The 50 Best Albums of 2016
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Reissue singles go from strength to strength and probably even matching the sales of new releases here at Phonica, thanks to many house, disco and electronic reissues. Each week, we are stocking many forgotten gems and huge anthems from the past with labels such as Mint Condition, Groovin' , South St Disco and Floating Points’ Melodies label. Melodies have been consistent this year with releases from Hanna, Don Blackman and more and eaxch year we always mention the excellent work of Josh Cheon’s Dark Entries label which gives us the most obscure post-punk or synth-wave release one day and then a huge Italo disco reissue the next – with a lot of love spent on mastering and artwork, setting the blueprint for other labels.
There has also been a lot of 90s tech-house releases this year as well as lots of obscure, unreleased early rave records too....There are far too many to feature in this countdown and far too many records to compare - how can we compare a 1988 house record with a 1970s 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? These are the dilemmas we have had when compiling this chart....so please treat any numbers on here with a pinch of salt, although the bestselling reissues feature high....
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.
Enjoy our nostalgic selection.....
Of all the recent Herbert reissues, the one we were all waiting for finally arrived this year. Originally released in 1998 as the single ‘So Now…’ taken from Herbert’s influential ‘Around The House’ album with a collection of b-sides. In fact it plays more like a quadruple single release as all four tracks could easily be an A1 in their own right. The only shake up from the original 12” is that the now seminal track ‘I Hadn’t Known (I Only Heard)’ sits up front having grown over the years from a little known b-side to one of the most played out club tracks from the pioneering producers huge back cat, as near a perfect piece of jazz inspired deep house that you are going to hear. But we all have a soft spot for the Dani Siciliano vocals on 'So Now' , probably one of the finest vocal tracks in house music.
Grauzone’s essential 1981 maxi single with timeless classic “Eisbär", proto-techno beast “FILM 2″, and romantic synth ballad “Ich Lieb Sie", just in time for the 40th anniversary of the Swiss band’s formation. Re-released by the excellently named label, We release Whatever the Fu*k we Want, the three-track vinyl was sourced from the original reels, cut at 45rpm. Written by Martin Eicher after a nightmare in which he saw talking polar bears on the walls, and with music by the Grauzone crew consisting of Martin and his brother Stephan Eicher, Marco Repetto, Christian “GT” Trüssel, and Claudine Chirac (on saxophone), “Eisbär” is the most recognizable title from the band, a sublime mix of ingredients reflecting the transitional era it comes from - the raw energy of punk music still palpable, combined with the audacity of early electronics, the warm groove of a disco gem, beautifully fragile lyrics, and one of the best basslines ever. It became a mega hit, totally unplanned, but how could you resist such a track? And agaiun in 2019, we succumb to this amazing record.
Theo Parrish’s sought-after ‘Ugly Edit’ of Made In USA’s ‘Never Gonna Let You Go’ finally received an official release via De-Lite Records in 2019. It started out as a 1 minute long middle break of an otherwise unremarkable soul record but then had a life of its own as Theo Parrish, DJ Harvey (one of the early Black Cock records) amongst others re-edited it into a longer disco workout....Seriously energetic, raw and loopy disco greatness, right here!
Melodies International took a dip into house territory in May 2019 with the smoking hot reissue of Mood II Swing’s ‘Borderline Insanity Dub’ and ‘Vocal Mix’ of Crustation’s ‘90s trip-hop jam ‘Flame’. Timeless, essential house music!
Be With Records and Emotional Rescue joined forces to present the special reissue of US jazz vocal group Rare Silk and their mid-80s cult song ‘Storm’. This stunning 10” comes complete with an echo-drenched remix by New York-based producer ARP over on the flip. Pure magic!
Underground Resistance’s timeless ‘World 2 World’ EP from 1992 got a much deserved repress during the latter end of 2019. This badboy features the UR classic Jupiter Jazz - arguably one of the greatest techno records ever made!
This ‘90s ambient techno / electro gem from Cold & James Bernard was brought to us by Stroom in March 2019. Slow building, crystal-like sounds!
In May 2019, Best Italy Records dished up the official reissue of Loui$’s mega-rare Italo Disco masterpieces ‘Pink Footpath’ and ‘Magic Dance’ from 1985. This early Ibiza masterpiece is untouchable!
Alicia Myers’ gospel-tinged rare-groove / disco mega-jam ‘I Want To Thank You’ from 1981 received a heavyweight remix and equally epic dub version from Kon for the fourth release on his Kontemporary imprint in August 2019. An amazing record all round!
In April 2019, Wewantsounds gave us the much sought-after reissue of Ziad Rahbani's ultra rare Lebanese disco masterpiece 'Abu Ali' from 1978. Superb!
Music From Memory brought us the reissue of Curt Cress's awesome 'Dschung Tek' in March 2019. Five zonked-out, drum-heavy club cuts feature on this release. A tip for fans of Jan Schulte!
From the mists of 1989 comes The Landlord with this monolithic slab of rave history - 'I Like It' - the original Blow out Dub!. Instantly recognisable, those widely sampled piano stabs, that bassline.... it's all there and not reissued for years! Produced by Canadian super-producer and Big Shot Records label owner Nick Fiorucci this much sought after rave anthem was highly prized and coveted by those in the know back in the day, no-one had any idea as to how huge the record would become as it soundtracked every dancefloor, warehouse, field and loft from '89 onwards and then enter The Maghreban, one of R&S Records contemporary artists and an unashamed Hardcore / Jungle / Breakbeat enthusiast, he seemed like the perfect remixer. Maghreban's mix is respective of the roots and the legacy of 'I Like It', referencing some of it's later sampled incarnations in a clever and knowing way, a true DJ tool that has been road-tested and checked in clubs across Europe and beyond, his epic 'Revenge Remix' shows a deep understanding of the history of these particular records and how they work on the dancefloor.
Neppa Records reissued the crown jewel on Hunee’s ‘Hunchin All Night’ compilation - Don Laka’s South African, synth-driven disco-boogie mega jam ‘Stages Of Love’ from 1986. Over on the flip, Prins Thomas served up a nine minute long, high-octane edit to round the package off nicely!
The previously unreleased Larry Levan remixes La Compagnie Créole’s ‘A.I.E’ were finally shared with the world via French label Pardonnez-nous in February 2019. Incredible, highly dancable NY disco business on this one!
The debut release on Nathan Micay’s reissue label 'Eternal Schvitz' was comprised of four zonked-out house cuts by Chris Simmonds, Partners In Crime and Inside Outlaws - all originally released on Simmonds’ Baby Blue Records during the early ‘90s. Proper!
Late November 2019, Soundway Records returned with another smoking hot reissue, this time in the form of two ultra-rare, Parang dancefloor gems by Colleen Grant and Sandra Hamilton. Incredible sounds from early '80s Trinidad & Tobago!
Previously only ever available on a CD-only album from 2004, Hanna’s glassy-eyed deep house and garage jams ‘I Needed’ and 'Intercession, On Behalf’ finally received a vinyl reissue via Melodies International in October 2019. Big!
Isle Of Jura delivering the goods once again. Bella Vista’s pop-oddity ‘Mr Wong’ was another solid reissue from them in 2019. Killer synth-pop / leftfield disco vibes accompanied by a wicked dub version and an edit from the label's own Jura Soundsystem.
Stroom Records deliverd yet another top-notch reissue in April 2019. This time, Kyoto’s sexy synth-pop jam ‘Venetian Blinds’ from 1984 took over the A-side, whilst Zoe Sinatra’s incredible ‘Mais Qu’Est-Ce Que Tu Fumes?’ from 1990 nestled over the flip-side. Brilliant stuff all round!