by Andy Kellman
Two years after Strut put out Danny Krivit's Grass Roots mix, they selected ten of the 200 re-edits executed by the DJ since 1983 and issued them on CD as Edits by Mr. K. The art of the remix, pioneered by Tom Moulton, initially involved the use of a reel-to-reel, a scalpel, and a cutting block. These remixes -- now more commonly known in the dance world as edits, since modern-day remixing normally results in brand new productions, and therefore brand new songs -- would be used by DJs to optimize the length and power of the songs for the dancefloor. Krivit made his own re-edits primarily for himself and his friends, though many of them were trickled out to shops under aliases in order to preserve anonymity. People not familiar with the original versions of these songs -- Cymande's &Bra,& Lenny Williams' &You Got Me Runnin',& Diana Ross' &No One Gets the Prize,& Betty Wright's &Where Is the Love& -- might not fully appreciate the smooth and steady edits Krivit has given them, but it's no matter when a DJ plays them out, because it's all about getting lost in the groove. Anyone who has seen Krivit -- who came up spinning at roller rinks -- knows that has remained one of his top priorities. The most familiar, radical, and impressive edit is done on a nine-minute Sly & the Family Stone medley, most of which is based on &Dance to the Music.& Otherwise, this disc is primarily a treat for younger DJs who want to learn a thing or two; it's also a rather crucial of New York's club scene that will have equal appeal to its inhabitants, who are so familiar with some of these alternate versions that they favor them over the originals.