My favorite album sophomore year in college was De La Soul's 3 Feet High and Rising, and my favorite single on that album was definitely A Roller Skating Jam Named "Saturdays". But it wasn't until I had listened to the song a couple of times, that I recognized that among others, Saturday in the Park, by Chicago and Could you be Loved, by Bob Marley, had be sampled into it. Besides being one of the greatest records of the last quarter century, 3 Feet High was a turning point for sampling laws.
That's just a little background on where I was really going---last night I watched COPYRIGHT CRIMINALS on PBS. As an artist who helps others others produce their own work, I found this film to be so interesting. It addressed questions of ownership, the role of the producer, the artist, and the publisher. The main question the movie asks is--can you own a sound? As hip-hop rose from the streets to become a multibillion-dollar industry, artists started reusing parts of previously recorded music for their songs. But when record company lawyers got involved everything changed. The movie examines the creative and commercial value of musical sampling, including the related debates over artistic expression, copyright law and money.
Check it out, it's so good and hurts so bad (Little Anthony & The Imperials) at the same time.
Watch the trailer
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That looks really interesting! I will have to check to see when it is playing in our area.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this! Here's another movie that gives a historical perspective on the technological side of sampling:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCabuis6t2w
Haven't seen it - just heard about it the other day on NPR...
Hmm, link didn't work. It's called "Mellodrama", a documentary about the Mellotron.
ReplyDeletehey Karen,
ReplyDeleteCool, I'll look it up!
Great to see you last month! g