Started
in 1981 by current chairman Tom Silverman, Tommy Boy Music
celebrates its twentieth anniversary in 2001. In celebration
of this milestone, Tommy Boy will release a series of reissues
and compilations.
Tommy Boy has
made an undeniable impact on the history of popular music
by being one of the first labels to recognize the power of
rap and dance music. New York in the seventies and eighties
was a melting pot of rhythms that included dance music, hip
hop, pop, salsa, soul, and reggae. Tommy Boy was one of the
first labels to release dance and hip hop music that managed
to be both revolutionary and incredibly successful. From Afrika
Bambaataa to De La Soul the reissue series encompasses some
of the artistic highlights of the burgeoning rap and dance
genres.
Maintaining the
authenticity of these releases was crucial to the concept
of the series. The releases have been re-mastered and remixed
and some feature previously unreleased tracks as well as the
original cover art. Explains Steve Knutson, series developer
and coordinator, “Our 20th anniversary is an opportune
time to repackage and revamp our vast catalogue of influential
music. Since the majority of these releases were previously
only available on vinyl, the idea was to make this classic
material available for today’s CD buyers."
The series will
launch on January 16, 2001 with Jonzun Crew’s Lost in
Space and Planet Patrol Planet Patrol. Forthcoming titles
include music from Force M.D’s, Stetsasonic, Information
Society, Queen Latifah, Digital Underground and Coolio. Some
of the releases are reissues while others are revamped from
the original format. There are also plans for compilations
of greatest hits and rare and eclectic 12” material.
