the AMEN Brake.......

[wazza]

from the boyz over at http://www.skratchworx.com/newspage.php ... fn_id=1728

Kutski's take on the Amen Break

Posted by Gizmo on June 9, 2011

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There are just a handful of common threads that bind the numerous genres and sub-genres of dance music all together in a coherent mass of arse shaking and floor stomping. It matters not if you're spinning vinyl to underground Hip Hop heads, or performing next level controllerism on an iPad - drop the Amen Break at the right time, and all hell breaks loose on the floor. Such is the greatness of the classic 6 seconds of the Winstons "Amen Brother" track that entire genres of music have been based on it. So BBC Radio 1's Kutski dug deeper and made an hour long radio documentary into the Amen phenomenon and finds himself questioning the morality of borrowing samples.

To be quite honest, when I first heard that this documentary had been recorded, I smacked my forehead as a rather famous one by Nate Harrison had already done the rounds years ago on Youtube.

Nate talks about the wider issues of copyright and if it's OK to simply lift copyrighted material with little regard to the original artist. Seems to me that some producers are free and easy with other people's material but get litigious when their own gets stolen.

But Kutski has gone into it a little deeper, talking to key artists who have used the Amen Break, and also tried to work out what makes it so damned good. Expect lessons on ratios and divinity.

But the realities of sampling the break for free kick in when Kutski tracks down and talks to Richard L Spencer, the singer from The Winstons, who imparts the sad knowledge that drummer Gregory Coleman died homeless. When you hear that terrible news, it does make you think about not only the legalities of sampling, but also the morality of it. The original musician died broke while others steal his work and endlessly profit. Imagine how you'd feel if someone took your creativity, didn't pay you and made shedloads of cash from it?

It's an interesting voyage that Kutski has been on. As a DJ, he said that he didn't see too much of an issue lifting breaks and using them. But having spoken to The Winstons singer, he seems to be having second thoughts about his position. Perhaps the artists who have used it could contribute a little to a fund to support Gergory Coleman's family. His work has after all given so many people income, and in some cases a career.

Anyway, country restrictions allowing, you can listen to Kutski's documentary through this link. It's up for 4 more days, but I'll be grabbing a copy to listen to offline. And if you look for it, I'm sure it'll pop up here and there as well. Obviously, I can't post those links as they're copyright to the BBC.

Footnote - I wonder if the BBC had to pay to use the tracks that sample "Amen Brother" for the Kutski documentary? Now that would be a kick in the nuts with the boot of irony for the Winstons.

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[dim]

^I think that's one piece of history I never get tired of hearing people share.

Amen Wazza

Perhaps new thread: worlds best/most used breaks?

Apache, funky drummer, think etc...

[Gandy]

oh, i heard that in a track i downloaded a couple of months ago, the track is pretty funky then he literally goes "and now, for the amen break" and well, busts out the amen break

[street]

i knew id heard that before:

[CapFive]

wow this is amazing, i knew all music was sampled, but its amazing that we know exactly where it all started... that is crazy

[Gandy]

yes streetcleaner thats it!

[JonnyB]

Lyn Collins - think

[dim]

edit:

Perhaps new thread: worlds best/most used breaks?

Apache, funky drummer, think (lyn collins version)...

thanks johnny, never thought folk could be listening to arethas version for the it takes two break!