Record Kicks

Record Kicks is an independent Italian record label established in Milan in 2003 by Nicolò Pozzoli, who is also known as Nick Recordkicks. The label operates in a specialist part of the recorded-music market, concentrating on new recordings that draw from historic black-music traditions. Its repertoire spans deep funk, soul, Northern Soul, Afrobeat, rocksteady, dancefloor jazz and related forms, combining archival-minded production values with contemporary artists and bands. Rather than functioning as a mainstream pop imprint, Record Kicks has built its identity around a curated catalogue and a tangible physical-release culture. It issues music on vinyl LPs, compact discs, 45 rpm singles and 12-inch EPs. The 45 rpm format is particularly important to the label's presentation, with releases often produced as restricted or limited editions for collectors, DJs and listeners interested in specialist soul and funk scenes. The catalogue also includes full-length artist albums and themed compilations. The label's roster has included Hannah Williams & The Affirmations, Hannah Williams & The Tastemakers, Martha High, Tanika Charles, Third Coast Kings, Trio Valore, The Liberators, Nick Pride & The Pimptones, Baby Charles, Diplomats of Solid Sound, Dojo Cuts, Kokolo Afrobeat Orchestra, Milano Jazz Dance Combo, Calibro 35 and The BlueBeaters. These artists represent the label's broad interpretation of black sounds, extending from modern soul and funk revival acts to Afrobeat, jazz-oriented projects and groups connected with Jamaican and Italian musical traditions. Record Kicks has also developed recognizable compilation properties. The Soulshaker series focuses on soul and funk-oriented selections and had reached at least its seventh volume in the referenced material. Let's Boogaloo is another recurring series, centered on dancefloor-minded material and reported to have reached at least six volumes. These series help define the label's curatorial role and provide entry points into its broader catalogue. One of Record Kicks' more unusual projects was the release of the soundtrack to Italian Spiderman in 2008. The Australian parody film imitates the style of Italian B-movies from the 1960s and 1970s, and the soundtrack release connected the label with retro-cinema culture as well as its established interest in vintage-influenced sounds. The label also has a publishing operation, Edizioni Record Kicks, which is registered with SIAE, Italy's collecting society for authors and composers. This gives the business an activity beyond master recordings and physical distribution, although the available reference material does not specify the size or commercial scale of its publishing catalogue. In 2013, Record Kicks marked its tenth anniversary with a special event at London's 100 Club on 9 November and a commemorative compilation titled Record Kicks 10th. The anniversary activity reflected the label's international connections, particularly with the United Kingdom's longstanding soul, funk and rare-groove communities. Record Kicks is best understood as a specialist independent label whose brand rests on genre expertise, physical formats, artist development, compilation curation and a strong connection to retro-modern black-music culture.

Record Kicks was founded in Milan in 2003 by Nicolò Pozzoli, known professionally as Nick Recordkicks. From its beginning, the label was oriented toward black-music traditions rather than the mainstream commercial repertoire. Its stated field includes deep funk, soul, Northern Soul, Afrobeat, rocksteady and dancefloor jazz, with the catalogue combining contemporary performers and music made in a consciously retro style. The label's development has been based on a mixture of artist releases, specialist singles and themed compilations. Its roster has included international acts such as Hannah Williams & The Affirmations, Martha High, Tanika Charles, Third Coast Kings, The Liberators, Nick Pride & The Pimptones, Baby Charles, Diplomats of Solid Sound, Dojo Cuts and Kokolo Afrobeat Orchestra. It has also released work associated with Italian artists and projects, including Trio Valore, Milano Jazz Dance Combo, Calibro 35 and The BlueBeaters. The breadth of this roster shows that Record Kicks uses genre and musical approach as its primary organizing principle rather than restricting itself to one national scene. Physical media has remained central to the label's identity. Record Kicks releases albums on vinyl and CD while continuing to issue 45 rpm singles, often in restricted editions, together with 12-inch EPs. This format strategy aligns the label with the collecting, DJ and rare-groove cultures surrounding soul and funk. It also gives individual tracks and catalogue releases a physical presence beyond digital distribution. Record Kicks created recurring compilation lines to extend this curatorial role. Soulshaker developed as a series devoted to soul- and funk-related material and had reached its seventh volume in the available reference material. Let's Boogaloo, reported at six volumes, provides another recurring platform for dancefloor-oriented selections. These series function as branded catalogue pillars as well as introductions to the label's musical taste. In 2008, Record Kicks expanded into soundtrack publishing by releasing the music for Italian Spiderman, an Australian parody of Italian genre cinema. The project was a natural fit for the label's interest in retro aesthetics, instrumental sounds and the cultural afterlife of 1960s and 1970s Italian B-movies. The business also includes Edizioni Record Kicks, a music-publishing division registered with SIAE, the Italian authors' and composers' collecting society. The publishing activity complements the label's recording operations, although no detailed financial or organizational information is provided in the available sources. Record Kicks celebrated its first decade on 9 November 2013 with an event at London's 100 Club and the release of Record Kicks 10th, a commemorative compilation. The London event underlined the label's connection to the United Kingdom's long-established soul and Northern Soul audience. Overall, Record Kicks has maintained a specialist independent-label profile built on genre curation, artist recordings, collectible physical formats, soundtrack work and publishing.

• 2013

  Tenth anniversary celebrated

  [1]Record Kicksen.wikipedia.org

  The label held a tenth-anniversary night at London's 100 Club and issued the Record Kicks 10th compilation.

• 2008

  Italian Spiderman soundtrack released

  [1]Record Kicksen.wikipedia.org

  Record Kicks released the soundtrack for the Australian parody film Italian Spiderman.

• 2003

  Label established in Milan

  [1]Record Kicksen.wikipedia.org

  Nicolò Pozzoli founded Record Kicks as an independent label specializing in contemporary and vintage-inspired black sounds.

A specialist independent label for contemporary and vintage-inspired soul, funk, Northern Soul, Afrobeat, rocksteady and dancefloor jazz, with an emphasis on curated catalogues and collectible physical releases.

• Recorded music

  Artist albums

  Record Kicks releases full-length albums by contemporary artists and groups working in soul, funk, Afrobeat, jazz, rocksteady and related styles. The album catalogue includes releases associated with Hannah Williams, Martha High, Tanika Charles, Third Coast Kings, The Liberators, Baby Charles, Calibro 35 and other acts. These records form the core of the label's artist-led output.

• Compilation series

  Soulshaker

  Soulshaker is a recurring Record Kicks compilation series built around soul, funk and adjacent dancefloor sounds. It presents the label's curatorial approach in a multi-artist format and provides a consolidated view of the styles represented across its catalogue. The referenced material identifies at least seven volumes.

• Compilation series

  Let's Boogaloo

  Let's Boogaloo is a Record Kicks compilation line focused on lively, dance-oriented selections connected with soul, funk and related black-music traditions. Its repeated-volume format reinforces the label's role as a specialist curator. The available reference material identifies at least six volumes.

• Vinyl single

  45 rpm singles

  The label continues to issue music as 45 rpm singles, commonly in restricted or limited editions. These releases serve collectors and DJs and reflect Record Kicks' commitment to the physical conventions of soul, funk and Northern Soul culture.

• Film soundtrack · 2008

  Italian Spiderman soundtrack

  Released in 2008, this soundtrack accompanied Italian Spiderman, an Australian parody film inspired by Italian B-movie conventions from the 1960s and 1970s. The release connected Record Kicks' retro-oriented musical identity with cult-film and exploitation-cinema aesthetics.

• Music publishing

  Edizioni Record Kicks

  Edizioni Record Kicks is the label's music-publishing division. It is registered with SIAE, Italy's collecting society for authors and composers, extending the business beyond the release and distribution of sound recordings.

• 2013Record Kicks tenth-anniversary celebration

  United Kingdom · Italy · International

  Record Kicks marked ten years of activity with a special night at London's 100 Club and a commemorative compilation titled Record Kicks 10th.

  Outcome. The event and compilation publicly marked the label's decade of operation and reinforced its links with the British soul and specialist-music audience.

  Source

• 2013

  Tenth-anniversary event and compilationOther

  Background

  After a decade of independent-label activity, Record Kicks chose to mark the anniversary through a live event and a dedicated catalogue release.

  Action taken

  The label staged an anniversary night at the 100 Club in London and issued Record Kicks 10th.

  Aftermath

  The anniversary programme highlighted the label's longevity and international audience, particularly its relationship with the United Kingdom's soul and Northern Soul communities.

  Source

• 2008

  Release of the Italian Spiderman soundtrackProduct launch

  Background

  The label's interest in vintage-influenced sounds and Italian genre-film aesthetics provided a context for issuing music connected with the Australian parody film Italian Spiderman.

  Action taken

  Record Kicks released the film's soundtrack.

  Aftermath

  The release became one of the label's distinctive soundtrack and retro-culture projects.

  Source

1. 1Record Kicksen.wikipedia.org