Various - Shapes Compilation 2007 Vol.2
(CD) Tru Thoughts TRUCD138, 2007-11-05

Tracklisting :
01. Azaxx - Fiesta
02. Nostalgia 77 - Wild Flower (Povo Remix)
03. Belleruche - Northern Girls (DJ Vadim mix)
04. Quantic & Nickodemus - Mi Swing Es Tropical
05. Up Hygh - Compatible (PTH Projects Remix)
06. Lanu - Don't Sleep (Maddslinky mix)
07. Barakas - Stabilo Bossa
08. Quantic Soul Orchestra - Panama City
09. The Bamboos - Get In The Scene
10. TM Juke feat. Kinny - Damn Drumagick (Remix)
11. Me&You - Last Night (Benny Page remix)
12. Freddie Cruger - I Wanna Make Love To You (Inst Mix)
13. Alice Russell - Seven Nation Army (Grant Phabao Remix)

Links :
myspace.com/truthoughtsrecords
tru-thoughts.co.uk
myspace.com/azaxx1
grantphabao.com
myspace.com/grantphabao

Freddie Cruger - Just Chillin' In The Spot
Brand new album on Homegrown Records, nov 2007

Freddie Cruger feat ADL & Linn - Reigny days
Brand new 12" on Homegrown Records, nov 2007

Just got test pressings of my nu album called "Just chillin in the spot" witch is a almost instrumental album with both old and new material. It will be released on my own Homegrown label in october/november both on vinyl & cd thru www.groovedistribution.com. I hope you check it out and please let me know what you think about it. You can check some of the tunes on my freddie cruger beats myspace page.
That's all for now people
Freddie
(from Freddie Cruger MySpace page)

Links :
myspace.com/redastaire
myspace.com/homegrownrec
myspace.com/groovedirk
groovedis.com
...

Freddie Cruger - Pretty Little Thing feat. Linn
(12") Tru Thoughts, March-April 2007

Don't know what happened to this, if it ever will be released or not... Here's what Freddie was saying about it on MySpace:

Freddie Cruger feat Linn "Pretty Little Thing" will be released on a 12" inch from Tru Thoughts in march-april incl. remix by Karizma, also with instr and acapella versions. Incl. I will also add a unreleased bonus track as a treat.

Me and Linn are putting togheter an album witch we hope to be finished with in april-may and it will probably be released by Tru Thoughts later this year. I am also working on some songs with very talented Donn Thompson out of Philly, we are planing to release a 12" ep in 2007. I also hope to make some new songs with Athony David that last time he came to town went home with about 20 beats of mine to write to, he is crazy talented to, i feel blessed having the opportunity to work with this people. I am also will be doing some dj gigs this spring, where you can find in my calender on my page. I hope you will be on the look out for this forthcoming releases, and with that i want to wish you all the best in 2007!
Peace, love and togetherness
Freddie
(from Freddie Cruger MySpace page)

...

Various - Shapes 07:01 - All New Amazing Sounds Compiled By Robert Luis
(CD) Tru Thoughts TRUCD122, 2007-03-04

Tracklisting :
01. Alice Russell - Hurry On Now (Boub Remix)
02. Spengler - Good Things*
03. Freddie Cruger - Pushing On feat. Linn
04. Up Hygh - Compatible
05. TM Juke - Skin (remix) feat. Rup
06. Quantic - Politick Society Feat Noelle (Quantic remix)
07. Jumbonics - Last Nite
08. Spanky Wilson & the QSO - Waiting for Your Touch (instrumental)
09. Nostalgia 77 - Wildflower
10. Lanu - Disinformation (12" mix)
11. The Bamboos - Happy**
12. Me & You - Ze Zam***
13. The Quantic Soul Orchestra - Painting & Journeys
14. Diesler feat. Carla Alexandar - Into the Woods****
15. RUP - Step
16. Dirty Diggers feat Fourteen Corners - It'll Be Ok

* from upcoming "Shapes Y" 12 inch
** from The Bamboos' upcoming "Rawville" album
*** from Me & You upcoming "Foating Heavy" album
**** from Diesler's upcoming 3rd album

Links :
tru-thoughts.co.uk
myspace.com/truthoughtsrecords
Buy it at etchshop.co.uk

Red Astaire - Nuggets for the Needy
(CD/2xLP) House of Godis HOGCD001/HOGLP001, 2007-02-25

Tracklisting 2xLP :
A1. Follow Me
A2. Cop That Red*
A3. Hazlo Correcto
B1. Love to Angie*
B2. Rollin' Stone
B3. The Get Down
C1. S.B.P.*
C2. The Wildstyle
C3. Come Down
D1. NYC (Salsa Mix)*
D2. Tito
D3. I Wish (D&B Mix)*
(* previously unreleased)

Tracklisting CD :
01. Follow Me
02. Cop That Red*
03. Hazlo Correcto
04. Mambo El B-Boy
05. Rollin' Stone
06. The Get Down
07. Love To Angie*
08. S.B.P.*
09. The Wildstyle
10. Come Down
11. I Wish (D&B mix)*
12. NYC (Salsa mix)*
13. Tito
14. No Mo'
15. Move Yo Ass
16. We're Only BS
(* previously unreleased)

Notes: Music by Red Astaire for Soultiesproductions 2003-2006

Links :
myspace.com/redastaire

Red Astaire - Move Yo Ass
(12") Homegrown Records (Sweden) HOMEGROWN005, 2006-12-18

Review :
It's official, I'm now a big fan of Freddie Cruger a.k.a. Red Astaire's blending of styles with a hip hop spirit. We played him at least twice already on the Paris DJs podcast of mixes, and published a rather comprehensive discography here on Tru-thoughts.net. Last december he released a new promo EP on his own Homegrown label, under the Red Astaire moniker, of 5 not-that-good latin/downtempo/hip hop tracks. That is, "not that good" if you just play the mp3s you downloaded as such, as opposed to how you can "play" with them on a turntable... Thanks to the Captain's Crate hint to play the title track at +6, I managed to be able to check the vinyl 12 inch, before eventually buying. All tracks could be played at various speeds for an optimized latin & breakbeats dancefloor deejaying pleasure: in the Paris DJs Soundsystem bag right away. [the version played in this mix is at +6 of course!!]
Djouls

Tracklisting :
A1. Move Yo Ass
A2. Mambo El B-Boy
B1. Mambo Dinero
B2. Rio De Noche
B3. No Mo!

Note : audio samples available on gyamusic.com

Freddie Cruger - Soul Search
(CD/2xLP) Tru Thoughts TRU117 (UK) / Ubiquity UR201 (US), 2006-10-27

Review :
"While we were still listening to Freddie Cruger's The 3 Foot People album "3 Feet High & Rising", REALLY one of this year best hip hop vibes of this year, Mr Cruger released another over-the-top flawless album, licensed to Tru Thoughts Recordings for Europe, and Ubiquity for the US. He comes from Sweden and is the hip hop artist of the year in our book. How strange is that??" (from Djouls Best Of 2006 part 2)

As a matter of fact Freddie Cruger a.k.a. Red Astaire oughtta get BIG everywhere. He's so right-on-spot today with his fusion of hip hop, soul, dub & reggae, jazz and blaxploitation that's it's hard not to relate to his productions.
The previous album was dense, hard to categorize and to consume, filled with hits and bangers, the kind of record that never leaves the DJ bag...The new one goes further into collaborating with vocalists and rappers worldwide.

The first tracks that jump to your ears might be the previously-released singles (on glorious 12 inch vinyl/Jugglin' Records) - the reggae/hip hop mashup "Running From Love feat. ADL", the soulful "Something Good feat. Desmond Foster" and the b-boying "Bap Yo Head feat. Rapadon". Three immediate hits digging in 70's roots grooves from all over the world, who justify by themselves alone the irrepressive need to get this album on CD or vinyl (as opposed to mp3s).

But that's not the end. All ten other tracks are also songs with quality guests. "Over The Ocean feat. Desmond Foster", for example, is jamaican soul mixed with rhythm'n'blues, in a tuxedo dressing. Classy. "I Wanna Make You Move feat. Anthony David" surprises too with its dancehall/soul thing. "Pushin' On feat. Linn" is nearly as cool as her previous hip hop/soul collaboration with Freddie Cruger, the sublime "On My Way" (on "3 Feet High & Rising"), and as the Swedish singer says simply: "some love of music is all I need to chill".

"The Hustle", the only track without vocals here, speeds things up for the dancefloor in a latin swinging vibe, and confirms the genre-defying attitude of our favorite Swedish b-boy. After all those hints about the coolness of this album, you know what our advice will be: get on the R'n'Hop Soul train, now!
Djouls

Tracklisting :
01. Over The Ocean feat. Desmond Foster | sample
02. I Wanna Make You Move feat. Anthony David | sample
03. What'chu See Iz What'chu Get feat. Cee-Rock | sample
04. Running From Love feat. ADL | sample
05. Pretty Little Thing feat. Linn | sample
06. I Feel Quote Whatever feat. Swingfly | sample
07. Pushin' On feat. Linn | sample
08. Special Lady feat. ADL | sample
09. The Hustle | sample
10. Something Good feat. Desmond Foster | sample
11. New World, New Time feat. Anthony David | sample
12. Bap Yo Head feat. Rapadon | sample
13. Take It Personally feat. Personally | sample

Links :
myspace.com/redastaire
myspace.com/ceerockthefury
myspace.com/adamakaadl (ADL)
myspace.com/linnsegolson (Linn)
anthonydavidmusic.com
myspace.com/anthonydavid
swingfly.com
rubadub.se (Desmond Foster)
myspace.com/rapadon

The complete Freddie Cruger (a.k.a. Red Astaire) discography is now available at :
www.timec.net/truthoughts/index.php?Freddie-cruger

[And if you're in Paris on September, 23rd, don't miss his DJ set at The Bus Palladium]

Biography :
Fredrik Lager aka Freddie Cruger & Red Astaire first got in contact with hip-hop when he started out as a break dancer in the early 80's. His electric boogie dancing brother was collecting records at that time, which introduced Freddie to the world of black dance music. Around 85-86 he worked weekends at a legendary import record store in Stockholm called Space (special job cleaning the toilet). At this time he started buying more and more records, mostly electro and rap records but also disco and funk 12"/7" classics. One thing led to another and he soon bought his first drum machine and turntables in 88 (according to himself the best investment he's ever done). Around 91 he met up with Mad Mats (Raw Fusion/Jugglin') and started to hang out in Mats' studio in downtown Stockholm. This started a friendship and working relationship, which is still going strong today. Around 92 he bought his first sampler and released his first 12" vinyl in 94 under the name Chimney Heads (only 100 copies printed). But since then he's worked with numerous artists like China Moses (DeDe Bridgewater's daughter), Bob Powers (A Tribe Called Quest, The Roots), Rappadon, Baz Baz, La Nata (France), ADL, Desmond Foster, Linn, Swing Fly, Anthony David, Bas-1 and many more.
The characteristic style off Freddie's productions are a blend off old school hip-hop and b-boy grooves mixed up with dirty funk, soul, reggae, latin and disco rhythms. He's currently signed to Jugglin' Records (sub-label to Raw Fusion Recordings, now distributed by Tru Thoughts in europe and Creative Vibes in Australia) but he also releases music on Swedish Brandy, G.A.M.M. (as the notorious Red Astaire) and his own Home Grown label. Besides this he's also travelling the world as a renowned DJ spinning everything from future to old-school funk, soul, hip hop, reggae, disco and latin.

Discography Albums :
• Freddie Cruger presents The 3 Foot People - 3 Foot High & Rising (2xLP/CD) Homegrown, 2006
• Freddie Cruger - Soul Search (CD/2xLP) / Tru Thoughts, 2006

Discography Singles :
• Chimney Heads - Spread Love (12&#quot; ) Sonet 1994
• Freddie Cruger & Berger - Vol. 1 (10") Swedish Brandy, 1999
• The Odd Couple - Paperkites EP (12&#quot; ) / Swedish Brandy, 2002
• Freddie Cruger - Movin' Among The Madness (12" ) Swedish Brandy, 2002
• Freddie Cruger - Running From Love (12") Jugglin', 2003
• Red Astaire - Follow Me (12") G.A.M.M., 2003
• Red Astaire - Marvin's Groove (12") White label 2004
• Linn & Freddie Cruger - The Wonderlust EP (12") Swedish Brandy, 2004
• Red Astaire - Rollin' Stone (12") G.A.M.M., 2004
• Freddie Cruger - Bap Yo Head (12") Jugglin', 2004
• Red Astaire - Ghetto Hell (12") G.A.M.M., 2004
• Freddie Cruger - I Love To Rap (12") Elephant Records, 2004
• Red Astaire - G.A.M.M. Battle Weapon Vol.1 (12") G.A.M.M., 2004
• Red Astaire - Hazlo Correcto (12") Homegrown, 2004
• Red Astaire - Whatcha Do (12") G.A.M.M., 2005
• Freddie Cruger - Something Good (12") Jugglin', 2005
• Red Astaire - Mambo El Kingston (12") G.A.M.M., 2006
• Red Astaire - Go Move (12") Homegrown, 2006
• The Ultimates - Saturday Love (12") Homegrown, 2006
• Freddie Cruger - Instrumental Gobitar Vol. 1 (12") Homegrown, 2006
• Red Astaire goes Latin (tba) Homegrown 2006
• Red Astaire album Nuggets for the needy (tba) House of godis, Oct-Nov 2006

Discography Remixes (& production) :
• China- Time (Freddie Cruger Cut) (CDS) Source 1996
• China - (album cuts 1, 8, 13) (CD) Source 1997
• Scoob Rock - As The World Turns (CD) 360 Degrees Ent, 2000
• Greyboy - To Know You Is To Love You (Red Astaire Remix) (12") Ubiquity, 2004
• Sia - Where I Belong (Red Astaire Remix) (12"/CDS) Go! Beat, 2004
• EMO - I Want My Love (Freddie Cruger Remix) (12") Stereo Deluxe, 2004
• DRW - the future (Red Astaire Remix) (tba) The Elephant

Discography Compilations :
• Various - Inside Scandinavia (2xLP/CD) Raw Fusion, 2004
• Various - Current Cuts Vol.1 (CD) Swedish Brandy, 2005
• Various - Inside Scandinavia Vol. 2 (2xLP/CD) Raw Fusion, 2005
• Various - Jugglin' with Raw Fusion (CD) Raw Fusion, 2005

Links :
myspace.com/redastaire
...

Freddie Cruger - Instrumental Gobitar Vol. 1
(12") Homegrown HOMEGROWN004, 2006-07-24

Tracklisting :
A1. Keep On Moving
A2. In The Jungle
B1. Sunday Love Beat
B2. Live Tune

The Ultimates - Saturday Love
(12") Homegrown HOMEGROWN003, 2006-07-24

Tracklisting :
A1. Saturday Love

Note : The Ultimates are Freddie Cruger, Linn and her brother Stefan on vox and multi instrumentalist Salem. On their first outing on Freddie's Homegrown, they take Alexander O'Neal &Cherelle's classic "Saturday Love" from 1985 and turn it in to a jazzy nu-soul celebration.
...