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Eugene McDaniels - The Supermarket Blues · by Sach O
The Original Ghostdog?
Eugene McDaniels – Supermarket Blues
Since I smoke on the daily, I practically forgot that today was 4:20. It’s not as if I need an excuse to light one up after a hard day of sitting-on-my-ass-instead-of-looking-for-a-job.
I’ve already posted a weed related selection earlier this week so I was at a loss for something that would truly capture the spirit of April 20th 2007 until I thought back to some of the music featured in Monkey Warfare, the film I saw last night (not a bad movie incidentally). Along with a bunch of hippie stuff that wouldn’t fly around here, the filmmaker wisely used Eugene McDaniel’s Outlaw and Headless Heroes of the Apocalypse as a key plot points and sonic singifiers. The name and the albums may not be familiar, but if you’ve ever listened to the Beasties, A Tribe Called Quest or Organized Konfusion among others, you definitely know the grooves. Eugene McDaniels was an ordinary run-of-the-mill God fearing soul singer in the sixties until he turned radical and started singing about killing pigs, bringing down the government and other activities which raised the ire of the feds. In fact, he raised so much ire that Vice President Spiro Agnew personally called Atlantic Records in an attempt to have McDaniels’ records banned. Even NWA’s “Fuck the Police” couldn’t top THAT.
Today’s selection Supermarket Blues, in addition to featuring a stoned out loop recently used by Madlib for the first Quasimoto album highlights the kind of racism, intolerance, violence that wouldn’t feel out of place on the 24 Hour News Networks 35 years later. Humorously retelling a not-so-funny story about a mistaken can of produce and a violent mob, McDaniels’ dejected singing brings to mind similar folks-soul artists Gil Scott Heron and Terry Collier. Despite feeling somewhat dated stylistically, the content is also remarkably current: at a time where comedians and shock jocks are throwing fits and disgruntled college students are going nuts, the second verse’s last line is particularly poignant: Really wish I’d stayed home and gotten high instead comin into the street and having this awful fight…
Happy Slacker’s day y’all.
Comments for "Eugene McDaniels - The Supermarket Blues"
damn, I forgot it was 4:20 too…
— Graham Apr 21, 04:07 AM
irrelevant comment – but – why not submit a feed regarding the ohword! teams favourite boom-bap dinosaur drum kits? why the hell did they use so much Skullsnaps back then? – eyo! make it happen some cos i think ya’ll could make-up some funny shit
— Darkus S. Apr 21, 05:49 PM