Can I Get An Amen?, 2004

Can I get An Amen?

“Can I Get An Amen? is an audio installation that unfolds a critical perspective of perhaps the most sampled drums beat in the history of recorded music, the Amen Break. It begins with the pop track Amen Brother by 60’s soul band The Winstons, and traces the transformation of their drum solo from its original context as part of a ‘B’ side vinyl single into its use as a key aural ingredient in contemporary cultural expression.”

11 thoughts on “Can I Get An Amen?, 2004

  1. Pretty cool stuff. All I need now is a tutorial on how to get the original Amens sounding like the heavily distorted stuff you find in Dom & Roland, Tech Itch, B Key and Dylan tracks.

  2. The Winstons were not a funk/soul group they were a gospel band based out of Washington DC and are still performing to this day.

  3. But not with the original members. And “Color him Father” and “Amen Brother” was produced by James Brown, which counts as Funk and Soul. The Drummer was one from James Brown’s band.

  4. Wouldn’t be the same drummer from the “give the drummer some” track would it?

  5. Unbelievably interesting. 6 second sample ->entire scenes and musical genres. The Winstons-drummer wouldn’t have foreseen it, I guess.

  6. LOL wtf is raaaggaaaa jungle?! this geeza’s voice had me in stitches! very droll and virtually monotone, i bet he would sound depressed if was talking about just winning the lottery or having sex! someone needs to stick a firework up his jacksy :-)

    but yer interesting indeedy

  7. Very interesting…

    … the music we love has been based, largely, on a 6 second sample.

    Amazing.

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