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De La Soul’s Legacy Is Trapped in Digital Limbo

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Re: De La Soul’s Legacy Is Trapped in Digital Limbo

#31
post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wow! Have you written about this experience in the past? I'm sure a lot of people would be fascinated to hear what engineering that project was like. I'll start: 1. Was it SP1200s or S900s that were used? 2. How did a typical composition come to be? 3. How did all the horseplay come into being an integral part of the album? Did the quiz show thing just happen, or was it planned from the start?

First I should caution this was obviously a long time ago, and my memory could be suspect. I did maybe 4 sessions, lasting several (6-10) hours each, starting late and extending to morning. These were among maybe 500 sessions I did with various artists during the years 1987-1990 at that studio and others. I recall they had their own (rather beat-up looking) AKAI S900 sampler ( http://www.vintagesynth.com/akai/s900.ph…

You just being able to type the words "it could have been me, someone in the group, or Prince Paul" absolutely blows my mind.

It was me ... or Prince Paul.

Incredible story, man. Really enjoyed reading this :)

Re: De La Soul’s Legacy Is Trapped in Digital Limbo

#32

I worked on 3 feet high and rising as a sound engineer. They were a total riot, I had absolutely no clue they would go on to such renown. All the records they sampled had their labels blacked out with marker. I freaked them out a bit by recognizing Hall and Oates and Steely Dan samples. I don't know anything about the clearance problems, but it's true that this was one of the first records that used samples so extens…

Maybe you can shed some light on who plays (or what sample is) the sax "solo" in "ring ring ring".. nothing on the web, nothing on the booklet; not the same album, but maybe you heard things ...

[deleted]

Re: De La Soul’s Legacy Is Trapped in Digital Limbo

#33
post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe you can shed some light on who plays (or what sample is) the sax "solo" in "ring ring ring".. nothing on the web, nothing on the booklet; not the same album, but maybe you heard things ...

Fat Larry's Band - Act Like You Know

I'm pretty sure it isn't this.

Re: De La Soul’s Legacy Is Trapped in Digital Limbo

#34

It sounds incredibly strange that you can license samples of your music to be used in other artists' works - but only in specific media. "Yeah, it's fine, you can use 5 seconds of my song, but only if you sell your song on vinyl, CD or audiotape."

Is it that or are they saying that because the original license was written before this new form of distribution existed, you don't have a license for it?

Either way, the music industry needs to die and then be reborn in several years when the existing players are all out of business.

Re: De La Soul’s Legacy Is Trapped in Digital Limbo

#35
post #8

Funny how you never forget when a band blows you off. Even so many years ago. I just started working with the Umass student group that put on concerts on campus (UPC). I did stage crew and security. The 1991 spring concert was the big one, an all day affair, with a purchased stage students put together. Del La Soul didn't show. Bob Dylan showed (Mr. Dylan as he liked to be called), had to go on early. He was not to h…

According to the below article, in the late 80s, De La opened for Bob Dylan in Amherst, MA (Pretty sure the date is wrong and it's referring to the show you speak of, as I have trouble believing DLS opened for Dylan as early as '89). Anyway, the article suggests the reason they were a no show was because they had some, ahem, car troubles along the way. It's possible this story isn't true; if it was, I guess you would have known at the time:

http://every-day-i-write-the-blog.blogspot.com/2011/05/bob-d...

Re: De La Soul’s Legacy Is Trapped in Digital Limbo

#36

It sounds incredibly strange that you can license samples of your music to be used in other artists' works - but only in specific media. "Yeah, it's fine, you can use 5 seconds of my song, but only if you sell your song on vinyl, CD or audiotape."

Is it that or are they saying that because the original license was written before this new form of distribution existed, you don't have a license for it? Either way, the music industry needs to die and then be reborn in several years when the existing players are all out of business.

It's not like the copyright provisions would be any better if they were written today. The only reason we have a public domain, time limited copyright, or even public library system today is because they're grandfathered in from a time before our current copyright maximalism.

You would kill off the current players only to find yourself trapped by an even worse set of overlords.

Re: De La Soul’s Legacy Is Trapped in Digital Limbo

#37
post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe you can shed some light on who plays (or what sample is) the sax "solo" in "ring ring ring".. nothing on the web, nothing on the booklet; not the same album, but maybe you heard things ...

Fat Larry's Band - Act Like You Know

Not the sax solo. It's listed somewhere but it's not right. Some people hinted at some JB's live but I couldn't recognize after many hearings. Someone told me it might be a cat from their neighborhood or some already famous player that got called for a one shot take.

Re: De La Soul’s Legacy Is Trapped in Digital Limbo

#38
post #25

I worked on 3 feet high and rising as a sound engineer. They were a total riot, I had absolutely no clue they would go on to such renown. All the records they sampled had their labels blacked out with marker. I freaked them out a bit by recognizing Hall and Oates and Steely Dan samples. I don't know anything about the clearance problems, but it's true that this was one of the first records that used samples so extens…

Can't this post be used against you in court to prove you complicit in copyright infringement?

Statute of limitations?

Re: De La Soul’s Legacy Is Trapped in Digital Limbo

#39

I worked on 3 feet high and rising as a sound engineer. They were a total riot, I had absolutely no clue they would go on to such renown. All the records they sampled had their labels blacked out with marker. I freaked them out a bit by recognizing Hall and Oates and Steely Dan samples. I don't know anything about the clearance problems, but it's true that this was one of the first records that used samples so extens…

Are you aware of the upcoming KEXP breakdown of 3 Feet High and Rising?

http://blog.kexp.org/delasoul/

> On Friday, August 26th, KEXP will dedicate 12 hours to celebrating De La Soul‘s classic 1989 debut album 3 Feet High and Rising.

> Starting at 6:00 AM, KEXP DJs will play every song sampled on the album, as well as all album tracks, rarities, b-sides, and interviews.

You might be interested in contacting the station!

Re: De La Soul’s Legacy Is Trapped in Digital Limbo

#40

I worked on 3 feet high and rising as a sound engineer. They were a total riot, I had absolutely no clue they would go on to such renown. All the records they sampled had their labels blacked out with marker. I freaked them out a bit by recognizing Hall and Oates and Steely Dan samples. I don't know anything about the clearance problems, but it's true that this was one of the first records that used samples so extens…

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