Best Of 2016: Reissue Singles
The 50 Best Albums of 2016
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The reissue market has grown considerably in the last few years thanks to the resurgence of vinyl. However, this year has seen an explosion in the number of singles reissued - mostly 12 inches but some 7s and 10s too. As well as the choice disco reissues which have been popular over the last few years, we definitely saw an increase in classic house reissues - several Trax releases (from quality masters this time, apparently) and some selected 12s on labels such as Fourth Floor, Large, Dance Mania and many more. Far too many to feature it and far too many records to compare - how can we compare a 1988 house record with a 1978 funk / soul / disco crossover rarity anyway? And how old does a record have to be before it is considered a reissue, rather than just a repress?
The records we have featured on this list are here for a number of reasons - they have either sold phenomenally well in the shop and online, or have been records held dear in the hearts of at least one member of staff here. Normally is due to a mixture of both factors, at the end of the day, our favourite records tend to sell well too!
Probably a lot of you will agree with us, however, this is just an opinion and being at #1 is no indication that it is better than #40. Just see this as a way of gauging the view of the Phonica staff, seeing what you (our customers) have bought, and checking to see if there are any gems you've missed…
The reissue market has grown considerably in the last few years thanks to the resurgence of vinyl. However, this year has seen an explosion in the number of singles reissued - mostly 12 inches but some 7s and 10s too. As well as the choice disco reissues which have been popular over the last few years, we definitely saw an increase in classic house reissues - several Trax releases (from quality masters this time, apparently) and some selected 12s on labels such as Fourth Floor, Large, Dance Mania and many more. Far too many to feature it and far too many records to compare - how can we compare a 1988 house record with a 1978 funk / soul / disco crossover rarity anyway? And how old does a record have to be before it is considered a reissue, rather than just a repress?
The records we have featured on this list are here for a number of reasons - they have either sold phenomenally well in the shop and online, or have been records held dear in the hearts of at least one member of staff here. Normally is due to a mixture of both factors, at the end of the day, our favourite records tend to sell well too!
Probably a lot of you will agree with us, however, this is just an opinion and being at #1 is no indication that it is better than #40. Just see this as a way of gauging the view of the Phonica staff, seeing what you (our customers) have bought, and checking to see if there are any gems you've missed…
Originally released in 1982, Anna's cosmic coldwave bomb "Systems Breaking Down" is a dubbed out dark-disco tour-de-force, with cut-up vocals drifting in and out of a bassline that throbs like Carpenter's best (think Assault on Precinct 13) and a palette of head-nod minimal wave.
Bringing together the undisputed talents of Nigerian percussionist Aleke Kanonu and soul legend from Alabama, O.C. Tolbert, this 12” created quite the buzz when it was released in New York in 1982. The B-side, ‘Nwanne, Nwanne, Nwanne’, is an Afrobeat disco monster that rattles along on the back of Kananu’s awesome percussion skills.
Sunshine drenched South African house vibes complete with obligatory dub if the vocals get a bit too much for you! Anyone that loved the Penny Penny re-issue on ATFA look no further. Ace re-issue from ICE!
Holy grail Reggae / Disco cut from B.B. Seaton, produced by Coxsone Dodd and originally out back in 1986 on Studio One!
It may not seem THAT old but this collaboration between Peven Everett & Roy Davis Jnr from 1997 helped launch an entire musical movement known affectionately as Speed Garage. Proper soulful house anthem that stands the test of time and one of Phonica's biggest sellers this year!
There have been a number of represses this year of these 1991/92 classic Italian house tracks. This one, along with Omniverse, Onirico and the like have enjoyed a new lease of life for vinyl buyers. SHAFTY was a house music project made in Italy by Andrea Gemolotto and Ralf utilising the accapella from Kariya's 'Let me Love You For Tonight'.
Expansion have been releasing some fine 7inch soul & boogie classic this year and this has been our favorite (along with Thelma Jones's 'How Long'). Roy Ayers on the productions lets slick bass, intricate guitar riffs and Ethel's cut glass vocals take us to another planet.
Music From Memory continued their 12” series this year with the release of an EP from St. Louis outfit Workdub, taking four tracks from across the groups elusive privately released albums. Workdub’s music was very much an exploration into sound and was developed around weekly improvised jam sessions. Another killer release from the Music From Memory crew.
Classic and much-sampled disco on Sam Records given a new lease of life (and 100s of new sales) by Danny Krivit!! This one may be ubiquitous but its been such a huge seller that we had to include it (probably the biggest selling reissue of the year!).
One of the finest Underground Resistance 12 inches of all time - not one, but TWO stone cold techno classics.....the inspirational monlogue led 'Transition' encouraging you to Make that transition....and on the flip, the more familiar uplifting chords of 'Inspiration'! Epic!ription Available
Ok, so its not THAT old but this classic hands in the air disco-house track flew out in November after garnering plays from MCDE, Bicep and many others. Nice to have it on a LOUD pressing too!
Without doubt "World 2 World" holds four of the best ever UR tracks all on one 12". You can feel the pure, raw emotion flowing from each track as Mad Mike puts every last bit of energy into these productions. Released just after Jeff Mills had left UR, this was a turning point for the label and this is clearly portrayed on the EP as tracks like "Amazon" and "Jupiter Jazz" still sound light years ahead of their time - 14 years after the original release.
Produced by Lenny Dee and Tommy Musto and originally released in 1987 on the legendary Fourth Floor Records. First recorded as a 17 minute opus(!), the track was edited into different versions; the Sunrise Mix and The Aftermath and later became the soundtrack to London's M25 raves and Fabio & Grooverider's Rage night.
The term Cosmic classic has been bandied around increasingly in the last decade. But in Michael Chapman’s Lescudjack we really see the genius of cosmic don's Daniele Baldelli in finding obscure records that do not fit the traditional dance floor and making them work.
Not pressed since 1989, this 1987 New York classic has stood the test of time with its subtle production complementing Arnold's plea for understanding.
"Work it to the bone" does exactly that. It works every single part of your body into a frenzy, a cacophony of jacking sparse drum programming with that infamous descending bassline and that dude chanting, asking us to join him: "C'mon let's work!" This record is a total classic. Period.
Classic Morgan Geist production reissued at the start of the year building up beautiful moody synthetic melodies over metallic electro-disco sounds, melding the New York classic disco tradition with electronica.
A Boogie classic from '81 on the legendary SAM label out of New York city! K.I.D. is the production pseudonym of British library record stalwart and Munich Machine member Geoff Bastow. "Hupendi Muziki Wangu?" is Swahili for "You Don't Like My Music?" and the track has long been a classic with underground Disco/Boogie aficionados for many years and has been a staple in the record bags of many legendary jocks since it's release 35+ years ago.
These recordings shine a new light on the early experimental collaborations of a disco legend and a feminist pioneer who were taken too soon. Influenced by Tomita and Wendy Carlos, Patrick crafted his electronic sound from synthesizers, percussion, modified guitars, and hand-built equipment. Candice’s multi-octave range adds chirps, soars, and growls, going into operatic staccato runs a la Yma Sumac and ‘Illuminations’ era Buffy Sainte-Marie.
Originally released on the seminal Chicago/London label Classic recordings way back in 2002, this recent Autumn reissue still sounds totally alien. Wigged out funk from the deepest recesses of Pepe's mind, his chopped up vocal samples and intricate percussive elements come off sounding like Todd Edwards on acid and still sound completely new/insane today!