Saturday, August 14, 2010

Radar Records  


I was going through a box of sealed bankrupt stock CD's, flipping through post hair metal and euro dance summer anthem comps, when I came across a stack of funk discs. These dated from the deep funk revival of the early/mid nineties, great times, but amongst them was this Best Of Radar Records collection, claiming to be recorded from master tape, released in '95. Score.

Radar records was an early eighties electro funk label that had an limited run from '83 to '85, but in that time had several hits and was home to Tony Lee and Gary's gang for a minute. We have probably already posted up at least a couple of these tracks, Tony Lee's reach up is a standard but whats the harm in putting up a nice digital rip. I had been meaning to post Barbra Fowler's Come And Get My Lovin for a while now and this saves me the trouble, also Key-Matic's Breakin In Space was on my list of things to dust off and record, and that one can be considered done now too. Win all around.

The back of the CD booklet had a good write up of the history of Radar Records and I used some dodgy free online text recognition software to interpret the text from the scan I made of it. It didn't do so well with the commas, full stops, i's and l's, so excuse any spelling mistakes because as with all things in life, you get what you pay for, image recognition software and music blogs included:

The Radar Records story, or the Eric Matthew history lesson begins with Joe Tucci. He and a group ot his friends form a band to play weddings parties & bar mitzvahs in the New York area The band is a success and along with his partner Gary Turner they make a demo. Joe uses Eric Matthew as a showbiz name They catch the eye of SAM Records a small NY lable headed by Sam Weiss and a staple in the lndependent music scene. They get signed, release a couple of srngles and an ip but SAM Records is now drstnbuted by by grant CBS Records The Gary's Gang records are a hugh success Eno now starts to produce an array of artists for the NY ctub scene. He produces Sharon Redd for Prelude Sinnamon to Beckett. They all are hugh hits Joe decides its tame to form his own label thus Radar Records is born.

What better way to start the label than with a new Garys Gang record Knock Me Gut a sweet dance groove with that typical Garys Gang sound sweet harmonies and a great hook. Radar Records and company get lucky wlth the next release Tony Lee's Reach Up which quickly becomes the club anthem in 1982. On this comptlatlon you'll find all of the Radar gems All 3 Gary's Gang records Barbra Fowler (the lead vocalist on Sinnamon's hot ‘Thanks To You ) solo debut as welt as stompers from Status IV and Arnie's Love We also include Radar s venture into rap music ln 1984 break dancing was a hugw fad and Key Mattic's Breakin in Space was a
huge hit on WBLS a New York radio station So enjoy listening or dancing to the best of Radar Records.

Barbra Fowler - Come and Get My Lovin
Arnie's Love - I'm Out Of Your LIfe
Fast Radio - Under My Thumb
Gary's Gang - Knock Me Out
Gary's Gang - Makin Music
Gary's Gang - Runaway
Key-Matic - Breakin In Space
Richie Scotti - Breaker
Status IV - Lovin You
Status IV - You Ain't Really Down
Tony Lee - Reach Up

Posted by Black Shag | 6 comments

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