VARIOUS – Hardcore Traxx- Dance Mania Records 1986-1997 (Repress) – 2LP – Vinyl

2LP – Black Vinyl (2025 Repress). Includes a comprehensive history of the label, artist interviews by DJ Chrissy Murderbot, and rare archival photos.

Originally released in 2014, Strut re-introduces Hardcore Traxx: Dance Mania Records 1986-1997, the highly sought-after definitive retrospective of one of Chicagos most important and innovative house music labels.

Emerging as a raw alternative to the powerhouses of Trax and DJ International during the mid- 80s, Dance Mania continued to represent street-level Chicago club music into the 90s, helping to pioneer the Ghetto House sound.

Hardcore Traxx traces the full story of the label from its heyday. Founded in 1985 and managed by Ray Barney from Barneys Distribution HQ on Ogden Avenue (moving later to West Roosevelt Road), Dance Mania hit the ground running with its second release in 86, the incendiary Hardcore Jazz EP by Duane & Co. Barney quickly became a trustworthy outlet for early house and acid productions by upcoming Chicago artists such as Lil Louis, Marshall Jefferson and Farley Keith aka Farkey Jackmaster Funk.

The label set out its stall with a series of landmark Chicago releases including 7 Ways by Hercules, Lil Louis The Original Video Clash and international smash House Nation by Housemaster Boyz. During the 80s, it cemented its reputation for uncompromising club records and DJ Tools with sounds spanning raw garage (Victor Romeos Love Will Find A Way), acid trax (Robert Armani) and quality house (Da Posse).

Into the 90s, Barney unleashed the groundbreaking Hit It From The Back by Traxmen and Eric Martin, ushering in a primitive new sound around faster, stripped down rhythms and X-rated party-starting lyric lines. Barney remembers, Guys used to call in and ask for music on Dance Mania they were saying, gimme some of that ghetto stuff. Dance Mania producer DJ Slugo adds, when we made Ghetto House we made music for the b*tches. Music for the grinding sh*t and all of that. The sound spawned a whole new swathe of homegrown producers releasing a fast flow of no-compromise dancefloor bangers: Paul Johnson, DJ Deeon, DJ Funk, DJ Milton, Waxmaster and Slugo all became leaders of the scene. The influence of ghetto house became widespread, not least for Daft Punk, whose track Teachers from their Homework album in 1997 was effectively a tribute to Dance Mania. The new wave of productions also paved the way for the later Chicago juke and footwork scene.

Now revitalised under the leadership of Ray Barney and Parris Mitchell, Dance Mania remains a cornerstone of Chicagos dance music culture. With Hardcore Traxx, Strut delivers the ultimate tribute to the label, featuring a meticulously curated compilation of its 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 comprehensive history of the label, artist interviews by DJ Chrissy Murderbot, and rare archival photos.

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