35 Years of Club Classics
Legendary British label Champion Records celebrates its landmark 35th anniversary in 2020 with a limited edition 6×12” vinyl boxset featuring some of the label’s classic tracks and remixes, released as part of Record Store Day on Sat 29 August. This is backed by Champion Classics Part I mixed and compiled by renowned Champion producer StoneBridge, released digitally on 11 September.
Launched in London in 1985 by Mel Medalie – who remains at the helm today and still based in the original London office in NW10 – Champion Records was vital in bringing the US House sound over to the UK and vice versa. Key ‘80s and ‘90s Champion Records releases included tracks from DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, Salt ‘N’ Pepa, Raze, Sybil, Todd Terry, Robin S, Kristine W, and Farley “Jackmaster” Funk. The label was also instrumental in shaping the Ibiza house sound, when a young Champion Records A&R man called Paul Oakenfold visited The White Island in 1987 to promote one of the label’s releases, ‘Jungle Fever’. In the mid to late ‘90s and ‘00s, Champion Records enjoyed huge success on their sister label Cheeky Records with releases from Faithless and Eminem feat. Dido.
The beautifully packaged Champion Records Vinyl Boxset features fifteen of the label’s classic dance tracks, re-mastered – from Robin S ‘Show Me Love’ and ‘Luv 4 Luv’ to Sandy B’s ‘Make The World Go Round’ and ‘Ain’t No Need To Hide’; Raze ‘Break 4 Love’, Kristine W’s ‘Feel What You Want’ and ‘One More Try’, plus Staxx ‘Joy’ and OT Quartet ‘Hold That Sucker Down’. Featured remixes including some of the label’s most celebrated producers – Rollo, Rob Dougan, Stonebridge, Our Tribe, Deep Dish, and Dekkard.
To mark the 35th anniversary year, Champion Records will be releasing remixes of their classic tracks, alongside brand-new material throughout 2020, with their new A&R, Robin Tabor who says, “It’s such an honour bringing Champion Records back with a bunch of new acts and remixes from some of the labels most iconic releases for today’s floors”.
Paul Oakenfold says: “Champion Records was a defining moment in my career as a producer and A&R man. From going into the studio with the world-famous Arthur Baker. To signing Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, to doing the remix that became a pop hit of their single ‘Girls Ain’t Nothing But Trouble’. And working and learning alongside Mel Medalie. Champion Records will always live in my heart as one of the best dance labels.”
Coming Soon – https://shop.championrecords.co.uk/