8 labels that shaped the New York City house sound

King Street Sounds

In ’85 Hisa Ishioka came to New York to study the interior design of clubs but when a friend introduced him to the legendary Paradise Garage and scintillating Larry Levan sets, it was time for a career change. On the new job description was weekends at Garage (of course) and A&R in the week. Ishioka organised Japanse club tours for Levan, Frankie Knuckles and David Morales and by the early ‘90s he was putting together dance compilations. Starting his own label became an obvious step, so in 1993 King Street Records was born. Named after the Paradise Garage on “King Street 84”, King Street quickly established itself as one of the premier house labels, with a soulful house slant and an appreciation of latin, jazz and afro sounds. As well as delivering chart topping dance cuts (Kimara Lovelace ‘Circles’ and Urban Soul ‘Show Me’ spring to mind), King Street and its sub-label Nite Grooves discography have pushed underground quality from Kerri Chandler to Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King, Blaze, Danny Krivit and more.

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Mood II Swing Feat. Carol Sylvan
Closer
(1994)

Listen / Buy

’90s NY was seemingly awash with house production duos and Mood II Swing have got to be one of the finest examples to have ever existed. Closer is just one of the many gems knocking around their sublime collection. A classic that’s been remixed and sampled countless times but nothing quite beats the original. You’d be forgiven for dropping the marching ‘Swing To Mood Dub’ as well as the beautiful ‘King Street Moody Club’ cut in the same DJ mix.

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Kerri “Kaoz” Chandler
Trionisphere EP (Part 1)
(1996)

Listen / Buy

A taste of King Street in its heyday. This seminal release has the soul and raw kick of classic Kerri but with an emotional, melancholic angle especially on the golden B-Side. It was repressed earlier this year – a relief as it was becoming something of a Discogs holy grail.

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Carlton ‎
Lovetime
(1996)

Listen / Buy

Admittedly it’s not all gold on this 2x 12″ release that sees King Sreet deliver 10 versions of Carlton’s sweet vocals, but there’s a super Chez & Trent Prescription mix and Lil Louis nails two mixes.

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95 North Featuring Lynn Lockamy
Hangin On
(1993)

Listen / Buy

Brooklyn’ Lynn Lockamy’s vocals are treated to five garage house flavours courtesy of 95 North, the duo responsible for countless classics on Shelter, Slip ’n’ Slide, Henry Street and more.

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Tears Of Velva
The Way I Feel
(1993)

Listen / Buy

More Kerri Chandler, partly because King Street owes a lot to this master and partly because we couldn’t resist. The release centres around the vocals of Velva Johnson who met Kerri Chandler at the Zanzibar nightclub. Like Trionesphere this rightfully received the repress treatment earlier this year.

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