Mantronix
Mantronix | |
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D.J. D (1990) (1991)Jade Trini |
Mantronix was an influential 1980s
History
Early years: 1984–1988
The Album
Mantronix's debut single, "Fresh Is the Word," was a club hit in 1985, reaching No. 16 on
Mantronix's efforts on The Album and its effect on early hip hop and electronic music is perhaps best summed up by music critic Omar Willey's observation in 2000:
Featuring "Fresh Is the Word" and the new tracks "Bassline" and "Electro Mega-Mix," Mantronix defined the new sound of
The influence of The Album is seen among other
Music Madness
Mantronix's second album,
In Full Effect
Mantronix signed with
Mantronix's 1988 track "King of the Beats" was one of the first songs to sample the Amen break.
Later era: 1989–1991
This Should Move Ya
Following the departure of MC Tee, rapper Bryce "Luvah" Wilson and Mantronik's cousin, D.J. D., joined the group.[3] Mantronik met Wilson, a fellow Sleeping Bag Records label mate, while doing production work for Wilson's aborted solo project.[7]
The album spawned two top-10 hits on the
In a 1991 interview, Kurtis Mantronik commented on the commercial success of "Got to Have Your Love":
When I did "Got To Have Your Love", I did it for a reason. I did it because I wanted to get a song on the radio.[7]
The Incredible Sound Machine
Mantronix's final release, with vocalist
Shortly after a European tour and promotion related to the release of The Incredible Sound Machine, the group disbanded, and Mantronik left the music industry altogether for seven years.[1]
Discography
Albums
Album information |
---|
The Album
|
Music Madness
|
In Full Effect
|
This Should Move Ya
|
The Incredible Sound Machine
|
Compilation albums
Album information |
---|
The Best of Mantronix
|
The Best of Mantronix 1985-1999
|
That's My Beat
|
Remixed & Rare
|
The Ultra Selection
|
Singles
Year | Single | Peak positions | Album | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [10] |
US R&B [11] |
US Dance
[12] |
NZ | NED
|
BEL (FLA) |
GER
[13] |
AUT | SWI | IRE | UK
[14] | |||
1985 | "Fresh Is the Word" (US only) | – | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | The Album |
"Needle to the Groove" (US only) | – | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1986 | "Ladies" | – | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 55 | |
" Bassline "
|
– | — | 27 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 34 | ||
1987 | "Who Is It?" | – | 68 | 21 | — | 87 | — | — | — | — | — | 40 | Music Madness |
"Scream" | – | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 46 | ||
1988 | "Sing a Song" | – | — | — | — | 39 | — | — | — | — | — | 61 | In Full Effect |
"Simple Simon" | – | — | 19 | — | 69 | — | — | — | — | — | 72 | ||
"Join Me Please" (US only) | – | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1989 | "Got to Have Your Love" (feat. Wondress) | 82 | 26 | 6 | 27 | 15 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 20 | 8 | 4 | This Should Move Ya |
1990 | "Take Your Time" (feat. Wondress) | – | — | 15 | — | 23 | — | 63 | — | — | 17 | 10 | |
1991 | "Don't Go Messin' with My Heart" | – | — | — | — | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | 22 | The Incredible Sound Machine |
"Step to Me (Do Me)" | – | — | 23 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 59 | ||
"Flower Child" | – | — | — | — | 78 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1996 | "It's Time to Party" (feat. Althea McQueen) | – | — | 42 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released. |
References
- ^ a b c "When Recorded Hip-hop was in its Infancy, One Man was Responsible for Really Pushing the Sonic Envelope. It's Been Far from Plain Sailing Since, But the Mantronix Legacy will Run Forever". cheebadesign.com (original article printed in Hip Hop Connection Magazine). July 2002. Archived from the original on May 24, 2011. Retrieved October 17, 2006.
- ^ Chin, Brian (1986). "Mantronix Makes Inroads in British Pop – But Black Duo Still Waiting for a U.S. Hit". cheebadesign.com (original article printed in Billboard Magazine). Archived from the original on November 2, 2006. Retrieved November 16, 2006.
- ^ ISBN 0-7535-0252-6.
- ^ Willey, Omar. "Do You Like...Mantronix?". cheebadesign.com. Archived from the original on December 12, 2006. Retrieved March 30, 2007.
- ^ Henderson, Alex. "Allmusic Music Madness Review". AllMusic. Retrieved October 18, 2006.
- ^ Wynn, Ron. "Allmusic In Full Effect Review". AllMusic. Retrieved October 18, 2006.
- ^ a b Jones, Phillip. "Messin' With Mantronix". cheebadesign.com. Archived from the original on November 2, 2006. Retrieved March 30, 2007.
- ^ Wynn, Ron. "Allmusic This Should Move Ya Review". AllMusic. Retrieved October 18, 2006.
- ^ a b Henderson, Alex. "Allmusic The Incredible Sound Machine Review". AllMusic. Retrieved October 18, 2006.
- ^ "Mantronix – US HOT 100". billboard.com. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
- ^ "Mantronix – US R&B/Hip Hop Songs". billboard.com. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
- ^ "Mantronix – US Dance Club Songs". billboard.com. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
- ^ "Mantronix – German Chart". charts.de. Retrieved April 18, 2014.[dead link]
- ^ "Official Charts Company: Mantronix". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
Further reading
- "Mantronix". Music Technology. Vol. 1, no. 6. April 1987. p. 67. OCLC 24835173.