Last week, this blog published an article about the Traxsource Top 200 chart of 2021. I commented on the large number of remixes of old tracks in the chart – and pointed out that Michael Gray had done very nicely out of this trend. Since then, I’ve had a few emails complaining about my treatment of Gray.

One, for example, tells me to treat him with “more respect” due to his “enormous contribution to house music”. To which I have to ask whether this person has ever read this blog. Yes, Gray has put a lot into the world of house music for decades, but this does not give him a pass from scrutiny – and nor should it.

So let’s go through Gray’s Traxsource page and his remixes for 2021. This list only includes his own work – for the purpose of this exercise, I’m excluding anything he did as part of Full Intention. During 2021, he put out the following remixes of old songs…

Supakings – Back And Forth (Michael Gray Remix) – originally released in 1999.
Adeva – In And Out Of My Life (Michael Gray Remix) – originally released in 1988.
DJ Fudge & Chinua Hawk – Love X Love (Michael Gray Remix) – cover of a song originally released in 1980.
Kathy Brown – Happy People (Michael Gray Remix) – originally released in 1999.
Junior Jack & Glory Feat. Jocelyn Brown – Hold Me Up (Michael Gray Extended Remix) – originally released in 2003.
Sleeque – One For The Money (Michael Gray Remix) – originally released in 1986.
Blaze Presents UDAUFL Feat. Barbara Tucker – Most Precious Love (Michael Gray Remix) – originally released in 2005.
Phil Lorraine & James Hurr Feat. Sian-Lee – Bodyswerve (Michael Gray Remix) – cover of a song originally released in 2003.
Risque Connection – Saturday (Michael Gray Remix) – cover of a song originally released in 1978.

That’s at least nine – excluding several from 2020 which got a re-release on a compilation or anywhere else. And aside from Dr Packer, I’m struggling to think of anyone else who comes close to similarly cashing in on this trend.

Incidentally, I don’t particularly blame Gray for doing this – beggars can’t exactly be choosers in the current climate. But it just shows the rate at which house music is cannibalising itself…