Today's playlist. This 26th installment features "Trax Records".
I bought it at Flash Disc Ranch, my favorite record store in Shimokitazawa.
This is a record store I've been going to ever since I first moved to Setagaya. It's popular because of its amazing point card system, which is valid as long as the store is open. Once you collect 50 stamps, you can buy any number of records under 15,000 yen for half price.
The origins of house music: the glorious legend of TRAX Records
Known as the birthplace of house music, TRAX Records is one of the most valuable brands in the genre, often referred to as the Motown of the genre. It remains independent today, and its legacy continues to exert a significant influence on electronic music styles worldwide.
The birth of TRAX Records and the rise of house music
Trax Records began when Larry Sherman purchased a record plant called Precision Pressing in Chicago. Afterward, ambitious young people gathered there, eager to record their own music. This marked the beginning of a youth explosion of house music in Chicago.
Rachel Kane (aka Screamin' Rachel), one of the first artists signed by TRAX Records, went on to sign with Germany's Teledec (a subsidiary of Universal), becoming the first house artist to sign with a major label. Her dedication and commitment to the TRAX label led to the release of classics such as "Acid Tracks" by Phuture, "No Way Back" by Adonis, and "Move Your Body" by Marshall Jefferson, propelling a revolution in house music.
The spread of house sound
Screamin' Rachel, along with Larry Sherman, helped spread the house sound to New York and then to Europe. In 1987, she recorded "Fun with Bad Boys" with her friend and mentor, Bronx-based DJ/producer Afrika Bambaataa, creating the hip house sound.
Today, Rachel Kane is known as the "Queen of House Music" and is the owner and president of TRAX LTD. She produces films and soundtracks with talented director Eric Rivas, which are distributed through channels such as Sony Orchard. Their work can be viewed on most digital platforms, including Amazon.
The modern influence of house music
House music continues to thrive within mainstream pop culture. Popular artists today, such as Kanye West and Drake, increasingly sample singles from TRAX Records. MTV also uses samples of TRAX artists in its national TV commercials. DJ/producer David Guetta, who has been dubbed the "Godfather of House Music" by house fans worldwide, has admitted that TRAX's "Love Can't Turn Around" is one of his favorite tracks and his initial inspiration. More recently, Beyoncé and Drake have also produced house music albums.
WAITER-U offers not only camping gear, but also a curated selection of music, books, and movies.
I've also created a playlist on Spotify, so please feel free to listen to it in the car on your way to a camping trip.
