Various Artists
Groovilicious Deep: The House Years
Groovilicious Records
Groovilicious released its entire catalogue via Digital Distribution for the first time on September 9, 2016. The catalogueβs uplifting 1990βs House anthems are featured on Groovilicious Deep: The House Years via SoundCloud, and instantly transport the listener back to a late β90βs House club.
Groovilicious, founded in 1995 by Michael McDavid, began as an offshoot distribution by New York House label Strictly Rhythm. McDavid, who came from the West Coast, brought an A&R vision of signing releases with a bit harder House sound and to expand from New Yorkβs nucleus. Early releases included Californiaβs Sweet Drop and Chicagoβs Ralphi Rosario (Rosabel). But McDavid was quickly enmeshed in the thriving New York club scene, led by (DJ) Junior Vasquez (Factory, Tunnel and Arena/Twilo). βVasquez had risen to prominence with his residency as sole DJ at the Sound Factory, a cavernous space in a seedy warehouse district on the western fringes side of the Chelsea neighbourhood in midtown Manhattan. During the early β90s Vasquez forged a harder, tribal-edged sound as he moved away from the more soulful and melodic styles of House that had previously dominated New York.β Vasquez gave Groovilicious its breakthrough release with the controversial βIf Madonna Calls,β a track sampling an answering machine message by artist Madonna, a regular at Sound Factory. Madonna was unimpressed and tried βin vain to block its release.β No such luck. The track rose to #2 on Billboardβs Dance chart and a top 30 spot in the UK Pop chart.
Grooviliciousβ sound encompassed βGuido sceneβ club tracks that appealed to the suburbanites (Razor N Guidoβs βDo It Again,β Haniβs βBaby Wants To Rideβ and Johnny Viciousβ βEcstasyβ), tracks hailed by the booming New York gay/tranny scene (Clockworkβs βIf You Believe,β Shineβs βBitch,β and Magic Dogβs βMirror Mirrorβ), and licensed-in, more commercial European releases (Brainbug, Darude and Vengaboys). Groovilicious would eventually rise to become a βserious competitorβ to Strictly Rhythm, winning the award for Best Independent Label at the Miami International Dance Music Awards from 1998 to 2001. Its catalogue includes producers and remixers Arthur Baker, Brutal Bill Marquez, Peter Rauhofer, Chris Staropoli (a.k.a. That Kid Chris), and Jason Nevins.
Groovilicious Deep: The House Years opens with Whiplash presents New York Slickβs βOver Meβ B side Londonary Mix from 1996, Jason Hernandezβ tribal house anthem, before moving into a selection of late 1990βs tracks such as the infectious Paul Main Projectβs 1998 release βI Need Loveβ featuring vocals by RenΓ©e β a banging gay House club favourite. Cevin Fisherβs βDo You Wanna Fly?β edit and Kazhaam & DJ Pierreβs βKazhaam (DJ Pierre presents Kazhaam) [Weak Hostile Mix]β edit captures the early House sound followed by Angel Moraesβ darker βTo The Rhythm (The Hot nβ Spicy Mix)β (1996). One Groovy Cocoanutβs βRestless Cocaonutsβ edit captures the tribal House sound of the catalogue followed by the Latin-inspired House anthems, Rosabelβs βSoul Chu Cha (X-Raded Club Mix)β edit, El Matadorβs βLa Luna (main mix).β The collection closes with Matthausβ tribal-infused cut βMouth Musicβ edit and the house anthem, DJ Discipleβs βCaught Up (feat. Mia Cox) [DJ Disciple Vocal Mix]β edit.
Groovilicious Deep: The House Years is a walk down memory lane, recalling various club nights from the tri-state area and beyond. Be prepared for flashes of confetti-drenched drag queens in epic nightclubs to sneakers tearing up on underground dance floors into the wee hours of the morning.
ArtistΒ Links
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: VARIOUS ARTISTS – GROOVILICIOUS DEEP: THE HOUSE YEARS
Talia Wooldridge