Skull Snaps. Do they fit into Disco?

[Tim Tam]

Hi All,

I was reading in a newspaper music review that the Skull Snaps 1973 album was being released on CD. I had never heard of them but the review claimed that this was an important album as Hip-Hop artists often used the album to sample beats. I forgot about it until yesterday when I was browsing through the local Superstore's bargain bin (Dick Smith's for Australian readers) and saw the CD at the princely sum of two dollars. I took a chance, bought it and I have to say was pleasantly surprised.

Most of the album is classic early seventies R&B vocal group stuff with string and horn backing and pretty danceable too. Has anyone here heard of them and if you have would you classify them as early disco?

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Cheers,
Tim Tam

[Disco Funk]

I've been a fan of Skull Snaps since the early 90s when I discovered that a hip hop beat that I liked on many of the rap tracks of that era were taken from 'It's A New Day' by Skull Snaps. They are pure soul funk. I definitely would not classify them as disco, even if their tracks had strings and the occasional harp. Their producer for that album, George Kerr, produced the Whatnauts early 70s album, who were a vocal group on the Stang label. He used the same production style - uptempo beats and strings, but they weren't disco-y in any sense. More funk if anything, with syncopated kick drum hits, not like anything like the four on the floor drum style prevalent in disco music.

The tracks 'I'm Your Pimp' and 'My Hang Up Is You' are considered examples of Northern Soul, but there are also disco tracks that are also considered Northern Soul, so perhaps there is an indirect relationship between their cuts and disco.

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Disco Funk

[Tim Tam]

Thanks Disco-Funk for your reply.

When I first posted about this I had only quickly skimmed the tracks but when I actually sat down and had a proper listen I felt a bit stupid because quite clearly it is Funk and doesn't really have a Disco feel at all. I think I was just so pleased that the CD turned out to be a good purchase that I wanted an excuse to talk about it.:D And seeing the prices of the CD at Amazon it was a definitely a bargain.

Cheers,
Tim Tam