The Crate Diggers Project

Name/Location:

DJ John Michael, NYC

Bio:

Associate Producer of Music/DJ at Peloton Cycle, Resident DJ at Stonewall Inn, NYC // Tavern On Camac, Philadelphia

What got you into collecting vinyl?

There was always music around my home but my father had a few stacks of 45’s that I listened to on my Fisher Price record player alot growing up. My mother was a stay at home mom and I remember being home during the day with her and bringing my record player into the bathroom while she would get ready and she had a copy of the Barbra Streisand “Guilty” album that we used to listen to all the time. It’s an album I know backwards and forwards and remains one of my favorites. 

As I got older, my parents were very big into Doo Wop and we would go to oldies concerts where they would have record vendors around and I would go with them and buy lots of Doo Wop records…which then of course just continued to spiral out as I got older and 12″ records became more of a thing in my life lol

Years collecting/DJing:

20 years DJing/30 years collecting

Do you remember the first record you ever bought?

I I wasn’t allowed to listen to George Michael’s “I Want Your Sex” as a kid and I didn’t really know why and I remember scrounging money together whenever I could and one day when I was in the mall with my mom I snuck into Record Town in the Staten Island Mall and bought the 45. My cousin Christina and I used to sit in my bedroom with a pair of headphones and listen to it all the time. Hah!

Genres you collect:

While my collection ranges from house music to doo wop to broadway soundtracks, 80’s freestyle and so so much more classic disco and funk/soul are what I tend to gravitate towards. My 45 collection is largely 80’s music tho, cross genre.

Artist you have the most records by/Label you have the most records by:

I would have to list this by remixer and most definitely anything that has Junior Vasquez remixes on it. Peter Rauhofer is probably a close second. If I had to pick an artist, singer wise, Most likely Cher.

Is there a holy-grail record/records you’re still trying to get?

Vivian Reed – Save Your Love For Me on 45. One of the most stunning soul records I’ve ever heard. The original goes for about $250 these days. I have a reissue, but my ocd always knows it’s not the original HAH!

How are your records arranged?

A little bit here, a little bit there, a freestyle section over here, some new pop records over there…and so on and so on. It’s so bad! I need help!

Favorite place to dig/favorite record shop:

Academy Records, NYC; Brewerytown Beats, Philadelphia; Amoeba Records, San Francisco and so many more

Anything else you want to say about your collection?

If it gets any bigger I’m going to have to move out of my apartment. Doesn’t mean it’s going to stop me tho LOL

Any social media and projects you want to promote:

Currently while under quarantine I’m doing daily one hour dance parties at 6PM EST on my Instagram: @djjohnmichael but if you want to hear my sets or my remix work, you can stop by at www.mixcloud.com/johnmichaeldispirito. In person, I hold down two residencies, Monthly at The Stonewall Inn, NYC and bi-monthly at Tavern On Camac in Philadelphia. 

One of my favorite Instagram vinyl guys.

Name/Location:

Many of my friends known me as “CK” (my first name is Chee Keong and my last name is Teo). I am from Singapore.

Bio:

I am a happy husband and a father of a 10-year old boy. I actually co-founded a record shop back in 2013 called “Vinylicious”. We ran the first official Record Shop Day event in Singapore back in 2013 and it was amazing to see queues outside our humble shop. We have also co-run the RSD2013 events with Fred Perry and #vinyloftheday back then.

I sold my Record Store shares to my business partner after a year to focus on my Kids’ enrichment schools. I am currently running 3 centres in Singapore to develop soft skills in your children. 

Years collecting:

I don’t really DJ except for some very rare occasions where my DJ friends invited me to do a co-show like the one we did recently to pay tribute to John Peel in a bar called “The White Label” in Singapore.

Do you remember the first record you ever bought?

The first record I have purchased is Nirvana “Nevermind” in a local record shop called “Zenn Audio”. That was before I even have a turntable.

Approximate number of records in your collection:

I don’t really count the number of records I have but based on my estimation on how many each shelf can take, it should be around 6000 plus. I have stored them all onto my custom made shelves. It is my childhood dream to have a very tall record shelf with ladder and my dream came true 2 years ago when I shifted into my new place!

Genres you collect:

I collect almost everything from rock to pop to Jazz, funk and soul to heavy metal. Basically music in all forms and kinds!

Artist you have the most records by/Label you have the most records by:

It got to be Prince! I will buy anything from Prince if I see it in a record shop. As for label, I have around 150 plus of releases from the Blue Note label. I have also collected the Peel Session series from Strange Fruit label and currently I have around 80 pieces

Is there a holy-grail record/records you’re still trying to get?

Yes! Prince and his 1987 release “The Black Album”. My last check on Discorgs shows that an original US pressing of “The Black Album” is selling at US$38,0000 and I don’t think there is a recent original reissue. Hopefully, one day I will be able to find a copy that I can afford.

How are your records arranged?

I am quite a messy person when it comes to organizing my records. Generally, I have arranged them in genre (“80s pop”, “Funk and Soul” and “Jazz”) and then sub-categorize back in alphabetical order. I have also separate artistes/bands that I have a bigger collection like Prince, Depeche Mode, The Housemarins/Beautiful South, Mayday (a Taiwanese Pop-Rock band), etc so that I can find their stuff easier and quicker.

Favorite place to dig/favorite record shop:

I love to travel around the world to crate dig! As I live in Asia, the best play in my opinion to crate dig is in Japan. There are so many great record shops conveniently situated in the heart of Tokyo. Shops like Face Records, Disc Union, General Records, Manhattan Records are all fantastic place to crate dig! I have also fulfil my dreams last Dec where I visited a total of 22 record shops across Paris, London and Liverpool! I had the best time of my life! Back here locally in Singapore, I like to visit all the wonderful shops with great people running them, like Zenn Audio, The Analog Vault, Hear Records, Retrocrates, etc. In fact, Singapore is a great place to crate dig and as we are a small country, it is easy to travel from one shop to another.

Anything else you want to say about your collection?

I started collecting vinyl records only in 2011 but I was a music fan since I was 10 years old. It all began with my dad’s mini-compo player and cassette tapes. I remember playing my dad’s bootleg cassette tapes on his mini-compo player and got blew away with the many catchy 80s music. Songs from Michael Jackson to The Police to Eurythemics to Bonnie M. I fell in love with music even more after exposing to the Casey Kasem’s American Top 40 and the legendary John Peel’s show where I started to diversify my musical taste. My obsession in collecting music in its physical format never stops since then, although it was a little surprise that it was only 29 years later that I decided to start my vinyl collection after a close friend of mine inspired me with his collection. I am deeply in love with the vinyl format as it offers a warmer sound and the bigger album artwork is certainly more fun and engaging to look at. Record collecting has also become the greatest bond between me and my son!

Any social media and projects you want to promote:

My Instagram account: myllck

Still on the Pittsburgh tip we have Jason Pascuzzi aka DJ Scuzzi.

Name:

Jason Pascuzzi or DJ Scuzzi

Location:

Pittsburgh, PA.

Years DJing/collecting:

DJing for 18+ years, collecting records since 1987.

Do you remember the first record you ever bought?

“No Sleep til Brooklyn” 2 copies.

Approximate number of records in your collection:

About 9000.

Genres you collect:

Soul, funk, jazz, disco, house, and techno.

Artist you have the most records by/Label you have the most records by:

James Brown, Sade, and Masters at Work remixes.

Is there a holy-grail record/records you’re still trying to get?

The first Incredible Bongo Band LP.

Favorite place to dig/favorite record shop:

In Pittsburgh it’s Jerry’s records ..been going there since 87 and The Attic Since 94. If I go to Philly it’s Repo Records. When I go to Detroit ..well ..Hello Records, People’s, and Detroit Threads !

Next up we have Eric Justin from Pittsburgh, Pa. Before I left Pittsburgh, Eric and I had a monthly at The Goldmark called HOME where we played nothing but classic house on vinyl. He is still carrying on the night with Tony Ruiz. One of the most respected OG jocks in the area.

Name:

Eric “ericjustin” Edmondson, I sometimes go by ejust on my online mixes.

Location:

Pittsburgh, PA.

My bio:

I grew up un Economy, PA and moved to Pittsburgh when I graduated high school in 95. I was first introduced to house and techno at the age of 16 when some friends took me to an all age event at Club Metropol back in 92. Shortly after, I started buying records at Turbo Zen and begun playing raves and club nights around Pittsburgh. In 94, I got my first club residency at Cloud Nine on 21st in Pittsburgh’s Strip District. It was at this time that I begun to play garage house and tribal which was popular at the time. After a short move to Philly in 97, I returned to Pittsburgh in 2000 and went on to help run Hypervinyl Records. Since my return to Pittsburgh, I have DJed at many club nights around town, most memorable was Sunday Nights at Pub IG.

Years DJing/collecting:

I have been DJing / collecting for 27years.

Do you remember the first record you ever bought?

I recall buying “Stay Hungry” by Twisted Sister in the first grade. I’m pretty sure that was my first LP. lol

Approximate number of records in your collection:

According to Discogs, I have 3,501 records. Check ‘em out https://www.discogs.com/user/ericjustin

Genres you collect:

Underground House Music, mainly Garage House / New Jersey Sound but I also collect NY, Chicago, and Detroit styles. I also collect Disco and some Techno.

Artist you have the most records by/Label you have the most records by:

Discogs tells me that I have 124 Louie Vega records and 101 from Blaze. I probably have more Strictly Rhythm records than anything else (127) but I am most proud of my Complete discography of John Robinson’s Nott-Us and Black Rain labels. I am also proud of my nearly complete discography of Movin’ Records (1 shy of complete)

How are your records arranged?

My collection is arranged geographically and by label. I try to separate my NJ labels from those from NY but it’s kinda hard. I also have my Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit, Miami, and Toronto labels filled separately as well as my imports. Disco is filled separately and again by label.

Is there a holy-grail record/records you’re still trying to get?

My holy grail record for many years has been Movin’ Records 012 / Park Ave – Don’t Turn Your Love (remixes) This 12” has a remix from my favorite DJ, Tony Humphries. I need this to complete the discography. Check it out https://www.discogs.com/Park-Ave-Featuring-Tony-Jenkins-Dont-Turn-Your-Love/release/25684

Favorite place to dig/favorite record shop:

My favorite place to dig has always been Attic Records in Millvale (Pittsburgh) Dance Tracks NYC was always my favorite. I wish it was still open.

Anything else?

These days, I play vinyl and digitally with XDJs but I have not stopped buying records. I will never stop!

Any social media and projects you want to promote:

I’m not very social media savvy but I do have a mix cloud page where you can hear my mixes.

https://www.discogs.com/user/ericjustin

So this is part visual, and part interview. I ask questions, you answer, and supply me with some awesome pics of your vinyl. I’ll get the ball rolling.

Name:

DJ Strobe

Location:

Ontario, Canada.

My bio:

When I’m not collecting records, I am in the studio remixing and producing or working on my weekly mixshows.

Years DJing/collecting:

About 35. Yikes.

Do you remember the first record you ever bought?

My parents had a pretty big collection of records, mostly artists like Elton John, Barry Manilow and Barbara Striestand, but the first record I remember walking into a store and buying was Michael Jacksons “Off The Wall” and Depeche Mode’s “Speak And Spell” around 1981.

Approximate number of records in your collection:

Rough estimate, about 4,000.

Genres you collect:

I would say 60% of my collection is classic house and club from the 80s through 2002. Followed by 80s New Wave, then disco, then whatever rock/soul/funk/hip hop I have kept in my collection that I still love.

I also have two collection quests if you will, to get all the vinyl with Keith Haring designs on them, and for some strange reason, albums with wicker peacock chairs on the cover. I have all but 2 of the Haring covers, and lord knows how many covers there actually are with the peacock chairs on them, but I have about 50 of them. I’ll do a separate post about those another time.

Artist you have the most records by/Label you have the most records by:

This is easy. Todd Terry & Strictly Rhythm. I am 90% sure I have the most complete pre-2000 collection of Todd Terry vinyl anywhere. And living in New York during the 90s, I used to grab every Strictly Rhythm promo I could from the label, so I have about 70% of the entire catalog currently.

After Todd Terry, the artists I have the most of are Depeche Mode, Pal Joey, The Mad Frenchman, and Masters At Work.

How are your records arranged?

By genre, and by artist & labels. I do not have them alphabetized in any way shape or form, but I do group records by the same artists together.

Is there a holy-grail record/records you’re still trying to get?

There are two. The first is “Crack Is Wack” by Bipo with the Keith Haring cover (you have one to sell lol) and the other is “10 Ragas To A Disco Beat” by Charanjit Singh.

Favorite place to dig/favorite record shop:

Jerry’s Records in Pittsburgh, Pa and Play De Record in Tornto, Ontario. I definitely want to go to Japan and dig. I do miss the 90s living in New York, there were so many amazing and legendary stores.

Anything else?

I also collect vintage portable turntables, audio gear, and boomboxes as well as random music collectables.

Any social media and projects you want to promote:

You can find me over at www.djstrobe.com and you can also hear me every weekend over on mix93fm at 11pm Saturdays for AFTER PURRTY and Sundays at 3pm for THE VIBE and at 10pm for the AFTER PURRTY replay. I also post each weeks sets on my mixcloud (link at my website)

http://www.mixcoud.com/djstrobe