Planet E Communications is an independent electronic music recording label that started in 1991 in Detroit, Michigan. The label was founded by DJ/Producer Carl Craig, who was mentored under Derrick May leading up to the creation of Planet E.
History Planet E's first release was titled "4 Jazz Funk Classics," which Craig recorded under the moniker 69. Initial releases on Planet E would mainly be Craig's projects under a multitude of monikers, but would later evolve into being home to a myriad of electronic music's most influential artists such as Kevin Saunderson, Moodymann, Kenny Larkin, and Recloose. In 2001, Planet E celebrated its 10-year anniversary with a celebration at the Detroit Electronic Music Festival.Corey Moss , "Carl Craig To Celebrate Planet E Label With Compilation, Party, Reissue," MTV.com Planet E is continually developing a roster, with producers such as Martin Buttrich, Jona, Ican, Glimpse and more.
In addition, Planet E has a subsidiary label, Community Projects. Craig developed this label to present music of other genres, everything from afro blues to space jazz to world music.
Impact Carl Craig wanted to create Planet E as his own independent project, as he wanted to create a sound that he uniquely liked. Similar to Community Projects, the work he created and collaborated on showcased a wide variety of music genres, taking inspiration from other notable names in Detroit, such as The Electrifying Mojo. Craig went on to explain his work behind Planet E as a "revolt" against a repetitive pattern he discovered within the Techo industry. As he developed as an artist under May, he craved to create a sound that nobody could judge but himself. In an interview conducted by the magazine Future Music, when Craig was asked about Planet E and adjusting to the evolution of the music industry, he said that he did not have a large budget for projects, but viewed his work as "guerrilla warfare and doing remixes to stay in business."
Discography 69 - 4 Jazz Funk Classics Various - A.R.T. Compilation Piece - Free Your Mind Florence / Wladimir M - Eevolute Various - Intergalactic Beats Shop / Innerzone Orchestra - Untitled 69 - Sound On Sound Quadrant - Infinition Connection Machine - Bitflower Paperclip People - Throw / Remake (Basic Reshape) Various - Elements Of And Experiments With Sound Flexitone - Nausicaä 69 - Lite Music Clark - Lofthouse Flexitone - Rotoreliefs EP Gemini - A Moment Of Insanity 4th Wave - Touched Designer Music - Remix Vol. 1 Fusion - Never Forget It Paperclip People - The Secret Tapes Of Dr. Eich Psyche / BFC - Elements 1989-1990 Innerzone Orchestra - Bug In The Bass Bin Piece - Free Your Mind [Past] / Free Your Soul [Future] Paperclip People - Floor Paperclip People - Steam Carl Craig - More Songs About Food And Revolutionary Art Moodymann - Dem Young Sconies / Bosconi Moodymann - Silentintroduction Kevin Saunderson - Faces & Phases - The Saunderson Collection Chaz Vincent - Dream Zenith Recloose - So This Is The Dining Room Common Factor - Common Factor EP Moodymann - Sunday Morning Paperclip People - 4 My Peepz E-Dancer - Heavenly Common Factor - Expanded EP Alton Miller - EP Common Factor - Dreams Of Elsewhere Jason Hogans - Peter And The Rooster EP Various - Intergalactic Beats Paperclip People - 4 My Peepz Jason Hogans - Peter And The Rooster EP Common Factor - Pisces Groove Innerzone Orchestra - Programmed Recloose - Spelunking EP Paperclip People - Throw / Remake (Basic Reshape) Various Geology - A Subjective History Of Planet E - Volume One Innerzone Orchestra Featuring Paul Randolph - People Make The World Go Round Recloose - Can't Take It Common Factor + John Redmond - Fascination / World Is Mine Innerzone Orchestra - People Make The World Go Round 2 Agent-X - In The Morning EP Designer Music - Problemz / The Truth Carl Craig - Designer Music V1 Ibex - Oasis Recloose - Can't Take It (Remixes) Various - Geology - A Subjective Study Of Planet E - Volume Two Ibex - Macamba Various - 2000 Black: The Good Good Carl Craig - The Climax Various - All Access To Detroit's Music Festivals Paperclip People - Clear And Present / Tweakityourself Newworldaquarium - Tresspassers / NY Recloose - Ain't Changin' Recloose - Cardiology Todd Sines + Natacha Labelle - Overlap Todd Sines + Natacha Labelle - Overlap: C² Mixes Carl Craig - A Wonderful Life / As Time Goes By Urban Tribe - Covert Action / Low Berth Recloose - Cardiology Detroit Experiment - The Detroit Experiment Niko Marks - Chune / Truly Something Tres Demented - Demented Designer Music - Good Girls Carl Craig - Just Another Day 69 - Sound On Sound Paperclip People - Throw / The Climax Psyche - Elements / Neurotic Behavior 69 - 4 Jazz Funk Classics Naomi Daniel - Feel The Fire / Stars Paperclip People 4 My Peeps Carl Craig - Sparkle / Home Entertainment Carl Craig - Darkness (Radioslave Re-edit) Carl Craig - The Album Formerly Known As... Carl Craig - Darkness / Angel 69 - Pungtang Tres Demented - Shez Satan Ican - A Quien Martin Buttrich - Full Clip / Programmer Vince Watson - Renaissance / Rendezvous Carl Craig - From The Vault: Planet E Classics Collection Vol. 1 Carl Craig - Just Another Day Lazy Fat People - Pixelgirl EP Carl Craig - Paris Live Kevin Saunderson - History Elevate 1 Attias - Analysis Tribe - Livin' In A New Day Kevin Saunderson - History Elevate 2 Sebastien San - Rising Sun Tribes - Vibes From The Tribe Martin Buttrich - Stoned Autopilot Jona - Altiplano Kenny Larkin - You Are... Ican - Pa' Mi Gente / Chiclet's Theme Kenny Larkin - Keys, Strings, Tambourines Waajeed - Mother EP Waajeed - Detroit Love
Note: Items in bold are Carl Craig productions or releases containing music by Carl Craig.
References Footnotes
Further reading Planet E inks deal with MTV Urge.
External links Planet E Communications discography at Discogs.