Essential Cuts
Compilation album by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five
Released	June 27, 2005
Recorded	1980–1984
Genre	Funk, hip-hop
Length	70:40
Label	Union Square Music METRCD166
Producer	Joey Robinson Jr, Sylvia Robinson, Larry Johnson, Michael Johnson, Jiggs Chase, E. Fletcher, Melle Mel

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Allmusic	[1]

Essential Cuts is a budget compilation album by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five released on CD in 2005. ^[2] Although titled to Grandmaster Flash alone, it does not contain any tracks from Flash's later Elektra Records albums and mainly features tracks from The Message era.

The fold-out booklet contains a brief but accurate history of the band and track-by-track commentary by Ian McCann. As is common with Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five compilation releases minor mistakes have been made regarding some song titles (see notes). ^[3]

Track listing

1. " The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel" – 7:10
2. "Freedom" – 5:06
3. " The Message" – 3:12
4. "It's Nasty" – 7:50
5. "New York New York" – 7:20
6. "Scorpio" – 4:44
7. " White Lines (Don't Do It)" – 4:28
8. "Dreamin'" – 5:47
9. "The Birthday Party" – 5:46
10. "She's Fresh" – 4:57
11. "It's a Shame (Mt Airy Groove)" – 4:57
12. "Flash to the Beat (Part 1)" – 4:23
13. "You Are" – 4:51

Notes

• "The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel" is mistitled as simply Adventures on the Wheels of Steel.
• Although sometimes originally subtitled as "It's Nasty" ( Genius of Love), it is here mistitled as the (Genius of Love Version). It is also lacks the (with the Furious Five) appellation that is present on the other tracks.
• "New York New York" is mistitled as New York, New York.
• "Flash to the Beat (Part 1)" is mistitled as simply Flash to the Beat.
• "Freedom", "The Message", "Scorpio", "White Lines (Don't Do It)" and "The Birthday Party" are the edited versions.

References