Customer Reviews

Skull Snaps

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I had pretty high expectations for this record going in based on what I'd read. Sometimes, well, often, people tend to romanticize these so-called lost recordings. Most of them end up nothing better than was was never lost. This album is pretty bland, straightforward early '70s funk. While it's not bad, I'll probably never listen to it again because I could name at least 200-300 funk/soul CDs that are better than this one. If you want a real lost classic with an original sound, look up Fugi's "Mary Don't Take Me on No Bad Trip," from the late 1960s.

For soul/sweet soul record collectors, the numbers reach new heights when the venue of 45 record collecting is entered, "strong knees" and deep enough pockets are two tools of the trade! In many cases one ballad was all a group was able to bring forth. This is stated because sweet soul record collectors were faced with rare 45 record pricing when seeking to secure the killer ballad "Love Having You Around" on this lp, while chasing long before (early 80s) the reissues emerged in the 1990s. Yes ideed, true as stated (the funk aspect) in the reviews of this reissue however, sweet soul collectors harbor original copies in their collections as a result of purchasing to obtain the ballad. Funk and sweet soul collectors chased this lp! When sweet soul collectors move forward to the acquisition of 45s, with increased price tags, the decision had been made to acquire even rarer, despite the numbers. Price for a rare 45 or price of a rare lp to otain the one song? Prices still are up! This reissue cd of, as stated, "an extremely obscure CD/LP", has on it an extremely rare, killer ballad. For sweet soul collectors, to obtain the ballad, is the cost of the entire cd, which harbors no other killer ballads, it's tantamount to "45 record buying". For the writer, who owns a mint original album, to obtain "Love Having You Around" digitally remastered on cd? It was Buy Time! An extremely rare album, as usual, limited numbers. A soul/funk music collection of depth?

SKULL SNAPS
This $18 piece of NEAR DISCO is not what you're looking for, if you like FUNK POWER or the METERS. No hooks, no attitude... the crooks claiming this is HARD FUNK are comparing it to Disco Funk. Earth Wind And Fire, maybe, but I don't call that "hard funk," so sue me. This is one of those bands that should and will stay obscure for a reason. Has a lot in common with Ripple, who sucks, and I will also review. One decent song... that's pathetic, Kelly Clarkson has more good songs than that. Buy the METERS or FUNK POWER. If it's soul you're looking for, buy YOUNG GIFTED AND BLACK, OTIS REDDING, STILL IN LOVE WITH YOU, DONNY HATHAWAY or HOT BUTTERED SOUL. Don't waste your money on this.