Arcade

Arcade

Perfil:
Dutch label and record company. Consider adding Arcade Records (3) as 2nd label if it also appears on the release.
For unauthorized uses of the label's logo or name, see Arcade (2).

Name of a Dutch multimedia concern, which started off as a record label specialized in compilations. The label itself was founded in the 1970's by Herman Heinsbroek, who followed the example of the original Arcade Records (3). Seeing the huge success of their releases the company grew enormously and gradually spread out over Western Europe. The first step was the opening of a Belgian office in Brussels during the 1980's, which also made the company change name to "Arcade Benelux" (where Benelux stands for (BE)lgium, The (NE)therlands and (LUX)emburg), and a move of the head office to Nieuwegein instead of Naarden. Other divisions got started in Germany (1975), France, Spain, Italy, Denmark, Sweden and Norway. Even the original U.K. company had been bought in 1984. There was also a division going by the name "Arcade International", whose releases were distributed by more than one division (often in all available countries) at once.

By the mid 1990's the company had become a true multinational, spreading into the market of broadcasting (both radio and T.V.), of audio and video. In 1996 Arcade's parent company (Arcade Beheer BV) was acquired by Wegener, a dutch publishing giant.

After a reorganization and acquisition of more companies (like CNR Music and Indisc - although these 2 labels/distributors kept using their own names too) the audio section of the Arcade Group was renamed into "Arcade Music Company" and also the company "Arcade Benelux" got split up into a Belgian and Dutch division. They both became fully independent of each-other, having their own specific releases.

In 2000, after only four years with Wegener, the Arcade Music Group was sold to WBG Beheer BV. WBG Beheer BV merged the Arcade Music Group with their own label operations, Roadrunner Records, to form the Roadrunner Arcade Music Group.
However, they could no longer keep the big market share from the past and all divisions were either sold, merged or got closed down and the name "Arcade" completely disappeared from the picture.

Nowadays, the "Arcade Music Company Belgium" is known as Mostiko, daughter of CNR Music.

The French division was renamed to "Arcade Music Company France SA" after a reorganization in the second half of the 1990's. It was closed down shortly after the Arcade Group had been taken over by Roadrunner Records.

In 2008, CNR Records B.V. revived the Arcade label.
Nowadays it is one of the labels owned by CNR Entertainment B.V.
Subsellos
Sello matriz:
Información de contacto:
Arcade
Zwarteweg 10
1412 GD Naarden
Holland

Tel. +31-35-6971200
Fax. +31-35-6971390

Sello

Ediciones

Estado Número de catálogo  Image Artista Título ( Formato) Sello Número de catálogo  País Año Acciones
2CD 88 001 50 Adriano Celentano - Il Ribelle' - The Early Hits Adriano Celentano Il Ribelle' - The Early Hits(2xCD, Comp) Arcade, Mint Records (2) 2CD 88 001 50 Europe 1993 Vender esta versión
12TIV-26 Kadoc - The Nighttrain Kadoc The Nighttrain(12") Positiva, Positiva 12TIV-26 UK 1996 Vender esta versión
12TIV-58 Kadoc - You Got To Be There Kadoc You Got To Be There(12") Positiva, Positiva 12TIV-58 UK 1996 Vender esta versión
33-PROMO-01 Various - Reggae-Reggae - The Medley Es Mucho Mas Various Reggae-Reggae - The Medley Es Mucho Mas(CD, Promo) Arcade 33-PROMO-01 Spain 1993 Vender esta versión
33-PROMO-01 Various - Reggae-Reggae - The Medley Es Mucho Mas Various Reggae-Reggae - The Medley Es Mucho Mas(12", Promo) Arcade 33-PROMO-01 Spain 1993 Vender esta versión
40-ADE H7 Various - 20 Top Speed Hits Various 20 Top Speed Hits(Cass, Comp) Arcade Records (3), Arcade 40-ADE H7 Netherlands 1974 Vender esta versión
40-ADE H 9 Various - Rocket Various Rocket(Cass, Comp) Arcade, Arcade 40-ADE H 9 Netherlands 1975 Vender esta versión
910-1 Bobbie Eakes & Jeff Trachta - Especially For You Bobbie Eakes & Jeff Trachta Bobbie Eakes & Jeff Trachta - Especially For You(CD, Maxi, Promo) Arcade 910-1 Norway Unknown Vender esta versión
1149-4 DJ BoBo - Level 6 DJ BoBo Level 6(Cass, Album) RMG Records 1149-4 Russia 1999 Vender esta versión
1453-7 Steve Miller Band - Fly Like An Eagle Steve Miller Band Fly Like An Eagle(7") Arcade 1453-7 Benelux 1991 Vender esta versión
1454-7 Gérard Lenorman - Moi Vivant Gérard Lenorman Moi Vivant(7", Single) Arcade 1454-7 France 1992 Vender esta versión
1704-5 Circle Of Pain - Paradox Of Destitution Circle Of Pain Paradox Of Destitution(CD, Album) MTM MUSIC 1704-5 Germany 2001 Vender esta versión
1704-9 Snakegod - Invitation Snakegod Invitation(CD, Album) MTM Music 1704-9 Germany 2001 Vender esta versión
1739 Various - Reggae Dance Various Reggae Dance(Cass, Comp, Unofficial) Poker Sound By Roton 1739 Romania Unknown Vender esta versión
5001 Various - 2001 Trance Odyssey The 2nd Chapter Various 2001 Trance Odyssey The 2nd Chapter(CD, Comp) Arcade 5001 Norway 2001 Vender esta versión
5004 Various - Best Of 2001 Various Best Of 2001(CD, Comp) Arcade, EMG (7) 5004 Denmark 2001 Vender esta versión
5005 Various - Trance 2002 - The 1st Edition Various Trance 2002 - The 1st Edition(2xCD, Comp) Arcade 5005 Scandinavia 2002 Vender esta versión
5006 Various - Trance 2002 - The 1st Chapter Various Trance 2002 - The 1st Chapter(CD, Comp) Arcade 5006 Norway 2002 Vender esta versión
5010 Various - Trance 2002 - The 1st Edition Various Trance 2002 - The 1st Edition(2xCD, Comp) Arcade, EMG Records Sweden AB 5010 Sweden 2002 Vender esta versión
5044 Luc Arno - Patrick Sercu Is Wereldkampioen Luc Arno Patrick Sercu Is Wereldkampioen(7", W/Lbl) Arcade 5044 Unknown Vender esta versión
6013 Ricky & The Rockets Rock'n Roll Disco - 50 Non-Stop Rock'n'Roll Dancing Hits(LP, Comp) Arcade, Industrias Musicales Argentinas 6013 Argentina 1981 Vender esta versión
609.2 MC Extince* - Gonna Make Mama Feel Proud (And Daddy Too) MC Extince* Gonna Make Mama Feel Proud (And Daddy Too)(CD, Single) Bounce Records 609.2 France & Benelux 1991 Vender esta versión
10066 Hush (27) - If You Smile Hush (27) If You Smile(CD, Album) Aor Heaven 10066 Germany 1998 Vender esta versión
10435 CD Various - Real Hardcore 4 Various Real Hardcore 4 (Comp) 10435 CD Netherlands 1997 Vender esta versión
10436 MC Various - Real Hardcore 4 Various Real Hardcore 4(Cass, Comp) Arcade 10436 MC Netherlands 1997 Vender esta versión
011009 Various - Hakkeehhh!! Various Hakkeehhh!!(CD, Comp) Arcade, Arcade 011009 Netherlands 1997 Vender esta versión
01 1010 9 Various - Greatest Hits Of The 80's & 90's (The Definitive Singles Collection 1980-1995) Various Greatest Hits Of The 80's & 90's (The Definitive Singles Collection 1980-1995)(2xCD, Comp) Arcade 01 1010 9 Benelux 1995 Vender esta versión
14554-1 Various - Super 60's Various Super 60's(2xLP, Comp) Arcade, Arcade 14554-1 Netherlands 1989 Vender esta versión
14555-2 Various - Super 60's Various Super 60's(CD, Comp) Arcade, Arcade 14555-2 Netherlands 1989 Vender esta versión
14557-4 Ray Charles - Collection Ray Charles Collection(Cass, Comp) Arcade 14557-4 France 1989 Vender esta versión
14561-1 Ed Starink - Synthesizer Greatest Ed Starink Synthesizer Greatest(LP, Album) Arcade, Arcade 14561-1 Finland 1989 Vender esta versión
14564-2 Various - Super 60's Various Super 60's(2xCD, Comp) Arcade, Arcade 14564-2 Benelux 1989 Vender esta versión
14578-1 Starink* - Synthétiseur 3 - Les Plus Grands Thèmes Starink* Synthétiseur 3 - Les Plus Grands Thèmes(LP, Comp) Arcade, Arcade 14578-1 France 1990 Vender esta versión
14580-1 Various - Dance Dance Dance Various Dance Dance Dance(2xLP, Comp) Arcade 14580-1 Netherlands 1990 Vender esta versión
14580-2 Various - Dance Dance Dance Various Dance Dance Dance(CD, Comp) Arcade 14580-2 France 1990 Vender esta versión
014585-4 Ed Starink - Synthétiseur 5  - Les Plus Grands Thèmes Classiques Ed Starink Synthétiseur 5 - Les Plus Grands Thèmes Classiques(Cass, Album) Arcade, Arcade 014585-4 France & Benelux 1990 Vender esta versión
14587-1 Various - Generation Woodstock Various Generation Woodstock(2xLP, Comp) Arcade, Arcade, Arcade 14587-1 Europe 1991 Vender esta versión
14587-2 Various - Generation Woodstock Various Generation Woodstock (Comp) 14587-2 France 1991 Vender esta versión
14587-4 Various - Generation Woodstock Various Generation Woodstock(Cass, Comp) Arcade, Arcade 14587-4 France 1991 Vender esta versión
14592-2 The Resurrection Singers - Oh Happy Day The Resurrection Singers Oh Happy Day(CD, Album) Arcade 14592-2 Netherlands 1991 Vender esta versión
14593-4 Stars On 45 - The Very Best Of Stars On 45 The Very Best Of(Cass, Comp) Arcade, Arcade 14593-4 Netherlands 1991 Vender esta versión
14595-2 Steve Miller Band - Fly Like An Eagle Steve Miller Band Fly Like An Eagle(CD, Album, RE) Arcade 14595-2 Netherlands 1991 Vender esta versión
14596-2 Steve Miller Band - Book Of Dreams Steve Miller Band Book Of Dreams(CD, Album, RE) Arcade 14596-2 Netherlands 1991 Vender esta versión
14597-2 The Steve Miller Band* - Circle Of Love The Steve Miller Band* Circle Of Love(CD, Album, RE) Arcade, Arcade 14597-2 France Unknown Vender esta versión
14598-2 The Steve Miller Band* - Abracadabra The Steve Miller Band* Abracadabra(CD, Album, RE) Arcade 14598-2 France 1991 Vender esta versión
14599-2 Steve Miller Band - Italian X Rays Steve Miller Band Italian X Rays(CD, Album) Arcade 14599-2 France 1991 Vender esta versión
14600-2 Steve Miller Band - Live! Steve Miller Band Live!(CD, Album, RE) Arcade 14600-2 France 1991 Vender esta versión
14606-2 Ed Starink - Synthétiseur 7 - Les Plus Grands Thèmes Ed Starink Synthétiseur 7 - Les Plus Grands Thèmes(CD, Album) Arcade, Arcade 14606-2 France 1991 Vender esta versión
14606-4 Ed Starink - Synthétiseur 7 - Les Plus Grands Thèmes Ed Starink Synthétiseur 7 - Les Plus Grands Thèmes(Cass, Album) Arcade, Arcade 14606-4 France 1991 Vender esta versión
14608-2 Various - Remember Love Songs Various Remember Love Songs(CD, Comp) Arcade 14608-2 Netherlands 1992 Vender esta versión
14609-4 La Compagnie Créole - C'est Bon Pour Le Moral (22 Succès) La Compagnie Créole C'est Bon Pour Le Moral (22 Succès)(Cass, Comp) Arcade 14609-4 France 1992 Vender esta versión
14612-2 Various - Emotions (26 Chansons Tendresse) Various Emotions (26 Chansons Tendresse)(2xCD, Comp) Arcade 14612-2 France 1992 Vender esta versión
14613-2 Various - Dance Dance Dance: 100% Funk Vol. 3 Various Dance Dance Dance: 100% Funk Vol. 3(2xCD, Comp) Arcade 14613-2 France 1992 Vender esta versión
14613-4 Various - Dance Dance Dance: 100% Funk Vol. 3 Various Dance Dance Dance: 100% Funk Vol. 3(Cass, Comp) Arcade 14613-4 France 1992 Vender esta versión
14614-2 Various - Remember Love Songs Vol. 2 Various Remember Love Songs Vol. 2(CD, Comp) Arcade 14614-2 Netherlands 1992 Vender esta versión
14614-4 Various - Remember Love Songs Vol. 2 Various Remember Love Songs Vol. 2(Cass, Comp) Arcade 14614-4 France 1992 Vender esta versión
14615-2 Various - Classique Passion Various Classique Passion(2xCD) Arcade 14615-2 Netherlands 1992 Vender esta versión
14616-2 Ed Starink - Synthétiseur 8 - Les Plus Grands Thèmes Ed Starink Synthétiseur 8 - Les Plus Grands Thèmes(CD, Album) Arcade 14616-2 France & Benelux 1992 Vender esta versión
14616-4 Ed Starink - Synthétiseur 8 - Les Plus Grands Thèmes Ed Starink Synthétiseur 8 - Les Plus Grands Thèmes(Cass, Album) Arcade 14616-4 France & Benelux 1992 Vender esta versión
14617-2 Various - Emotions 2 - 26 Chansons Tendresse Various Emotions 2 - 26 Chansons Tendresse(2xCD, Comp) Arcade 14617-2 France 1992 Vender esta versión
14619-2 Various - Still Got The Blues Various Still Got The Blues(2xCD, Comp) Arcade 14619-2 France 1992 Vender esta versión
14619-4 Various - Still Got The Blues Various Still Got The Blues(2xCass, Comp) Arcade 14619-4 France 1992 Vender esta versión
01 7430 6 Various - Liedjes Van Oranje Various Liedjes Van Oranje(2xCD, Comp) Arcade 01 7430 6 Netherlands 1993 Vender esta versión
01 7431 4 Various - Liedjes Van Oranje Various Liedjes Van Oranje(2xCass, Comp, Dol) Arcade, Arcade 01 7431 4 Netherlands 1993 Vender esta versión
01 7432 4 Various - Liedjes Van Oranje Various Liedjes Van Oranje(2xCass, Comp, Dol) Arcade, Arcade 01 7432 4 Netherlands 1993 Vender esta versión
01 7530 6 Various - Thunderdome III (The Nightmare Is Back!) Various Thunderdome III (The Nightmare Is Back!) (Comp) 01 7530 6 Benelux 1993 Vender esta versión
01 7640 6 Various - Serious Clubhits Various Serious Clubhits(2xCD, Comp) Arcade, Arcade 01 7640 6 Netherlands 1993 Vender esta versión
01 7642 4 Various - Serious Clubhits - Part 2 Various Serious Clubhits - Part 2(Cass, Comp) Arcade, Arcade 01 7642 4 Netherlands 1993 Vender esta versión
01 7670 4 Various - House Party 7 (The Mellow Clubmix) Various House Party 7 (The Mellow Clubmix)(Cass, Mixed) Arcade 01 7670 4 Netherlands 1993 Vender esta versión
01 7670 6 Various - House Party 7 (The Mellow Clubmix) Various House Party 7 (The Mellow Clubmix)(CD, Mixed) Arcade 01 7670 6 Netherlands 1993 Vender esta versión
01 7680 4 Various - House Party 8 (The Hardcore Ravemix) Various House Party 8 (The Hardcore Ravemix)(Cass, Comp, Mixed) Arcade 01 7680 4 Netherlands 1993 Vender esta versión
01 7680 6 Various - House Party 8 (The Hardcore Ravemix) Various House Party 8 (The Hardcore Ravemix)(CD, Comp, Mixed) Arcade 01 7680 6 Benelux 1993 Vender esta versión
01 7800 6 Various - Love Radio Various Love Radio(CD, Comp) Arcade 01 7800 6 Netherlands 1993 Vender esta versión
01 8180 6 Various - Amor De Mis Amores '93 Various Amor De Mis Amores '93(CD, Comp) Arcade 01 8180 6 Netherlands 1993 Vender esta versión
01 8190 6 Various - Turn Up The Bass Presents: The Ultimate Dream Mix Various Turn Up The Bass Presents: The Ultimate Dream Mix(CD, Mixed) Arcade, Arcade 01 8190 6 Netherlands 1993 Vender esta versión
01 8190 6 Various - The Ultimate Dream Box Various The Ultimate Dream Box(Box + 3xCD, Comp, Mixed) Arcade, Arcade, Arcade, Arcade 01 8190 6 Germany 1995 Vender esta versión
01 8200 6 Matthijs Koene - Songs For Life Matthijs Koene Songs For Life(CD) Arcade 01 8200 6 Benelux 1994 Vender esta versión
01 8310 4 Various - Route 66 Various Route 66(Cass, Comp) Arcade 01 8310 4 Benelux 1993 Vender esta versión
01 8310 6 Various - Route 66 Various Route 66(CD, Comp) Arcade 01 8310 6 Benelux 1993 Vender esta versión
01 8330 6 Various - Reggae Dance Various Reggae Dance(CD, Comp) Arcade 01 8330 6 Netherlands 1993 Vender esta versión
01 8340 6 Luv' - Gold Luv' Gold(CD, Comp) Arcade, Arcade, Arcade, Arcade 01 8340 6 Netherlands 1993 Vender esta versión
01 8350 6 Various - The Originals Various The Originals(CD, Comp, RM) Arcade 01 8350 6 Benelux 1993 Vender esta versión
01 8380 4 Various - Hollands Hakkûh Various Hollands Hakkûh (Comp) 01 8380 4 Netherlands 1993 Vender esta versión
01 8380 6 Various - Hollands Hakkûh Various Hollands Hakkûh (Comp) 01 8380 6 Netherlands 1993 Vender esta versión
01 8390 6 Various - Mega Jukebox Top 100 Various Mega Jukebox Top 100(4xCD, Comp) Arcade 01 8390 6 Benelux 1994 Vender esta versión
01 8400 4 Paul Severs - Het Allerbeste Van Paul Severs Paul Severs Het Allerbeste Van Paul Severs(Cass, Comp) Arcade, Arcade 01 8400 4 Benelux 1993 Vender esta versión
01 8400 6 Paul Severs - Het Allerbeste Van Paul Severs Paul Severs Het Allerbeste Van Paul Severs (Comp) 01 8400 6 Benelux 1993 Vender esta versión
01 8460 4 Various - House Party VI (The Ultimate Megamix) Various House Party VI (The Ultimate Megamix)(Cass, Mixed) Arcade 01 8460 4 Netherlands 1993 Vender esta versión
01 8460 6 Various - House Party VI (The Ultimate Megamix Part  VI) Various House Party VI (The Ultimate Megamix Part VI)(CD, Mixed) Arcade, Arcade 01 8460 6 Netherlands 1993 Vender esta versión
01 8470 4 Various - Soul Desire Various Soul Desire(Cass, Comp) Arcade 01 8470 4 Benelux 1993 Vender esta versión
01 8470 6 Various - Soul Desire Various Soul Desire(CD, Comp) Arcade 01 8470 6 Benelux 1993 Vender esta versión
01.8490 6 Various - Hollands Goud Various Hollands Goud(2xCD, Comp) Arcade 01.8490 6 Benelux 1993 Vender esta versión
01 8491 4 Various - Hollands Goud Volume 1 Various Hollands Goud Volume 1(Cass, Comp) Arcade 01 8491 4 Netherlands 1993 Vender esta versión
01 8492 4 Various - Hollands Goud Volume 2 Various Hollands Goud Volume 2(Cass, Comp, Dol) Arcade 01 8492 4 Benelux 1993 Vender esta versión
01 8500 6 Various - Route 66 Vol. II Various Route 66 Vol. II(CD, Comp) Arcade 01 8500 6 Benelux 1994 Vender esta versión
01 8510 6 Various - Sea Of Love 39 Summer Ballads Various Sea Of Love 39 Summer Ballads(2xCD, Comp) Arcade 01 8510 6 Benelux 1993 Vender esta versión
01 8560 4 Various - Techno Trance 5 Various Techno Trance 5(Cass, Comp) Arcade 01 8560 4 Netherlands 1993 Vender esta versión
01 8560 6 Various - Techno Trance 5 Various Techno Trance 5(CD, Comp) Arcade 01 8560 6 Benelux 1993 Vender esta versión
01 8670 6 Henk Wijngaard - Het Allerbeste Van Henk Wijngaard Henk Wijngaard Het Allerbeste Van Henk Wijngaard(CD, Comp) Arcade 01 8670 6 Netherlands 1994 Vender esta versión
01 8680 6 Various - Mega Jukebox Top 100 Various Mega Jukebox Top 100(4xCD, Comp) Arcade 01 8680 6 Netherlands 1994 Vender esta versión

Críticas

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CrashMedia

CrashMedia

26 de agosto de 2015
I got my hands on a few of the Turn Up The Bass releases, 9,10 and 11 on cassette. As a young, aspiring DJ loving dance music, most of the music was very relevant. Being in Canada it also exposed me to some lesser known releases and artists. Overall, these releases were a treat, The sound quality/mastering was outstanding. Even looking at the whole series today, impressive selection. Thinking about making a compilation mix of that era. This series is helping me remember a lot of important releases of that time.
GoodNF

GoodNF

29 de marzo de 2007
editado over 17 years ago
For many of you, and also for me, Arcade's "Dance Classics" were the first purchase of funk/soul/disco music on CD. And their "Turn Up The Bass" compilations were my introduction to house, acid and techno. But this company also had a history before that.

In the early 70s, "various artists" compilations (samplers) usually consisted of tracks from only a single label or record company. In some other cases, tracks were simply re-recorded cover versions by session musicians.

This changed when Arcade went into business. Arcade licensed tracks from different record companies and brought them together onto a single album, marketing with "original artists - original hits". The result was a string of "all killer, no filler" compilation LPs, usually 10 tracks each side, with names like "20 Power Hits", "20 Rock 'n Roll Hits", "20 Solid Gold Hits" and so on. These compilations reached the #1 spot in the Netherlands and opened the eyes of people from other record companies to do the same.

Next step was to release compilation series in the 80s, most notably "Top Hits [yy]", "Remember the 60s" and "Woman In Love" and when the CD hit the music scene, "Diamond Star Collection" and "Golden Love Songs" (a stunning 20 volumes).

But worldwide attention received Arcade with the aforementioned milestone named "Dance Classics". The concept resulted in 16 volumes, plus a lot of spin-offs: 4 ballad volumes, 4 remix volumes, 4 Italo volumes, 3 12" megamixes (two of them by Ben Liebrand), 2 Summer volumes and an album-length megamix by the people now known as the Klubbheads DJ Team. Never before was disco music made available on CD on such a huge scale. People from all over the world were travelling to the Netherlands just to visit record and CD fairs in order to buy the CDs.

As soon as the original series got out of stock, Dance Classics was revived with the 4-volume "Gold" series, allowing consumers to purchase the best of the original series plus a couple of new tracks on affordably priced double CDs.
From time to time, the concept retuned in some form, such as "Club Classics", "Dance Classics Into The 80s", "Dance Classics, The Next Generation". However, the far more sophisticated Canadian label Unidisc became the primary resource for dance classics re-issues, even branding their releases as "Dance Classics" and exceeding the original series with their over-40-volume "Star Funk" series.

In 2001, Arcade and Universal joined forces and re-issued the original 16-volume compilation series. A couple of tracks were not available for licensing and were replaced by others. Other tracks became available in longer versions than featured on the original series. Although there was heavy demand for even more volumes, the series was not expanded.

Arcade's second and probably most important milestone is of course "Turn Up The Bass". Combining the biggest club tracks with local favourites and some hidden secrets, TUTB provides a great overview of the development of dance music in general between 1988 and 1993. The series reached 25 volumes, plus 4 rap volumes, and sold in total more than 2 million copies. Not bad at all for a music genre that was strictly underground in 1988.
With the associated "House Party" releases, Arcade turned continuously beatmixed compilations into mass media. The mixes were even accompanied by a club tour.

In 1993, dance music had become so diverse and specialised that continuation of the series was no longer possible. There was Eurobeat, hip hop, R&B, House, Techno, Breakbeat, Jazzdance and so on. Dance music lovers were simply no longer into each other's music. And all genres had enough potential to boast No. 1 hits.
Arcade answered with the release of specialised dance compilations like "Megadance" (mainstream), "Techno Trance" (techno and hard dance), "The Ultimate Dream Mix" (ambient) and "Serious Club Hits" (club/mellow).

The TUTB sales figures were, however, literally blasted when the "Thunderdome" series hit the music scene. The compilations of hardcore gabber sold on the average 150.000 - 200.000 copies per volume in the Benelux countries alone! The reason is that (apart from 12" vinyl and party events) CD compilations were the only way to experience hardcore gabber: no single releases, hardly any airplay or club play and no music videos.

Despite the enormous Thunderdome sales, the pioneering role of Arcade was over. The role of the DJ became more important: DJs started to run their own labels, organise parties, produce other artists, make tracks, remixes and mixed compilations as a way to express themselves. The results: "Fresh Fruit Cocktail", "Static/Spiritual Tracks", "[nth] Works", "In Search For Sunrise" and so on. A dance music recording meant nothing until it was played by a well known DJ. At a certain point, beatmixed compilations outsold unmixed dance compilations.

But we should remember Arcade as the company that played an important role in the development of dance music in general from strictly underground (1988) to mainstream (1993).
Without TUTB, lots of people would not have been introduced to (acid) house, techno and rap.
As a result, "big name" artists like Madonna or Michael Jackson would probably not have hired Masters at Work, C & C, David Morales etc. for a club-style remix of their songs.
A lot of people would not have rebuilt their sleeping rooms into studios.
And the breakthrough of the now worldwide known Klubbheads DJ Team was actually a megamix of TUTB-tracks.
wanrecords

wanrecords

15 de noviembre de 2006
editado over 17 years ago
I have to disagree that the Turn Up The Bass series was 3 killers and the rest fillers. Those "fillers" were usually underground hits which never made it into the big spotlights. For me, most Turn Up The Bass compilations contained the best of the music of the moment of release.

Even more fun it is to look back at those compilations right now. When you look at the compilations, you can see the progression of music over the time. The TUTB as well as the House Party series show clearly how hip hop and electronic music progressed. Getting harder, and then even combining two House Party versions in a double release, one for the more mellow styles and the other for the harder styles.

It's a shame that the TUTB series stopped. I think they could still be very very popular.
spacedust

spacedust

24 de abril de 2006
editado over 12 years ago
For me Arcade is a major reference in the early nineties, with collections like Turn Up The Bass, Thunderdome, and especially the House Party series. It is true that some releases were very commercially driven, but some credit has to be given. The funniest thing is that back in 93 and 94 I instantly rejected euro dance series like Mega Dance because I had the conviction that they were not serious music. And it was only several years later, when i recollected those cds, that I came to the conclusion that these so called "fairground music" compilations weren't so bad after all. It's really good memories, and maybe we were all just being too demanding at that time.
dj-maus

dj-maus

4 de enero de 2004
ARCADE is famous for bringing out piles of compilation albums that contain 3 killers and 17 fillers.

The best example is the TURN UP THE BASS-series. Funny how every new part of the series became more and more commercial. The nice thing about it was that inbetween all the fake house tracks there were always 2 or 3 genuine classics some of which still stand today. Nevertheless: for a lot of dutch guys and girls from my age (born ca. 1975) this was the first encounter with house music.

SYNTHESIZER GREATEST is another trap you could easily fall into. A great tracklist, but all very slick cover versions by Ed Starink. Again, after all, they helped me, as a kid, to find great synthesizer music by tracking the originals at the local music rent.

An example that ARCADE compilations do not always suck for 80%, is the DANCE CLASSICS-series. I think that is because they didn't use some local dutch productions to fill the sides up, like they did with T.U.T.B. It's a pity that their vinyl pressings are so bad, with 25 minutes of music on each side. Otherwise DANCE CLASSICS could have been the definite dance classics collection for any DJ.