The New York Sound 2

by New York Sound 2 / Various

Overview

Like the first volume of the New York Sound series, this follow-up isn't quite disco, rap, or electronic dance music. Instead, it's a mixture of all of these, from the time between the late '70s and mid-'80s when these genres were developing and colliding, laying the foundation for what would become major trends in R&B and dance music in the late-20th century. It's not the easiest anthology to either classify or, unless you have pretty broad tastes, listen to with equal affection for each track. Still, it does excavate some pretty unheralded efforts in styles that haven't been paid much attention by historical-minded compilations, drawing entirely from the vaults of the Vanguard, Spring, and Posse labels. The most interesting of the ten tracks (all but one between five and ten minutes in length) are those that are clearly among the earlier rap recordings issued, particularly Fatback's 1979 B-side "King Tim III (Personality Jock)" and Millie Jackson's gleefully filthy 1980 single "I Had to Say It." Mr. Magic's 1982 release "Magic's Message (There Has to Be a Better Way)," on the other hand, is already showing the influence of other rap acts such as Grandmaster Flash. Rainbow Brown's 1981 single is closer to disco and not nearly as profane as Jackson, but does include the memorable line "my petals are open and waiting, wet with the dew of elation." Other cuts make heavier use of electronic riffs and beats, making them clear forerunners of later forms of club music, even as they exhibited stronger roots in the disco era than their descendants. Many of the songs themselves, however, are far less striking than the production, and even the production is sometimes on the formulaic side, as much as there could be said to be a formula for such young genres. Fans of Arthur Baker will want to note the inclusion of an early production of his on this CD, Ritz's 1982 single "I Wanna Get with You," though even the liner notes concede that "the track is a little unremarkable."

Product Details

Release Date:	08/07/2007
Label:	BGP (BEAT GOES PUBLIC)
UPC:	0029667518826
Rank:	39869

Tracks

1. King Tim III (Personality Jock)
2. I Had to Say It
3. I'm the One
4. No One Can Do It (Like You)
5. I Wanna Get with You
6. Heobah
7. Burn Me Up (With Your Love)
8. Mysterious
9. Magic's Message (There Has to Be a Better Way)
10. We Come to Jam

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Frisky   Primary Artist
Blaze   Primary Artist
Carol Williams   Primary Artist
Mr. Magic   Primary Artist
Fatback   Primary Artist
Millie Jackson   Primary Artist
Fonda Rae   Primary Artist
Twilight 22   Primary Artist
Rainbow Brown   Primary Artist
Ritz   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

James Skelton   Composer
Chris Menist   Liner Notes
Tina Baker   Composer
Patrick Adams   Composer
Fonda Rae   Composer
Maurice Starr   Composer
Glenn Dorsey   Composer
Bill Curtis   Composer
Barbara Norris   Composer
Joseph Saulter   Composer
Gordon Bahary   Composer
Thomas Cain   Composer
Brad Shapiro   Composer
Millie Jackson   Composer
Jesse Boyce   Composer
Nick Robbins   Mastering
Michael Jonzun   Composer