Be advised that in the 80s and 90s, Trax had basically no quality control for it’s 12” pressings and used really dodgy quality vinyl formulations. Even brand new sealed copies will probably sound bad, so be advised when buying these on Discogs (aka don’t blame the seller for a VG+ rated record sounding bad).

I have to say, even with the terrible label info and sound quality, it's good to see the trax catalogue still in print. It looks like they have basically dumped a large percentage of the back catalogue onto the digital music site Emusic, and I've been digging through and grabbing lots of it (presuming that it won't be there forever). So many dance music labels just vanish, leaving some of their records as priceless collectibles, and mostly leaving them lost to any sort of future. It's sad that it's essentially a dead label, and only part of the story of the era it represents, but there are some amazing gems that at least are being given a place in the digital age...

I have known and worked with Trax Records for 20+ years...in that time I have heard just about every story going...I would also say that Trax was not the only Chicago label to have artists claiming they were never paid. In 1999 four very senior artists won back their rights from a major player...it seemed that for 14years this label had claimed all sorts of things that it did not own and the courts sided with the artists...unfortunately not every artist can afford a lawyer and has therefore became a victim...I also know that many artists did in fact sign contracts, despite the fact they claim they did not...these contracts were by all accounts massively in Trax's favour but the fact remains that at the time the artist was happy to sign. FACT the Canadian's know diddly squat about house music...but when they bought into Trax (50%) they didn't need to as Larry and co were going to continue to run the label. Unfortunately for them Larry and co were not quite, let's say Kosher, the result being a court case that found the Canadian's taking 100% control of a label they knew Zero about...honestly not a clue they have no idea what they have. But to give them their due they are trying to put some of the past wrongs right but it's going to be a long and very hard job. What is the future for Trax...well as a catalogue it will continue to be worked and with a bit of luck we will see a Legends tour in the next 12 months...also new compilations are being released and several new mixes are in production. Look out for remixes of "Love Can't Turn Around", "Can You Feel It", "We're Rockin Down The House", "You Used To Hold Me", "House Nation", "Move Your Body", "Do It Properly" & "Boys & Girls" A big shout to my good friends Joe Smooth, Adonis, Bam Bam, Paris Brightledge, Sterling Void, Darryl Pandy, Jesse Saunders, DJ Pierre, Fast Eddie, Tyree Cooper, Marshall and Farley JMF. Love to all...

All love to the old Trax Records from Chicago, but what these canadians have done to the backcatalog of Trax is to cry about! The recent mix CD's have a terrible soundquality. Old records have been recorded in a very cheap way without any soundimprovement. New tracks from recent years have been mixed with old tracks and this just sounds horrible. Don't know what these canadians are doing (milking an empty cow) but this is a disgrace!

Chicago Trax - To witness a label operation first hand, could not be any more animated as walking into Larry Sherman's operation in the mid-nineties. Most electronic music lovers know this is the original label of the house movement. Not one to follow any rules or regulations, Trax had a reputation to not pay its artists and how the label is able to still operate and put out product is nothing short of a miricle. These days with a joint venture deal with C.W. Paas, your Trax records will not glow under a blacklight, have ring impressions or bits of paper pressed into the vinyl. Post 2K, you will not be buying your "No Way Back" 12" in a Motown jacket and sealed, but the 80's & 90's worked different.
Halff the warehouse was burned down, Only 2 of the 6
presses worked, and Re-grinded vinyl would be recycled with the labels not punched out. Ghetto to say
the least, but still a legacy, nevertheless. Larry Sherman owes millions in unpaid royalties ($2000 to myself, is still in the mail....Joey Beltram presenting Geoffrey Mack is neither, it was Khan (Bizz O.D.) and countless other artists were left strapped for cash. But after all the bad business, is one of the most animated & classic labels of electronic music. For that we all do respect......