News » Classic Music Company Marks 30 Years with Book and Vinyl Compilation Series

Classic Music Company Marks 30 Years with Book and Vinyl Compilation Series

Label founders Luke Solomon and Derrick Carter celebrate three decades of house music with an archival release and a London party.

Classic Music Company, the influential London-based house music label founded by Luke Solomon and Derrick Carter, is marking its 30th anniversary with a coffee table book, a three-part vinyl compilation series, and a celebratory party in December.

Set for release in late October, the book presents an oral history of the label, accompanied by a collection of unseen photos and design ephemera from its archive. The project has been led by David Windmill, one of the label’s early in-house designers, and includes contributions from a wide cast of Classic-affiliated artists. The book features an introduction by journalist Claire Hughes, a foreword from long-time label affiliate Honey Dijon, and an afterword by Solomon.

Three decades of evolving house music

Classic has been a key presence in underground house since its founding in the mid-1990s, gaining a reputation for distinctive visual design, idiosyncratic club releases, and fostering both new and established talent. The upcoming vinyl compilation series, released across three volumes and six records, attempts to reflect the label’s full arc — from formative deep house to more recent, genre-blurring productions.

Artists featured span Classic’s earliest contributors, such as Rob Mełło, Roy Davis Jr., and Gemini, to recent signings including Folamour, Girls Of The Internet, and Honey Dijon. The packaging is designed to echo Classic’s aesthetic roots, with raw reverse board sleeves referencing the label’s original “Seasons” series.

“Thirty years felt like a significant milestone,” said Solomon. “There’s always been a desire to capture what we’ve done in picture form — creating this book was an opportunity to do just that.”

This archival release arrives at a time when electronic music culture is paying increased attention to its own legacy, with labels and scenes documenting their histories through books, films, and reissues. Classic’s project follows a trend seen in recent years where house and techno institutions are reassessing their visual and sonic identities, preserving physical media as part of their cultural impact.

In recent years, vinyl sales have remained relatively resilient within dance music, with reissues and curated compilations appealing to collectors and newer audiences alike. The inclusion of both veteran and emerging artists also suggests Classic’s ongoing relevance in a shifting musical landscape.

The celebrations will culminate in a three-room event at a yet-to-be-announced London club on Friday, December 5. Duke Brooks, the label’s current A&R and an emerging DJ, has curated the anniversary series under Solomon’s guidance.

Brooks noted, “Classic has been a huge influence on me. What began as a tongue-in-cheek name has truly lived up to it, with a catalogue, artists, and artwork that set a standard I hope to carry forward.”

More details about the event and release will follow through the label’s social media channels. You can pre-order here or sign up for the event here.

Follow Classic Music Company on Instagram.

Classic Classic Chapter 1

A1 – Herbert – Got To Be Movin
A2 – Chris Nazuka – Somewhere Between Distance And The Impossible
B1 – Blaze – Lovelee Dae (Beloved Vocal Rmx)
B2 – Gemini – In My Head (Freaks Move This Way Vocal Dubby)
C1 – Seven Davis Jr – The One (Live Edit)
C2 – Red Rackem – Wonky Bassline Disco Banger D1 – Eli Escobar – Happiness pt. 2
D2 – Kenny Hawkes & Louise Carver – Play The Game (Space Children Extended Love Mix)

Classic Classic Chapter 2

A1 – Isolee – Beau Mot Plage (Freeform Reform parts 1 & 2)
A2 – Greenskeepers – Bang In Your Face?
B1 – Iz & Diz – Mouth (Pepe Bradock Mix for Friends)
B2 – Markus Nikolai – Bushes (The First Re-creation) (Version 1.2)
C1 – Folamour – Devoted To U
C2 – Crazy P – One True Light
D1 – Girls Of The Internet – When U Go D2 – Sophie Lloyd – Calling Out

Classic Classic Chapter 3

A1 – Home & Garden featuring Collette – Sexuality…He’s 2 Young (JT’s Porno Beat Down Remix)
A2 – Brett Johnson – Jiffy Pop
B1 – Tiefschwarz – Acid Soul
B2 – Roy Davis Jr. – About Love (Solid Groove Remix)
C1- JT Donaldson feat. Liv.e – Stay Inside
C2 – Dam Swindle – Hey Mister
D1 – Luke Solomon & Amp Fiddler – Come on Over
D2 – Honey Dijon featuring Dave Giles II, Cor . Ece & Mike Dunn – Work (Extended Mix)