This year marked our 25th anniversary as a label—a milestone that has made 2024 a remarkable year for reflecting on our journey and the incredible opportunities we've had to collaborate with outstanding artists, DJs, and teams.
We've celebrated this special year in many memorable ways. Highlights include a U.S. tour with the father of Ethio-jazz, Mulatu Astatke, which culminated in a breathtaking performance at the iconic Hollywood Bowl. We also launched an exclusive Carhartt x Strut Records collaboration t-shirt, hosted a vibrant celebration at London's Jazz Cafe featuring NYC legend Danny Krivit, delivered unforgettable DJ sets at We Out Here, took over Worldwide FM for a day, and released four special edition anniversary records.
It's been a year to remember, and we couldn’t have done it without the support of our incredible community. Here's to the next chapter!
Various Artists Disco Not Disco (Special Edition Transparent Yellow Vinyl 3LP)
This year, we introduced a new special edition repress of the influential first volume of ‘Disco Not Disco’, compiled by Dave Lee and Sean P, pressed on translucent yellow vinyl 3LP.
‘Disco Not Disco’ was a perfectly timed compilation back in 2000's. Released when interest in the myths, history and playlists of original New York clubs like Paradise Garage and The Loft was at its peak, the album drew on the outer limits of leftfield disco championed by Levan and Mancuso, bringing together unlikely dancefloor anthems by rock acts like Yoko Ono and Ian Dury, obscurities from cottage labels like BC and Splash and selected oddities from the unique mind of avant-garde hero, Arthur Russell.
It was essentially a celebration of the sonic melting pot in New York during the early ‘80s, an era when punk had burnt itself out and disco had become commercial and saccharine; in its place, the post-punk movement threw up brilliant oddities which tore up the accepted rulebook.
Mulatu Astatke Mulatu Of Ethiopia (Special Edition White Vinyl 2LP)
This year, we were delighted to unveil a special edition of a landmark album within the realm of African music – Mulatu Astatke's 'Mulatu Of Ethiopia’. Recorded in New York in 1972, this pivotal album marks a juncture in Astatke's musical journey when he adeptly fused various styles to craft the distinctive genre known as Ethio-jazz.
For this special edition, the release features the original stereo mix of the full album, as well as a special ‘mono-mix’ of each track retrieved from the original 2" tapes, pressed on opaque white vinyl 2LP.
‘Mulatu of Ethiopia’ features seven tracks showcasing Mulatu's signature instrumental style, characterized by the absence of vocals, the influence of '70s funk, Afro-Cuban rhythms, and the use of traditional Ethiopian elements. Mulatu's innovative approach, blending different musical traditions while preserving the essence of Ethiopian music, marks him as the sole exemplar of "Ethio-jazz," making his work both timeless and influential.
Nigeria 70: The Definitive Story of 1970's Funky Lagos (Special Edition Green Vinyl 3LP)
First released in 2001, Nigeria 70 was a pioneering compilation that delved deeply into Lagos' vibrant music scene, where local artists blended highlife and traditional rhythms with soul, funk, rock, and jazz. While Western audiences were already acquainted with Fela Kuti, this album highlighted other influential Nigerian musicians and bandleaders of the '70s: Joni Haastrup, Peter King, Segun Bucknor, Bala Miller, Blo, King Sunny Ade, Tunji Oyelana, and many more. Subsequent volumes continued to explore the rich landscape of Afrobeat, juju, funk, and soul, unearthing a treasure trove of Nigerian tracks.
‘Nigeria 70: The Definitive Story of 1970’s Funky Lagos’ showcases the vibrant diversity of the Lagos scene, reflecting the eclectic musical influences of the time. The compilation includes elements of psychedelic rock, from the heavily fuzzed-out sounds of Ofo & the Black Company's "Allah Wakbarr" to BLO's hauntingly serene "Chant to Mother Earth." The influence of late 1970s and early 80s disco can be heard in tracks like Joni Haastrup's 1977 "Greetings" and Shina Williams & His African Percussionists' 1984 electro-funk track "Agboju Logun," all while maintaining a strong Afrobeat foundation.
Beloved by collectors and dancefloor enthusiasts, Nigeria 70 is rich with soul, humanity, and a broad spectrum of the region's musical talent. It has inspired a new wave of labels and releases, introducing the 1970s Lagos scene to a new generation of soul, funk, and dance music fans.
This special edition of ‘Nigeria 70: The Definitive Story of 1970’s Funky Lagos’ features the original artwork and liner notes, pressed on translucent green vinyl across 3LPs.
Sun Ra Lanquidity (Strut 25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)
Housed in a tip-on sleeve with OBI strip, this new special editions features an A2 poster including a rare Veryl Oakland photograph of Sun Ra in his home, as well as liner notes by Tom Buchler (Philly Jazz), Michael Ray and Danny Ray Thompson (Sun Ra Arkestra) and Bob Blank.
Originally released in 1978 on Philly Jazz, ‘Lanquidity’ was recorded overnight at Bob Bank’s Blank Tapes studio on 17th July 1978 following a performance on Saturday Night Live. “Most critics felt that it was more of a fusion-inspired record,” explains Michael Ray. “As the name suggests, the album is liquid and languid.” Bob Blank adds, “Musically, it was very ad hoc and freeform. There were horn charts but most tracks came out of improvised jams. Sun Ra just did his thing.”
This new deluxe LP edition of ‘Lanquidity’ features the widely distributed version of the album originally released on Philly Jazz and reflects the album’s original packaging with a metallic foil / magenta sleeve, housed in a tip-on sleeve with OBI strip and featuring both liner notes and a limited edition poster, to celebrate 25 years of Strut records.
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We at Strut hope you have a fantastic end to 2024! What better way to close off a fantastic year than with a day-long Strut takeover listen?
