New York producer Victor Simonelli was a prominent figure in the 90s house scene, and now, some of his earliest productions are being re-released on The Early Years Vol 1 & 2, new vinyl compilations from Behind The Groove.
The compilation features tracks such as Cloud 9’s Do You Want Me, Solution’s Feel So Right, Instant Exposure’s Wanna Be With You, and a myriad of classic and rare cuts from Simonelli’s back catalogue.
Simonelli’s pedigree is well documented – he attended David Mancuso’s Loft sessions, interned for Arthur Baker at his renown Shakedown Studios (during the production of Planet Rock, no less), and went on to release influential house music releases on labels such as 4th Floor and Nu Groove. His productions were a particular favourite of Larry Levan and Tony Humphries in particular.
“I just simply got lost in the music,” Simonelli says of the 90s house scene.
The release sees Behind the Groove branch out from its digital platform to usher in a series of releases from some of house music’s most influential producers.
“At the turn of the 1990s, there were few more successful New York house producers than Victor Simonelli,” Bill Brewster wrote in 2009. “Under a dizzying array of aliases – Solution, NY’s Finest, Groove Committee, Critical Rhythm and Cloud 9 being amongst the better-known – the Brooklyn-born DJ/producer delivered a string of underground club hits during the city’s early ’90s house boom.”
BTG presents Victor Simonelli: The Early Years Vol 1 is released as a collectors edition double vinyl release on 31 March, with Vol 2 following on April 22, Record Store Day. More information is available at www.behindthegroove.co.uk.