The UKs answer to what was being exported from New York in the 1980s was Cookie Crew, 2 girls from Clapham, South London. Coming to prominence after winning a national rap championship and recording two sessions for the John Peel Radio 1 show, Cookie Pryce and Susan Banfield were categorised as a rap music duo and signed with the label Rhythm King. This is a label that started as an off-shoot to Daniel Miller’s Mute Records and they were put in the studio with production trio Beatmasters, who guided them in the direction of House Music.
This 4 CD box set features the duo’s 2 studio albums, 1989’s Born This Way and 1991’s Fade to Black, along with a further 2 CDs which contain remixes from across the duo’s career, many of which have not been released on CD before, if at all. Kicking off with ‘Yo! What’s Up’, bearing a chronological marker supplied by the introduction, telling their audience, “This is the Cookie Crew from 1989…”. Indicating just where their influence had come from, in part from the line “….We’re Lost in Music…”, a tribute to American Vocal group Sister Sledge. But these sounds were fatter than anything provided by the trio back in the day and to my ears sound just as fresh as when they were first released. I think it’s the fact the duo went large, the recording of this number having everything but the kitchen sink thrown at it, along with turntable scratching and bass, that’s been turned up to eleven. The follow-up track ‘From The South’, needs no introduction if you’ve been following the text, with an announcement that begins “This one’s going out to all the South London MCs, in the place to be…”, before the beats begin. Unlike the track that would become their debut, being ‘Rok Da House’, ‘FTS’ comes across as very street, with the MCs appearing to freestyle, whereas ‘RDH’ is predominantly house-influenced and most definitely a Club tune. Tracks that drop throughout the album, come at you like a ray of light, like the number ‘Come On And Get Some’ featuring a sample from Curtis Mayfield’s ’Super Fly’. Mayfield’s original track was a classic and this number doesn’t let its predecessor down, Cookie Crew’s reworking standing tall. A sample from James Brown’s ‘I’m A Greedy Man’, heard on ‘Pick Up On This’ is immediately picked out. This album is like a who’s who, when it comes to those samples featured, the track which is the fullest, is ‘Bad Girls (Rock The Spot)’, containing no less than 7 samples and has itself been sampled by Dr. Dre on the compilation The Aftermath. Tracks from this album come at the listener like a lesson in early hip-hop, veering toward the sounds of House and Soul music, and are simply delicious to hear.
Switch to their second album Fade To Black, beginning with ‘Secrets (Of Success)’, which uses samples from Barry White’s ‘I’m Gonna Love You Just A Little Bit More Baby’. Sounds that are woven into the track, with further echoes delivered as you progress. House music is referenced from keys played, during a number which also uses Pleasaure’s ‘Bouncy Lady’ and Brenda Russell’s ‘A Little Bit Of Love’. The next track, ‘Love Will Bring Us Together’ contains a heavier tone, with Cookie Crew’s vocals, supplemented by a male MC and his vocal. This musical soup stiffens as it progresses, comprising not just house music chords, but chimes which elevate the number. This is during a tune which may be considered more familiar to vocalist Luther Vandross, during his Give Me A Reason phase. Interestingly the album’s title track ‘Fade To Black’, sees the artists tackle the subject of race and the misinformation those of colour had found themselves following, but this was 1991 and as we have seen from recent events, it doesn’t matter which race, colour, or creed you follow, this is societal. During a song which in audio terms is left to “…Fade To Black…”, using a bass-heavy tone and simple melody. As a collection of the 2 albums, it’s easy to hear the direction the pairing took.
The additional content provided on both albums demonstrates a smattering of bonus tracks, but it’s the final 2 discs which show just how their recordings have been taken to, comprising a total of 30 tracks, which feature both extended mixes, as well as accappella versions, and instrumentals. Across disc 3, eight of the tracks have not been issued on CD before, whilst on disc 4, eleven of the fifteen tracks have NEVER been issued before on CD or vinyl. Of these, particular favourites are the unreleased ‘Secrets (Of Success) (Two Step Style)’, which with it’s smooth swing, house keys and the MC’s repeated vocal “…It’s time for the Cookie Crew…” will encourage those seated, to stand up and kick some moves. As well as the previously available Deep Club Mix of ‘Brother Like Sister’, which with its tonally deep bass, demonstrates just how good a remix can be. Not just for fans of the Cookie Crew, but also those interested in the evolution of Hip-Hop and House, will find this 4 CD set of interest. Another recommendation would have to be the exclusive interviews that have been provided as part of the sleeve notes and the previously unreleased photographs illustrating the set, these taken from their photo archive, providing rare images. Artists who brought their sounds to wider attention after forming in 1983, their careers heading skyward after recording for John Peel. These 61 tracks, containing almost 5 hours of music and filled with contributions from some of the scene’s most notable artists, are certainly worth a dip. Can I persuade you any further.
