Stephan Prescott of Dance Tracks
Related: New York music - dance music
2001, dec 15:
'Do You Know House? Vol. 1' is the debut 12-track album of continuous mix, classic House singles compiled and mixed by Stefan Prescott, the owner/founder of Dance Tracks NYC, 'the best underground dance music store' as voted by Billboard Magazine. This is the definitive house celebration and a ready made party in a jewelcase. Enjoy.TRACKLISTING: 1) Pacha - One Kiss / 2) Gypsy - Funk de Fino / 3) Club Ice - Manhasset / 4)Model 500 - Starlight / 5) Larry Rauson - Stop we need each other / 6) DJ Rasoul - Let Me Love / 7) Norma Jean Bell - Nobody's Gonna Love You / 8) Bob Holroyd - Afican Drug / 9)Simponia - Can't get Over your Love / 10) A Man Called Adam - Techno Powers / 11) Leslie Joy - What is Happiness / 12) Arnold Jarvis - Inspiration
It’s fitting that this “geographical story about the largest influences on House as we see it” comes compiled out of a physical locale itself; the revered Dance Tracks record store in lower Manhattan. Indeed, Stefan Prescott picks ’n’ mixes here from across Anglo-America but also over the years, and covers as much significant ground as you can in 73 minutes. The mix is a bit jarring at times, as between Juan Atkins’ cool techno-crossover “Starlight” and the vocal funk workout “Stop! (We Need Each Other)” produced by Larry Rauson, but most of it is super-smooth moving ’tween the ol’ soulful (Pacha’s “One Kiss”), ’90s neo-disco (Norma Bell Jean’s “Nobody’s Gonna Love Ya”), and original, housey ‘acid jazz’ (“Techno Powers” by A Man Called Adam). A primo primer. (Chris Yurkiw)on Do You Know House
I don't bother to search for the record: not even when I make my weekly Friday-night pilgrimage to Dance Tracks, the downtown record store where, every now and again, Mr Vega buys a bit of vinyl. After all, I don't have a title and I can't sing. But a month or so later I walk into Joe Claussel and Stephan Prescott's East Third Street listening lounge and there, lining the right-hand wall, are row and rows of sky blue records that carry the title 'You Can Do It (Baby)' by Nuyorican Soul featuring George Benson. Yes! - from MAW-box liner notes
Spiritual Life's website has been permanently "under construction" for the past couple of years. I doubt it will ever really exist. It seems to have undergone a change in ownership. Since Joe [Claussell] cut ties with Dancetracks, Stefan Prescott (Dancetracks owner) doesn't seem to be involved anymore. The label seems to be in hibernation, since Mateo & Matos release all their stuff on other labels, Slam Mode also took up with GU, Jephté Guillaume started his own label, etc.
But hopefully Spiritual Life will swing into action this fall. I've seen tons of their "Volume 4" sampler circulating, and a confirmed upcoming release should be Joe's mixes of Nitin Sawhney's "Homelands". If you haven't heard them (one is on the Japanese version of "Beyond Skin", the other is Joe's personal version that he plays at Body & Soul), you are in for a treat. One of the most emotional songs I have ever heard on the dancefloor. I've seen people crying, and I know it's driven me to tears more than once.
If you're into Joe Claussell, his remixes of Japanese artist Calyn have been *excellent*, and his Monday Michiru stuff is pretty good too. He's been playing this instrumental version of what I believe to be Michiru's "Mysteries of Life", it's about 10-15 minutes long, piano heavy, and an absolute journey of a track. The first time he played it, everyone was asking everyone else, "WHAT IS THIS??"
But when he plays Stevie, oh man, you can't even imagine.
Jonathan Takagi (jtakagi@millennianet.com) Date: Thu Sep 07 2000 - 05:34:49 MET DST
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