Including Hip Hop Collected, Proper Grounds, Ray Charles, DMZ, La Bouche, Batmobile and Danger Danger amongst others.
This week we're bringing you great releases from eurodance to hip hop, metal and even soul. First off is the new Collected album, Hip Hop Collected. This 2LP showcases 25 early pioneers who participated in the rise of hip hop and is available as a limited edition of 5000 copies on red (LP1) and white (LP2) coloured vinyl. From hip hop to rap metal with Proper Grounds' first and last album Downtown Circus Gang available on vinyl for the first time. Glam metal band Danger Danger released their self-titled debut album in 1989, which is now in stores on flaming coloured vinyl. We'll continue in the rock 'n roll genre with the self-titled debut album by the Boston based garage band DMZ and the psychobilly kings from Batmobile with their Bail Was Set at $6,000,000. In addition, a classic from the Fifties; Ray Charles' What'd I Say features the same-titled hit and is now in stores. Then, for the Eurodance fans, the Greatest Hits of La Bouche is available on translucent red coloured vinyl.
To top it off are several releases on black vinyl: Armin van Buuren Embrace, Desmond Dekker Double Dekker, Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers Back In Your Life, Ry Cooder Chicken Skin Music, Serj Takian Imperfect Harmonies, The Maytals From The Roots, and the Original Soundtrack of The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader.
Below you can find more detailed info on the aforementioned releases.
Hip Hop Collected will take you on a musical journey through the history of hip hop. This 2LP covers the first 20 years of the genre, showcasing 25 early pioneers who participated in the rise of hip hop. This compilation features music from the new labels that started to rise from the underground scene, like Sugar Hill Records, Profile and of course Def Jam. Including artists that defined a genre, a lifestyle and most of all, artists that inspired millions of young kids with both socially critical lyrics as well as classic party anthems.
Desmond Dekker recorded some of his best known songs together with his backing group the Aces. Their track “Israelites” from 1968 became one of the earliest international reggae hits. Dekker's other hits include “007 (Shanty Town)”, “It Mek” and “You Can Get It”, which are all featured on the 1973 compilation album Double Dekker.
Producer Frank Farian, the man behind Boney M and Milli Vanilli, rolled out his '90s equivalent, La Bouche, in 1995. The German based Eurodance duo La Bouche featured vocalist Melanie Thornton and rapper Lane McCray. They gained international success in 1995 when the hit single “Be My Lover” reached the top of the charts.
Following their signing to Island Records in 1973 they recorded and released their fourth album From the Roots. The album was recorded with Leslie Kong and features some of The Maytals' most explosive tunes, while their predilection for gospel is still audible.
First-wave American punk rock band DMZ was formed during the late Seventies when vocalist Jeff Conolly stole the lead position by out-performing the previous lead vocalist. After signing with Sire Records, they recorded their debut album with Flo & Eddie. It was the only album they recorded in the original formation, because not long after releasing their debut album, the band split up.
Embrace is the sixth studio album by Dutch trance DJ and producer Armin van Buuren. The album features hits like “Another You (ft. Mr. Probz)”, “Off The Hook (ft. Hardwell)”, “Looking For Your Name (ft. Gavin DeGraw)” & “Heading Up High (ft. Kensington)”.
Legendary American musician Ry Cooder played together with the world's greatest artists, such as John Lee Hooker, The Rolling Stones, Van Morrison, Neil Young, and Eric Clapton. Chicken Skin Music was his fifth studio album. The title serves as a direct, simple description of the album's emotional appeal. For this record, Cooder decided to ignore traditional boundaries and instigated lasting cross-cultural communication through music, which was unusual for 1976.
Back in Your Life was released in 1979 under the Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers moniker. Half of the album features Jonathan playing solo and the other half The Modern Lovers are supporting him as a backup band.
With Bail Was Set at $6,000,000 Batmobile was looking for a sound that was more fitting to the live sound of that moment, something they always did when recording an album. The main difference with the previous albums was that they put more emphasis on the guitar, which led to a slightly heavier sound than Batmobile had before. The album itself contains songs that became long time live favorites such as “Kiss Me Now”, “Calamity Man” and the Motörhead cover “Ace of Spades”.
Proper Grounds was an alternative rap-metal band from Los Angeles that first formed in 1988. After being discovered by Madonna and signing to Maverick Records, they released their first and last studio album Downtown Circus Gang in 1993. Proper Grounds was able to merge the gritty realities of life on the street with the intensity and velocity of heavy metal.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is a 2010 fantasy-adventure film based on The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952), the third novel in C. S. Lewis's fantasy series The Chronicles of Narnia. Composer David Arnold scored the film, with themes composed by Harry Gregson-Williams.
The release of the 1959 Ray Charles album What'd I Say popularized Charles' first top 10 hit, “What I'd Say” and became his first Gold record. The tune was written on the fly by the American singer, songwriter, pianist and composer during a 1958 live show.
Formed in 1987, the American glam metal band Danger Danger from Queens, New York released their self-titled debut album in 1989. While touring with KISS, Alice Cooper, Warrant and Extreme, the band spawned two hits with “Naughty Naughty” and “Bang Bang”.
18-03-2022