Five On It: September 2009's Essentials

Welcome to our September installment of Five On It, the most essential five breaks and sample sources of the past month compiled in one easy to access section.

This month began with a classic in our look at Organized Konfusion's self titled debut album, the breakdance anthem 'The Mexican' from Babe Ruth's first album 'First Base'. In our second look at 'Organized Konfusion', we mentioned the huge drum break at the start of Herbie Hancock's famous 'Chameleon' from 1973's 'Headhunters'. Check out the link to 'Chameleon' - I don't think you'll find a cheaper download for the full album length track anywhere else! The David Axelrod produced album 'Release of an Oath' by the Electric Prunes covered here has the other-worldly 'General Confessional', which made its rounds as a digger's dream find in the 90s. From their 1968 debut album, Kool and the Gang's 'Give It Up' has been used numerous times in hip-hop sampling, sampled by Dr. Dre among others. Finally, during our producer profile of Mark the 45 King, we mentioned his use of the cut 'Soul Power 74' by Maceo and the Macks - a stirring J.B. inspired cut with a notable heavy sax solo that has seen its fair share of sampling in the past.

The Lowdown:
Babe Ruth 'The Mexican'
from 'First Base' (1972) (MP3/Import CD)
Herbie Hancock 'Chameleon'
from 'Headhunters' (1973) (MP3/CD)
Electric Prunes 'General Confessional'
from 'Release of an Oath' (1968) (MP3/CD)
Kool and the Gang 'Give it Up'
from 'Kool and the Gang' (1969) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Maceo and the Macks 'Soul Power 74'
from 'Us!' (1974) (MP3 not available/Import CD)

Bonus Cuts:
Babe Ruth's 'The Mexican' was a building block for b-boy sets in the early days of hip-hop, but it was also a building block for one of hip-hop's earliest crossover hits: 'Planet Rock' by Afrika Bambaataa and the Soulsonic Force. Many people instantly think of Kraftwerk when 'Planet Rock' is mentioned, but a lengthy instrumental riff is lifted from 'The Mexican' as well. Another bonus download link: the 'Planet Rock' instrumental version!

Rewind: Organized Konfusion 'Organized Konfusion' (Part 1)

After a false start as Simply II Positive MCs and a early tracks produced by Paul C, Prince Po and Pharoahe Monch was signed and released their self titled debut album 'Organized Konfusion' in 1991. This two part post will investigate the sample sources of Organized Konfusion's first album.

Organized Konfusion appear alongside O.C. on an early performance on the future classic track 'Fudge Pudge', which samples the James Brown produced 'More Peas' by the J.B.'s and the Skull Snaps deep album cut 'Tresspassin'' from their lone album 'Skull Snaps'. The single 'Walk Into the Sun' features samples from Steely Dan's 'Royal Scam'-era track 'Green Earring', Earth, Wind and Fire's single 'Runnin' from their hit album 'All N All', and the 1978 Crusaders cut 'Merry-Go-Round'. 'Releasing Hypnotical Gases' samples a pair of tracks from S.O.U.L.'s classic album 'What It Is' from 1971: 'Burning Spear' and 'Soul'. The track also samples Weather Report's 'Non-Stop Home' from 'Sweetnighter'. Organized Konfusion's 'Audience Pleasers' samples the live cut 'Lowdown Popcorn' from James Brown's essential 'Sex Machine' album. Finally, the track 'Prisoner of War' features two high-octane samples: Earth, Wind and Fire's 'Power' from their third LP 'Last Days and Time' and Babe Ruth's absolutely essential b-boy break 'The Mexican' from their 1972 album 'First Base'.

Check back for our second look at the sample sources of Organized Konfusion's self titled debut album.

The Lowdown:
Organized Konufsion 'Fudge Pudge', 'Walk Into the Sun', 'Releasing Hypnotical Gases', 'Audience Pleasers', and 'Prisoner of War'
from 'Organized Konufsion' (1991) (MP3 not available/CD)
The J.B.'s 'More Peas'
from 'Doing it to Death' (1973) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Skull Snaps 'Tresspassin''
from 'Skull Snaps' (1973) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Steely Dan 'Green Earring'
from 'Royal Scam' (1975) (MP3/CD)
Earth, Wind and Fire 'Runnin''
from 'All N All' (1977) (MP3/CD)
The Crusaders 'Merry-Go-Round'
from 'Images' (1978) (MP3/CD)
S.O.U.L. 'Burning Spear' and 'Soul'
from 'What Is It' (1971) (MP3 not available/Import CD)
Weather Report 'Non-Stop Home'
from 'Sweetnighter' (1973) (MP3/CD)
James Brown 'Lowdown Popcorn'
from 'Sex Machine' (1970) (MP3/CD)
Earth, Wind and Fire 'Power'
from 'Last Days and Time' (1971) (MP3/CD)
Babe Ruth 'The Mexican'
from 'First Base' (1972) (MP3/Import CD)

Related Post:
Five On It: November 2008's Essentials (Skull Snaps appearance)
Producer Profile: DJ Premier (Part 5, 1997) (O.C. appearance)
Rewind: Kanye West 'Graduation' (Part 1) (Steely Dan appearance)