Five On It: August 2008's Essentials

Five on It #3 - another month, another five essential breaks you need to have in your collection.

This month's top five begins with the Philly soul stomper 'Ready or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide from Love)' by the Delfonics which appeared in part 1 of our look at 'The Score' by Fugees. On this blog's first post covering the tracks produced by Large Professor, Average White Band's drum heavy 'School Boy Crush' was mentioned (and it will undoubtedly show up in the future). Marlena Shaw's 'California Soul' and David Axelrod's 'Holy Thursday' were both featured in the coverage of Quasimoto's 'The Unseen' album (in parts 2 and parts 3 respectively). Finally this month, the baddest of all bad mutha tracks - James Brown's 'The Payback' as used by Pete Rock. One unbelievable part of the mythology of 'The Payback' is it was turned down for inclusion in the movie 'Hell Up in Harlem' for not being funky enough. What could be funkier?

The Lowdown:
The Delfonics 'Ready or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide from Love)'
from 'The Sound of Sexy Soul' (1968) (MP3/CD)
Average White Band 'School Boy Crush'
from 'Cut the Cake' (1975) (MP3/CD)
Marlena Shaw 'California Soul'
from 'The Spice of Life' (1968) (MP3/CD)
David Axelrod 'Holy Thursday'
from 'Songs of Innocence' (1968) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
James Brown 'The Payback'
from 'The Payback' (1974) (MP3/CD)

BONUS CUT:
'Ready or Not Here I Come' is interpolated by the Fugees on their hit 'Ready or Not', but the opening of the song is actually sampled by Timbaland on Missy Elliott and Da Brat's 1997 hit 'Sock it 2 Me'.