Why do people love to sample Marlene Shaw?

Remember me (Dj Mistri)? No, not in that way. However, I have been away for a long time regarding musical content for this website. However, I am back.

And on this occasion, I would like to review a Soul/HipHop single that was released in the late 1990s. The single that I am referring to is called “Remember Me” by Blue Boy, in 1997.

I was doing the housework at the time, and I had the Radio on. I was cleaning the house.

As soon as I heard the beginnings of the track whilst cleaning, I knew it was Blue Boys “Remember Me”. I walked across the room and turned up the volume so that I could hear the rest of this fabulous single.

Music critics who are not too keen in regards to the culture of music sampling should take a listen to this. It’s brilliant. Simple, snappy, and very much to the point.

The drums and the bass line within this song are just perfect. And the choices of samples that are used are out of this world.

The DJ whose real name is Alexis “Lex” James Blackmore, who created this masterpiece, is actually from England but then moved to Scotland. 

Alexis “Lex” James Blackmore is actually from West Sussex, and then he moved to the Midlands (with his family,) where he grew up in Northampton.

He then, later on, moved to the city of Glasgow and spent many years up there.

Alex established the name Blueboy during the year 1995, after working under several other guises.

In the year 1997, Blueboy struck gold. It was decided that “Remember Me” would be released first on the label known as Mushroom Jazz Volume One via Jive Records. 

A radio edit was quickly arranged and put together by the production team called “Sure is Pure”. And the rest is history as they say. The Single peaked at number 8 on the UK music charts. It also went to number 2 on the American Dance Singles charts.

For some time now, music lovers around the world have been wondering who the lead singer on this track.

No one could fathom it out. However, news came through on the grapevine that 2 x samples were utilized in creating this single. All that was put to bed.

The sample in question that is/was used IN CREATING “Remember Me” was from the 1973 live version of "Woman of the Ghetto", a 1969 soul song by Marlena Shaw (Her 2nd Album release), originally recorded for her album The Spice of Life.

The "ging, gi-gi-gi-gi-ging..." sample repeated throughout the song is the scat portion of the original song's makeup. “Remember Me” is a truly infectious single that captured the imagination of music lovers from around the world when it was released in 1997.

Blue Boy was never to have another hit like this again as he quickly disappeared from the scene.

However, in 2012, the single was in the news all over again as it was used by a UK singer/musician called Daley. Who sampled the song was assisted by Jessie J, with the singing duties in November 2012.

What does Marlena Shaw think of sampling her music and sampling in general?

“When it first happened, and the Mushroom Jazz people contacted me from San Francisco, I was kind of excited about it. But then, once I HEARD it, my first reaction was ‘Oh my goodness!

How in the world can I possibly stand onstage and sing those same notes, and those same lyrics, over and over again? You know, ‘I’m the one who had your babies - ha-ha! I mean, it’s different when it’s being recorded and you’re just pushing the button!

But then, once I got used to the idea, I became excited all over again! And actually, several other people have sampled the song since, though with them it’s been the onstage version I did on the (1973-released) ‘Live At Montreux’ album that seems to have got more attention - I guess because it was more spontaneous.

Which, as I say, is something that HAPPENS in my live performances! And I particularly liked the St. Germain version, which had more of a jazz flavor to it.”

Marlena’s ideas on being sampled by today’s hip-hop generation in general?

“I don’t have any particular feelings one way or the other about it. I mean, there are good versions out there: there are some I’ve heard and some, believe it or not, I’ve NOT heard! You know, it mostly just comes through the publishing company, and then I read the stats at the end of every quarter, or what have you.

I mean, they may not even mention the artist’s NAME. Because a lot of the time, these things are dealt with via production companies. But I guess, in general, I feel blessed that anybody wants to reach back and get something of mine. You know, to me that’s glory.”

(Taken from this source - Marlena Shaw in conversation

Still, think that sampling is not the way forward for music? Well, let me know your views after listening to this classic. I wondered if Marlena Shaw got paid her dues on this single.

PLEASE CLICK ON THE WEBSITE LINK BELOW.

The death of Marlena Shaw Jan 2024

Don’t be afraid to leave your views on this musical article and or on the subject of sampling within the music.  CONTACT USabout it.

Dj Mistri – date 4th January 2014-01-04 © www.electricsoulshow.com