12″ Gems: Ginuwine, “Pony”

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May 182011
 
 

Pony (Extended Version)
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Released in 1996

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Timbaland is among the all-time great hip hop/R&B’s producers, and Ginuwine’s “Pony” was one of his first big hits. Like many Timbaland tracks, it’s held up flawlessly over the years.

Timbaland takes pride in fusing together unlikely elements in service of a slamming, unique beat. The most dominating sound on “Pony” is a deceptively simple three-note froglike bassline. But it’s the weirdness that takes the track to another level — the loopy slide whistle, the way he lets the beat breathe during the verses, the chugging percussive sound that lurks underneath.

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 Posted by -G. at 11:34 pm  Tagged with: , , , , , , , ,

12″ Gems: Cypress Hill, “The Phunky Feel One”/”How I Could Just Kill A Man”

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Feb 092011
 
Cypress Hill, "The Phunky Feel One"/"How I Could Just Kill A Man"  

The Phunky Feel One (Extended Version)
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How I Could Just Kill A Man (The Killer Mix)
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Released in 1991

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Sometimes, I get mad. These tracks help get the aggression out.

There is no B-side on this 12″; both of these tracks are 5-star classics, and murder on the dancefloor.

‘Nuff said.

 

 Posted by -G. at 6:29 pm  Tagged with: , , , , , ,

12″ Gems: Geraldine Hunt, Can’t Fake The Feeling

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Jan 082010
 
 

Can’t Fake The Feeling
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Released in 1980

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"Can’t Fake The Feeling" has been very good to me. As you can see from the photo of the label above, I paid a pretty penny for it but It was worth it. It’s one of those records that kills on the dancefloor, and few of my generation have ever heard it before — qualities that make DJs very happy.

When it was released 30 (!) years ago, it was  — justifiably — a massive #1 club hit. It’s easy to see why: the beat is steady, the production is tight, and the melody is catchy. And then there’s Geraldine’s raw, expressive singing that hearkens back to a time when dance track vocals were recorded with limited to no filters, pitch correction, or digitized harmonies.

It was released on the Prism label (Prism would later morph into seminal hip hop label Cold Chillin’ Records) and was written by Geraldine and Kat Dyson, who is primarily known for playing guitar with Prince’s New Power Generation. I’m sad to say that my limited online research into Geraldine didn’t reveal much about her; "Can’t Fake The Feeling" was her biggest hit.

 

 Posted by -G. at 11:17 pm  Tagged with: , , , , , , ,

12″ Gems: The Clash, The Magnificent Seven

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Sep 292009
 
magnificent  

The Magnificent Seven
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The Magnificent Dance
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Released in 1981

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This edition of 12″ Gems features one of the most addictive bass lines to ever grace the dancefloor. The Clash isn’t the first band to come to mind when you’re up in the club, but “The Magnificent Dance” appeals to pretty much anyone who gets up to get down. (For the record, “Rock The Casbah” works brilliantly too.)

The Clash were consistently pushing the boundaries of music. Though mostly defined as a “punk” bank, they also incorporated reggae, political fury, and — as demonstrated on this 12″ — rap into their sound. “The Magnificent Seven” was recorded in 1980, and may have been the first rap record made by whitey (with the possible exception of Blondie’s “Rapture,” which came out at roughly the same time).

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 Posted by -G. at 12:04 am  Tagged with: , , , , , , , ,

12″ Gems: Eric B. & Rakim, Follow The Leader

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Sep 132009
 
Follow The Leader  

Follow The Leader
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Follow The Leader (Dub)
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Released in 1988

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OK, I’m trying out a new feature, 12″ Gems. I gots fat stacks of phat tracks to share.

Take this one: Eric B. & Rakim’s 5-star classic single “Follow The Leader.” It killed in the later, hazy hours of house parties in San Francisco during the late 90s — nearly a decade after its 1988 release. It continues to be an invigorating dancefloor choice for certain kinds of parties.

I have an MP3 of this track that I got from one of the online music services. It completely neuters the bass, and sounds hollow. To me, Eric B.’s complex, moody beat is what drives the track and keeps it relevant. I spent some extra time on my encoding to try and capture it, but digital music can’t quite match the big thumping rhythm that only vinyl can deliver. Pump it through some good speakers and turn it up, and you’ll get a taste.

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 Posted by -G. at 12:00 pm  Tagged with: , , , , , , ,
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