Description
Its one of those Why didnt we do this before-type compilations. Super Breaks has been a successful series for nearly 20 years and Aces relationship with Detroits Westbound Records goes back even further. Add the fact that on a per-record-released basis Westbound is probably the most sampled label ever, then weve probably missed a trick. But with Westbound celebrating its 50th anniversary, maybe there couldnt be a better time than now after all.
Meet Westbounds irrepressible owner Armen Boladian today and you can still sense the deal-making businessman who had made his way in the difficult world of independent record distribution before going on to open his own label. It was that streak of independence that created such a distinctive label one that could score a string of hits, yet also provide a home for the resolutely un-commercial ravings of George Clintons Funkadelic project.
It is of course Funkadelic who provided the impetus for Westbound recordings to become so sampled in the hip hop world, and we feature three prime moments on the compilation: I Wanna Know If Its Good To You?,You And Your Folks, Me And My Folks and the drum-laden Ill Bet You, as well as the Magictones cover of the groups Good Old Music, which George Clinton produced.
The other key creator of sample-able records was Junie Morrison, first in the Ohio Players and then with his solo recordings. His Suzie Thundertussy was recently sampled by Kanye West, whilst his keyboard line in Funky Worm has been used time and time again. The drums from Fuzzy Haskins The Fuz And Da Boog have also been sampled multiple times. The Detroit Emeralds hits proved fertile ground when Baby Let Me Take You (In My Arms) and Youre Gettin A Little Too Smart were used by De La Soul and their producer Prince Paul on their seminal album 3 Feet High And Rising
Listening to this compilation, what really strikes you is the variety of tracks that have been sampled: from the funky jazz of Caesar Frazier whose Funk It Down was sampled by Gang Starr on Next Girl To Ex-Girl to the sweet soul of the Fantastic Fours Mixed Up Moods And Attitudes. Perhaps most aptly of all was when DJs picked up on the Fantastic Fours Disco Pool Blues and sampled it on house records and mixes the song is all about club jocks searching for the perfect sound.
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