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Current Presents: The Secret Stash Records Story

Posted at 5:40 PM on October 6, 2011 by Jim McGuinn
Filed under: Local, The Current Presents

vis-a-vis.jpgOver the past decade the music industry has shrunk from a high of about $14.5 billion in sales in 2000 to $6.9 billion in 2010 - less than half. But one area that has seen growth in the decade has been the boutique re-issue label. One breakthrough was the re-issue of '70s R&B singer Shuggie Otis' Inspiration Information on David Byrne's Luaka Bop label, selling 110,000 copies, or about 5x what it did initially in 1974. Since that tmie Seattle label Light in the Attic has been reissuing records by the likes of Serge Gainsbourg, Karen Daulton, Bettye Davis, and a compilation of Seattle's '60s funk scene called Wheedle's Groove that later turned into a documentary film. Chicago's Numero Group has put out compilations documenting soul and funk scene from cities like Columbus and Cleveland, and their 6-album vinyl boxset of Syl Johnson sold out all 1,000 copies in advance. Clearly, something is going on - as music fans tired of the same old classic rock and soul albums have fallen for the well done re-issues that shine a light on previously unknown gems. African funk, freak folk, krautrock - the labels that have a passion and an ear for these records are finding a growing audience that wants to discover these nearly forgotten artists and sounds.

Locally, Secret Stash Records has been building a catalog of releases since just 2009 and will celebrate their newest album from Ghana's Vis-a-Vis with a club night at Club Jager on October 14. This Sunday (10/9) on The Current Presents we'll hear from the label's Eric Foss and Will Gilbert, and hear Secret Stash releases from Africa, South America, Persia, and Haiti.

Songlist:

Bossa 70 - Think
K Frimpong - Hwe Hwe Mu Na Yi Wo Mpena
Vis-à-vis - Obi Agye Mi Dofu
Pena - El Mayoral
Eva Ayllon - Ruperta
Black Sugar - Too Late
Los Destellos - Constelacion
Googoosh - Respect
Mehrpouya - Soul Raga
Tabu Combo - Ti Gran Mou'n
Vis-à-vis - Abusuafo

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