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June 13, 2004
Soulful Strut
Damn, I'm behind the curve on this months-old news but I just learned that the awesome Strut Records label shut down operations last year. What a shame, Strut released some amazing records over the past several years...stuff like vintage 1970s Afro-funk, archaeological glimpses of the seminal work of early hip-hop and disco DJs, reissues of bands who became better-known through hip-hop's use of their breakbeats, and those excellent Disco Not Disco comps. I guess the label's demise helps explain why we saw a bunch of Strut CDs on sale for 1 to 3 pounds each at the FOPP store in Edinburgh. I bought a second copy of the great Blo CD reissue Phases 1972 - 1982 and will gladly trade it to someone for that Black Rio comp or something else I don't have. Actually, it looks like Dusty Groove has several of the Strut CDs on sale at cheap $6.99 - $8.99 prices. Anyway...rest in peace, Strut. Hopefully Soul Jazz and Stone's Throw will keep rockin' the groove-centric archivist beat in your absence.
Given all the music giants that have died during the last month, maybe I ought to be writing tributes to human beings instead of a record label. But others have written those obituaries in a more detailed and eloquent way than I ever could. Additional rest-in-peace shouts to Ray Charles, Robert Quine, Steve Lacy, and the one and only Elvin Jones.
Posted by Tim at June 13, 2004 08:44 PM
Comments
Dude, I'll buy that Blo CD from you.
Posted by: John loves "beerrr" at June 14, 2004 01:01 AM
Sold!
Posted by: Tim at June 14, 2004 11:40 AM
Whoa, that is terrible news re: Strut, they were a GREAT label. I better try to find those Disco Not Disco comps ASAP. Did they ever come out on Wax?
Posted by: ian at June 18, 2004 01:09 PM
I think at least Disco Not Disco 2 was supposed to have had a gatefold double vinyl edition but I don't remember ever seeing it...
Posted by: Tim at June 19, 2004 12:08 PM
Yes, the Disco Not Disco 2 did come out on vinyl, which I luckily have. Don't know about the first one, but I'm assuming it did.
Posted by: John at June 27, 2004 04:36 PM