Rewind: Scarface 'Mr. Scarface is Back' (Part 1)

Following success with Houston's Geto Boys in the late 80s, Scarface recorded his debut solo album in 1991. This two arc post will cover the samples sources for Scarface's album 'Mr. Scarface is Back'.

The album's opening track and first single is 'Mr. Scarface' which samples the b-side of Tony Alvon and the Belairs single titled 'Sexy Coffee Pot' which has since become a notable hip-hop break. On 'The Pimp', Scarface samples James Brown's 'The Sporting Life' from the 'Black Caesar' soundtrack. The album cut 'Born Killer' samples 'Buck and the Preacher' by the Nite-Liters from their 1972 album 'Different Strokes' as well as James Brown's often sampled breakbeat 'Funky Drummer' and the Commodores' 'Assembly Line'. Finally, 'Your A-- Got Took' samples Sly and the Family Stone's 'Sing a Simple Song', War's 'Four Corner Room', and 'Down on the Avenue' by Fat Larry's Band.

Check back for the second half of our look at 'Mr. Scarface is Back'.

The Lowdown:
Scarface 'Mr. Scarface', 'The Pimp', 'Born Killer', and 'Your A-- Got Took'
from 'Mr. Scarface is Back' (1991) (MP3/CD)
Tony Alvon and the Belairs 'Sexy Coffee Pot'
from 'Boom-Boom-Boom' 7" (1969) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
James Brown 'The Sporting Place'
from 'Black Caesar' (1973) (MP3/CD)
Nite-Liters 'Buck and the Preacher'
from 'Different Strokes' (1972) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
James Brown 'Funky Drummer'
from 'Funky Drummer' 7" (1970) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Commodores 'Assembly Line'
from 'Machine Gun' (1974) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Sly and the Family Stone 'Sing a Simple Song'
from 'Stand!' (1969) (MP3/CD)
War 'Four Corner Room'
from 'The World is a Ghetto' (1972) (MP3 not available/CD)
Fat Larry's Band 'Down on the Avenue'
from 'Feel It' (1977) (MP3 not available/CD)

Related Posts:
Rewind: Geto Boys 'We Can't Be Stopped'

Rewind: Portishead 'Dummy'

On August 22, 1994, one of trip-hop's most genre-defining albums was released: Portishead's 'Dummy'. The trio is comprised of icy, torch-song vocalist Beth Gibbons, guitarist Adrian Utley, and producer Geoff Barrow (who had previously worked with the Wild Bunch collective and trip-hop peers Massive Attack). Following a self-produced short film titled 'To Kill a Dead Man', Portishead was signed and 'Dummy' was released.

One of Portishead's most pronounced influences and most sampled artists is the recently deceased Isaac Hayes (rest in peace). Portishead's smash single 'Glory Box' features a slinking string sample from Hayes' 'Ike's Rap II' from his double album 'Black Moses'. Additionally, Portishead's 'Wandering Star' samples another track from 'Black Moses', the excellent 'Going in Circles'. 'Wandering Star' also samples the song 'Magic Mountain' by Eric Burdon and War. The album cut 'Strangers' takes it's gloom from 'Elegant People', a track from Weather Report's 1976 album 'Black Market'.

Portishead followed with a self-titled album in 1997 and their third album (titled 'Third') in 2008. Though their sound has moved away from sample usage, it remains their signature style.

The Lowdown:
Portishead 'Glory Box', 'Wandering Star', and 'Strangers'
from 'Dummy' (1994) (MP3/CD)
Isaac Hayes 'Ike's Rap II / Help Me Love' and 'Going in Circles'
from 'Black Moses' (1973) (MP3/CD)
Eric Burdon and War 'Magic Mountain'
from 'Love is All Around' (1975) (MP3/CD)
Weather Report 'Elegant People'
from 'Black Market' (1976) (MP3/CD)