S.o.t.D. - Move – Ministry

Move – Ministry

Really surprised by this. For many years I had known this tune from Keith LeBlanc’s 1989 Stranger Than Fiction album, and also from Tackhead’s M.O.V.E. It certainly has that very distinctive On-U-Sound sound. Then I belatedly hear this for the first time. So I’m guessing this is an outtake from the production work Adrian Sherwood did for 1986’ Twitch.

It kicks ass, no matter what the progeny of this song is.

S.o.t.D. - Rapper’s Delight – Sugar Hill Gang

Rapper’s Delight – Sugar Hill Gang

Crazy I haven’t posted this classic. And where the hell did rap go so terribly astray from stuff this fun?

I was always under the impression that one of my favourite musical crews ever (Doug Wimbish, Skip McDonald and Keith LeBlanc - aka Tackhead, aka the dudes who played on countless On-U-Sound records) were the musicians on this. It was actually a group called Positive Force. They did however play on “Apache” by the Sugar Hill Gang. (What I never knew is that they also did the music for “The Message” by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, “White Lines” by Grandmaster Flash and Melle Mel, “New York, New York” by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five.)

S.o.t.D. - Move – Keith LeBlanc

Move – Keith LeBlanc

There is also a version of this by Tackhead called M.O.V.E. 

One of the greatest drummers ever.

S.o.t.D. - Technology Works Dub – Keith LeBlanc

Technology Works Dub – Keith LeBlanc

On-U-Sound – still blowing my mind all these years later.

The images in this are culled from the work of Edward Burtynsky. If you haven’t seen Manufactured Landscapes, you really need to.

S.o.t.D. - You Drummers Listen Good – Keith LeBlanc

You Drummers Listen Good – Keith LeBlanc

If money was no object and I wanted to put together a group of musicians to get all the track ideas I have in my head out, Keith Leblanc would be the first person I would call up for drumming duties.

S.o.t.D. - Mind At The End Of The Tether – Tackhead

Mind At The End Of The Tether – Tackhead 

The equivalent of a sonic grenade going off in my brain when I first heard the On-U-Sound sound.

S.o.t.D. - The Game – Tackhead

The Game – Tackhead
The Game (instrumental version) – Tackhead 

Mentioned Keith LeBlanc yesterday. Lots of stuff on On-U-Sound completely rocked my world back in the mid-80s, but this one in particular was so eargasmically good. The first concert I went to in a licensed venue, was the Tackhead/Fats Comet/Mark Stewart and the Maffia/Gary Clail/On-U-Sound tour that came to RPM in Toronto. It still ranks as one of the very best live shows I’ve ever been to. Awe inspiring concert from start to finish. The first note was that opening guitar riff from The Game. 3½ hours later, Keith LeBlanc drumming the entire show, everyone was spent. Easily my favourite drummer ever. What I wouldn’t give to relive that concert.

S.o.t.D. - How to Be a Zillionaire (Wall Street Mix) – ABC

How to Be a Zillionaire (Wall Street Mix) – ABC

I got this 12" back in 85, pretty much just for the totally kick-ass drum programming by the master - Keith LeBlanc.

S.o.t.D. - Rockchester – Fats Comet

Rockchester – Fats Comet

If I had to list a favourite producer, it would probably be Adrian Sherwood. There have always been certain labels I would happily buy anything from. 4AD, Factory, Ninja Tune and On-U-Sound come to mind. The first concert I went to (well, legally in a place that served alcohol anyway) was the Tackhead/Fats Comet/Mark Stewart and the Maffia/Gary Clail/On-U-Sound tour that came to RPM in Toronto. It still ranks as one of the very best live shows I’ve ever been to. 3½ hours of dubby-funky-industrial goodness, with the incredible Mr. Keith LeBlanc laying down a killer beat the whole time. From the first chord of Tackhead’s The Game to the final note - mindblowing. Stuff like Fats Comet really broadened my mind to a lot of different stuff.