Beat Street (soundtrack)
Encyclopedia
Beat Street: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Beat Street, Vol. 2: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack are soundtrack
albums for the 1984 drama film of the same name
. It was released in 1984
by Atlantic Records
. Both albums were produced by Harry Belafonte
, a calypso
artist best-known for his 1956 hit Day-O (The Banana Boat Song), and a profilic freestyle
music producer
and remixer Arthur Baker
, who collaborated with music artists like Freeez
, Afrika Bambaataa
, New Order.
Both albums even entered the Billboard 200
and R&B Albums
charts and stayed there in the same year.
artists like Grandmaster Melle Mel and the Furious Five, Jazzy Jay
, Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic
and Treacherous Three
featuring beatbox
pioneer Doug E. Fresh
but also various electro/boogie musicians like Freeez
, The System
and Juicy
.
The album was certified gold
in the same year.
B-side
B-side
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
albums for the 1984 drama film of the same name
Beat Street
Beat Street is a 1984 drama film, following Wild Style in featuring New York City hip hop culture of the early 1980s; breakdancing, DJing, and graffiti.-Plot:...
. It was released in 1984
1984 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1984.-Janury-March:*January 21 – "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood reaches number one in the UK singles chart, despite being banned by the BBC; it spends a total of forty-two weeks in the Top 40.*January 27 – Michael Jackson's...
by Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
. Both albums were produced by Harry Belafonte
Harry Belafonte
Harold George "Harry" Belafonte, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, actor and social activist. He was dubbed the "King of Calypso" for popularizing the Caribbean musical style with an international audience in the 1950s...
, a calypso
Calypso music
Calypso is a style of Afro-Caribbean music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago from African and European roots. The roots of the genre lay in the arrival of enslaved Africans, who, not being allowed to speak with each other, communicated through song...
artist best-known for his 1956 hit Day-O (The Banana Boat Song), and a profilic freestyle
Freestyle music
Freestyle or Latin freestyle, sometimes referred to as Latin hip hop, is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in the early 1980s. Mostly popular during the mid 80s to the early 90s...
music producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and remixer Arthur Baker
Arthur Baker (musician)
Arthur Baker is an American record producer and DJ best known for his work with hip hop artists like Afrika Bambaataa, Planet Patrol, and the British group New Order.-Early career:...
, who collaborated with music artists like Freeez
Freeez
Freeez were a United Kingdom dance music group from London, known initially as one of the UK's main jazz-funk bands of the early 1980s. Initiated by John Rocca, Freeez consisted of various musicians, originally with Rocca and others such as Andy Stennet Freeez were a United Kingdom dance music...
, Afrika Bambaataa
Afrika Bambaataa
Afrika Bambaataa is an American DJ from the South Bronx, New York who was instrumental in the early development of hip hop throughout the 1980s. Afrika Bambaataa is one of the three originators of break-beat deejaying, and is respectfully known as the "Grandfather" and the Amen Ra of Universal...
, New Order.
Both albums even entered the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
and R&B Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999...
charts and stayed there in the same year.
Description
The soundtrack contains music mainly from Old school hip hopOld school hip hop
Old school hip hop describes the earliest commercially recorded hip hop music , and the music in the period preceding it from which it was directly descended . Old school hip hop is said to end around 1983 or 1984 with the emergence of Run–D.M.C., the first new school hip hop group...
artists like Grandmaster Melle Mel and the Furious Five, Jazzy Jay
Jazzy Jay
Jazzy Jay born in Beaufort, South Carolina, United States, November 18, 1961), also known as The Original Jazzy Jay or DJ Jazzy Jay, is a pioneering American hip hop DJ and producer. He has collected roughly 400,000 records.-Background:...
, Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic
Afrika Bambaataa
Afrika Bambaataa is an American DJ from the South Bronx, New York who was instrumental in the early development of hip hop throughout the 1980s. Afrika Bambaataa is one of the three originators of break-beat deejaying, and is respectfully known as the "Grandfather" and the Amen Ra of Universal...
and Treacherous Three
Treacherous Three
The Treacherous Three was a pioneering hip hop group that was formed in 1978 and consisted of DJ Easy Lee, Kool Moe Dee, L.A. Sunshine, Special K and Spoonie Gee , with occasional contributions from DJ Dano B, DJ Reggie Reg and DJ Crazy Eddie...
featuring beatbox
Beatboxing
Beatboxing is a form of vocal percussion primarily involving the art of producing drum beats, rhythm, and musical sounds using one's mouth, lips, tongue, and voice. It may also involve singing, vocal imitation of turntablism, and the simulation of horns, strings, and other musical instruments...
pioneer Doug E. Fresh
Doug E. Fresh
Douglas E. Davis , better known by the stage name Doug E. Fresh, is an American rapper, record producer, and beat boxer, also known as the Human Beat Box...
but also various electro/boogie musicians like Freeez
Freeez
Freeez were a United Kingdom dance music group from London, known initially as one of the UK's main jazz-funk bands of the early 1980s. Initiated by John Rocca, Freeez consisted of various musicians, originally with Rocca and others such as Andy Stennet Freeez were a United Kingdom dance music...
, The System
The System (band)
The System was an American synth pop duo consisting of vocalist/guitarist Mic Murphy and seasoned session keyboardist David Frank. The band was founded in 1982 in New York and backed up by Paul Pesco on electric guitar and Kris Khellow - keyboards, synthesizers.Sometimes the group is referred to...
and Juicy
Juicy (band)
Juicy was an American musical duo consisting of siblings Jerry Barnes and Katreese Barnes. The group is best known for the songs "Sugar Free" and Beat Street feature song "Beat Street Strut". The name comes from Mtume' number-one R&B hit "Juicy Fruit"....
.
The album was certified gold
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
in the same year.
Volume 1 (LP-80154)
A-side| # | Title | Artist(s) | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | "Beat Street Breakdown" | Grandmaster Melle Mel & The Furious 5 | Melvin Glover, Reggie Griffin | Melle Mel Melle Mel Grandmaster Mele Mel , also known as Melle Mel , is an American hip-hop musician — one of the pioneers of old school hip hop as lead rapper and main songwriter for Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five.- Biography :... , Sylvia Robinson Sylvia Robinson Sylvia Robinson was an American singer, musician, record producer, and record label executive, most notably known for her work as founder/CEO of the hip hop label Sugar Hill Records. She is credited as the driving force behind two landmark singles in the genre... |
6:48 |
| A2 | "Baptise The Beat" | The System The System (band) The System was an American synth pop duo consisting of vocalist/guitarist Mic Murphy and seasoned session keyboardist David Frank. The band was founded in 1982 in New York and backed up by Paul Pesco on electric guitar and Kris Khellow - keyboards, synthesizers.Sometimes the group is referred to... |
David Frank, Mic Murphy | David Frank, Michael Murphy | 4:25 |
| A3 | "Strangers In A Strange World" (Love Theme From Beat Street) |
Jenny Burton Jenny Burton Jenny Burton , is an American female R&B singer who had several hits on the US Billboard dance chart. She was lead singer of the dance music band C-Bank's 1983 Top 5 Hot Dance Music/Club Play single "One More Shot", notable for record producer John Robie's use of a "non-linear" approach to its... & Patrick Jude |
Jake Holmes Jake Holmes Jake Holmes is an American singer-songwriter and jingle writer who began a recording career in the 1960s... |
Jake Holmes Jake Holmes Jake Holmes is an American singer-songwriter and jingle writer who began a recording career in the 1960s... |
4:25 |
| A4 | "Frantic Situation" | Afrika Bambaataa Afrika Bambaataa Afrika Bambaataa is an American DJ from the South Bronx, New York who was instrumental in the early development of hip hop throughout the 1980s. Afrika Bambaataa is one of the three originators of break-beat deejaying, and is respectfully known as the "Grandfather" and the Amen Ra of Universal... The Soul Sonic Force, Shango |
Arthur Baker, Leroi Evans, Ray Serrano, Afrika Bambaataa Aasim, William Henderson, Ellis Williams, John Miller, Robert Allen, Wilfred Fowler | Arthur Baker Arthur Baker (musician) Arthur Baker is an American record producer and DJ best known for his work with hip hop artists like Afrika Bambaataa, Planet Patrol, and the British group New Order.-Early career:... |
5:04 |
B-side
| # | Title | Artist(s) | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B1 | "Beat Street Strut" | Juicy | Milton G. Barnes, Katreese Barnes | Eumir Deodato Eumir Deodato Eumir Deodato is a Brazilian pianist, composer, record producer and arranger, primarily based in the jazz realm but who historically has been known for eclectic melding of big band and combo jazz with varied elements of rock/pop, R&B/funk, Brazilian/Latin, and symphonic or orchestral music.Mainly,... |
5:00 |
| B2 | "Us Girls" | Sharon Green, Lisa Counts & Debbie D | Debora Hooper, Lisa Counts, Ross Levinson, Sharon Green | Harry Belafonte Harry Belafonte Harold George "Harry" Belafonte, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, actor and social activist. He was dubbed the "King of Calypso" for popularizing the Caribbean musical style with an international audience in the 1950s... |
3:52 |
| B3 | "This Could Be The Night" | Cindy Mizelle | Arthur Baker, Carl Sturken, Chris Lord-Alge, Evan Rogers, Tina Baker | Arthur Baker Arthur Baker Arthur Baker may refer to:* Arthur Baker , calligrapher and typeface designer* Arthur Baker , record producer and DJ... |
4:53 |
| B4 | "Breaker's Revenge" | Arthur Baker Arthur Baker Arthur Baker may refer to:* Arthur Baker , calligrapher and typeface designer* Arthur Baker , record producer and DJ... |
Arthur Baker Arthur Baker Arthur Baker may refer to:* Arthur Baker , calligrapher and typeface designer* Arthur Baker , record producer and DJ... |
Arthur Baker Arthur Baker Arthur Baker may refer to:* Arthur Baker , calligrapher and typeface designer* Arthur Baker , record producer and DJ... |
4:42 |
Volume 2 (LP-80158)
A-side| # | Title | Artist(s) | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | "Son Of Beat Street" | Jazzy Jay Jazzy Jay Jazzy Jay born in Beaufort, South Carolina, United States, November 18, 1961), also known as The Original Jazzy Jay or DJ Jazzy Jay, is a pioneering American hip hop DJ and producer. He has collected roughly 400,000 records.-Background:... |
John Byas, Lenny Underwood | David Belafonte | 4:05 |
| A2 | "Give Me All" | Juicy Juicy (band) Juicy was an American musical duo consisting of siblings Jerry Barnes and Katreese Barnes. The group is best known for the songs "Sugar Free" and Beat Street feature song "Beat Street Strut". The name comes from Mtume' number-one R&B hit "Juicy Fruit".... |
Milton G. Barnes, Katreese Barnes | Arthur Baker, Harry Belafonte | 4:25 |
| A3 | "Nothin's Gonna Come Easy" | Tina B | Arthur Baker, Tina Baker | Arthur Baker, Harry Belafonte | 4:19 |
| A4 | "Santa's Rap" | The Treacherous Three Treacherous Three The Treacherous Three was a pioneering hip hop group that was formed in 1978 and consisted of DJ Easy Lee, Kool Moe Dee, L.A. Sunshine, Special K and Spoonie Gee , with occasional contributions from DJ Dano B, DJ Reggie Reg and DJ Crazy Eddie... |
Kevin Keaton, LaMar Hill, Mohandas Dewese | David Belafonte | 6:10 |
B-side
| # | Title | Artist(s) | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B1 | "It's Alright By Me" | Jenny Burton | Peter Link | Peter Link, Webster Lewis Webster Lewis Webster Lewis was an American jazz and disco keyboardist.Lewis was born in 1943 in Baltimore, Maryland, and studied at the New England Conservatory of Music under Gunther Schuller. He started out in jazz working with Tony Williams, George Russell, Bill Evans, Stanton Davis, and the Piano Choir... |
5:00 |
| B2 | "Battle Cry" | Rockers Revenge Rockers Revenge Rockers Revenge was a studio musical project, assembled by producer Arthur Baker. Its initial entry on the Hot Dance Club Play chart, "Walking on Sunshine" hit #1 on the U.S. dance chart in 1982. The track reached #4 in the UK Singles Chart in September 1982... |
Arthur Baker, Donald Calvin Hawkes, Vincent Dwight Fuller | Arthur Baker Arthur Baker Arthur Baker may refer to:* Arthur Baker , calligrapher and typeface designer* Arthur Baker , record producer and DJ... |
4:52 |
| B3 | Phony Four MC's – "Wappin' (Bubblehead)" | Ralph Rolle | Earl Deas, Eric Real, Ralph Rolle | Arthur Baker, Harry Belafonte | 6:11 |
| B4 | "Into The Night" | La La | LaForest Cope, Lenny Underwood, Webster Lewis | Webster Lewis Webster Lewis Webster Lewis was an American jazz and disco keyboardist.Lewis was born in 1943 in Baltimore, Maryland, and studied at the New England Conservatory of Music under Gunther Schuller. He started out in jazz working with Tony Williams, George Russell, Bill Evans, Stanton Davis, and the Piano Choir... |
4:42 |
Credits and personnel
- Sanford Allen – concertmasterConcertmasterThe concertmaster/mistress is the spalla or leader, of the first violin section of an orchestra. In the UK, the term commonly used is leader...
, violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello.... - Arthur BakerArthur BakerArthur Baker may refer to:* Arthur Baker , calligrapher and typeface designer* Arthur Baker , record producer and DJ...
– bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music... - Tina Baker – performer
- Katreese Barnes – performer
- Sharon Green – performer
- Milton Barnes – performer
- David Belafonte – sound effectsSound effectFor the album by The Jam, see Sound Affects.Sound effects or audio effects are artificially created or enhanced sounds, or sound processes used to emphasize artistic or other content of films, television shows, live performance, animation, video games, music, or other media...
- Sandra Billingslea – violin
- Jay Burnett – guitar
- Jenny BurtonJenny BurtonJenny Burton , is an American female R&B singer who had several hits on the US Billboard dance chart. She was lead singer of the dance music band C-Bank's 1983 Top 5 Hot Dance Music/Club Play single "One More Shot", notable for record producer John Robie's use of a "non-linear" approach to its...
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Jack Cavari – guitar
- John ClarkJohn Clark (musician)John Clark is an American jazz horn player and composer.-Biography:John Clark was born in Brooklyn and grew up in Rochester, New York. His father was William H. Clark, a professor of German and dean of education at the University of Rochester, and his mother was Margaret Garmey. He and his four...
– French horn - Deodato – producer
- Lewis Eley – violin
- Jon FaddisJon FaddisJon Faddis is an American jazz trumpet player, conductor, composer, and educator renowned for both his highly virtuosic command of the instrument and for his expertise in the field of music education...
– trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air... - Eileen FolsonEileen FolsonEileen M Folson was a Broadway composer, professional cellist and a Grammy nominee. She died on February 4, 2007.-Early life:Eileen was born in 1956 as the fourth of six children. On a whim in junior high school, Eileen and a friend auditioned for the orchestra. Eileen really wanted the bass but...
– celloCelloThe cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is... - Winterton Garvey – violin
- Dwight Hawkes – backing vocalistBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
- Lamar Hill – performer
- Cecilia Hobbs – violin
- Stanley Hunte – violin
- Jean Ingraham – violin
- Anthony Jackson – BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Jazzy JayJazzy JayJazzy Jay born in Beaufort, South Carolina, United States, November 18, 1961), also known as The Original Jazzy Jay or DJ Jazzy Jay, is a pioneering American hip hop DJ and producer. He has collected roughly 400,000 records.-Background:...
– Drum programmingDrum machineA drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...
, scratchingScratchingScratching is a DJ or turntablist technique used to produce distinctive sounds by moving a vinyl record back and forth on a turntable while optionally manipulating the crossfader on a DJ mixer. While scratching is most commonly associated with hip hop music, since the late 1980s, it has been used... - Bashiri Johnson – PercussionLatin percussionThe term Latin percussion refers to any number of a large family of musical percussion instruments used in Latin music, which in turn is a very loosely related group of musical styles, mainly from the Latin American region, and ultimately having roots or influences in African tribal...
- Kevin Keaton – performer
- Robbie Kilgore – bellsBell (instrument)A bell is a simple sound-making device. The bell is a percussion instrument and an idiophone. Its form is usually a hollow, cup-shaped object, which resonates upon being struck...
- La La – sound effects, backing vocalist
- Jesse Levy – cello
- Webster LewisWebster LewisWebster Lewis was an American jazz and disco keyboardist.Lewis was born in 1943 in Baltimore, Maryland, and studied at the New England Conservatory of Music under Gunther Schuller. He started out in jazz working with Tony Williams, George Russell, Bill Evans, Stanton Davis, and the Piano Choir...
- DX-7Yamaha DX7The Yamaha DX7 is an FM Digital Synthesizer manufactured by the Yamaha Corporation from 1983 to 1986. It was the first commercially successful digital synthesizer. Its distinctive sound can be heard on many recordings, especially Pop music from the 1980s...
, Fender Rhodes, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal... - Peter Link – performer
- Chris "Lord-Alge" Simmons – drums
- Guy Lumia – violin
- John Pintavalle – violin
- Sue Pray – viola
- Maxine Roach – viola
- Ralph Rolle – drum programming, sound effects, vocals
- Alan RubinAlan RubinAlan Rubin , also known as Mr. Fabulous, was an American musician. He played trumpet, flugelhorn, and piccolo trumpet....
– trumpet - Lew SoloffLew SoloffLew Soloff is a jazz trumpeter, composer and actor. He studied trumpet at the Eastman School of Music and the Juilliard School. He is likely best known for his work with Blood, Sweat & Tears from 1968 to 1973...
– trumpet - David SpinozzaDavid SpinozzaDavid Spinozza is an American musician , who worked with former Beatles Paul McCartney and John Lennon during the 1970s, and had a long collaboration with singer-songwriter James Taylor, producing Taylor's album Walking Man....
– guitar - Marti Sweet – violin
- Tina B. – vocals
- Lenny Underwood – bass, drums, keyboards
- Buddy WilliamsBuddy WilliamsHarold "Buddy" Williams was an Australian country music singer and songwriter. He was the first Australian born to record country music in Australia, three years after the New Zealand born Tex Morton had made his first recording session here in Australia...
– drums - Richard D. Young – violin
- Fred ZarrFred ZarrFred Zarr is an American musician, songwriter and song producer based in Brooklyn, NY. CEO of BiZarr Music, Inc., he works alongside numerous singers and songwriters at his Brooklyn studio....
– bass, keyboards
Volume 1
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Billboard R&B Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
#10 |
| 1984 | the Billboard 200 | #14 |
Volume 2
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Billboard R&B Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
#47 |
| 1984 | the Billboard 200 | #137 |