoes
RECORDED AT SOUNDMATIC BY RHETTMATIC



Constellations - The A to Z of Dennis Coffey: A Mix By House Shoes

Taken from Strut's comprehensive retrospective of the hugely influential Fania Records, 'Pa' Bravo Yo' is one of the biggest hits vocalist Justo Betancourt achieved on the label.  An infectious cut lead by his deep vocal, the song first appeared on his 1972 album of the same name.  Fania Records 1964 - 1980: The Original Sound of Latin New York will be out March 29th on Strut, featuring a 32-page booklet including a full Fania label history, memorabilia, album artwork and many previously unseen photos from the Fania archive.

Justo Betancourt- Pa' Bravo Yo (From Fania Records 1964 - 1980)

One of 26 tracks available on the <a href="http://georiot.co/3TgR">Strut Africa</a> sampler on iTunes.

Taken from the album Inspiration Information by Mulatu Astatke & The Heliocentrics, "Esketa Dance" is one of the songs included on our Strut Africa collection, which also features music from legends including Ebo Taylor, Orchestre Poly-Rythmo, Tony Allen, and more. 

For a limited time, the original albums on which these songs appear are also available for at a special discounted rate. Happy holidays from the Strut crew!

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Inspiration Information 3

Dewel

Mulatu Astatke & The Heliocentrics - Esketa Dance (Strut Africa)

Order Hardcore Traxx: Dance Mania Records out now on Strut Records.
<a href="http://georiot.co/gWe">iTunes</a> • <a href="http://georiot.co/3R0B">Amazon</a> • <a href="http://bit.ly/DanceMania_StrutStore">Strut Store</a>

The distinctive synth sound that kicks off this track should be familiar to fans of classic house music. They've been sampled, mixed, and remixed countless times. DJ Funk's 1995 version is build from Lil' Louis' 1988 track "The Original Video Clash" (also released on Dance Mania) though a debate over Louis' involvement in the original production continues to be fought on blogs and YouTube comment sections. We're happy just to dance to Funk's faster, bass'd up take on a true Chicago house classic.
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DJ Funk - "The Original Video Clash: Video Clash II" (Street Mix) [Dance Mania Records]

Order Hardcore Traxx: Dance Mania Records out now
 on Strut Records.
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"Feel My M.F. Bass" is an indisputable dance classic from the peak of Dance Mania's reign. Still heard regularly on dancefloors, the track exemplifies the Dance Mania aesthetic of raw minimal production, explicit lyrics, jacked-up tempo, and a premium funk factor. 
 
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Paul Johnson - Feel My M.F. Bass [Dance Mania Records]

From the liner notes of our 2-disc Ebo Taylor retrospective, Life Stories:

Ebo acknowledges the influence of US jazz rockers Blood Sweat & Tears and
– less obviously, perhaps – Deep Purple on this easy going mid-tempo
piece, written a few years before it was recorded, when Osibisa and
various ‘blaxploitation’ themes were hip. “I was trying to fuse rock and jazz together with highlife,” Ebo recalls. “This kind of music was ahead of its time – not very popular when we recorded it!”

Life Stories

Peace On Earth

Ebo Taylor- Peace On Earth

From the upcoming album 'Jaiyede Afro' by Orlando Julius and The Heliocentrics, out September 8th on Strut. 
Pre-order now via iTunes and receive "Buje Buje" instantly: http://geni.us/JaiyedeAfro

Jake Ferguson of The Heliocentrics on "In The Middle:"
"We’ve all been big fans of James Brown since we’ve been involved in music and have played ‘In The Middle’ regularly on our live tours. It felt like a natural fit for the Orlando project, particularly as we have added an Afro swing to the track. We first played the track with Orlando at a London gig last year and he got into it in the studio straight away – his sax solo here was the very first take. James Brown and his band loved Orlando when they saw him play in Ibadan back in the ‘60s and the two of them met up and talked at J.B.’s hotel. So, for lots of reasons, this felt like a natural one to include.”

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More from Orlando Julius:
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https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Heliocentrics/159461737458324

Jaiyede Afro

In The Middle

Orlando Julius & The Heliocentrics - "In The Middle"

Dance Mania: Ghetto Madness
Out January 26 2015 on Strut
Order on iTunes: http://geni.us/DMGhettoMadness

Strut return to the archives of seminal Chicago house label Dance Mania in January for ‘Dance Mania: Ghetto Madness’. The follow-up to Strut’s acclaimed Dance Mania label retrospective ‘Hardcore Traxx’ from early 2014, this new installment places the spotlight on the raw, stripped back, hyper BPMs of ghetto house and the rise of the movement’s fresh generation of stars during the mid-‘90s including DJ Deeon, DJ Funk, Jammin’ Gerald and DJ Milton. 

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Paul Johnson - Give Me Ecstasy [from: Dance Mania - Ghetto Madness]

DJ Deeon - The Freaks [from: Dance Mania: Ghetto Madness]

From the self-titled album 'Pat Thomas & Kwashibu Area Band,' out June 15th on Strut. 

iTunes: http://geni.us/PatThomasKwashibu
Strut Store: http://bit.ly/PatThomasStrut

From the album liner notes:
‘Gyae Su’ is a rearrangement of an older song, with a guitar concept typical of the classic Kwa or Kumasi bands and an overall tropical style. Ebo Taylor’s horn arrangements evoke the classic Afro-funk vibe that he originally made famous. The lyrics are as catchy as they are plaintive, with Thomas comforting the listener, “Don’t cry! Life has its ups and downs. Just take it easy and don’t shed any tears.”

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Pat Thomas & Kwashibu Area Band

Gyae Su

Pat Thomas & Kwashibu Area Band - Gyae Su

From the self-titled album 'Pat Thomas & Kwashibu Area Band,' out June 15th on Strut.

iTunes: http://geni.us/PatThomasKwashibu
Amazon: http://geni.us/PatThomasAreaAMZ
Strut Store: http://bit.ly/PatThomasStrut

From the album liner notes:
An “Africo” crossover style typical of early 1970s Accra in the style of Osibisa and Alhaji K Frimpong. It's one of the most funky tracks on the album and features some superb harmonic and melodic touches. Thomas's lyrics are defiant: “This is my life, my turn. You can talk about all my problems and dance in my misery. But it's not going to be like that forever. You can talk all you want but things will always get better for me.”

The track features a yearning trumpet solo from another Ghanaian legend, Osei Tutu. Osei was a member of Hedzolleh Sounds and also played alongside Ebo and Pat in the Sweet Beans. 

Keep Up With The Band:
https://www.facebook.com/PatThomasKwashibu

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Me Ho Asem

FREE DOWNLOAD

Pat Thomas & Kwashibu Area Band - Me Ho Asem

New update of Ebo Taylor & Pat Thomas classic! Out on Strut July 10th (digital) and September 4th (12").

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Ene Nyame (Henrik Schwarz Blend)

Ebo Taylor / Pat Thomas / Henrik Schwarz - Ene Nyame 'A' Mensuro (Henrik Schwarz Blend)

Momoko Gill - 2close2farr

Momoko Gill - No Others

Momoko Gill - When Palestine Is Free

Azimuth

Nubiyan Twist - Azimuth

From the Gilles Peterson curated collection 'To Those Of Earth... And Other Worlds]
Out 30th October 2015 on Strut
Order: https://lnk.to/GillesSunRA

Originally released on the LP 'New Steps' (HDP 25-26). Written and Arranged by Sun Ra. Published by Enterplanetary Koncepts. Recorded in Rome, 2nd and 7th January 1978. 

Sun Ra: Crumar Mainman, keyboards, piano, vocals
Michael Ray: trumpet, vocals
John Gilmore: tenor saxophone, percussion, vocals
Luqman Ali: drums, vocals

From the album's liner notes:
In January 1978, Sun Ra brought a quartet to Italy. He bought himself a Crumar Mainman keyboard, then made two double albums in Rome. His new drummer, Luqman Ali, had been in the Arkestra in Chicago; Sun Ra hadn’t brought a bassist, so programmed some keyboard ostinatos; his trumpeter, Michael Ray, broke into stratospheric runs, battling John Gilmore in furious improvisations. Gilmore was closer to Coltrane now than ever been and they fittingly made a driving version of ‘My Favorite Things’. But laments like ‘When There Is No Sun’ are equally inspired.

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To Those Of Earth... And Other Worlds

Sun Ra Quartet - When There Is No Sun Feat. John Gilmore [To Those Of Earth... And Other Worlds]

Taken from 'Aloha Got Soul'
Out February 19th 2016 on Strut
Order: https://lnk.to/AlohaGotSoulSo

New Strut Records compilation documenting the vibrant soul, AOR, jazz funk and disco scene across Hawaii in 1979-1985. Despite great musicianship and high quality studios, many of the recordings never made it to the mainland. Compiler Roger Bong of Aloha Got Soul brings together 16 rare tracks on one album for the first time.

One of the leading bands from Hawaii's 1970s scene, Aura rose through the ranks in military clubs and similar venues. A family band consisting of eight siblings at its core, by the mid-1970s they had become the first local group to perform at the hottest disco in town, The Point After, where they remained the club’s headlining act for the next 10 years. 

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Aloha Got Soul

ORDER

Aura - Yesterday's Love [from Aloha Got Soul]

Taken from 'Aloha Got Soul'
Out March 18th 2016 on Strut
Order: https://lnk.to/AlohaGotSoulSo

New Strut Records compilation documenting the vibrant soul, AOR, jazz funk and disco scene across Hawaii in 1979-1985. Despite great musicianship and high quality studios, many of the recordings never made it to the mainland. Compiler Roger Bong of Aloha Got Soul brings together 16 rare tracks on one album for the first time.

“I was out in Venice with DJ Harvey," says Mark Barrott, "and "Kona Winds" came on the radio whilst we were sat by the beach having breakfast, looking at the early-morning surfers. I actually rang US directory assistance for the first and last time in my life to get the number of the station to get a track ID. I NEVER get bored of the spoken intro; last summer I was a little worse for wear in the middle of a DJ set by Es Vedra and I just looped the spoken intro and left it running for 30 mins… it sounded fine to me.”

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Marvin Franklin With Kimo And The Guys - Kona Winds

Mulatu Astatke - Mulatu (mono version)

Kondi Band - Yeanoh (Powe Handa Blingabe)

Strut (along w/ Knitting Factory in the US) are incredibly proud to present some of the first unheard Fela Kuti recordings in over 20 years. Recorded live in Detroit at the Fox Theater in 1986 on his debut tour with the new Egypt 80 band, these recordings put the listener in the place of the audience for a captivating performance from one of the most important artists of the 20th century. The album will be released internationally on Strut and in the US on Knitting Factory, as a 2xCD / 4xLP / digital set.

Fela Kuti & Egypt 80 - Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense - Live In Detroit (Edit)

http://www.strut-records.com/thisaintchicago/

Taken from the compilation This Ain't Chicago: The Underground Sound Of UK House & Acid, out July 10th on Strut.

Colm III - Take Me High (Mansion Mix)

The second volume of Danny Krivit's "Edits By Mr. K" series sees the master editor, DJ, and record collector dipping into his extensive crates to put his magic touch on personal favorites and floor fillers from the golden age of disco and soul.  On "(Do The) Spanish Hustle," Fatback Band's breakout hit from 1976, Krivit leads with the break, slowly building momentum until catharsis comes nearly four minutes into the track.  It's a driving, uptempo track which highlights the beginning of funk's evolution into disco, and a terrific slice of dance floor gold.  Edits By Mr. K Volume 2: Music Of The Earth comes out September 14th on Strut. 

Fatback Band- (Do The) Spanish Hustle (Danny Krivit Edit)

http://www.strut-records.com

Strut proudly presents the first definitive retrospective of two of the most influential names in Chicago house music: Cajmere and the seminal <a href="http://www.cajual.com/">Cajual Records</a> imprint. Here we offer one of the classics collected on the release, "Chit Chat," produced by Cajmere (born Curtis Jones, later known as Green Velvet). Originally released in 1992, Jones recalls that "Chit Chat always makes me think of Tony Humphries because he showed that song so much love. It’s really because of him that the song became as popular as it did.”

Only 4 U: The Sound Of Cajmere And Cajual Records 1992 - 2012 will be released October 30th on double CD, double LP, and digital download.

Pre-order:
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Only-Cajmere-Cajual-Various-Artists/dp/B008XRQUEW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1348506101&sr=8-1&keywords=cajual+only+4+u">Amazon</a> • <a href="http://www.juno.co.uk/ppps/products/466763-01.htm">Juno</a>

Cajmere - "Chit Chat" (Clubhouse Remix) [from Only 4 U: The Sound of Cajmere & Cajual Records]

A musician since the age of six, Ebo Taylor is one of the most achingly honest voices in African music.  His songs have a timeless quality to them, and continue to reach new audiences worldwide.  His album Love And Death on Strut will be his first internationally distributed solo album.  Backed by Berlin's Afrobeat Academy, the album is packed with pure fire from a true original.  Enjoy the title track.  More info at http://www.ebotaylor-loveanddeath.com

Love & Death

Love and Death

Ebo Taylor- Love And Death

Detroit Swindle meet legendary Ghanaian singer Pat Thomas, aka ‘the Golden Voice of Africa’. 

The Dutch duo and Heist label bosses combine their love of electronic music, disco and world grooves for a sumptuous remix, breaking the track down to its constituent parts to build a soulful Afro-disco groove based around bubbling synth bass, choppy percussion and lush chords - The perfect balance between rich African melodies and late night club production...

STRUT219S

Pat Thomas & Kwashibu Area Band - Yamona (Detroit Swindle remix)

Greg Foat - Nikinakinu

http://www.sofrito-tropicaldiscotheque.com/

Preview for Sofrito's Tropical Discotheque compilation on Strut, mixed by DJ Hugo Mendez.  For their debut compilation, Sofrito bring together 15 dynamite tropical grooves old and new ranging from raw cumbia, heavy Congolese soukous, bassline calypso and cosmic highlife.  The full compilation will be out in January on Strut.

1. Sabroso Bacalao - Adolfo Echeverria
2. Je ne bois pas Beaucoup - Les Ya Toupas du Zaire
3. Popilation Basse-Terrienne au abois - Ti Celeste
4. Pitchito - Frente Cumbiero
5. Ohue (Frankie Francis & SImbad Edit) - Victor Uwaifo
6. Arrete Mal Parlé - Fair Nick Stars
7. Carnival long ago - Roaring Lion

Sofrito: Tropical Discotheque

Je Ne Bois Pas Beaucoup

Sofrito: Tropical Discotheque mini-mix by DJ Hugo Mendez

http://www.strut-records.com

From the upcoming collaborative project from legendary reggae vocalist Cornell Campbell and the one of the UK's tightest groups Soothsays. Nothing Can Stop Us comes out this July on Strut.

The album is the first new installment in the acclaimed Inspiration Information studio collaboration series in over two years, with a superb new soundclash featuring sweet-voiced Jamaican legend Cornell Campbell and the excellent London-based reggae and Afro-dub collective, Soothsayers, led by Robin Hopcraft and Idris Rahman.

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Nothing Can Stop Us

With You My Heart Belongs

Cornell Campbell meets Soothsayers - "With You My Heart Belongs"

"Small Label Of The Year" at AIM Awards 2021. Beefing up your crates since the late 90's.

Popular tracks by Strut Records