Rhythim Is Rhythim – Strings Of Life

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Genre:	Electronic
Style:	Techno, House
Year:	1987

Tracklist

		Strings (Flam-Boy-Ant Mix)	6:54
		Strings Of Life	7:23
		Move It (Remix)	5:42
		Kaos (Juice Bar Mix)	5:50
		Untitled	3:08

Credits (1)

Mike Slade
Executive-Producer

Notes

Considered a classic in both the house and techno genres, "Strings Of Life" is the most recognizable and well-known song in Derrick May's repertoire. It is based on a piano sequence by May's then-friend Michael James, and was originally at 80 BPM before May increased the tempo, chopped it up into loops, and added percussion and string samples.

There were five official versions of the song. The first two were released in 1987: the famous 7:23 mix called "Strings Of Life (Piano Mix)," "Strings Of Life (The Classic Mix)" or just "Strings Of Life", and a 6:56 remix called "Strings (Flam-Boy-Ant Mix)" or just "Strings". In 1989, two new remixes were licensed exclusively to UK & European labels: a Juan Atkins remix called "Strings Of Life '89 (Juan's Magic Mix)", and an uncredited remix called "Strings of Life (Exclusive Remix)" (issued on a split release with Model 500). In 1991, an 8:23 kick drum-free version titled "Strings Of Life (Unreleased Mix)", "Strings Of Life (Remix)", or "Strings Of The Strings Of Life" first appeared, and featured additional production by Carl Craig & Derrick May. This mix was "unreleased" in the sense that it was new at the time and was never officially released on a single; only on compilations.

Numerous compilations feature early fades and other space-saving edits of the original 1987 Piano Mix, the 1989 Exclusive Remix, and the 1991 Unreleased Mix.

In addition, the original 1987 Piano Mix often appears at two distinct speeds on compilations. The unedited track is 7:19 for the faster speed and 7:35 for the pitched-down version.

Versions

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30 versions

Image	,	–			In Your Collection, Wantlist, or Inventory	Version Details	Data Quality
	Strings Of Life 12", 33 ⅓ RPM	Transmat – MS 4	US	1987	US — 1987	Recently Edited
	Strings Of Life 12", 33 ⅓ RPM	Transmat – MS 004	US	1987	US — 1987	Recently Edited
	Strings Of Life 12", 33 ⅓ RPM	Transmat – MS 004	US	1987	US — 1987
	Strings Of Life 12", 33 ⅓ RPM	Transmat – MS 004	US	1987	US — 1987
	Strings Of Life 12", 33 ⅓ RPM	Transmat – MS 004	US	1987	US — 1987	Recently Edited
	Strings Of Life 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, White Label	Transmat – MS-004	US	1987	US — 1987	Recently Edited
	Strings Of Life 12", 33 ⅓ RPM	Transmat – MS 004	US	1987	US — 1987	Recently Edited
	Strings Of Life 12", 33 ⅓ RPM	Transmat – MS 004	US	1987	US — 1987	Recently Edited
	Strings Of Life 12", 33 ⅓ RPM	Transmat – MS 004	US	1987	US — 1987	New Submission
	Strings Of Life 12", 33 ⅓ RPM	Transmat – MS 004	US	1987	US — 1987	New Submission
	Strings Of Life 12", 33 ⅓ RPM	Transmat – MS 004	US	1987	US — 1987	New Submission
	Strings Of Life '89 12", 45 RPM	ZYX Music – ZYX 6263-12	Germany	1989	Germany — 1989
	Strings Of Life '89 12", 45 RPM	Kool Kat – KOOL T509, Big Life – KOOL T509	UK	1989	UK — 1989
	Strings Of Life '89 12", 45 RPM, Promo	Kool Kat – RHYTHIM PROMO 1, Big Life – RHYTHIM PROMO 1	UK	1989	UK — 1989	Recently Edited
	Strings Of Life '89 7"	Kool Kat – KOOL 509, Big Life – KOOL 509	UK	1989	UK — 1989	Recently Edited
	Strings Of Life 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Reissue	Transmat – MS 4	US	1992	US — 1992	Recently Edited
	Strings Of Life 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Reissue	Transmat – MS 4	US	1992	US — 1992	Recently Edited
	Strings Of Life '89 12", 45 RPM, Repress	ZYX Music – ZYX 6263-12	Germany	1993	Germany — 1993	New Submission
	Strings Of Life 12", Unofficial Release	Not On Label – PBT 208	UK	2001	UK — 2001	Recently Edited
	Strings Of Life 12", Single Sided, White Label, Unofficial Release	Not On Label (Derrick May) – AB 0010		2003	2003	Recently Edited
	Strings Of Life 12", White Label, Unofficial Release	Not On Label (Derrick May) – SC1002	US	2004	US — 2004	Recently Edited
	Strings Of Life 2×12", Unofficial Release, White Translucent	Club Standards – CS001	UK	2005	UK — 2005	Recently Edited
	Strings Of Life 12", Single Sided, White Label, Unofficial Release	Not On Label (Rhythim Is Rhythim) – TOM3		2009	2009
	Strings Of Life 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Reissue	Transmat – MS 004	US	2017	US — 2017
	Strings Of Life 3×File, MP3, Reissue, 320 kbps	Transmat – MS004LTD	US	2017	US — 2017	New Submission
	Strings Of Life 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Reissue	Transmat – MS-4	US		US	Recently Edited
	Strings Of Life (Unreleased Mixes) 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, White Label	Not On Label – BBT 2002				New Submission
	Strings Of Life (Dirty House Collective Remix) 12", Single Sided, Unofficial Release, 45 RPM	Dirty House Collective – DHC001	UK		UK	Recently Edited
	Strings Of Life 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Misprint	Transmat – MS 004	US		US	New Submission
	Strings Of Life 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Repress, Test Pressing	Transmat – MS 4	US		US	New Submission