Tuesday, April 22, 2008

This Old Record Is Quite Good

The German Top Five: The Champ (Intercord, 1969)
Alan Hawkshaw's 1968 belter The Champ is one of hip hop's most beloved records, having been sampled by De La Soul, Stetsasonic and a load of other absolute buggers. This version comes from the sort of cheap, exploitative, mass-market, knocked-out-in-a-day covers LP that used to be so maddeningly popular. And it's still bloody great. I mean, I love all those LPs now, but I hated them as a kid when what I wanted was the actual groups playing the actual songs. Anyway, I stole this version from here.

BTW, the "champ" pictured is Jeff Heenan of Arbroath, who was the World Pie Eating Champ in 1974. Oh yes.

9 comments:

BLTP said...

world pie eating champ that sounds like challenge to me!

James Franco said...

Justin Lee Collins in a previous life.

Mondo said...

He looks like Robert Plant (and aren't those Scotch pies? - surely that's cheating, not as much crust, you see). Amazing! We seem to be spookily in synch, I posted Amos Milburn's 'Chicken Shack', and Beastie Boys booty built around 'Beat Me Til I'm Blue' by Alan Hawky last week.

Also noticed in Word you'd been reading 'Sons of Superman and Batman' - Me too, (although found it a bit of a blooming struggle finish though)

BLTP said...

on the subject of pies and taking pictures of ya dinner, here's mine from yesterday highly recommended old skool pudding action!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bltpicons/2434366635/

Rob said...

bltp: i think you could give him a run for his money...
james: shall we start a rumour it's his dad?
pm: i just love the idea you can be the world champion of something while being in the pub with the munchies. simpler times... Couldn't finish Sons of Superman and Batman, tbh. But I feel I'll go back to it over the years! The Wonder Woman collection is excellent. Have you got this yet? It is THE greatest thing ever.
bltp: nice dinner! love the cabbage...

BLTP said...

I saw the music doc it looks good i was hoping it might end up bbc4 , re comics I got league of extraordinary gentlemen black dossier (with 3d glasses recently) it tops if you alan moore

Rob said...

I don't think that AYNILove will ever be on ver telly - certainly not on BBC4. It was made for ITV in the 70s and there seems to be some "discussion" about who really owns all the music clips (there are THOUSANDS)
it really is A-MZNG...

Mondo said...

Oh yeah, buzzing for that one - but all those lost clips. Criminal.

Will check out the WW collection

Comics though, I'm readin Stan Lee Meets The Marvel Universe(bit hit and miss), best reads of the last year are..

Marvel - Civil War, Planet Hulk and the Silver Surfer Showcase ( black and white collection of first 18 sh's)

DC - Identity Crisis, Green Lantern Rebirth..

Lumme, it's all gone 'comic shop bloke from Simpsons' hasn't it?

Rob said...

i'm reading the new re-coloured, bound edition of this :(