Mrs Wood
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Mrs Wood is a female DJ and producer heavily involved in the hardbag and UK techno scene. Born Jane Rolink, Mrs Wood first came to prominence via her output on the React label. Her first single Whodunnit? was issued in 1994, shortly followed by one of her best known releases Calamity Jane.
In Autumn 1995 Mrs Wood enjoyed crossover success with Joanna, largely considered as one of the defining tracks of the hardbag era. Featuring a Trade style remix from Tony De Vit as well as her own more minimal version, Joanna became one of the first hardbag releases to reach the UK Top 40, and was at this juncture one of the biggest selling tracks to have been output on React.
Further success ensued in the shape of the more commercial Heartbreak, which featured vocals from Cleveland City signing Eve Gallagher, another artist who became synonymous with the house music and burgeoning hardbag scene of the mid '90s.
Heartbreak charted at #44 in the UK, and featured remixes from former Happy Clappers producer CJ Scott, as well as a technoid variation from Wood herself, co-produced by long time cohort Kevin White
The following year witnessed the release of Feel so good, Mrs Wood's largest chart hit, a double A side coupled with a Sash! remix of Joanna. Also included in the mix package were further variations from Dancing Divaz, Nush and the original 1995 remix by Tony De Vit.
The hard acidic Road rage was issued in a limited quantity in late 1996, which Wood released under the sobriquet Madame Dubois
Shortly after the success of Feel so good, Mrs Wood began producing less commercially orientated, techno and nu-nrg influenced tracks such as 1,2,3,4, which was less well received, despite featuring a trancey remake from Vincent De Moor. Her debut artist album quickly followed in the shape of Woodwork. Co-produced by Kevin White, Woodwork comprised largely of minimal, techno based compositions.
Mrs Wood is perhaps best remembered for her React released mix compilations, Mrs Wood Teaches Techno and 1996's massively successful Bitter & Twisted (half of which was remixed by her longtime stablemate Blu Peter). Showcasing a variety of tracks in an array of genres, Bitter & Twisted featured material from artists as disparate as LSG, 16C+ and Mark NRG
[edit] Selected discography
- Albums
- 1993: Mrs Wood Teaches Techno (React Music)
- 1996: Mrs Wood & Blu Peter (React Music)
- 1998: Woodwork (React Music)
- Singles/EPs;
- 1994: The Awakening/Calamity Jane (React Music)
- 1994: Whodunnit? (React Music)
- 1995: Joanna (React Music) UK #40
- 1996: Heartbreak feat. Eve Gallagher (React Music) UK #44
- 1997: Joanna '97 (React Music) UK #32
- 1998: 1,2,3,4 (React Music) UK #61
- 2004: Joanna 2004 (React Music)