"Synthetic Substitution" is a 1973 song by Melvin Bliss. Originally starting life as a throwaway B-side, with "Reward" as the A-Side, the song failed to chart anywhere on its initial release because of the collapse of Opal Productions, the parent company of Sunburst Records.[1] However, after the song was sampled by Ultramagnetic MCs, many other artists followed suit, and eventually the song became one of the most sampled songs of all time.[1]
With the Exciters disbanded in 1971, Herb Rooney was out of a record deal. Having previously written for other artists,[2] Rooney decided to continue down this path.
Meanwhile, Melvin Bliss had drifted from stage to stage since leaving the Army in 1957. Looking to boost his career prospects he visited a Queens concert hall intending to use it for self-promotion.[1] While awaiting a meeting with the hall's owner, he encountered the mother of Herb Rooney and it emerged that he wanted a singer to record one of his compositions.[1] After an informal discussion with Rooney himself, Bliss hit the studio to record it.[1] Rooney had intended the A-Side to be "Reward" and thus presented it to Bliss first.[3]
Subject matteredit
"Synthetic Substitution" is a scathing critique of what society would be like if it was entirely computerised,[4] which towards the end of the song features the wailing of Bliss clinging onto the final few authentic remnants of his daily life.[1] In 1986 the song's drums, provided by Bernard Purdie[5] - were sampled in "Ego Trippin'" by Ultramagnetic MCs, spawning numerous other uses. It has since been sampled in over 800 songs.[6]
"Synthetic Substitution" lends its name to a 2011 Earl Holder-produced documentary about Melvin Bliss, Synthetic Substitution: The Life Story of Melvin Bliss, which was released by Peripheral Enterprises.[5] In a 2010 interview produced exclusively for its trailer, Bliss said that "[Herb Rooney and I] had no idea what the song was about; we just needed a B-side".[7]
^"Melvin Bliss". Wax Poetics. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
^Melvin Bliss, R.I.P. Hua Hsu. The Atlantic. Jul 27 2010
^ ab""Synthetic Substitution" Singer / Sample Icon Melvin Bliss Dies". Hiphopdx.com. 27 July 2010. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
^"Synthetic Substitution - Melvin Bliss". WhoSampled. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
^"Melvin Bliss Documentary Trailer 1". YouTube. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
^"Vitamin C feat. Lady Saw's 'Smile' sample of Melvin Bliss's 'Synthetic Substitution'". WhoSampled. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
February 13, 2024
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Synthetic Substitution is a 1973 song by Melvin Bliss Originally starting life as a throwaway B side with Reward as the A Side the song failed to chart anywhere on its initial release because of the collapse of Opal Productions the parent company of Sunburst Records 1 However after the song was sampled by Ultramagnetic MCs many other artists followed suit and eventually the song became one of the most sampled songs of all time 1 Synthetic Substitution Song by Melvin BlissA side Reward Released1973GenreFunk soulLabelSunburst RecordsSongwriter s Herb RooneyProducer s Herb Rooney Contents 1 Background 2 Subject matter 2 1 Select list of samples 3 ReferencesBackground editWith the Exciters disbanded in 1971 Herb Rooney was out of a record deal Having previously written for other artists 2 Rooney decided to continue down this path Meanwhile Melvin Bliss had drifted from stage to stage since leaving the Army in 1957 Looking to boost his career prospects he visited a Queens concert hall intending to use it for self promotion 1 While awaiting a meeting with the hall s owner he encountered the mother of Herb Rooney and it emerged that he wanted a singer to record one of his compositions 1 After an informal discussion with Rooney himself Bliss hit the studio to record it 1 Rooney had intended the A Side to be Reward and thus presented it to Bliss first 3 Subject matter edit Synthetic Substitution is a scathing critique of what society would be like if it was entirely computerised 4 which towards the end of the song features the wailing of Bliss clinging onto the final few authentic remnants of his daily life 1 In 1986 the song s drums provided by Bernard Purdie 5 were sampled in Ego Trippin by Ultramagnetic MCs spawning numerous other uses It has since been sampled in over 800 songs 6 Synthetic Substitution lends its name to a 2011 Earl Holder produced documentary about Melvin Bliss Synthetic Substitution The Life Story of Melvin Bliss which was released by Peripheral Enterprises 5 In a 2010 interview produced exclusively for its trailer Bliss said that Herb Rooney and I had no idea what the song was about we just needed a B side 7 Select list of samples edit Nigga Bridges Getdafucout and Throw Ya Gunz by Onyx God Made Me Funky by Too Poetic 24 Deep and Back Fade by Brotha Lynch Hung Come Baby Come and Zunga Zeng by K7 Alwayz into Somethin and Real Niggaz Don t Die by N W A Nowhere to Run Nowhere to Hide and Bang Your Head by Gravediggaz O P P and Yoke the Joker by Naughty by Nature Transit Ride and Trust Me by Guru How U Get a Record Deal Looks Like a Job For and Somethin Funky by Big Daddy Kane For Pete s Sake Anger in the Nation and Can t Front on Me by Pete Rock amp CL Smooth Jam 4 U and I m a Bad by Redman Smile by Vitamin C 8 Clan In Da Front Bring Da Ruckus and Method Man Skunk Mix by Wu Tang Clan Die in Your Arms by Justin Bieber New God Flow by Pusha T and Kanye West My Life by 50 Cent Ego Trippin and Watch Me Now by Ultramagnetic MC s The Champ and Mighty Healthy by Ghostface Killah DWYCK Code of the Streets and ALONGWAYTOGO by Gang Starr Land of Lords by The Underachievers Don t Believe the Hype Miuzi Weighs a Ton and Brothers Gonna Work It Out by Public Enemy All I Need by Method Man Step to My Girl and A Name I Call Myself by Souls of Mischief Middle of the Summer by Meek Mill Die Like a Rockstar by Danny Brown Miller Time by Plastic Little Animal Instinct by Mobb Deep Chillin by Audio Two Deadly Venoms Vocals Up by Prince Rakeem Run On and Extreme Ways by Moby So Called Friends by Group Home Potholes in My Lawn Millie Pulled a Pistol on Santa and Stone Age by De La Soul Beats International Won t Talk About It Cuttin Headz by Ol Dirty Bastard Street Dreamin by Bridget Kelly The 4th Branch by Immortal Technique Funky Dividends by Three Times Dope The Streetz R Deathrow When I Get Free II Part Time Mutha and Soulja s Story by 2Pac Grown Man Sport by InI Just Be Good to Green by Professor Green Dope Bitch by The Dream MMMBop by Hanson Ya Mama by The Pharcyde Saturday Night by Schoolly D She s Playing Hard to Get Clark Kent s Strictly Hip Hop Remix by Hi Five Pockets Full by Skyzoo Love Me Now by Beenie Man Burnt by Del tha Funkee Homosapien O G Original Gangster by Ice T Yasawas by Amon Tobin Supernova at the End of the Universe by The Orb Eazy Street by Eazy E What U See Is What U Get by Xzibit I ve Been Thinking About You by Mariah Carey Saturday Nite Live by Masta Ace Incorporated We Go Where Ever We Want by French Montana Wild and Crazy and A Visit to the Gynecologyst by Dr Octagon The Anthem by Lootpack Supa Jean by DJ Jazzy Jeff Sun Used to Shine by DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist Crossroads by LL Cool J Meanwhile Rick James by Cake Step to My Girl by Hieroglyphics One in the Chamba by The Almighty RSO Ice Cube Killa by Cypress Hill Home of the Greats by Black Milk All in Together Now by DJ Muggs and Gza Runway by Snow On a Clear Day by P M Dawn Cool V s Tribute to Scratching by Biz Markie Murder by Reason of Insanity by Scarface Great Pretender by Choice Cat People by Cujo Droppin the Bomb by The New Style The Movement by Common Scarface Groove by Paris Knock The Hustle by CozzReferences edit a b c d e f Holder Earl 2011 Synthetic Substitution The Life Story of Melvin Bliss Motion picture Peripheral Enterprises Melvin Bliss Reward Synthetic Substitution Discogs 1973 Melvin Bliss Wax Poetics Retrieved 12 May 2013 Melvin Bliss R I P Hua Hsu The Atlantic Jul 27 2010 a b Synthetic Substitution Singer Sample Icon Melvin Bliss Dies Hiphopdx com 27 July 2010 Retrieved 13 May 2013 Synthetic Substitution Melvin Bliss WhoSampled Retrieved 14 October 2013 Melvin Bliss Documentary Trailer 1 YouTube Retrieved 14 May 2013 Vitamin C feat Lady Saw s Smile sample of Melvin Bliss s Synthetic Substitution WhoSampled Retrieved 2016 10 08 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Synthetic Substitution amp oldid 1182802586, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
