The Cactus Album: Original Samples

The debut album from 3rd Bass, The Cactus Album (or The Cee/D), is arguably one of the top hip hop albums of all time. Released on Def Jam in 1989, the album received positive reviews and 3rd Bass received popularity by being the second white group to achieve hip hop credibility, after the Beastie Boys. The album is notable for featuring Daniel Dumile (on ‘”The Gas Face”) in his recording debut. At the time, he was recording under the alias Zev Love X, a member of the rap duo KMD, but would later come to be known as MF DOOM.

The Cactus Album included production from all three members of 3rd Bass, as well as Prince Paul, who was working on De La Soul‘s debut and Big Daddy Kane‘s sophomore album at that time. 44 samples in all, this sample set is comprised of the usual funk tracks and break beats. One gem that caught my eye was Tom Wait’s “Way Down in the Hole” which was the theme song to the HBO series “The Wire”. Enjoy the set!

“Good Old Days” by Leroy Shield
Theme Song to the Our Gang Television Show (1937)
Sampled in “Stymie’s Theme”
Produced by Prime Minister Pete Nice

“Spinning Wheel” by Blood, Sweat & Tears
From the album Blood, Sweat, & Tears (1969)
Sampled in “Sons of 3rd Bass”
Produced by Prime Minister Pete Nice & Sam Sever

“I Like It” by The Emotions
From the album So I Can Love You (1969)
Sampled in “The Gas Face”
Produced by Prince Paul
Co-produced by 3rd Bass

“Respect” by Aretha Franklin
From the album I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You) (1967)
Sampled in “The Gas Face”
Produced by Prince Paul
Co-produced by 3rd Bass

“Think” by Aretha Franklin
From the album Now (1968)
Sampled in “The Gas Face”
Produced by Prince Paul
Co-produced by 3rd Bass

“Black Frost” by Grover Washington Jr.
From the album Mister Magic (1975)
Sampled in “Monte Hall”
Produced by Prime Minister Pete Nice & Sam Sever

“Hot Pants…I’m Coming, I’m Coming, I’m Coming” by Bobby Byrd
From the single “Hot Pants…I’m Coming, I’m Coming, I’m Coming” (1969)
Sampled in “Oval Office”
Produced by Eric Sadler, Hank Shocklee & Keith Shocklee
Co-produced by 3rd Bass

“I’m Gonna Get You” by Sir Joe Quartermain & Free Soul
From the single “I’m Gonna Get You”
Sampled in “Oval Office”
Produced by Eric Sadler, Hank Shocklee & Keith Shocklee
Co-produced by 3rd Bass

“(I Got) So Much Trouble in my Mind” by Sir Joe Quartermain & Free Soul
From the album Sir Joe Quartermain and Free Soul (1973)
Sampled in “Oval Office”
Produced by Eric Sadler, Hank Shocklee & Keith Shocklee
Co-produced by 3rd Bass

“Ashley’s Roachclip” by Soul Searchers
From the album Salt of the Earth (1974)
Sampled in “Oval Office”
Produced by Eric Sadler, Hank Shocklee & Keith Shocklee
Co-produced by 3rd Bass

“Din Daa Daa” by George Kranz
From the album Din Daa Daa (1983)
Sampled in “Oval Office”
Produced by Eric Sadler, Hank Shocklee & Keith Shocklee
Co-produced by 3rd Bass

“Heaven & Hell is on Earth” by 20th Century Steel Band
From the album Warm Heart, Cold Steel (1975)
Sampled in “Soul in the Hole”
Produced by Prime Minister Pete Nice & Sam Sever

“Sister Sanctified” by Stanley Turrentine
From the album Cherry (1972)
Sampled in “Soul in the Hole”
Produced by Prime Minister Pete Nice & Sam Sever

“This House is Smokin” by B. T. Express
From the album Do it Till Your Satisfied (1974)
Sampled in “Triple Stage Darkness”
Produced by Prime Minister Pete Nice & Sam Sever

“UFO” by ESG
From the album ESG (1981)
Sampled in “Triple Stage Darkness”
Produced by Prime Minister Pete Nice & Sam Sever

“Assembly Line” by The Commodores
From the album Machine Gun (1974)
Sampled in “Wordz of Wizdom” and “Wordz of Wisdom, Pt. 2″
Produced by Prime Minister Pete Nice & Sam Sever

“Love is Alive” by Gary Wright
From the album The Dreamweaver (1975)
Sampled in “Wordz of Wizdom” and “Wordz of Wisdom, Pt. 2″
Produced by Prime Minister Pete Nice & Sam Sever

“Dream Weaver” by Gary Wright
From the album The Dreamweaver (1975)
Sampled in “Wordz of Wizdom”
Produced by Prime Minister Pete Nice & Sam Sever

“Amen Brother” by The Winstons
From the album Color Him Father (1969)
Sampled in “Wordz of Wisdom” and “Wordz of Wisdom, Pt. 2″
Produced by Prime Minister Pete Nice & Sam Sever

“Everyone’s Gone to the Movies” by Steely Dan
From the album Katy Lied (1975)
Sampled in “Wordz of Wizdom”
Produced by Prime Minister Pete Nice & Sam Sever

“Blind Alley” by Emotions
From the album Untouched (1971)
Sampled in “Product of the Environment”
Produced by 3rd Bass & Sam Sever

“Blow Your Head” by Fred Wesley & The JB’s
From the album Damn Right I Am Somebody (1974)
Sampled in “Product of the Environment”
Produced by 3rd Bass & Sam Sever

“Soul Power ’74″ by Maceo & the Macks
From the album US (1974)
Sampled in “Product of the Environment”
Produced by 3rd Bass & Sam Sever

“Simple Song” by Meters
From the album The Meters (1969)
Sampled in “Product of the Environment”
Produced by 3rd Bass & Sam Sever

“Peace Frog” by The Doors
From the album Morrison Hotel (1970)
Sampled in “The Cactus”
Produced by Mr. Puffy McScruffy , Prime Minister Pete Nice & Sam Sever

“Dawn’s Highway” by Jim Morrison
From the album An American Prayer (1978)
Sampled in “The Cactus”
Produced by Mr. Puffy McScruffy , Prime Minister Pete Nice & Sam Sever

“Way Down in the Hole” by Tom Waits
From the album Frank’s Wild Years (1987)
Sampled in “Flippin’ off the Wall Like Luch Ball”
Produced by 3rd Bass & Sam Sever

“Best of My Love” by The Emotions
From the album Rejoice (1978)
Sampled in “Brooklyn-Queens”
Produced by Prime Minister Pete Nice

“Got to Be Real” by Cheryl Lynn
From the album Cheryl Lynn (1978)
Sampled in “Brooklyn-Queens”
Produced by Prime Minister Pete Nice

“Jungle Jazz” by Kool and the Gang
From the album Spirit of the Boogie (1975)
Sampled in “Brooklyn-Queens”
Produced by Prime Minister Pete Nice

“A Wild and Crazy Guy” by Steve Martin
From the album A Wild and Crazy Guy (1978)
Sampled in “Brooklyn-Queens”
Produced by Prime Minister Pete Nice

“You Haven’t Done Nothing” by Stevie Wonder
From the album Fufillingness’ First Finale (1974)
Sampled in “Brooklyn-Queens”
Produced by Prime Minister Pete Nice

“The Metal Melter” by Milt Jackson & the Ray Brown Big Band
From the album Olinga (1974)
Sampled in “Brooklyn-Queens”
Produced by Prime Minister Pete Nice

“Shack Up” by Banbarra
From the single “Shack Up” (1976)
Sampled in “Steppin’ To the A.M.”
Produced by Eric Sadler, Hank Shocklee & Keith Shocklee

“Mother Earth” by Kool and the Gang
From the album Spirit of the Boogie (1975)
Sampled in “Steppin’ To the A.M.”
Produced by Eric Sadler, Hank Shocklee & Keith Shocklee

“Stoned to the Bone” by James Brown
From the album The Payback (1974)
Sampled in “Steppin’ To the A.M.”
Produced by Eric Sadler, Hank Shocklee & Keith Shocklee

“Spoonin’ Rap” by Spoonie G
From the single “Spoonin’ Rap” (1980)
Sampled in “Steppin’ To the A.M.”
Produced by Eric Sadler, Hank Shocklee & Keith Shocklee

“Can’t Find the Judge” by Gary Wright
From the album The Dreamweaver (1975)
Sampled in “Steppin’ To the A.M.”
Produced by Eric Sadler, Hank Shocklee & Keith Shocklee

“Time” by Pink Floyd
From the album The Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
Sampled in “Steppin’ To the A.M.”
Produced by Eric Sadler, Hank Shocklee & Keith Shocklee

“Root Down (And Get It)” by Jimmy Smith
From the album Root Down, Jimmy Smith Live! (1972)
Sampled in “Steppin’ To the A.M.”
Produced by Eric Sadler, Hank Shocklee & Keith Shocklee

“Time to Get Ill” by The Beastie Boys
From the album Licensed to Ill (1986)
Sampled in “Steppin’ To the A.M.”
Produced by Eric Sadler, Hank Shocklee & Keith Shocklee

“Who’s On 1st” by Abbot & Costello
Sampled in “Who’s on 3rd”
Produced by Prime Minister Pete Nice & Sam Sever

“Never Let Me Down Again” by Depeche Mode
From the album Music for the Masses (1987)
Sampled in “Wordz of Wisdom, Pt. 2″
Produced by Prime Minister Pete Nice & Sam Sever

“Inaugural Address” by President John F. Kennedy
Sampled in “Wordz of Wizdom” and “Wordz of Wisdom, Pt. 2″
Produced by Prime Minister Pete Nice & Sam Sever

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