V.A - Sources - The Trax Records Anthology (Compiled by Bill Brewster) (2015)

Sources is a brand new series which will examine the output of a number of extremely influential independent U.S. labels throughout the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.

The tenth and final release in the Sources series deals with one of the great House Music labels of all-time (along with DJ International and Underground), Trax records from Chicago. Originally founded by Larry Sherman, Trax had the advantage of being one of the local Chicago independent pressing plants, so when this new phenomenon called House music arrived and people started turning up at Trax with tapes that they wanted to press onto vinyl, then Larry smelt a market and thus Trax records was born.

The label was renowned for its almost punk ethic of simply getting the releases out fast and furiously without much in the way of obvious design values or quality control. Their releases were generally pressed on recycled vinyl and housed in recycled card sleeves – in fact, it was not unusual to open the record and see bits of paper pressed into the vinyl and old printing on the inside of the sleeves! However, the operation perfectly suited the ethos of the music, the majority of which was often made on 4 track machines in numerous bedrooms before being tested at Chicago’s two main House clubs – Music Box via Ron Hardy and the Warehouse, where the legendary Frankie Knuckles ruled the decks. If the bedroom tape got the thumbs up from Ron and Frankie, then usually the aspiring producers would turn up at Trax the next morning and beg to get their productions on vinyl. The deals were probably not great but the lure of holding your own record seemed to override all other considerations. And thus dozens of new careers were hatched.

Sources: The Trax Records anthology has been expertly compiled by Bill Brewster to feature the particular mixes that he favours and every track has been comprehensively re-mastered to the usual Harmless levels. The Trax volume will work nicely with the Sources DJ International and Underground volumes which, together, give a comprehensive overview of the birth of the House music scene in Chicago.

TRACKLIST

CD1
01. Marshall Jefferson - Move Your Body (The House Music Anthem)[Club 12" Mix] (7:49)
02. Frankie Knuckles, Jamie Principle - Bad Boy (Unknown Club 12" Mix) (5:46)
03. Adonis - We're Rocking Down the House (Club 12" Mix) (8:00)
04. Phuture - Acid Tracks (Club 12" Mix) (12:26)
05. Mr Fingers - Washing Machine (Club 12" Mix) (4:19)
06. William S - I'll Never Let You Go (Club 12" Mix) (6:14)
07. Robert Owens - Bring Down the Walls (Club 12" Mix) (5:38)
08. Sleezy D - I've Lost Control (Club 12" Mix) (12:23)
09. Kevin Irving - Children of the Night (Club 12" Mix) (5:43)
10. Farley Jackmaster Funk - Farley Knows House (Club 12" Mix) (4:22)
11. Frankie Knuckles, Jamie Principle - Your Love (Club 12" Mix) (6:44)
12. Adonis - No Way Back (Club 12" Mix) (4:57)
13. Virgo - Free Yourself (Club 12" Mix) (6:56)
14. Master C&J - Dub Love (Club 12" Mix) (6:56)
15. Virgo Four - In a Vision (Club 12" Mix) (4:44)
16. Jungle Wonz - The Jungle (Club 12" Mix) (6:06)
17. M.E. - All the Time (Club 12" Mix) (4:20)
18. Phuture - Spank-Spank (Club 12" Mix) (5:01)

CD2
01. Virgo - R U Hot Enough (Club 12" Mix) (7:39)
02. On The House, Marshall Jefferson - Ride the Rhythm (Club 12" Mix) (6:58)
03. Mr Lee - Pump up Chicago (Club 12" Mix) (3:51)
04. Master C&J - When You Hold Me (Club 12" Mix) (6:43)
05. Jamie Principle, Frankie Knuckles - Baby Wants to Ride (Club 12" Mix) (8:38)
06. Mr Fingers - Can You Feel It (Club 12" Mix) (5:45)
07. Virgo Four - Take Me Higher (Club 12" Mix) (4:48)
08. M.E. - Never Want to Lose You (Club 12" Mix) (4:40)
09. Jungle Wonz - Time Marches On (Club 12" Mix) (6:55)
10. Frankie Knuckles, Jamie Principle - It's a Cold World (Club 12" Mix) (5:42)
11. Virgo - My Space (Club 12" Mix) (4:26)
12. Pleasure Zone - Fantasy (Club 12" Mix) (4:27)
13. Hercules - Lost in the Groove (Club 12" Mix) (6:26)
14. Ron Hardy - Sensation (Club 12" Mix) (6:40)
15. Curtis McClain, On The House - Let's Get Busy (Club 12" Mix) (5:49)
16. Willie Wonka - What Is House? (Club 12" Mix) (7:20)
17. Donell Rush - Knocking at My Door (Club 12" Mix) (5:30)
18. Jungle Wonz - Bird in a Gilded Cage (Club 12" Mix) (6:42)