Skull Snaps [Extra tracks, Import, Original recording remastered]

Skull Snaps | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 12, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks, Import, Original recording remastered
• Label: Aztec
• ASIN: B000CCD4LI
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #366,961 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. My Hang Up Is You

2. Having You Around

3. Didn’T I Do It To You

4. All Of A Sudden

5. It’S A New Day

6. I’M Your Pimp

7. I Turn My Back On Love

8. Trespassing

9. I’M Falling Out Of Love

10. Al’S Razor Blade (Bonus Track)

11. Ain’T That Loving You (Bonus Track)

Editorial Reviews

Funk classic! Now if you check my pulse it beats Skull Snaps." - Beastie Boys "Unite". Skull Snaps is a legendary funk album that has long been shrouded in obscurity. The band recorded their self-titled debut and a handful of singles in 1973, and then vanished without a trace. The monstrous break that opens up their classic cut, It's A New Day, furnished the beat for countless hip-hop hits of the mid-'90s & the most sampled break in music history. Packaged in a 6-panel digipak, This deluxe version has been digitally remastered, with extensive liner notes containing new interviews and rare photos, and contains 2 bonus tracks 'Now if you check my pulse it beats Skull Snap' and 'Unite' Aztec Music. 2005.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars underground to the fullest, January 25, 2006

By 

Adam P Boots (Valley Village, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Skull Snaps (Audio CD)

This is an obscure CD reissue of an extremely obscure CD/LP that came out in the 70's from European funk Group, The Skull Snaps.

For those of you who don't know, this album is insanely good funk (my favorite track is still "I'm Your Pimp"), but not only is it insanely good, it's also insanely often sampled. The intro drum beat to one of the songs is basically the "Hip Hop 101" drum break stolen for probably about 10 tracks that you "know and love".

Strictly aside from the "hip hop" aspect, this is kind of an "underground" version of Curtis Mayfield or something similar. At times it's got a "blaxploitation" feel to it, but it's always funky and all the songs on it are just good. If you like soul/funk/R&B from the 70's, this should be in your collection.

I'm with the Beasties. My heart beats Skull Snaps.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great and varied soul rarity., October 17, 2009

By 

Matthew Mcclellan - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Skull Snaps (Audio CD)

I see that this LP hasn't pleased everybody, but I find it pretty hard to believe anyone could drop a single star on this. It's one of my favorites among my 3000 soul lp's. I wouldn't say that it has the best of anything, but it is strong at everything it attempts. The slow ballads are good, the midtempo ballads, midtempo funk, uptempo soul ("My Hang Up Is You" and "I'm Your Pimp" are great northern soul cuts). "All of a Sudden" is a monster with a great arrangement, energy, and b-boy appeal.

If you come to the album from the point of the sample-head like many do, you'll find that "It's A New Day" with its famous drums is not one of the better tracks, but is still good. They have the best version of "Trespassin'" and it and "I Turned My Back On Love" are both funky sample-laden cuts. "Falling Out of Love" and "Didn't I Do It To You" are soulful, dreamy, funky, and tasteful midtempo pieces. It's all held together by the vocals and professional sound with string, horns, guitar, and slick drumming throughout. Top it off with the proto-Metal cover art.Don't hesitate although it's best to get the reissue before dropping big dough on an expensive vinyl original.

5.0 out of 5 stars absolutely essential piece of music history, December 17, 2007

By 

S. Scheps "Mr. Scheps" (Old Bridge, NJ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Skull Snaps (Audio CD)

Skull Snaps were one of the hardest hitting funk groups to emerge out of the nyc scene in the early 70s. Featuring 2/3 (Erv & Samm) of the legendary 60s soul group The Diplomats (yes they were the original Dipset) plus drummer George Bragg, Skull Snaps were one of the baddest funk trios ever. And yes, they are probably best remembered as the group who provided the beat for numerous hip-hop hits over the past two decades, with the opening drum break on the track "It's a New Day," but that's only the tip of how deep these guys are. With original copies of the vinyl regularly fetching 300+ their lone album is highly regarded among collectors as well as soul/funk/groove fans worldwide. They recently regrouped to play shows in the U.K., Japan and NYC. It's about time they get the respect they deserve here in the states. This reissue is very nicely done too, featuring interviews, photos and two banging bonus tracks, which previously were heard only to the most serious collectors. Cop it while it's still in print, you won't regret it.