- Release Info -------------------------------------------------------------- -
Artist: Bob Blank
Album: Blank Generation: Blank Tapes NYC 1975-1987
Label: Strut Records
Playtime: 77:35 min
Genre: Disco
URL:
Rip date: 2010-02-16
Street date: 2010-02-02
Size: 114.36 MB
Type: Normal
Quality: 197 kbps / 4410kHz / Joint Stereo
- Release Notes ------------------------------------------------------------- -
The first ever album retrospective of one of New York's most revered of all
producers, Bob Blank, this album traces the history of his independent
studio, Blank Tapes, one of the city's most important creative dens during
the vibrant arts scene of the mid-'70s to mid-'80s.
Blank started out in New York in 1973 as a guitarist before producing one of
the first 12" disco records in '75 û Jimmy Sabater's 'To Be With You'. He
opened his own Blank Tape studios a year later. He quickly became an
essential port of call for New York's diverse artistic community, honing the
freeform, anarchic visions of August Darnell, Cristina and Lydia Lunch for ZE
Records and, with producers Patrick Adams and Greg Carmichael, helping to
shape the sound of many disco classics. Musique, Inner Life, Instant Funk and
Salsoul Orchestra all recorded classics at Blank Tapes. Arthur Russell also
recorded much of his most celebrated disco-related output at the studios
under pseudonyms Dinosaur L, Indian Ocean and Felix, as well as 'Wax The Van'
with Blank's wife, Lola. Other regulars at Blank Tapes included Latin
producer Tito Rodriguez, whose Charanga 76 and Eddie Palmieri recordings with
Blank would receive Grammy nominations.
These days, Blank has forged a very different career, recording sound-alike
tracks for library music and karaoke. He has also developed a successful
career in ballroom dancing, landing national senior titles with partner
Martha Estevez in 2006 and 2007. Strut, in the label's first collaboration
with Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton's DJ History, celebrate Blank's time
at Blank Tapes with an exclusive compilation, covering the many facets of his
work. We feature the very first track ever recorded at the studio, Milton
Hamilton's 'Crystalized', anthems including Fonda Rae's 'Over Like A Fat Rat'
and lesser known Blank classics from the vaults from Debby Blackwell and
Mikki.
The package features an extensive interview with Bob Blank about his career
in music, by Bill Brewster, alongside rare archive photos from Blank's
personal archive.
- Track List ---------------------------------------------------------------- -
01. Debby Blackwell - Once You Got Me Going ( 6:35)
02. Charanga 76 - Music Trance ( 5:03)
03. Milton Hamilton - Crystalized ( 3:35)
04. Sun Ra - Where Pathways Meet (unreleased acetate mix) ( 6:29)
05. Necessaries - State Of The Art ( 3:39)
06. Lydia Lunch - A Cruise To The Moon ( 3:53)
07. James Blood Ulmer - Jazz Is The Teacher Funk Is The Preacher ( 4:22)
08. Bumble Bee Unlimited - I Got A Big Bee (John Morales mix) ( 7:52)
09. Mikki - Itching For Love (M&M mix/John Morales re-edit) ( 7:12)
10. Fonda Rae - Over Like A Fat Rat ( 8:05)
11. Gladys Knight - It's A Better Than Good Time (Walter Gibbons mix) ( 6:52)
12. Lola - Wax The Van (Jon's dub) ( 7:15)
13. Aural Exciters - Emile (Night Rate) ( 6:43)
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