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: , , , , , , , ,

Crate Diggin’: The Police, Zenyatta Mondatta

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Mar 262011
 
 

Driven To Tears
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When The World Is Running Down, You Make The Best Of What’s Still Around (Different Gear Remix)
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Voices Inside My Head
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Album: Zenyatta Mondatta (1980)

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For an album that the band itself isn’t particularly satisfied with, Zenyatta Mondatta sure has some gems on it. The accepted story is that The Police were pressured to complete the record prior to going on a world tour, despite the band’s grumblings. Regardless, Zenyatta Mondatta succeeds due to the trio’s chemistry, songwriting, and musicianship.

Zenyatta Mondatta‘s biggest hits were the terrific “Don’t Stand So Close To Me” and the idiotic “De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da.” More interesting are the dancefloor classics that captured a band willing to broaden their sound.

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 Posted by -G. at 12:08 am  Tagged with: , , , , ,

R.I.P. – Nate Dogg

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Mar 202011
 
 

Ain’t No Fun (If the Homies Can’t Have None)
Snoop Doggy Dogg w/Nate Dogg, Kurupt, Warren G
Released in 1993
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Oh No
Pharoahe Monch w/Nate Dogg, Mos Def
Released in 2000
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The Set Up (Remix)
Obie Trice w/Nate Dogg, Redman, Lloyd Banks, Jadakiss
Released in 2004
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Sad to hear of Nate Dogg’s recent passing. Nate wasn’t the first singer to provide R&B-style hooks on rap records (TJ Swan, perhaps?), but I can’t remember any R&B/hip hop hybrid prior to Nate’s 1992 appearances on Dr. Dre’s The Chronic that didn’t inflict collateral damage to anyone’s street cred.

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 Posted by -G. at 4:02 pm  Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Crate Diggin’: First Choice, Delusions

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Mar 172011
 
 

Let No Man Put Asunder
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Love Having You Around
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Dr. Love (Tom Moulton 12″ Mix)
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Album: Delusions (1977)

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The onset of spring makes disco bloom on my hi-fi. And though it has its place, I’m not talking about the commercial disco I wish I heard at Studio 54; I’m talking about the soulful proto-house disco I wish I heard at the Paradise Garage. One of the best examples of the latter is First Choice’s Delusions LP.

Annette Guest and Rochelle Fleming founded First Choice when they were still Philadelphia high school students. Rochelle reminisces:

Our success didn’t hit us until graduation night. We were marching down the aisle and the principal of the school said he wanted to congratulate First Choice… then the whole graduation class just stood up and hollered and screamed.

Five years later, as disco was starting to dominate the pop landscape, First Choice (Rochelle, Annette, and new member Ursula Herring) released Delusions. In hindsight, First Choice is perceived as more of a singles act rather than album artists. Delusions, however, is a fairly consistent collection of songs, thanks in part to the lush production from MFSB’s rhythm section: Ron Baker, Norman Harris, and Earl Young.

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 Posted by -G. at 11:51 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: , , , , , ,
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