Description
This fully remastered vinyl reissue of the ultimate library music masterpiece, recorded in 1972 by Music De Wolfe’s legendary composers Simon Haseley and Peter Reno—whose work has been sampled by everyone from Madlib and The Alchemist to Beyoncé—is a highly sought-after album whose original pressings in good condition command prices of around ¥70,000.
A long-awaited reissue of the highly acclaimed and most sought-after album among collectors, “Great Day” is one of the finest releases on the Music De Wolfe library label. The album has a storied history of being sampled by hip-hop and drum and bass heavyweights such as Madlib, LTJ Bukem, El-P, and The Alchemist.
Originally released in 1972, it was credited to Music De Wolfe legends Simon Haseley (born Simon Park) and Peter Reno, a collaborative pseudonym used by Clifford Twemlow and Peter Taylor. From start to finish, it is packed with heavy, dramatic funk breaks reminiscent of 1970s blaxploitation films.
The album opens with the pleasant, upbeat piano of “Little Big John” before moving on to “Summer Friend,” where powerful drums and orchestral arrangements create an emotional sound. One of the highlights, “Hammerhead,” is a driving, imposing orchestral funk-rock track that is well known for being used as the backing track for The High & Mighty’s classic “Dirty Decibels” and Beyoncé’s “Woman Like Me.” The album features even more exceptional beats on Side A, including the melancholic instrumental “Crimson,” with its plaintive oboe; the mid-tempo title track, “Great Day,” with its vibrant horns; and the funk-rock track “Hard Crust,” featuring intense wah-wah guitar.
Side B develops brilliantly from the tense crime-funk of “Highball” into the fast-paced Hammond organ and flute-driven “Bora.” “Hold Back,” which has been sampled by Madlib, El-P, Rakim, and The Alchemist, is a masterpiece of ominous orchestral funk. “Silver Thrust,” with its driving drums, bongos, and flute, sounds like a cop show funk track and could even be seen as a cover of Johnny Harris’s masterpiece “Stepping Stones.” The album continues with “Convoy,” packed with breaks that b-boys will love, and the dramatic “Barracuda,” which LTJ Bukem sampled for “Sunrain.”
For this reissue, the album has been meticulously remastered by Simon Francis and expertly cut by Cicely Balston, then pressed at the renowned Dutch label Record Industry. Faithfully reproducing the iconic original cover, this definitive edition is dedicated to every beat freak.
A1. Little Big John
A2. Summer Friend
A3. Hammerhead
A4. Crimson
A5. Great Day
A6. Hard Crust
B1. Highball
B2. Bora
B3. Hold Back
B4. Silver Thrust
B5. Convoy
B6. Barracuda
Great Day is one of the very best albums on the Music De Wolfe label and certainly one of the most sought after library records, full stop. It's been sampled by such heavyweights as Madlib, LTJ Bukem, El-P and The Alchemist (among many others). You likely already know all this. If you don't, get to know. One listen through and the £350 asking price for a VG copy starts to all make sense...
Originally released in 1972, it's credited to Music De Wolfe legends Simon Haseley (real name Simon Park) and "Peter Reno" (a collaborative alias used by composers Clifford "Cliff" Twemlow and Peter Taylor) Confused? No matter. It's one of the most consistent libraries you'll ever hear, packed with heavy blaxploitation-esque drama-funk break themes.
It opens with the feel-good, breezy piano beat number "Little Big John" before switching up to modern sweeping orchestral with heavy drums on the warm, deeply emotive "Summer Friend". Total highlight "Hammerhead" is as heavy as you'd want, from a track so-titled. It's a driving, imposing, orchestral funk-rock monster, famously used by The High & Mighty for their classic "Dirty Decibels" and, also, it was used as the backing for Beyonce's ace "Woman Like Me".
Up next, "Crimson" is melodic, plaintive and moodily introspective; a soft, oboe-enhanced instrumental of delicate beauty. Again, ace beats and breaks abound. The expansive title track, "Great Day" is melodic and bold; a horn-fuelled, mid-tempo rhythmic workout which builds to rather big end. Rounding out this first side, "Hard Crust" ups the ante with thrilling wah-wah funk-rock, a dramatic, pounding and aggressive thriller. Killer!
Side B opens with the steady, stealthy crime-funk of "Highball" before segueing brilliantly into the Hammond-laced relentless flute-funk of the driving "Bora". The powerful wah-wah wonderful "Hold Back" is haunting orchestral funk-rock, sampled by Madlib, El-P, Rakim, Sean Price and The Alchemist. It's easy to see why. Swaggering and staggering.
The cop show funk of "Silver Thrust" is fast, purposeful and persistent. Is it a cover version of the godlike "Stepping Stones" from Johnny Harris's Movements album? Either way, with up-tempo drums, bongos and flute you're going to be thrusting all night. The dynamic "Convoy" is a brassy, organ-fuelled sports-soundtrack b-boy breaks monster. Super Bowl Soul! Essential. To close out this quite extraordinary set, the insistent "Barracuda" presents dramatic rock feels over a persistent funky flute beat. It was sampled by LTJ Bukem for his classic "Sunrain" from 2000.
The audio for Great Day has been meticulously remastered by Be With regular Simon Francis, ensuring this release sounds better than ever. Cicely Balston's expert skills have made sure nothing is lost in the cut whilst the records have been pressed to the highest possible standard at Record Industry in Holland. The original, iconic sleeve has been restored here at Be With HQ as the finishing touch to this long overdue re-issue.
