Who samples who
The only superstar performer disco ever produced, Summer has a good voice and substantial songwriting talent, but her great gift is acting: she projected a hedonistic sexual image so effectively she became the poster child for 70’s excess. Born in Boston, Donna Summer moved to Germany and appeared in musicals including Hair and Godspell. After [...]
In the late ’70s, when Motown was not doing so well, Rick James came along and rescued the company. “You and I” and “Mary Jane“, both on James’ debut album, Come and Get It! (Jun 1978) were huge pop hits. After the less succesfull Bustin’ Out of L Seven , James returned to [...]
Making a list of all James Brown samples ever used would be virtually impossible, but here we focus on just one, probably the most sampled drum loop of all times: “Funky Drummer”, recorded in 1969. The drums were played by Clyde Stubblefield. I don’t expect this list to be complete.
“Funky Drummer”
2 Live Crew: Coolin’
808 State: [...]
Led by vocalist Eugene Record, the Chi-Lites had a lush, creamy sound distinguished by their four-part harmonies and layered productions. During the early ’70s, they racked up 11 Top Ten R&B singles, ranging from the romantic ballads “Have You Seen Her” and “Oh Girl” to protest songs like “(For God’s Sake) Give More Power to [...]
Stewart Copeland and Sting (b. Gordon Sumner) formed the Police in 1977. Released in the fall of 1978, Outlandos D’Amour began a slow climb into the British Top 10 and American Top 30. Preceded by the number one British single “Message in a Bottle,” Regatta de Blanc (fall 1979) established the group as stars in [...]
Jean-Marc Cerrone was one of the most influential disco producers in Europe during the 1970s and early ’80s, eclipsed only by Giorgio Moroder. He released his first solo album, Love in C-Minor, in 1976. The title track proved a massive European hit and worked its way into the American Top 40 as well. A lot [...]
Walter Becker (bass) and Donald Fagen (vocals, keyboards) officially formed Steely Dan in 1972, releasing their debut Can’t Buy A Thrill shortly afterward, with 2 hit singles “Do It Again” and “Reeling in the Years”. Released in the spring of 1974, Pretzel Logic returned Steely Dan to the Top 10 on the strength of the [...]
R&B singer Chaka Khan enjoyed solo success as well as popularity as a member of the group Rufus. Her pop career was on shaky ground when she released 1984’s I Feel for You, a platinum-seller launched by its title cut, a Grammy-winning, rap-inspired rendition of a fairly obscure Prince album track.
“I’m Every Woman“
Whitney Houston: I’m [...]
Shalamar’s string of poppy dance-soul hits began in 1979 with “Take That to the Bank”; later that year, “The Second Time Around” hit the Top Ten. Throughout the early ’80s the group were favorites on the U.S. R&B scene, as well as scoring a number of British hit singles. Jody Watley left the group in [...]
Chic’s sound was anchored by the scratchy, James Brown-style rhythm guitar of Nile Rodgers and the indelible, widely imitated (sometimes outright stolen) bass lines of Bernard Edwards. Chic’s distinctive approach not only resulted in some of the finest dance singles of their time, but also helped create a template for urban funk, dance-pop, and even [...]
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