‘3 Feet High & Rising’ was released at the beginning of 1989, it was De La Soul’s debut album, and it’s an absolute blinder. Despite a sometimes reedy production, the style and tunes sound as fresh today as they did back then. It’s known as one of the landmark albums of sampling, Prince Paul behind the desk getting away with murder in a time before harsh copyright rules stifled the magpie creativity that would reach breaking point months later with Beastie Boy’s ‘Paul’s Boutique’.

There have been hundreds of good records that are built around a hook pinched from something else, but this album in particular shows you how to do it with daring, skill and deftness. Listening to a select collection of the originals shows how wide they cast their net, and demonstrates that it’s easy to pinch a beat from an old funk record, but maybe you could try a little harder. Johnny Cash, Yacht-rockers Hall & Oates, cerebral pop masters Steely Dan and a kids record teaching multiplication all chucked into the blender to come out with a hip-hop masterpiece. After listening to this compilation, dig out the actual album and enjoy the melting pot.

Grab the Pet Sounds playlist HERE and check the past playlists HERE.

Happy New Year!! Charlie x

01 Five Feet High And Rising – Johnny Cash [The Magic Number]
02 School Boy Crush – Average White Band [D.A.I.S.Y. Age]
03 Funk You Up – The Sequence [This Is a Recording 4 Living in a Fulltime Era (L.I.F.E.]
04 I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do) – Hall & Oates [Say No Go]
05 Best Of My Love – The Emotions [Say No Go]
06 Funky Worm – Ohio Players [Me, Myself & I]
07 (Not Just) Knee Deep – Funkadelic [Me, Myself & I]
08 Girl, I Think The World About You – Commodores [Buddy]
09 Three Is A Magic Number – Bob Dorough [The Magic Number]
10 Sing A Simple Song – Sly & The Family Stone [Eye Know]
11 (Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay – Otis Redding [Eye Know]
12 Make This Young Lady Mine – The Mad Lads [Eye Know]
13 A Little Bit Of Soap – The Jarmels [A Little Bit Of Soap]
14 Peg – Steely Dan [Eye Know]
15 You Showed Me – The Turtles [Transmitting Live From Mars]

Pet Sounds is back on at the One-Eyed Dog this evening from 8pm. Playing the usual eclectic mix from Marvin Gaye to Mantronix. Occasional guests and regular good times, come and get over your new year blues with some ace tunes. Selected 4-pint jugs are just £9