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 SladeExecutive-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.
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 |
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