Author: Arcee

  • CRATERY 88: Mr. Attic

    CRATERY 88: Mr. Attic

    I first met Mr. Attic at York University’s 105.5 FM in ’95. It was my first year attending York and my favourite pastime had quickly become loitering around the campus/community radio station before, between and after classes. One of my favourite shows was called “Soul by the Pound” – a program dedicated to playing the…

  • CRATERY 87: David Axelrod tribute

    CRATERY 87: David Axelrod tribute

    David Axelrod would have probably scoffed at this tribute. He would have likely criticized the theme. Pointed out why these selections weren’t worthy of spotlighting. Reminded us why certain sessions were nightmares. Questioned the order of the track list. Told us which songs he got fucked on royalties for. And likely chastised us for over…

  • CRATERY 84: Supreme La Rock

    CRATERY 84: Supreme La Rock

    My first real glimpse of Supreme La Rock was not in person. It was through a wantlist of records given to my friend Moss, via our mutual homie Jake One around ’95. Supreme had instructed Jake to tell his new Canadian counterparts to be on the lookout for some titles and send them his way…

  • CRADIO 2: Tuxedo and J-Rocc

    CRADIO 2: Tuxedo and J-Rocc

    J-Rocc. Mayer Hawthorne. Jake One. And a bunch of mics in my apartment. That pretty much sums up this episode of Cradio. Given everyone’s familiarity with one another, including my personal history with Jake One it was basically impossible to try and conduct any sort of formal interview. So if you’re looking for some sort…

  • Sims Joints: Son of S.O.U.L. tribute

    Sims Joints: Son of S.O.U.L. tribute

    We lost our dear friend Masimba “Son of S.O.U.L.” Kadzirange recently. Needless to say, it’s been pretty rough around Cratery headquarters. We all had our own individual relationships with Masimba. And they could all be described as equal parts meaningful and funny. “Sims” was a one of a kind dude. An old school philosopher that…

  • CRATERY 77: Itsmattlangille

    CRATERY 77: Itsmattlangille

    His name is Itsmattlangille. Not Matt Langille. Itsmattlangille. He’s the homie. And we’ve been trying to get him on Cratery for a minute. Matt really fucking loves soul 45’s. And he’s acquired some great ones over the years. He’s also managed to acquire a roster of musicians like Bad Bad Not Good, Ryan Hemsworth, Tommy…

  • CRATERY 76: Vinyl Ritchie

    CRATERY 76: Vinyl Ritchie

    Vancouver, 2013. I’m enjoying a brief stint out west as a copywriter for ad agency TAXI’s western outpost. Most of my downtime is spent digging with the hommie Sipreano, smoking on Van City’s finest and hitting up the hometown hangouts, including The Stuntman’s 45 Throwdown at Save-On Meats. It was the sort of low key…

  • CRATERY 75: J-Rocc

    CRATERY 75: J-Rocc

    It’s ok to be jealous of J-Rocc. He founded the World Famous Beat Junkies. He’s easily one of the funkiest DJ’s on the planet. He’s lucky enough to have had friendships with two of the greatest producers of all time. And from what little I’ve seen, he’s got a pretty crazy record collection. A collection,…

  • FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS

    FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS

    Candlelight. Fireplaces. Stuff made of Satin. I can’t say Catalist or myself are well-versed in any of the above. But we do share a mutual appreciation for soul records. Specifically, soul records targeted to fans of candlelight, fireplaces and stuff made of satin. It’s not clear how two fairly unromantic dudes could develop such a…

  • The 7th: La Cancion de Sally

    The 7th: La Cancion de Sally

    ARTIST: The (St. Thomas) Pepper Smelter SONG: La Cancion de Sally LABEL: Virrey YEAR: ??? The (St. Thomas) Pepper Smelter was formed in Lima, Peru from disbanded members of a mid-60’s garage band called Los Shain’s. The band took a decidedly more psychedelic take on classics of the time, interpreting Hendrix’s Purple Haze on their…

  • CRATERY 70: Skeme Richards

    CRATERY 70: Skeme Richards

    Skeme Richards once told me that he’s not afraid of a real job. He’s not afraid of rolling up his sleeves and departing the DJ life that takes to him places like Germany, Switzerland, Amsterdam and Tokyo year round. He wouldn’t be upset about not being able to shop in all the best record stores…

  • CRATERY 69

    CRATERY 69

    “I need to stop buying records”. Most collectors have said it at some point. Even contemplated doing it, albeit for a brief second. But actually following through is damn near impossible. You think of all the reasons to stop. The money. Your woman. The space. Your woman. So one evening, you convince yourself it’s time…

  • The 7th: Gimmewachoowan

    The 7th: Gimmewachoowan

    ARTIST: Tiger People SONG: Gimmewachoowan YEAR: 1974 LABEL: Polydor SONG: My man Sipreano was kind enough to part with this one while I was in Vancouver last year. Musically, it’s like a mid-tempo sleazy Italian library complete with female back up vocals and gratuitous moaning. Of course, the label tells us it’s a promo and…

  • The 7th: Comin’ at ya

    The 7th: Comin’ at ya

    ARTIST: Pyramid Plus SONG: Comin’ at ya LABEL: Lifeworld YEAR: ? Buying records online can be a gamble. Record prices tend to fluctuate, depending on when dead stock copies are found and how the seller can go about letting them off. I ordered this joint online, and when it showed up, I knew something was…

  • CRATERY 66

    CRATERY 66

    A fellow record head once told me that a collection is nothing without focus. Do you collect Libraries? Psych? Jazz? Rare grooves? Hip-Hop? Choose. You can’t be an authority on everything. His theory was that trying to stockpile all forms of music can often leave your collection feeling oddly random and not necessarily comprehensive in any…

  • Version: Tighten Up

    Version: Tighten Up

    I love this joint. In my opinion, Tighten Up was the impetus for a slew of upbeat, happy funk records in the late 60’s like Kool and the Gang’s ‘Chocolate Buttermilk’, Dave Cortez and the Moon People’s ‘Happy Soul’ and the T.S.U. Toronadoes’ ‘Getting the corners’. Perhaps the reverse applies on the latter since the…

  • The 7th: Sadity Lady

    The 7th: Sadity Lady

    ARTIST: CLARENCE MANN SONG: SADITY LADY (INSTRUMENTAL) LABEL: FLOWER’S RECORDS YEAR: ??? Nothing like digging through a private collection in storage. There’s an inherent excitement to having access to music the average collector perusing the record stores might not have. If it’s a solo mission, it can prove to be even more exciting, since you’re…

  • CRATERY 64: 45’s (part 4)

    CRATERY 64: 45’s (part 4)

    A think piece on the almighty 45 might have been appropriate given this month’s episode. But the timeliness of Record Store Day 2014 and the recent debates about the growing popularity of this event have prompted me to share a few thoughts of my own. What began as an annual act of solidarity to champion…

  • VERSION: Nao tem nada nao

    VERSION: Nao tem nada nao

    VERSION: Nao tem nada nao Forgive us. It was a little cruel to kick off our 2014 covers spotlight with a selection that screams summertime like this one does. February is a particularly disgusting time of year in our wonderful nation. And the beauty and brightness of a Brazilian composition like Marcos Valle’s “Nao tem…

  • The 7th: Hey Joyce

    The 7th: Hey Joyce

    ARTIST: Lou Courtney SONG: Hey Joyce LABEL: Pop-Side YEAR: 1967 The year is 1990. I shut my locker and adjust the volume on my limited edition grey rubber sports Walkman, before quietly bopping through the halls of Streetsville Secondary School, slapping hands with my classmates between periods as Main Source’s “He got so much soul”…

  • The 7th: Gone with the sun

    The 7th: Gone with the sun

    ARTIST: The Wings TITLE: “Gone with the sun” YEAR: ??? LABEL: Suzumi One of the perks of being a record nerd is having friends who are record nerds. The Wings in question are not McCartney’s backing band but a popular Nigerian rock band that had a few releases on Kenyan label Suzumi. I was in…

  • CRATERY 57b: Big Jacks

    CRATERY 57b: Big Jacks

    Big Jacks was sifting through the stacks of a local record shop during a trip to the D. It was logical that Jacks make the periodic 4-hour journey from Toronto, since Detroit has been home to not only to endless Motown classics from the 60’s, but a slew of modern soul and boogie records –…

  • SKATERY: SATURDAY, JANUARY 14TH 2012, HARBOURFRONT

    SKATERY: SATURDAY, JANUARY 14TH 2012, HARBOURFRONT

    Skates. Crates. A combination made in heaven. Or in the offices of Harbourfront Centre. Over the phone. With a Cratery representative. For you, this means a *FREE* evening of skating to music you would never skate to. Which, in theory, should brighten up your shitty-ass January. Also, this is a family event. There will be…