Pump Up The Volume by M/A/R/R/S

Album: Ultra '80s Vs Electro, Vol 1 (1987)

Charted: 1 13

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Songfacts®:

This song is made up of about 250 samples. The line, "Pump Up The Volume" came from "I Know You Got Soul" by Eric B. & Rakim, which was released earlier in 1987. Other samples include Coldcut's 1987 song "Say, Kids What Time Is This" and James Brown's "Funky Drummer." It also contains three seconds of Stock Aitken & Waterman's song "Roadblock," but the group didn't get official clearance and Peter Waterman placed an injunction for five days while the copyright issues were worked out.
This was the first ever #1 UK hit on an independent record label: 4AD. It also reached #1 in Holland and New Zealand.
The song was so popular it was re-issued over 10 times internationally. In Europe, it was released at a slower tempo than the popular Chicago house sound so it would appeal to the London club crowd who were currently into soul sounds.
M/A/R/R/S was a one-off collaboration between members of A.R. Kane (Alex and Rudi Kane) and Colourbox (Martin and Steve Young), both veteran 4AD artists. They took their name from the four collaborator's initials plus that of label boss Ivo Watts-Russell, who suggested they get together. Those four are the credited songwriters on the track.
DJs Chris "CJ" Mackintosh and Dave Dorrell were recruited by M/A/R/R/S to take care of the sampling. CJ recalls, "It was all done very quickly. They called me in the morning, we went to Blackwing Studios at London Bridge and stuck all the samples on that day and I got a £200 fee." Dave Dorrell said, "Pump Up The Volume provided a link between the retro sound of rare groove and the sample-heavy nature of much of the new US dance music."

Dorrell has another claim to fame: He managed the band Bush and helped them break through in America.
This was featured in the films My Stepmother Is An Alien (1988), Bright Lights, Big City (1988) and The Replacements (2000).
In 1988 a parody of this by Starturn On 45 (Pints) called "Pump Up The Bitter" reached #12 in the UK.

Comments: 9

Beach from NyRhythmatic systematic full control magnetic genetic
commands your soul that's how I hear it not what's written everywhere or a deviation of sorts
Payta from CalexicoI heard that 4AD was in financial trouble and when Ivo watts Russell release this song, it basically save 4AD from bankrupcy. Any thougths?
Bob from Lawrence, KsEnglish music publication NME (New Musical Express) published a list of nearly all the samples (a couple eluded them if I recall properly - it's been over 20 years) back in '87. If someone could track down that issue and post that list...
Eugene from Minneapolis, MnThe UK original single mix IS much better than the altered US single mix. Yes, I like both, yet at the same time the UK mix sounded much more underground with the James Brown and the Stock Aikten & Waterman samples. These days ya can't find original mix anywhere. All of the ones that I have found omit the SAW "Roadblock" sample. I guess that SAW lawsuit got that ugly....
Mjn Seifer from Not Listed For Personal Reason, EnglandWell, I managed to check out most of them, (thanks to YouTube), and I some I picked out the samples as soon as I heard them (e.g. "More Peas", "I Know You Got Soul" etc...) other took some studying (e.g "Holy Ghost") Others I'm still studying to find the sample (e.g. "Din Da Da") but I apreciate the list and I will continue researching.

I also realized by listening to them I GOT THE LYRICS TO THE SONG WRONG!! I shall correct this when I can. Be patient though guys.
Mjn Seifer from Not Listed For Personal Reason, EnglandThank you for listing them. I'll try and listen to thoes songs when I get chance.
Bender from East West Virginia, VaThe following are select samples only. Unconfirmed samples (including Ofra Haza's "Im Nin'Alu") have not been included. Due to the song's legal history, samples used in the UK and US versions vary.[1]

The Bar-Kays "Holy Ghost" from Holy Ghost, 1978 (12")
Criminal Element Orchestra "Put The Needle To The Record" from Put The Needle To The Record, 1987 (12")
Eric B. & Rakim "I Know You Got Soul (Acappella)" from I Know You Got Soul, 1987 (12")
George Kranz "Din Daa Daa (Trommeltanz)" from Din Daa Daa, 1983 (12")--US 12" remix
Graham Central Station "The Jam" from Ain't No 'Bout-A-Doubt It, 1975 (LP)
Fred Wesley & The JB's "More Peas" from Doing It To Death, 1973 (LP)
Jimmy Castor Bunch "It's Just Begun" from It's Just Begun, 1972 (LP)
Kool And The Gang "Jungle Jazz" from Spirit Of The Boogie, 1975 (LP)
The Last Poets "Mean Machine (Chant)" from This Is Madness, 1971 (LP)--UK remixes
Pressure Drop "Rock the House (You'll Never Be)" from Rock the House (You'll Never Be), 1983 (12")
Public Enemy "You're Gonna Get Yours (My 98 Oldsmobile)" from Yo! Bum Rush The Show, 1987 (LP)
Run-DMC "Here We Go (Live at Funhouse)" from Here We Go, 1983 (12")
Introduction to The Soul Children's "I Don't Know What This World Is Coming To" from Wattstax: The Living Word, 1972 (LP)
Stock, Aitken & Waterman "Roadblock (7" Version)" from Roadblock, 1986 (12")--UK versions
Tom Browne "Funkin' For Jamaica (N.Y.)" from Love Approach, 1980 (LP)
Trouble Funk "Drop The Bomb" from Drop The Bomb, 1982 (LP)
Lovebug Starski & The Harlem World Crew "Positive Life" from Positive Life, 1981 (12")--UK remixes
Diana from Los Angeles, Caalso used Israeli singer Ofra Haza's "Im Nin'Alu".
Mjn Seifer from Not Listed For Personal Reason, EnglandI would be greatful if someone could suply a list of all "samples". Thank you

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