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May 21 2013

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Various - Music For Dancefloors - KPM Music Library (STRUT)

Written By 1 - May 21 2013

Available Here on 2LP+2xCD

This April, Strut reissues one of the early releases from its catalogue in a brand new Deluxe Edition. Music For Dancefloors is a varied journey through the archives of the fabled and historic KPM Music Library. The phenomenon of the music library is unique, involving brilliant but anonymous composers and musicians creating short pieces of music to be made available for background use in film, television, and radio. The music wasn’t intended to be enjoyed in a home listening context, and in fact wasn’t available for commercial release at all, but the sheer quality of the playing and compositions resulted in the music finding an enthusiastic audience. Original promotional-only vinyl releases from KPM and other libraries of the 1960s and 70s (generally from print run of only 1,000 copies each) can now exchange hands for a small fortune. During its heyday, many pieces recorded through KPM became perennial UK TV themes – long-running programs like “Grandstand,” “Mastermind” and “ITV News At Ten.” Tellingly, the KPM boss during this period, Robin Phillips, made a point of setting the bar high, bringing in the UK’s most talented young composers, arrangers and session players to the studios to ensure the highest quality music.   The quality has justifiably stood the test of time. In recent years, DJs and collectors have coveted volumes of the anonymous green label KPM LPs as a source for hard-to-find grooves and breaks, and KPM has become a well-mined source for hip-hop producers and music connoisseurs – Jay-Z, DOOM, Madlib and Guilty Simpson, Dangermouse and Action Bronson are among the many who have plundered KPM grooves. A KPM piece (Kieth Mansfield’s “Funky Fanfare”) even graces the opening of Quentin Tarantino’s film Kill Bill. Compiled by ex-Jazz Cafe booker and DJ Adrian Gibson and Strut’s Quinton Scott‚ Music For Dancefloors was originally created as a series of albums in the early 2000s dedicated to mining the archives of the UK’s foremost music libraries. Volumes on Chappell music and Bosworth would follow in 2001 and 2002. This first installment mines the KPM reels for some of the most in-demand, funkiest and quirkiest pieces from the library. Some have become classics in their own right: Alan Parker’s ”That’s What Friends Are For” featuring Blue Mink’s Madeline Bell on vocals, Alan Hawkshaw’s stomping hammond groove “Senior Thump” (a precursor to his work as The Mohawks), and Keith Mansfield’s “Crash Course,” a driving jazz anthem. Elsewhere, the tracklist is peppered with oddities like Klaus Weiss’ incidental downtempo mood “Morning 1 / Morning 2” and Nascimbene’s “Witchdoctor,” a short tribal field recording. This new edition features an exclusive bonus disc, which makes available for the first time the debut gig by the KPM All-Stars, bringing together many of KPM’s greatest composers for a unique night at London’s Jazz Cafe on 27th April 2000. A big band comprising original and contemporary KPM library musicians and writers, including Alan Hawkshaw, Keith Mansfield and James Clarke, perform the library’s best-loved TV themes and cult dancefloor classics for the first time anywhere since the original sessions. Within the set, Alan Hawkshaw plays the live debut of tracks from his album The Champ by The Mohawks including the fabled title track, as well as “Senior Thump’ and “Landscape.” Music For Dancefloors: The KPM Music Library (Deluxe version) is released in three formats: 2CD (original studio recordings and live concert), 2LP featuring the original studio recordings and 2CD insert of the full CD content, and digital (original studio recordings and live concert). The album features the original sleeve notes by Charles Waring (Mojo magazine) alongside extra photos and memorabilia. TRACKLIST & SOUNDCLIPS: LP1/CD1 1. Alan Parker - That’s What Friends Are For 2. Alan Parker - Unlimited Love 3. Duncan Lamont - Funky Express 4. Johnny Pearson - Assault Course 5. Barry Morgan and Ray Cooper - Samba Street 6. James Clarke - Second Cut 7. John Cameron - Swamp Fever 8. William Farley and Dennis Bovell - Reggae Train 9. Keith Mansfield - Incidental Backcloth No. 9 10. Francis Coppieters - Cross Talk 11. Pierre Lavin Pop Band - In Advance 12. Alan Hawkshaw - Senior Thump 13. Alan Moorhouse - Expo In Tokyo 14. Nascimbene - Interlude: Witchdoctor 15. Juan Erlando & His Latin Band - Jungle Baby 16. Klaus Weiss - Morning 1 / Morning 2 17. Les Baxter - Freeway To Rio 18. Juan Erlando & His Latin Band - Brazil Express 19. Francis Coppieters - Piano In Transit 20. Keith Mansfield - Crash Course LP2/CD2 1. Keith Mansfield with KPM All Stars – Soul Thing 2. Alan Hawkshaw & Keith Mansfield with KPM All Stars – Theme from ‘Dave Allen At Large’ 3. Alan Hawkshaw & Keith Mansfield with KPM All Stars – Beat Boutique 4. KPM All Stars – Swamp Fever 5. KPM All Stars – Unlimited Love 6. KPM All Stars feat. Emma Kershaw – That’s What Friends Are For 7. James Clarke with Steve Grey and KPM All Stars – Second Cut 8. Duncan Lamont with KPM All Stars – Funky Express 9. Alan Hawkshaw with KPM All Stars – Girl In A Sportscar 10. Alan Hawkshaw with KPM All Stars – Senior Thump 11. Alan Hawkshaw with KPM All Stars - Landscape 12. Alan Hawkshaw with Kirsty Hawkshaw and KPM All Stars – The Champ 13. Keith Mansfield with KPM All Stars – Crash Course 14. Keith Mansfield with KPM All Stars – UK Sports Theme Medley:

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