What do MJ’s “Thriller” album, E.T – the Extra-Terrestrial movie and the closure of the DeLorean factory in Belfast have in common?
1982. 40 years ago.
1982 also saw the launch of a musical icon that hallmarked that era for many people in the soul, funk, disco and hip-hop musical genres.
Street Sounds. A record label, apparel and vibe that captured how music had moved from the production studios to the street.
Morgan Khan – a Hong Kong-born Indian man who moved to the UK and worked in the music industry in the 1970s – set up the label that brought to the US soul and funk Imports and probably most significantly, US Hip-Hop and its early incarnation Electro (or Electro-Funk).
Before we had Radio 1Xtra and even KissFM, specialist black and dance music was the subject of import shops and DJs and Street Sounds made such music available to a British audience hungry for new and progressive urban sounds.
Street Sounds 1 was released in 1982 containing club-sound legends like Grandmaster Flash’s The Message and The Peech Boys Don’t Make Me Wait. Full 12’’ versions of iconic sounds previously available only to discerning club-goers and DJs.
Capturing the feel of an emergent shift in music, 50 compilation albums followed introducing youthful fans to a range of new and breakthrough Electro/Hip Hop acts. Captain Rock, Newcleus, Whodini, Afrika Bambaata and the Soul Sonic Force, Xena, Doug E Fresh, UTFO/The Real Roxanne/Roxanne Shante, Run DMC, plus on the Soul side The SOS Band, Rose Royce, Dayton, Lillo Thomas, Mtume, Raw Silk, Gwen McCrae, The Fatback Band, Curtis Hairston, The Jones Girls and Major Harris.
Having a knack for spotting big club sounds, with rapid releases, making this collection the must-have in any collector’s box. Cassette-only versions were blasted out from portable “beat boxes” on many street corners to those who’d newly discovered dance forms of body-popping and break dancing kept things – literally – at street level.
Though only brief in the musical timeline, Street Sounds showcased emerging British Acts – like Second Image and Paul Hardcastle – and US legends like the early Luther Vandross’ work, Maze, Kashif and Tom Browne. The resultant knock-on effect was the rise of UK Hip Hop, Grime, Garage and House.
One music producer’s knack for spotting hot releases, grouped into an accessible format was an early pioneer of the craze of compilation albums and now, playlists. Morgan Khan’s now renewed legacy helped lift the record-buying public’s attention to a whole new wave of breakthrough urban music.
What one track summed up this whole blast of diverse and fresh music?
How about Herbie Hancock’s fusion of jazz-funk, electro, scratching, beats and melodies in Rock It ? – A sound that defined the era.
Perry Timms
19 November 2022.
Perry is the Founder and Chief Energy Officer of People and Transformational HR Ltd (PTHR) and is a Chartered Member of the CIPD, a fellow of the RSA and Visiting Professor at 4x Business Schools in the UK. Perry is a 3x published author; a 2x TEDx Speaker and 5x Member of HR’s Most Influential Thinkers List ranking Number 1 in 2022.
Perry’s musical heritage is in music of black origin and particularly 1960s American R&B and British Soul & Funk from the 1980s-date.