Sugarhill Gang (1979, Before Da Rap)

[DJ Jimmy M]

Was wondering if anyone out here was familiar with the Sugarhill Gang's original 1979 LP, had pulled it out tonight for the first time in a long time.. the one with the infamous "Rappers Delight". Its damn rare I know, but there are 3 tracks on it which are pure R&B/disco:

Here I Am (great ballad)
Bad News Dont Bother Me (great R&B track with a disco touch)

Passion Play (very close to id say a morning music type track..just awsome! Great funk bass and strings and soulful "disco" backing vocals)

A shame these guys went full rap..I think they coulda had a much better future for them if they stuck with the format of these 3 tracks. If only they'd release the original 1st LP on CD cause my record has kinda seen its day and has some pops in it :cry:

[Forrrce]

Firstly, the LP is on CD - as a whole album; plus all tracks are scattered across various Sugar Hill compilations (of which there are many, especially from the UK).

Secondly, the first Sugar Hill Gang LP is really a just Positive Force LP with guest rappers on few tracks. The first such LP of its kind! :lol:

'Passion Play' is great. Good disco potential for a slowie, as it gets progressively faster over its 4-odd minutes like no other mid-tempo song. 8)

[DJ Jimmy M]

WOW YOUR RIGHT :o It is avalible on CD..but on a UK import which seems to have been done in the past few years. Its quite pricey though here in the US getting it imported on amazon.com (only place I know to get imports). This is good news...something I will eventualy be getting :D

[DJ Jimmy M]

Oh just thought to ask one more question if anyone knows...was this the only Sugarhill LP with the R&B/Disco thing goin on? Or did the LP after this one have some "real" tracks on em (singing). If so id like to get hold of that too!

[riddergeert]

Came across this album last year and was suprised too by the tracks with real vocals! I expected some more rap like "Rapper's Delight" but was pleasantly surprised by the non-rap tracks, although I also like the rap ones.

[Forrrce]

Originally Posted by DJ Jimmy M

Oh just thought to ask one more question if anyone knows...was this the only Sugarhill LP with the R&B/Disco thing goin on? Or did the LP after this one have some "real" tracks on em (singing). If so id like to get hold of that too!

The follow-up ('8th Wonder') has a couple of OK funk jams on it, namely 'Funk Box' (on which they sing in harmony) and 'On The Money' - the original was done the previous year by Jimmy Simpson. His version is more disco, with syndrums and percussion (even though it's not particularly fast) and theirs is more stripped down, basic and centred on the funkier elements .

[DJ Jimmy M]

Ok thanks :) I will defenatly look into that one!