Sampled Part 3..... by Shaun Dangerfield

This one's quite a heavy one and one of my all time favourites, although not directly they are all linked via samples.
As I've said before my growing up from a young boy I was into original breaks, funk, Soul, 50's R&B and all those great breaks and vocals and instrumentals that made music to me so vibrant and full of heart and soul.
So I started collecting 45's purely in the beginning to have the records but eventually it started running deeper and you end up buying records that have been sampled so you search them out and then onto finding new breaks for yourself and going my own way with it and this was always deep rooted in me, I love so much different music but like I said this was what I grew up doing.
A record I secured for a decent wedge back then was Marva Whitney "Unwind Yourself" a stone wall classic on Cincinnati's King records from 1968 and I still have it (like all my 45's) although it has seen better days from overuse and scratching.
I have lost count on just how many different records this has been sampled on and to be quite honest I don't think we would ever truly know because I imagine it's in numerous hip hop tracks that I've never heard.
Now the direct links for me go straight to the 45 King "The 900 Number". The 45 King Mark James from New Jersey who got his nickname from taking various original 45 breaks and reworking them into fresh break beats hit highs with his 900 number in 1987.
After this there was another record out in 1990 that heavily sampled both Marva and The 45 King from Chad Jackson with his breakbeat track "Hear The Drummer Get Wicked" on Big Wave records.
Beats International also sampled Marva in 1990 with the track "Tribute To King Tubby" which was always a bit cheesy for me but I suppose should be put in there.

Marva
45 king Chad Jackson

Biiiigggggggggg deep breath and back to it (if your still interested of course).

As mentioned above/before on the blog and hitting back on the breaks/funk/soul in the late 90's I had my attention drawn to a live Orchestra from L.A in the form of Breakestra.
Breakestra are a live band who play funk/soul/breaks covers but they do it in a way where they make a live album seamless, so it's like listening to a mix except it's all live and instrumental, when I first heard them it simply blew me away at how talented they were but it was the second album from 2001 that made me stand up, listening to all the famous breaks and riffs from endless records from over the years well I was in my element, The Live Mix Part 2 covered James Browns "Funky Drummer", Tony Alvon's "Sexy Coffee Pot", Mohawks "Champ" and S.O.U.L's "Burning Spear" to name a few but the track that samples Marva Whitney's "Unwind Yourself" is a direct cover of another vintage break which is All The People "Cramp Your Style" from 1972 on Blue Candle records
I've used them in numerous old mixes and I never tire of playing them.

If you listen to Breakestra "Cramp Your Style" first then you'll hear the Marva sample right at the start before the cover of All The People, both of which are below, and if your still reading enjoy these because they are quite simply two examples of the finest breaks in history.


Breakestra All The People

Colimbo Hunting Goods Burlington Flats Jacket / Folk Tri Button...By Saul Wilks

I wasn't being entirely honest when I said I couldn't pick a favourite from these latest buys, although all top draw in their own way, the Colimbo Hunting Goods jacket was the one I was really looking forward to receiving and it hasn't disappointed - it's ridiculously cool.

Without trying to sound like I've just taken a dose of one-up-manship to the head, it's a good feeling knowing that the likelihood of ever bumping into someone else wearing this jacket is practically zero - in fact I'd probably go as far as saying that this might possibly be one of the only ones in the country, if not the only one... maybe... and that's nice to know.

I first clocked onto Colimbo while doing the web rounds, hopelessly trying to navigate my way around various Japanese sites and it struck me as being exceptionally well made with a degree of detail that is scantly seen. 

When I first saw the Burlington Flats wind jacket, as it's affectionately known, my mouth nearly hit the desk. The beauty is in the simplicity, the colour is as near to perfect as I think is humanely possible and the quality is unbelievable - I knew I had to have it.

I think it's best when I leave the photos do the talking, one can often be seen as waffling needlessly on about the virtues of different items of clothing all over the internet and I've been as guilty as any of that in the past, so without further ado I'll hand you over to Mr Canon Eos and he'll fill you in on the details...

Oh, there's a lovely Folk shirt in there somewhere as well.

 

Owner Operator X The Hillside Camo Smock...By Saul Wilks

Owner Operator is a name that I'd only ever heard about from a friend who's heavily into Snowboarding. Essentially that's who Owner Operator was created for and by, two passionate and forward thinking friends from the snowboarding fraternity. Made exclusively in New York, this gear is designed to combat the toughest elements while staying functional and comfortable for the wearer.

I've never bothered with camo print stuff before but I thought this limited edition collaboration between the Hill Side and O.O. was really ace. I think it works perfectly in the urban jungle just as well as it would do in the real jungle, the colours of the camo made the perfect compliment to the local area's decay.

When I originally bought this I was under the misconception that this was going to be a pac-a-mack kind of job, but I was pretty wide of the mark as this is in fact lined, with a thick overall construction making it perfect for the current climate that we're still labouring under here in the UK. The versatility of the garment is displayed right there in that very quality - I had no idea it was going to be as cosy as it is and originally intended it to accompany me to whatever festivals I decide on this year.

The details are probably too many to name in print, so I've instead tried to grab the best parts with my camera. This will no doubt be another one of those that you'll either love or hate but for me it's a no brain winner.

Quality stuff from the U.S. as always.

Rancourt & Co Suede Boot...By Saul Wilks

Red Suede boots are probably not everyone's cup of cha when it comes to footwear, but when I seen these Rancourt's I knew I had to have a pair. I've had stick before for wearing a pair of red Superga, so god only knows what the general populous will think when they see me striding around in these beauties.

Larking around aside, I think these are killer make no two way's about it - although a thorough going over with the suede protector will be an absolute must. I had to wait too long for these just for me to go and bollocks them up in a minging club somewhere.

It's no surprise that Rancourt Co herald from the shores of Maine, along with other footwear favourites Quoddy, with this particular model being a limited edition exclusively for Hickorees which is a nice touch indeed.

I can't stress enough how beautiful these shoes are and how instantly comfy they were when I wore them out for the first time earlier to grab some candid action shots of them in all their glory. It softens the blow of having to fork out astronomical import tax amounts when something as good as these are the prize.

I'll leave you with some photos but to be honest I could have filled the whole page with shots of these as they're that nice to look at, touch, photograph and of course wear.

Hat's off to Rancourt, they sure know how to make an ace pair of shoes!

Some State Side Goodness from Hickorees...By Saul Wilks

The proverbial kid at Christmas time sketch doesn't quite cut the mustard for how excited I've been to receive this parcel. Having completed check out almost 5 weeks ago and having to go through the painful import tax business that is quite frankly grotesque for the wallet, I finally picked this up today from the chaps over in Brooklyn at the ever superb Hickorees.

5 weeks seems like a life time when you're expectantly awaiting the fruits of your labour, but because the footwear included in the order had to be made and the process takes up to 3 weeks to complete, the delay was unavoidable - needless to say, they were the worth the wait.

I've taken so many photographs today as there's that much goodness in terms of details to capture and share that I've decided to break things down into a couple of posts as each purchase deserves it's own little piece of glory.

I can't honestly pick a favourite piece out of my latest catch of spoils, suffice to say I'm more than made up with all of it and to make things perfect every item fits bang on, which is just as well as a return to New York would surely be a tad costly and time consuming.

In the meantime I'll leave you with a little taster of the things to come!

80 Blocks from Tiffany's...By Saul Wilks

I've always had a vested interest in NYC culture, from the different music scenes that have originated there right through to the origins of the city and how much it has changed over time. NYC holds a raw glint about it, after all, it's where disco, punk and hip hop were all born and street culture has always fascinated me. Perhaps there's a hidden sociologist in me, but I've always been interested with the story of NY, from the Bowery to the South Bronx, from Harlem to Brooklyn - it fascinates me and I'm relishing my first visit later this year.

Gang culture has always played a big part in inner-urban society and NYC is no different. During the 60s, 70's and 80's the predominantly Black and Latino neighbourhoods of the city held numerous street gangs that were later camped up in the cult classic 'The Warriors'. These street gangs were pretty much as bad as they came, formed of the toughest of tough ghetto kids who were lawless, but they held a certain charm that was sometimes lost in their misdemeanour's and it was a way of life that was unknown to those who were fortunate enough not to come from the most deprived areas.

in 1979, Gary Weis took a film crew into the South Bronx to capture everyday life in the poverty of one of the worse slums that the city had to offer and followed around two of the main gangs of the time - the Savage Skulls and the Savage Nomads. The resulting documentary was 80 Blocks from Tiffany' and was originally shelved before a brief release in 1983.

Deemed too raw for the time, the documentary was moth balled and with it the untold and unknown story of NYC's street gang culture was lost, becoming a holy grail for enthusiasts to track down with the original VHS changing hands for hundreds of dollars. Thankfully, the documentary was resurrected a few years ago having been kept in the archives of NBC for 4 decades and is now widely available and celebrated as an important corner piece in the birth of hip hop culture and NYC heritage.

I remember seeing this a couple of years back and being blown away but recently at a party somebody had the DVD with them and I watched it again. Having tracked down a copy since, I found that the full un-cut version was also on youtube, so it's now here for you to check out at your will.

If you're reading this then I can't stress enough how much you need to check this out; no if's, no but's, just watch it - it's arguably one of the most interesting and important film documentations of youth culture that exists.

I'll leave you with the full documentary along with my favourite quote...

'See no evil, hear no evil man, that's the most righteous women you could ever have...cos then that's the kind of women that'll stick by you, she don't need them all wedding bells and big fancy cakes and weepy poems and all that wise shit...Just a little lovin, you know, and eh a preacher there and a little rice and some herb and a beer man, and boogie all night man, that's it....'

New Balance x Offspring 576 tweed.... by Shaun Dangerfield

Finally picked these up by pure chance on a forum classifieds.
576 tweed pack in a limited edition run in collaboration with Offspring.
I can't remember how many years back it has been since the release but it's been a few, maybe 10 ?
Who know's, made up though.
1 of 60 pairs.

SnowSnapshot......

Trickers Factory Tour..... by Shaun Dangerfield

Superdenim added this little photo journal of the Trickers factory on Facebook yesterday.
I love stuff like this and lapped it up but for those of you who missed it I thought I'd share the photos.....