Dinked Records Label Spotlight

The "Dinking" of a record is the process used to punch out the large center hole. This process was first introduced in the United States so that "Dinked" records could be played in Jukeboxes. Dinked is also, the name of a new record label specializing in large center hole soul & funk 7" vinyl 45's. Traditionally the large center hole indicates the record is a 7" 45rpm single. Jukeboxes were by far the most popular way to hear music in the 40's & 50's so records pressed in the United States were by default manufactured with a "Dinked" or large center hole. In the 1940's 75% of all 45's pressed went straight into jukeboxes. Long Play and 33rpm 7"s were still made with small holes during this period and there were a few jukeboxes in circulation that had the ability to play both. The size of the hole would determine at which speed the record would play. In the United Kingdom 7"s were manufactured with small holes regardless of the playback speed. The jukebox operators would then "Dink" the records themselves using a hand dinking tool. As the popularity of jukeboxes declined and more records were made for home listening, dinked 7" records lost their appeal and the smaller hole started to become the standard.  Capitol records then introduced the 7" with a knock out center. It was the knock out center that eventually made the dinked center redundant. 

The good thing about these new issues from the label is those that own rare and expensive original copies can finally put them on ice and stop risking cue burns or damage to them. Gary Byrd's "Soul Traveling" is a sought after funk jawn with the oh so dope horn intro as sampled by Soul II Soul.



Next up the b-boy classic anthem "It's Just Begun" from the Jimmy Castor Bunch. Here's your chance to own this on a 45 with flying to Italy to dig for them or break out a c-note or two on the internet.



Finally we have the "Funky Mule" edited and flipped by the homie Nick Bike. Monster! All these are definite musts for my soul, funk & b-boy djs/record collectors out there. For more info. visit:

www.dinkedrecords.com

Enter Da Stage

12.12.15 @ Stage Night Club - Seattle, Wa.

Shelter Lounge Green Lake

11.25.15 @ Shelter Lounge (Green Lake)

Kid Dynamite 45

Available for the first time on 7" vinyl 45rpm comes two classic breaks used by hip hop dj's for decades. Kid Dynamite "Up Hill Peace of Mind" b/w Balcone's Fault "Leave Your Hat On". Courtesy of the Undercover Brother and the Fraternity music group. Be sure to visit them for this and a lot of other soul, funk & heavy drum breaks. http://fraternitymusicgroup.bigcartel.com

Discogs Headquarters

This past Friday I stopped by Discogs (the number one site in the world to buy, sell & catalog records) in Beaverton, Oregon to have lunch with the staff, meet the owner and wish them a happy 15th birthday!



Watch for a very special forthcoming collaboration from us in 2016!

Mukatsuku 45 Stabilizers

Picked these up in Amsterdam on my travels this past year. Super necessary for vinyl 45 dj's courtesy of Japan's Mukatsuku they simply lay on top of the record over your adaptor to add any extra weight to dampen noise improve bass and reduce skipping. I'm pretty sure these came and went but the good news is DJ Osmose makes a similar thing and he's based in the USA. You can find him by doing a google search.

Supreme La Rock x Estate x Pusha T

I had the honor of rocking @ Aston Manor for the Estate grand opening soiree with Pusha T of the Clipse last week.



Shout out to Jared from Jive photography for capturing flicks throughout the night.





Be sure to visit Estate Seattle's newest men's fashion boutique located in the heart of downtown Seattle.

Basquiat Box

As usual Get On Down comes totally correct again! This time bringing us the "Basquiat Box" record carrying/storage case with 12" vinyl single of the classic & timeless Rammelzee Beat Bop complete with iconic cover art. A must have. Visit www.getondown.com for more info. and to place your order. ltd. quantity available.

Soul Summit

9.19.15 @ Double Door - Chicago, Il.

Break Out Tour

8.19.15 @ Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom - Denver, Co.

Kingdom of Bahrain

7.30.15 @ Cavallo Night Club - Kingdom of Bahrain

Louis Vuitton Record Box

Ever since the Helmut Lang designed 12" Louis Vuitton record box was introduced in the mid 90's i've wanted one. I've actually found 3 since then but have always been a dollar short. People want an arm & a leg for those things. I can't get a hold of John Travolta who I hear has one so I did the next best thing. Sent my old duffle bags off to the homie to make me this one off double wide case for my best 45s.

Brand New Bag

3.26.15 @ The Charles Bar - Vancouver, B.C.

Seattle Soul Image

My quest for the odd local record never stops. The latest discovery is a 45 by a group called Image. Once again they released this record with very little to no information on it as far as publishing, copyright owners, writers, etc. Gonna be hard to track but i'm on my mission, and before anyone tells me to call the phone number I already did that. It's out of service. The internet can be an amazing tool! With that being said anyone who has any information on this record please contact me I have questions. Any band members, radio djs, managers, promoters, family members etc. Someone here in Seattle holds they key to this one. I'll post audio when I can the divshare site seems to be down at the moment.

Soundset 2015

5.24.15 @ Soundset Music Festival - Shakopee, Mn.

Mike Nelson

Back with another slice of Seattle (Blue Eyed) Soul for you. Today's selection is from Mike Nelson on the Thunder Tummy records label. I recall my parents having a 45 when I was 4 years old on this label and specifically remember it because I thought the art work was so funny as a kid. I don't recall what record they owned but i'm gonna say it was most likely the ballad of Sonny Sixkiller. That record seems to be easily available while this one is not.


Mike Nelson - "Could I Forget You"

Kayano

It never fails. Never ever. Just when I think I have every local Seattle 45 there is to have, another pops up! This recent discovery is by Kayano released in 1985 and definitely up there as one of my top favorite local records. Very rare as only 3 known copies have surfaced. Apparently it was pressed in quantity of 1000 and half of them ended up being thrown in a dumpster, 100 copies to radio promotion and the remainder to a record distributor. Kayano not only does music but paints pictures as well. I'm going to try to catch up with him to see some of his work soon and get the scoop on this modern soul masterpiece that struggled to see the light of day. He told me he played all the instruments and did the vocals solo on this!


Kayano - "Shine on You"

Lego Turntables

A must have.

Bob James 45 Box

My one of one Bob James "Mardi Gras" 45 box. Figured it'd go nice with the CTI Case & 12" Without the bells. Bob approves!

Discogs x Grimy x Crate Diggers

This past weekend I was honored to play the first Discogs x Grimy x Crate Diggers event.

Zernel from Chicago was so on point with his selection and skills and set the party off lovely.




 Next up JT Donaldson from Dallas who slayed it as usual. So good!

 

 I got on and rocked for a solid hour before we all started rockin' one for one

 

 Dam Funk's plane finally landed and he made it in time to close it out. It was a capacity crowd with a jam packed dance floor and most definitely in my top 5 events of all time. So amazing!

 

 Thank you Disocgs, Grimy, Adidas Originals, White Owl Social, Pippin, Kristen, Liz, Boogie Nite, Rev Shines and all involved. #SupremeTeam