Dance Mania to receive two-disc retrospective on Strut

The UK’s finest crate-diggers go deep into the vaults of the pioneering Chicago label.

Dance Mania: Hardcore Traxx, Dance Mania Records 1986 – 1997 is a two-disc set that charts the growth of Dance Mania from its early, disco-indebted house records through Chicago’s acid trax phase, and into the sound that would become it’s trademark: raw and raunchy ghetto house.

Due out in January 2014 via Strut, and produced in association with the recently-relaunched Dance Mania, the compilation was assembled by Conor Keeling with help from Ransom Note’s Miles Simpson. Keeling is the DJ behind the excellent Daft Punk Teachers mix, a collection of influences that is heavy with Dance Mania artists. The physical release will be joined by a full label history, rare photos, and artist interviews by Chicago’s own Chrissy Murderbot.

The tracklist is below, and features everything from Hercules’ seminal ‘7 Ways’ to Parris Mitchell Project’s ‘Ghetto Shout Out!!’ to Traxmen & Eric Martin’s ‘Hit It From The Back’. Incidentally, there is a bit of overlap with FACT’s Essential… Dance Mania. For their part, the Parris Mitchell and Ray Barney-led Dance Mania has some more reissues in store this year.

Tracklist

CD 1

1. Hercules – 7 Ways (Club)
2. Victor Romeo featuring Leatrice Brown – Love Will Find A Way (Club)
3. The House Master Boyz And The Rude Boy Of House – House Nation
4. Duane & Co – J.B. Traxx
5. Vincent Floyd – I Dream You
6. Da Posse featuring Martell – Searchin’ Hard
7. Club Style – Crazy Wild
8. Jammin’ The House Gerald – Black Women (Club)
9. Tyree – Nuthin’ Wrong
10. Strong Souls – Twinkles
11. 3.2.6 – Falling (Armando’s House mix)
12. Rhythm II Rhythm – A Touch Of Jazz (Lifestyles Of The Rich mix)

CD 2

1. DJ Funk – House the Groove
2. Paul Johnson – Feel My M.F. Bass
3. DJ Funk – The Original Video Clash: Video Clash II (Street mix)
4. Parris Mitchell Project feat. Wax Master – Ghetto Shout Out!!
5. DJ Deeon – Da Bomb
6. Houz’ Mon – Fear The World
7. Vincent Floyd – I’m So Deep
8. Tim Harper – Toxic Waste (Club mix)
9. Robert Armani – Ambulance
10. DJ Deeon – House-O-Matic
11. Traxmen & Eric Martin – Hit It From The Back
12. Top Cat – Work Out