Various Artists - Hardcore Traxx: Dance Mania Records 1986-1995 (2LP) [Strut]

Format: 2x12" in gatefold sleeve.
CAT: STRUT114LP

Tracklist:
A1. Hercules– 7 Ways (Club)
A2. Victor Romeo Featuring Leetrece Brown
A3. Club Style– Crazy Wild

B1. Tim Harper– Toxic Waste (Club Mix)
B2. Vincent Floyd– I'm So Deep Mixed By –Armando
B3. 3 2 6– Falling (Armando's House Mix) Remix – Armando

C1. DJ Deeon– Da Bomb
C2. Parris Mitchell Project Featuring Wax Master – Ghetto Shout Out!!
C3. Traxmen & Eric Martin– Hit It From The Back

D1. DJ Funk – The Original Video Clash: Video Clash II (Street Mix)
D2. Paul Johnson – Feel My M.F. Bass
D3. Top Cat – Work Out

Originally released in 2014, Strut once again presents Hardcore Traxx: Dance Mania Records 1986–1997, the definitive – and highly sought after – retrospective of one of Chicago’s most important and innovative house labels.

Emerging in the mid-80s as a raw alternative to giants Trax and DJ International, Dance Mania continued to represent club music from the streets of Chicago throughout the 90s, being key in the rise of the Ghetto House sound. Hardcore Traxx covers the entire history of the label from its golden age.

Founded in 1985 and run by Ray Barney from the offices of Barney’s Distribution on Ogden Avenue (later on West Roosevelt Road), Dance Mania took off strongly thanks to its second release in '86: the incendiary Hardcore Jazz EP by Duane & Co. Barney quickly became a reference for early house and acid productions by emerging talents such as Lil Louis, Marshall Jefferson, and Farley Keith, also known as Farley “Jackmaster” Funk.

The label solidified itself with a series of emblematic releases from the Chicago scene, such as 7 Ways by Hercules, The Original Video Clash by Li’l Louis, and the international hit House Nation by Housemaster Boyz. Throughout the 80s, Dance Mania cemented its reputation with uncompromising club records and tools for DJs, ranging from raw garage (Love Will Find A Way by Victor Romeo), acid trax (Robert Armani), to high-quality house (Da Posse).

By the 90s, Barney revolutionized the scene with Hit It From The Back by Traxmen and Eric Martin, marking the beginning of a new sound with faster, more minimalist rhythms and explicit lyrics designed to ignite the dance floor. Barney recalls: “Kids would call asking for Dance Mania music – they would say ‘give me that ghetto sound’.” Producer DJ Slugo adds: “When we made Ghetto House… we made music for the girls. Music for ass-shaking and all that.”

This new sound generated a wave of local producers releasing uncompromising dancefloor bombs: Paul Johnson, DJ Deeon, DJ Funk, DJ Milton, Waxmaster, and Slugo himself became key figures in the scene. The influence of Ghetto House was widely felt, even in Daft Punk, whose track Teachers, included on their 1997 album Homework, was a direct tribute to Dance Mania. This new wave also paved the way for the subsequent juke and footwork scene in Chicago.

Today revitalized under the direction of Ray Barney and Parris Mitchell, Dance Mania remains a pillar of Chicago dance culture. With Hardcore Traxx, Strut pays the ultimate tribute to the label, with a carefully curated compilation of classics, Ghetto House anthems, and hidden gems. The release was produced in collaboration with Dance Mania and compiled by Conor Keeling (creator of the popular Daft Punk-inspired Teachers mix), with contributions from Miles Simpson of Ransom Note. The vinyl edition includes a detailed history of the label, artist interviews by DJ Chrissy Murderbot, and previously unreleased archive photos.