The Joy Of Analog Tape Edits

I'm sure you've noticed that lately I've been going through a lot of radio shows and posting up highlights from various broadcasts. If all goes according to plan, this will continue on a regular basis. Instead of posting 90 minute MP3s every day, however, I'd like to keep it more focused on the amazing bits-and-pieces that really stand out to me. Who's going to keep my blog window open for 90 minutes anyways... it's always a bitch when you accidentally navigate away from a window, momentarily forgetting it was open because you've been listening to something there for 45 minutes.

I've always been super fascinated by the people who mastered analog tape editing before the rise of the digital age. The number one duo that was simply killing the edits in NYC in the Eighties was the Latin Rascals, Albert Cabrera and Tony Moran.

Producers/DJs Albert Cabrera and Tony Moran -- collectively known as the Latin Rascals -- got their start as movers and shakers on the budding early-'80s New York City club scene, hosting an influential continuous-mix show on local dance radio. The duo went on to mastermind a number of Latin freestyle dance tracks, including work for TKA and the Cover Girls, among others.

Although this footage (below) is not of a Latin Rascals edit, this will give you an idea of how much work went into tape edits. See all that white tape? Those are all individual edits made manually with tape and a razor.

80s tape cuts played back on a ReVox B77, using Maxell tape, BASF PW 384 stickers -

I'd say my favorite moment from the Latin Rascals on record came in the form of the edits they did to K-Rob's I'm A Homeboy -

As for my favorite moment from the duo on the airwaves, I'd say it's their edit of Whodini's 5 Minutes of Funk. Here it is from a New Years 1985 broadcast. Unfortunately, it is incomplete. If I find a better quality version as I go through my collection, I'll be sure to post it!

Latin Rascals x Whodini - 5 Minutes of Funk (Edit!) -

Here's another piece of the New Years broadcast, featuring mixes of T La Rock It's Yours, Kurtis Blow AJ and Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde's AM /PM -

Latin Rascals - New Years 1985 -

I'll post more on the Latin Rascals in the future!

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Whodidit? Whodunnit? Whodini!

Whodini's debut album is about to drop on CD. I've had a listen to the master... they aren't lying when they say it's in flawless hi-fi stereo. I've never heard the album this clear. Here's the extended info on the upcoming re-release...

"I had no plans whatsoever to get into Rap. It happened accidentally, but it must have been meant to happen 'cause we did it so well." - Jalil of Whodini

In the pantheon of rap royalty that includes the likes of Run-DMC, The Beastie Boys and Public Enemy, Whodini is often mistakingly overlooked. Embodying the essence of a Hip Hop group, the trio simultaneously managed to appeal to a wide variety of music listeners and act as the poster children representing a new sound and attitude in urban music.

Now, their debut album is finally remastered and expanded for the digital age. Packaged in a mini paste-on style jacket replicating its original vinyl release, Whodini's self-titled debut includes the hits "The Haunted House of Rock," "Yours For A Night," "Rap Machine" and the Thomas Dolby (of "She Blinded Me With Science"fame) produced "Magic's Wand," all of which are dance floor classics, propelled by their synthesizer and drum machine heavy beats.

Whodini's origins trace all the way back to the beginning of the 1980s, centering around the Mr. Magic Rap Attack radio show. DJ Grandmaster Dee recalls, "Mr. Magic was rocking the radio every Thursday from 2 to 4 a.m. on WHBI. I was tuning in every Thursday and I would always give him a call. And I happened to meet Jalil, ’cause Jalil was answering phones back then, taking calls when I’d call in. Him and Ecs were working with Mr. Magic. One day he said come on down to the station cause they were promoting this tour with Sugar Hill at the Armory in Harlem. That’s when I met Jalil and them. I told them I was a DJ, they came to my house to see how my skills was and we hooked up from there."

Rapper Jalil also recalls how their association with the Rap Attack helped spawn the group and get their first album out. "Jive Records heard about Mr. Magic. He was the first DJ in the US playing Hip Hop on the radio. They wanted to get a jump in the market, so they contacted Magic about making a record. But he couldn’t. At that time, he was making a step up to WBLS and the FCC wouldn’t let him record and be on the radio. So they gave it to me. When we had put down the lyrics for 'Magic’s Wand' and it was agreed that this captured the whole atmosphere behind Mr. Magic, then we signed a one single deal just to do that record about him."

The success of "Magic's Wand" led to an album deal with Jive Records, and in 1983, Whodini's first LP hit the stores. They remained in good hands, as Mr. Magic would convince Hip Hop mogul Russell Simmons to manage the three-man crew. From there, success would continue. Whodini would go on to release a slew of hits throughout the rest of the decade, while playing alongside monster shows (including the original Fresh Fest concert series'), sharing the bill with acts like the Fat Boys, Kurtis Blow, and a circle of others who would also go on to become legends.

Who broke down barriers in the Rap world and helped usher the genre into a new level of success? Who had a chemistry and bond unparalleled by any rap group before or since? Whodidit? Whodunnit? Whodini!

Now, experience a groundbreaking album in flawless high-fi stereo sound like you've never heard it before.

The only question left now is, who doesn't want the Rap Machine A Capella?

Whodini- Rap Machine (A Capella) Snippet-

** Super Super Blast Blast Powwwww **

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Yo, Get My Posse... Get... My...

Had to post this! Look at Magic making sure he gets his camera time! Classic!

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Mr. Magic Week # 2 (Tuesday) - "When Magic Met Cavett"

The original Juice Crew had a secret weapon.  Her name was Starrlite Gentry.  One of the first big fans of the "Mr. Magic Disco Showcase", she taped countless WHBI and WBLS radio shows up until the end of the "Rap Attack's" run in 1989.  Though many of these tapes have unfortunately been lost forever in a fire, a precious amount of them still exist, and Fly Ty and Starrlite were kind enough to let me check them out.  Those tapes are the source of the poster that came with the Down The Dial deluxe edition, seen below.  Without her archiving, some of these shows could've been lost forever, never to be heard again.

Here she is requesting Whodini's "Yours For A Night" during the February 17, 1984 show.

One of my random side notes... Starrlite would appear on Street Sounds Hip Hop 18 compilation as the female emcee on Jazzy Keith's "Force Desire," which was also a 12" single on Profile Records.

One of the many gems in Starrlite's collection was a cassette to TV recording of Mr. Magic and Divine Sounds' appearance on the Dick Cavett Morning Show.  As wikipedia has elegantly explained to me, and I quote:

"Richard Alva 'Dick' Cavett is an American former television talk show host known for his conversational style and in-depth discussion of issues.  Cavett appeared on a regular basis on nationally-broadcast television in the United States in five consecutive decades, the 1960s through the 2000s, a feat matched only by Johnny carson."

More importantly, I'm pretty sure he's the guy interviewing John Lennon in Forrest Gump.

I'm going to split this Cavett morning special into two posts, starting with todays interview with Mr. Magic.  I'll save Divine Sounds performance and Cavett's introduction to break dancing for tomorrow.  

I really like this interview.  Magic is well spoken about the hip hop scene, and Cavett provides some one liners that show just how new the genre was to those who weren't at all involved in it. What's with Magic stumbling over the words to "Magic's Wand" though?  These things happen.

Mr. Magic Interview with Dick Cavett (From April 20th, 1984 Tape)

I'm not sure if that's the exact date of this morning show...

Sorry about the loud baby crying at one point.  That's why I figured it was a TV to cassette tape recording.

Meanwhile, I am extremely tired, so I gotta cut this rant short.  A lot of this dialogue from the interview I sampled on the outro to Down The Dial, "Super Blast."  My man Nostalgic came through on that beat.  Check it out below.

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