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Message from Beat Street: The Best of Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel & the Furious Five
Greatest hits album by
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five and Grandmaster Melle Mel
Released19 April 1994 (19 April 1994)
Recorded1980-1985
Genre Hip-hop, funk
Length72:23
Label Rhino Entertainment
R2 71606
ProducerJoey Robinson Jr, Sylvia Robinson, Larry Johnson, Michael Johnson, Jiggs Chase, E. Fletcher, Melle Mel
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Village VoiceA [1]

Message from Beat Street: The Best of Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel & the Furious Five is a 1994 CD compilation album released on the Rhino Entertainment record label in the US. It consists of tracks recorded by the various versions of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five and Grandmaster Melle Mel. No tracks from the three Grandmaster Flash albums on Elektra Records are included or anything from the 1988 comeback album On the Strength.

The fold-out booklet contains an essay by Shannita Williams, Rap Editor of Hits Magazine. Strangely, it also features two unrelated photos of the later Grandmaster Flash line-up.

In addition, the credits state that all the tracks are taken from the original Sugar Hill Records 12" singles, although in several cases often unnecessary fade edits have been made (see below). These are not present on the future compilation albums Adventures on the Wheels of Steel (1999) or Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel and the Furious Five: The Definitive Groove Collection (2006). No explanation is provided for this.

The credits also state that the group titles "are authentic to the original 12" labels and illustrate the variations and inconsistencies with regard to artist listings". [2] However, the majority of the original releases do not use ampersands. Finally, Rahiem's name is misspelled throughout as Raheem.

Track listing

  1. "Step Off Megamix" (Grandmaster Melle Mel & the Furious Five) – 5:03 (*)
  2. "Freedom" (Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five) – 8:04
  3. "The Birthday Party" (Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five) – 5:47
  4. "Showdown" (The Furious Five meets the Sugarhill Gang) – 5:33
  5. "It's Nasty (Genius of Love)" (Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five) – 7:39
  6. " The Message" (Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five featuring Melle Mel & Duke Bootee) – 7:03
  7. "Scorpio" (Grand Master Flash & the Furious Five) – 4:48
  8. "Message II (Survival)" – (Melle Mel & Duke Bootee) – 6:36
  9. "New York New York" (Grand Master Flash & the Furious Five) – 7:14
  10. " White Lines (Don't Don't Do It)" (Grandmaster & Melle Mel) – 7:27
  11. "Beat Street" (Grand Master Melle Mel & the Furious Five with Mr. Ness & Cowboy) – 7:07

Notes

  • (*) The credits state that "Step Off Megamix" is a new recording although it was previously released (uncensored) as The Mega-Melle Mix in 1985. [3]
  • "The Birthday Party" is edited. The full version runs to 8:21 approximately. [4]
  • "Showdown" is slightly edited. The full version runs to 5:55 approximately. [5]
  • "It's Nasty (Genius of Love)" is slightly edited. The full version runs to 7:53 approximately. [6]
  • "The Message" is edited. The full version runs to 7:13 approximately. [7]
  • Message II (Survival)" is slightly edited. The full version runs to 6:50 approximately. [8]
  • "New York New York" is slightly edited. The full version runs to 7:21 approximately. [9]
  • "White Lines (Don't Do It)" is slightly edited. The full version runs to 7:38 approximately. [10]

References

  1. ^ Christgau, Robert. "Grandmaster Melle Mel and the Furious Five [extended]". The Village Voice. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  2. ^ 'Message From Beat Street' liner notes.
  3. ^ "Melle Mel - The Mega-Melle Mix (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-01-11.
  4. ^ "Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five - The Birthday Party at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-01-11.
  5. ^ "Furious Five, The Meets Sugarhill Gang, The* - Showdown (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-01-11.
  6. ^ "Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five - It's Nasty (Genius Of Love) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-01-11.
  7. ^ "Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five - The Message (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-01-11.
  8. ^ "Melle Mel & Duke Bootee - Message II (Survival) (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-01-11.
  9. ^ "Grand Master Flash & The Furious Five* - New York New York at Discogs". Discogs.com. 2011-09-07. Retrieved 2012-01-11.
  10. ^ "Grandmaster & Melle Mel* - White Lines (Don't Don't Do It) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-01-11.
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