The Record Label: Lighthouse Records (Detroit)

While often overshadowed in massive retrospectives by Motown or the main techno imprints, Lighthouse Records was a small, independent regional label operating out of Detroit in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The Era: 1990 was a massive transition period for Detroit music. Following the late-80s explosion of Detroit Techno (pioneered by the Belleville Three), independent local labels were popping up to press underground club tracks, house, techno, and early hip-hop/electro-funk.

The Sound: Releases on Lighthouse Records from this era typically lean into Detroit House, Deep House, or Garage House/Club sounds, rather than the stricter, industrial machine-techno sounds of labels like Underground Resistance.

The Release: Mike Lee – "Pump It" (1990)

This particular 12" is a relatively obscure and classic piece of regional Detroit house history.

 The genre is Electronic, and the styles are House or Detroit House.

Fidelity/Format: It's a standard 12" Single running at 33 RPM (or occasionally 45 RPM for some 12" club promos, though 33 ⅓ is standard for multi-mix house records).

GOLDMINE GRADING

MINT ---- It should appear to be perfect. No scuffs or scratches, blotches or stains, labels or writing, tears or splits. Mint means perfect.

NEAR MINT ---- Otherwise mint but has one or two tiny inconsequential flaws that do not affect play. Covers should be close to perfect with minor signs of wear or age just becoming evident: slight ring-wear, minor denting to a corner, or writing on the cover should all be noted properly.

VERY GOOD PLUS ---- The record has been handled and played infrequently or very carefully. Not too far from perfect. On a disc, there may be light paper scuffs from sliding in and out of a sleeve or the vinyl or some of the original luster may be lost. A slight scratch that did not affect play would be acceptably VG+ for most collectors.

VERY GOOD ---- Record displays visible signs of handling and playing, such as loss of vinyl luster, light surface scratches, groove wear and spindle trails. Some audible surface noise, but should not overwhelm the musical experience. Usually a cover is VG when one or two of these problems are evident: ring wear, seam splits, bent corners, loss of gloss, stains, etc.

GOOD ---- Well played with little luster and significant surface noise. Despite defects, record should still play all the way through without skipping. Several cover flaws will be apparent, but should not obliterate the artwork.

POOR ---- Any record or cover that does not qualify for the above "Good" grading should be seen as Poor. Several cover flaws.