Sample Series Love Play / Who? Edits

Passion Play by The Sugarhill Gang b/w Who Is She (And What Is She to You) by Madeline | Galaxy Sound Co. — GSC35039, Number 39 delivers 2 sweet soulful remastered edits for all the real heads out there.

Side A’s “Passion Play” by The is taken from the Englewood, NJ disco/R&B/hip-hop band’s self-titled 1980 LP The 3 were assembled into a group by producer Sylvia Robinson, who founded Sugar Hill Records with her husband, record producer Joe Robinson. The song features background vocals of funk/soul band Positive Force. Unlike some of the best songs by The Sugarhill Gang, “Passion Play” failed to make it to the charts. However, its impact on the music scene is immense seeing multiple artists sample it, especially the bassline. Some of the songs that have sampled “Passion Play” include “Devil’s Shoestring” by Metal Fingers, “We Can” by Kerri Chandler, “Lower the Boom” by The Treacherous Three, “We’re Ready” by Dominant Force, “Havin’ Fun” by Large Professor, & “No/Yes” by Queen Latifah.

Side B’s “Who Is She (And What Is She to You)” is taken from Madelaine’s sole 1978 album “Who Is She” (Chi Sound Records – CH-LA863H). It is a soul-jazz cover of the classic Bill Withers track & this version has been sampled and reintroduced to a new audience by a variety of hip hop artists, most notably by Mos Def (“Life Is Real”, 2004) & Timbaland & Justin Timberlake (“Carry Out”, 2009). The track hits with a strong Chicago soul pedigree – thanks to arrangements from Johnny Pate & production from the great Carl Davis. In anyone else's hands Madelaine might sound more like an adult contemporary singer – but Pate's grooves & Davis' polish really swing things into all the right territory – similar to the same sophisticated soul vibe of Carl's own Chi-Soul projects