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Sugarhill Gang - CMRCD574 -

Released on 21 October 2002, this groundbreaking album by Big Bank Hank, Wonder Mike and Master Gee, collectively the Sugarhill Gang.

This was their original album which was massive for Sylvia Robinson and All Platinum. The full 14 minute version is here of course, which is worth hearing in it's full glory to pick up the full extent of it's lyrical virtuosity. I didn't realise for instance until listening to it again for the purposes of this, that it includes the word 'chill'. No real big deal about that and I'm certainly not a word scholar but it is a word that has become of major prominence over the last few years and this hails from 1979. You always find something new in there! The follow up 'Rapper's Reprise' also features.

The album is also by no means a rap album, featuring a smooth soul ballad for example in Bad News Don't Bother Me. It is competent enough as you would expect with the background and experience of Sylvia Robinson, but not particularly earth shattering. 'Here I am' is also a fine and better ballad.

Sugar Hill Groove is the funky disco beat of the time, again in it's full 9 minutes plus. This is actually much harder than Rapper's Delight in beats and less commercial in rhymes.

'Passion Play' I think is my favourite cut on the album, it's gently funky and quite mellow.

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