Azuli Records
Encyclopedia
Azuli Records is an independent record label
, focusing mainly on house music
and other forms of electronic dance music
. The label was founded by DJ
Dave Piccioni in London
, UK
in 1991 and went into liquidation in April 2009. It's assets were sold to Phoenix Music International Ltd. In 2011, the label was relaunched by Defected Records.
Releases included the Choice series.
from the back of a van.
In 1990, Piccioni took over Black Market Records shop in London, and in 1991 he started Azuli Records.
Azuli's debut release was Chocolate Fudge's Inner Fantasy. By the mid-1990s, the label began to have UK chart crossover hits.
In 1998, Azuli released the hit single Needin' U
by David Morales
, followed by other hits including Eclipse
's Makes Me Love You (1999) and Afro Medusa
's Pasilda (2000), the latter of which reached number 31 in the UK Singles Chart
in October 2000. The label has since released over 200 singles and a number of compilations albums by the likes of Frankie Knuckles
, Joey Negro
, François K
and Danny Tenaglia
.
Azuli have also released a number of DJ mix
album and compilation album series':
The Choice compilation series are retrospective albums, wherein all tracks are selected by renowned DJs. DJ's include Danny Tenaglia
, Tony Humphries, François K
and Derrick L. Carter
, X-Press 2
, Jeff Mills
and John Digweed
.
The label also releases annual compilation CD entitled Miami, Space: Ibiza and Made in Italy.
Finally, the Club Azuli project was a compilation series featuring current dancefloor hits, in both mixed and unmixed versions. Club Azuli is also the title of Azuli's event program which, for the past two years, has been visiting the finest clubs across the globe.
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
, focusing mainly on house music
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
and other forms of electronic dance music
Electronic dance music
Electronic dance music is electronic music produced primarily for the purposes of use within a nightclub setting, or in an environment that is centered upon dance-based entertainment...
. The label was founded by DJ
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
Dave Piccioni in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 1991 and went into liquidation in April 2009. It's assets were sold to Phoenix Music International Ltd. In 2011, the label was relaunched by Defected Records.
Releases included the Choice series.
History
The Azuli Records label was the UK's longest running house label. Dave Piccioni, a DJ who had lived in New York's formative house community, began by selling 12" singles12-inch single
The 12-inch single is a type of gramophone record that has wider groove spacing compared to other types of records. This allows for louder levels to be cut on the disc by the cutting engineer, which in turn gives a wider dynamic range, and thus better sound quality...
from the back of a van.
In 1990, Piccioni took over Black Market Records shop in London, and in 1991 he started Azuli Records.
Azuli's debut release was Chocolate Fudge's Inner Fantasy. By the mid-1990s, the label began to have UK chart crossover hits.
In 1998, Azuli released the hit single Needin' U
Needin' U
"Needin' U" is a house record written and produced by David Morales, under the pseudonym David Morales Presents The Face. The track's retail release was on Manifesto Records in the summer of 1998, but it had been available to DJ's several months prior on various house record labels...
by David Morales
David Morales
David Morales is an internationally acclaimed Grammy-winning house music DJ and producer. In addition to his production and DJ work, Morales is one of the most prolific remixers of all time, transforming many pop music songs into club-friendly dance tracks...
, followed by other hits including Eclipse
Bini & Martini
Bini & Martini is a duo composed of house music producers and DJs Gianni Bini and Paolo Martini, from Italy. They are known under a variety of pseudonyms, including House of Glass, Eclipse, The Goodfellas and The Groovelines.-Career:...
's Makes Me Love You (1999) and Afro Medusa
Afro Medusa
Afro Medusa is a British dance music trio, consisting of the vocalist Isabel Fructuoso, Nick Bennett and Patrick Cole. They placed two songs on the US Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, beginning with "Pasilda", which hit #1 in 2000...
's Pasilda (2000), the latter of which reached number 31 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in October 2000. The label has since released over 200 singles and a number of compilations albums by the likes of Frankie Knuckles
Frankie Knuckles
Frankie Knuckles is an American DJ, record producer and remix artist. He played an important role in developing house music as a Chicago DJ in the 1980s and he helped to popularize house music in the 1990s, with his work as a producer and remixer...
, Joey Negro
Joey Negro
Dave Lee is a British DJ and house music producer, also known by the stage name Joey Negro. Lee was born on the Isle of Wight. He has released music under a variety of pseudonyms, including the name Jakatta...
, François K
François Kevorkian
François Kevorkian, alias François K, is a French DJ of Armenian origin, remixer, producer and record label owner. Having started his career in renowned clubs such as the Paradise Garage and Studio 54, the New York City resident is widely considered as one of the forefathers of house...
and Danny Tenaglia
Danny Tenaglia
Danny Tenaglia is a New York-based DJ and Grammy nominated record producer.-Early life:At the age of ten, Tenaglia first started to collect records. In 1979 he began going to nightclub Paradise Garage, where DJ Larry Levan's genre-less blend of music appealed to him...
.
Azuli have also released a number of DJ mix
DJ mix
A DJ mix or DJ mixset is a sequence of musical tracks typically mixed together to appear as one continuous track. When a DJ mix or DJ mixset is recorded onto some medium, it is often referred to as a mix tape...
album and compilation album series':
The Choice compilation series are retrospective albums, wherein all tracks are selected by renowned DJs. DJ's include Danny Tenaglia
Danny Tenaglia
Danny Tenaglia is a New York-based DJ and Grammy nominated record producer.-Early life:At the age of ten, Tenaglia first started to collect records. In 1979 he began going to nightclub Paradise Garage, where DJ Larry Levan's genre-less blend of music appealed to him...
, Tony Humphries, François K
François Kevorkian
François Kevorkian, alias François K, is a French DJ of Armenian origin, remixer, producer and record label owner. Having started his career in renowned clubs such as the Paradise Garage and Studio 54, the New York City resident is widely considered as one of the forefathers of house...
and Derrick L. Carter
Derrick Carter
Derrick Carter is an American house producer and DJ from Chicago, Illinois. He is regarded as one of the best underground house key players currently active and is particularly popular in Europe.-Biography:...
, X-Press 2
X-Press 2
X-Press 2 is an English electronic and dance music duo. The members are DJ Diesel and DJ Rocky . Ashley Beedle left to pursue solo projects in 2009.-History:...
, Jeff Mills
Jeff Mills
Jeff Mills is an American techno DJ and producer.-Career:Starting in the early 1980s, Mills, using the name "The Wizard", was a recurring guest DJ on "The Electrifying Mojo" radio show on WJLB...
and John Digweed
John Digweed
John Digweed is an English DJ, record producer and acclaimed actor.-Biography:John Digweed began DJing around age 4...
.
The label also releases annual compilation CD entitled Miami, Space: Ibiza and Made in Italy.
Finally, the Club Azuli project was a compilation series featuring current dancefloor hits, in both mixed and unmixed versions. Club Azuli is also the title of Azuli's event program which, for the past two years, has been visiting the finest clubs across the globe.
Choice Series
- Derrick L. Carter 2 x CD Album
- Roger Sanchez (UNMIXED) 2 x CD Album
- Roger Sanchez (MIXED) 2 x CD Album
- Louie Vega (UNMIXED) Limited Edition 2 x CD Album
- Kenny Dope (UNMIXED) 2 x CD Album
- Kenny Dope (MIXED) 2 x CD Album
- Danny Howells (Unmixed) 2 x CD Album
- Danny Howells 2 x CD Album
- John Digweed 2 x CD Album
- XPRESS 2 2 x CD Album
- Jeff Mills 2 x CD Album
- Louie Vega 2 x CD Album
- Tony Humphries 2 x CD Album
- Danny Tenaglia 2 x CD Album
- Francois K 2 x CD Album
- Frankie Knuckles 2 x CD Album
House / Club albums
- Miami 2008 (Unmixed Limited Edition) 2 x CD Album
- Miami 2008 (Mixed) 2 x CD Album
- Club Azuli 5 Vinyl Sampler 2 x LP Album
- Club Azuli 5 (UNMIXED) - Future Sound Of The Dance Underground 2 x CD Album
- Azuli Presents - Space Annual 2007 (UNMIXED) 2 x CD Album
- Azuli Presents - Space Annual 07 (MIXED) 2 x CD Album
- Club Azuli 5 (MIXED) - Future Sound Of The Dance Underground 2 x CD Album
- Club Azuli Ibiza 2007 UNMIXED 2 x CD Album
- Las Tardes En Ibiza 2007 2 x CD Album
- Club Azuli Ibiza (MIXED) - Future Sound Of The Dance Underground 2 x CD Album
- Space Ibiza 2007 UNMIXED 2 x CD Album
- Azuli Presents - Space Ibiza 07 2 x CD Album
- SPACE TRANQUIL - Volumen Tres CD Album
- MIAMI 2007 (Mixed) 2 x CD Album
- Club Azuli 2007 (UNMIXED) - Future Sound Of The Dance Underground 2 x CD Album
- Club Azuli 2007 (MIXED) - Future Sound Of The Dance Underground 2 x CD Album
- Space Annual #1 (Unmixed) 2 x CD Album
- Space Annual #1 (Mixed) 2 x CD Album
- Circo Loco 2006 - Mixed by Tania Vulcano & Cirillo 2 x CD Album
- Club Azuli 02/06 (UNMIXED) - Future Sound Of The Dance Underground 2 x CD Album
- Club Azuli 02/06 (MIXED) - Future Sound Of The Dance Underground 2 x CD Album
- Azuli Presents - Space Tranquil VOLUMEN DOS CD Album
- Azuli Presents - Space Ibiza 06 2 x CD Album
- Azuli Presents - Miami 2006 UNMIXED 2 x CD Album
- Azuli Presents - Miami 2006 MIXED 2 x CD Album
- Club Azuli (DJ UNMIXED) - Future Sound Of The Dance Underground (UNMIXED) 2 x CD Album
- Club Azuli (MIXED) - Future Sound Of The Dance Underground 2 x CD Album
- Azuli Presents - Space Tranquil Volumen Uno CD Album
- Azuli Presents - Space Ibiza 04 2 x CD Album
- Azuli Presents - Miami 2005 UNMIXED 2 x CD Album
- Azuli Presents - Miami 2005 MIXED 2 x CD Album
- Azuli Presents - Space Ibiza 05 2 x CD Album
- Big Wheels Of Azuli 2 x CD Album
- Azuli Presents - Miami 2004 2 x CD Album
- Azuli Presents - Miami 2002 2 x CD Album
- Azuli Presents - Miami 2001 2 x CD Album
- Joey Negro - Back To The Scene of The Crime CD Album
- Black Market Presents - 2 Step Volume 2 CD Album
- Azuli Presents - Miami 2000 CD Album
- Black Market Presents - 2 Step Volume 1 CD Album
- Joey Negro - Can't Get High Without You CD Album
- Romanthony - Romanworld CD Album
- Another Fine Mess - Fila Brazillia CD Album
- Another Fine Mess - Fila Brazillia 3 x LP Album
- Another Fine Mess - FC Kahuna CD Album
- Another Fine Mess - FC Kahuna 2 x LP Album
- Space: Ibiza 2003 (Mixed By Smokin Jo & Reche) 2 x CD Album
- Azuli Presents - Miami 2003 2 x CD Album
- Azuli Presents - Vertigo CD Album
- Azuli Presents - Wild Fruit 2 x CD Album
- Azuli Presents - Faith Vol. 2 2 x CD Album
- LA TROYA - Ibiza 2008
- SPACE IBIZA 08 UNMIXED LIMITED EDITION
- SPACE IBIZA 08 Las Tardes en Ibiza 2008 -
- 10th Anniversary Groove Armada - Are Friends Electric
- Choice - Derrick L. Carter
- Miami 2008 (Unmixed Limited Edition)
- Miami 2008 (Mixed)
- Club Azuli 5 Vinyl Sampler
- Club Azuli 5 (UNMIXED) - Future Sound Of The Dance Underground
- Azuli Presents - Space Annual 2007 (UNMIXED)
- Club Azuli 5 (UNMIXED) - Future Sound Of The Dance Underground