Does Dave Buick really need an introduction? As a sometime-member of The Go, proprietor of the defunct record store Young Soul Rebels and the co-host of WKRK’s much loved but now extinct Radio Fever show, you have no doubt crossed his path at least once.
However, if none of these ring a bell, perhaps you have heard some of the bands that he has committed to vinyl through his imprint, Italy Records. The White Stripes? The Hentchmen? Rocket 455? Clone Defects?
After the initial release of the Rocket 455 “Ain’t Right Girl” 45 on Halloween night 1997 and the subsequent release of The Dirtys’ “It Ain’t Easy,” Buick would go on a tear, releasing some of Detroit rock ‘n’ roll’s most prominent records. Perhaps the best known of Italy’s initial catalog onslaught is that of a certain peppermint striped duo, The White Stripes.
While at first Jack White turned down Buick’s offer to release a White Stripes seven inch, he later reconsidered and Italy put out both the “Let’s Shake Hands” and “Lafayette Blues” 45s. Sales went well and Buick was able to release more records from The Hentchmen, The Greenhornes, The Soledad Brothers and The Clone Defects. Yet, after the release of Whirlwind Heat’s “Glaxefusion” 45 in 2000, things got quiet — too quiet.
After nearly seven years away from making records, Italy has come back with a bang in '07. First, Buick released a single for his former band, The Go, entitled “You Go Bangin’ On” earlier this year. Then in June he re-released The Hentchmen’s masterpiece mini LP, Hentch-Forth. “It took a year to get that one going,” Buick says. “One day I was thinking about it and it was like, ‘Crap we own these tapes. Why don’t we reissue it?’”
As for Italy and Buick’s future, there are no more foreseeable hiatuses on the horizon. Buick admits to looking forward to working with newer Detroit artists like The Terrible Twos and Zoos of Berlin, along with old friends such as the Tranzistors.
This is all good news for people who love great news ... really, it doesn't get any better. | RDW By Eric Allen
New 45 OUT NOW The Buzzards - The Shiver as heard on the Jack White produced Sypathetic Sounds Of Detroit and Ghettoblaster Vol 2 comps featuring members of the Dirtys and the Detroit Cobras $5 www. zitirecords. com
Rock the New Year "Doggy Style" with The Dogs!! The Dogs from Detroit Rock City celebrate their 40th anniversary w/t 2 Disks, 25 tribute bands, 3 unreleased historic tracks from The Dogs from 1971 & 1976, 28 page booklet, liner notes by John Sinclair (MC5) and cover artwork by Rockin' Jellybean!!
Love the Silver Ghost 45, definetely a keeper. Hell, Dave, all yer shit's definetly keepers. New ones to ponder & old ones that we love.....coming soon. Thank you!
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