The Vault Index

[Micodin]

Originally Posted by Brass Monk

I gotta be honest, I don't think HSCP1 exists in any real sense

I'd love to be wrong, but probably not.....

You're wrong.

*Tracklisting*
1. Tadlock’s Glasses
2. B-Boys In The Cut
3. Make Some Noise
4. Nonstop Disco Powerpack
5. OK
6. Too Many Rappers (featuring NAS)
7. Say It
8. The Bill Harper Collection
9. Don’t Play No Game That I Can’t Win (featuring Santigold)
10. Long Burn The Fire
11. Bundt Cake
12. Funky Donkey
13. Lee Majors Come Again
14. Multilateral Nuclear Disarmament
15. Pop Your Balloon
16. Crazy Ass Shit
17. Here’s A Little Something For Ya

*Review*
1. Tadlock’s Glasses

The joking original mooted title of the album, Ad-Rock, Mike D and MCA get rolling with a curious nod to the driver of Elvis’s back-up singers. Distorted electronic squiggles dominate a slightly warped atmosphere that reprises yells of “And you don’t stop...” like ‘Sure Shot’ was recorded 15 years later on a stack of good drugs. Promising start...

2. B-Boys In The Cut

Banging bass and the throwback feel of To The 5 Boroughs are tempered by what appears to be the gruff tones of MCA, lyrics buried beneath an oddly satisfying muddy treatment as pitch-shifting vocals dip between layers of fuzziness. Ch-check it out.

3. Make Some Noise

Our EMI iPod (presented only after a high security full-body metal detector search for potential recording devices) reads ‘Make Some Noise If You’re With Me’, but whatever the title this is a definite future crowd hyper, almost Daft Punk-esque bass-line overlaid with thwacking dusty drums.

4. Nonstop Disco Powerpack

Lyricism more entangled than vines in a rainforest, a funky break and whistles rattle around as the mic is passed with a frequency. And unless there’s some serious yoghurting occurring on DiS’s part, Ad-Rock also appears to make the album’s strangest statement, proclaiming “See one last profiterole and make my play”. Finger-licking good.

5. OK

A playful vaguely squelchy electro intro is the signal for the Boys to rewind the clock, rhyming as if they were 20 years old again. Throw a vocoder breakdown into the mix, you say? Sure, why not...

6. Too Many Rappers (featuring Nas)

The indisputable high point of the record, thumping percussion accompanies the central sentiment: “Too many rappers/Not enough emcees”, although the ever-goofy threesome claim we misheard chat about “crack rappers”; the line in question is, they assure us, directed at “crab rappers”. There’s no disputing the proudly spat declaration “Grandpa been rapping since 1983”, though, and when Nas swaggers in with a seamless, highly conscious verse, Mix Master Mike might begin to look over his shoulder nervously as his fourth Beastie Boy mantle comes under threat. The most straight up hip-hop tune in recent BB history and all the better for it.

7. Say It

A menacing bass-line and more subtly overdriven mic effects give that in-the-booth feel, yet to the point where picking out individual lines beneath the hulking whole is tricky. Ends with a circus music-style mini-skit.

8. The Bill Harper Collection

The album’s first proper skit, purportedly an in-joke concerning the group’s business manager’s record collection. “Hi Adam, it’s Bill. Thanks” is the solitary vocal sample in 23 seconds of silliness. Dude sounds like a riot. To the extent we suspect he may own Creedence Clearwater Revival records.

9. Don’t Play No Game That I Can’t Win (featuring Santigold)

The reggae-tinged backdrop, faintly whiffing of an off-cut from former Beasties collaborator Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, betrays that Santigold very much takes the lead here. Sadly, there’s little chemistry, the ideas seemingly evaporate about midway through and the whole debacle is closer to Santigold featuring the Beastie Boys. Disappointing. Still, MCA, we think, restores a little cred, complaining about “clams with no tartar sauce”. Cream cakes and clams = ghetto, we think you’ll agree.

10. Long Burn The Fire

Ad-Rock is in combative mood here, boldly offering “I check my rear view/Emcees ain’t getting closer”, while a superhero-ish element imagines biting through haters with sharks teeth, clawing them with tiger’s claws and shooting poison out of their eyes. Rage Against The Machine-worthy bottom end and rampant organ seal the deal.

11. Bundt Cake

Another skit, this time a mere 21 seconds over a crisp drum break with snatches of cyber vocals.

12. Funky Donkey

“Put this on a zip disc/Send it to your lawyer” is an opening threat that doesn’t go unnoticed. The rhymes are almost throwaway over a beat that could almost sample Adamski, if only we knew the Beasties would never rewire something so simple to decipher.

13. Lee Majors Come Again

Already out there in the scary wide world as a sly snippet giveaway with select copies of the recent Check Your Head re-issue (ditto an a cappella of ‘B-Boys In The Cut’, fact fans), this is a hardcore punk days nod with meaty guitar chug. Ad-Rock, it seems, declares “I seen your grandpa in apple bottom jeans” and successfully manages to make it a dis, an achievement in itself, frankly...

14. Multilateral Nuclear Disarmament

For such politically active musicians it always seems frustrating that the Beastie Boys have rarely strayed into global social issues on record; nothing really changes here, beyond the title, although the vocals are once again a touch buried to be sure, something close to liquid g-funk and disconnected phased-up beats three-quarters of the way to an Usher hit obliterated by robot voice effects of prime ‘Intergalactic’ intent. This is either Kraftwerk scored by Dr Dre or our headphones are a bit shonky.

15. Pop Your Balloon

Continuing the pop-brushed theme, a quite dramatic sweeping intro doesn’t, as it really easily could, push into a Britney Spears moan-fest, instead pivoting off an insistent break and plenty of nasal Ad-Rock delivery.

16. Crazy Ass Shit

More food talk! This time “smoked salmon”. Damn, we’re hungry now. A sampled child’s voice is the key to the not-so-safe-for-kids ‘Crazy Ass Shit’ though, “You can’t stop/You’ve got to keep on” becoming a youthful mantra.

17. Here’s A Little Something For Ya

Initial bass burps raise eyebrows – are the Beasties about to follow Snoop Dogg into dipping tentative toes into dubstep? Once that opening has passed, however, it’s more familiar ground: playful rhymes, a terrace refrain, an organ breakdown, followed by what appears to be an untitled secret outro, proudly shouting out New York City with hands on hearts.

[dave790]

I don't understand how people can still be confused about the unreleased potential of the HSC era. There's the obvious original version of the album, i.e. the one that existed before it's re-mixing / mastering and slight alteration of the track-listing (and before that magnificent original cover art was changed).

And then there are the songs which were intended for release as a separate album (which would have originally been part 2), which Mike speculated on releasing in a different (or novel) manner.

Even if the latter does not exist in the cohesive form of an actual album (i.e. sequenced appropriately, mixed properly etc), I definitely believe an albums worth of extra material exists from the HSC sessions, and was originally planned to follow up what would have been the 2009 release of Hot Sauce.

That aside I've always thought most the "vault" speculation is just that: speculation. The off-cuts of Hello Nasty on the remastered edition's bonus disc are hardly a treasure trove of material. The CYH/IC era would mostly involve endless jams and experimentation which never made the records for a reason, while material worth salvaging worked it's way onto b-sides.

I remember the studio list of song titles which appeared in the run up to TT5B (e.g. the Fila one?), and i know some of then ended up as genuine songs, but that's not to say the rest were properly recorded or evolved beyond a loose-demo stage.

Any dusty gems from the 80's worth salvaging?

Instead of songs or materials which either never fitted a particular album or were simply not good enough, I'd much rather see "lost" footage recorded over the years, from the potential pro-shot Gala gig to the obvious Holy Grail - further footage from that short Paul's Boutique club show where the Shadrach video was shot.

[Brother McDuff]

Originally Posted by dave790

That aside I've always thought most the "vault" speculation is just that: speculation.

i think the idea of an actual physical "vault" is merely just a metaphor for the sum of their unreleased material. i doubt an actual vault exists. perhaps a few storage spaces, if anything.

on a sidenote, i do remember them mentioning at one point that they have a space of unreleased material that they unfondly referred to as the "crap factory".

and lastly, for the record, my initial reference to HSC pt.1 was in regards to the 2nd album's worth of material they had mentioned during the time of pt. 2's release. i dont think it is any mystery that there was another LP in the pipeline; thought they addressed that on more than one occassion, i.e. the 'showering fans with mp3s' interview. and dont forget the bob dylan sample from his radio show and mike's fart spray cologne. kinda shocked that this topic is still being debated.

[Kid Presentable]

Originally Posted by Brother McDuff

and lastly, for the record, my initial reference to HSC pt.1 was in regards to the 2nd album's worth of material they had mentioned during the time of pt. 2's release. i dont think it is any mystery that there was another LP in the pipeline; thought they addressed that on more than one occassion, i.e. the 'showering fans with mp3s' interview. and dont forget the bob dylan sample from his radio show and mike's fart spray cologne. kinda shocked that this topic is still being debated.

Agreed. It was addressed so many times, and it wasn't the 'goofing' type of insight.

[Micodin]

Originally Posted by Brother McDuff

kinda shocked that this topic is still being debated.

Well, there's a grip of people on here that are either in denial or talk out of their ass.

[Brother McDuff]

could be wishful thinking getting the best of me, but i strongly feel we'll see another release or two from the bboy catalog before all is said and done. for a considerably adventurous band that notoriously released albums at nearly half the rate as typical acts, it's undeniable how much material they must have compiled over the years and just too fitting of an opportunity for a band that gets it's jollies from doing fun creative things for its fans. tons of opportunity.

i also cant shake the remark mario made after Yauch's passing about all the unused beastie material he'd been sifting through, some of which was really solid stuff.

[dave790]

Originally Posted by Brother McDuff

i think the idea of an actual physical "vault" is merely just a metaphor for the sum of their unreleased material. i doubt an actual vault exists. perhaps a few storage spaces, if anything.

on a sidenote, i do remember them mentioning at one point that they have a space of unreleased material that they unfondly referred to as the "crap factory".

and lastly, for the record, my initial reference to HSC pt.1 was in regards to the 2nd album's worth of material they had mentioned during the time of pt. 2's release. i dont think it is any mystery that there was another LP in the pipeline; thought they addressed that on more than one occassion, i.e. the 'showering fans with mp3s' interview. and dont forget the bob dylan sample from his radio show and mike's fart spray cologne. kinda shocked that this topic is still being debated.

Oh I agree, I always just assumed 'vault' was accepted terminology for referencing unreleased material / projects. Though that would be cool though, I wonder if either Mike or Adam ever trifle through the Crap Factory from time to time.

And yes that's what I thought (in regards to the existence of another albums worth of material). It seemed crystal clear from said interview with Mike, and the Bob Dylan thing sounded very Beastie-plausible. I didn't mean to relaunch the debate, I'm just wary that the albums existence has always seemed to be inexplicably questioned.

edit: On another note, do you think any of the HSC 2009 editions were actually printed? I'd like to think there are a few promo copies knocking about with the original mix / track-listing, but then I also think something would have surfaced or leaked by now. It remains quite the curio worth owning / hearing for me.

[Brother McDuff]

Originally Posted by dave790

edit: On another note, do you think any of the HSC 2009 editions were actually printed? I'd like to think there are a few promo copies knocking about with the original mix / track-listing, but then I also think something would have surfaced or leaked by now. It remains quite the curio worth owning / hearing for me.

Originally Posted by Micodin

My point is there is a version of Part 1 that exists without the mix of Zdar. It's real and living on people's hard drives. It might be the same songs, but it sounds sonically different.

The first version, as previously stated, was the mixdown the beasties had done themselves. If you recall the original mixes of Too Many Rappers, Lee Majors Come Again, and even Pop Your Balloon, they sounded pretty awful by comparison. Lee Majors was a gritty track in general, so that one wasnt as much of an issue either way. While the Zdar mixes aren't necessarily mind-blowing by any means (still prefer Mario's sound), the contrast between the 1st and 2nd mixdown are night and day. I guess its a matter of opinion, but im certainly not dying to hear (what i like to call) the "rough mix" edition.

[Micodin]

I like to call Part 1 the "original mix".

Zdar's redlining overblown mix is tough to handle at times. And that's why HSCP2 gets the least amount of spins from me in their catalog.

And that's why they make chocolate and vanilla Pudding Pops.

[tuc70021]

Time for my semi-annual post....

I'm not debating anyone's post because this is obviously a fun and opinion-driven thread; just adding my two cents.

It's always interesting when "lost" recordings or unreleased recordings are let loose, like when the Paul's Boutique demos became more wide spread. But there's also something nice about knowing that something unreleased exists and never hearing it.

Firstly, unreleased material lets the artist keep a little something for himself. A lot of us grew up on the Beasties and have a deep connection to a lot of their work. But just imagine how they feel. They made that shit. Who knows, but maybe Mike and Adam occasionally listen to some bullshit studio tapes and get to have a piece of their history back that no one else has heard (besides Mario maybe). It's like whispering to yourself from the past.

Then there's what I think of as the anti-Richard Branson effect. I've got no problems with the guy, other than that he bought an uninhabited Island and built a resort for himself on it. I dunno why that bothers me so much. I just think it's great that there is mystery in this world, and sometimes (*sometimes*) it's nice to leave it be and just wonder about it. I can't even imagine how much cool shit has never been released by the b-boys. But as long as it's never released, it's still super cool shit - it never becomes a "crap factory" as the boys call it themselves.

Finally, I think music was a little different back then. Albums were.... like.... things. There were b-sides, but there wasn't this unrelenting torrent of remixing and special releases and instant access to shit. The Beastie Boys have a canon. They have an audio legacy. Leaks are nice sometimes, but too much can sort of dilute it. I love Car Thief, and the demos are cool too, but it does kind of take away from the "official" version when you hear multiple demos. It's like "Oh, that line was just kind of recycled a few times." When all you have is the PB album version, it's like... whoa.... this is some unique shit.

Anyway, just thinking out loud. Switching gears, I secretly suspect there is some sort of secret submarine recording DAT tape floating around somewhere. It would be pretty Beastie-esque to actually made a submarine album, then say they made it, then never release it. Everyone would be like "Ha ha, very funny. The ol' we made a submarine album gag huh?" No one would take it seriously, and they'd be laughing at all of us, just like they did in every interview they ever gave. THAT.... would be some cool shit.

[dave790]

Originally Posted by Brother McDuff

The first version, as previously stated, was the mixdown the beasties had done themselves. If you recall the original mixes of Too Many Rappers, Lee Majors Come Again, and even Pop Your Balloon, they sounded pretty awful by comparison. Lee Majors was a gritty track in general, so that one wasnt as much of an issue either way. While the Zdar mixes aren't necessarily mind-blowing by any means (still prefer Mario's sound), the contrast between the 1st and 2nd mixdown are night and day. I guess its a matter of opinion, but im certainly not dying to hear (what i like to call) the "rough mix" edition.

Definitely a matter of opinion. I'm not a huge fan of the final mix, though I have little to compare it to. I had no problem with the 2009 songs which were released though, there was an eerie lo-fi quality to them and a nice off-kilter reverb. I don't think Zdar has particularly butchered anything - for most of the songs it is impossible to say, as mentioned - aside from Lee Majors which sounds ridiculous, but I would like to reserve my opinion of contrast until the original surfaces in all it's (probable) glory.

I have to appreciate maybe hard copies were never pressed. The early 'reviews' were probably listening sessions under tight controls. I read a few reviews of TT5B which referred to a room of chairs, separate headphones, and bag/body searches before entering and before leaving. Mental.

[Micodin]

Originally Posted by dave790

I have to appreciate maybe hard copies were never pressed. The early 'reviews' were probably listening sessions under tight controls. I read a few reviews of TT5B which referred to a room of chairs, separate headphones, and bag/body searches before entering and before leaving. Mental.

For TT5B listening sessions for reviewers they had 6 to 10 Apple iMacs (the bubble joints) with the album on it on a table with chairs and headphones. They tried their hardest to prevent leaks. For HSCP1 they pretty much did the same but the reviewer had to listen to the record on a iPod in the room with a Capital staffer. Crazy pills.

Diplo, Z-Trip and other DJs/remixers either got the entire album (HSCP1) sent to them digital or on a burned cd. They got a early peak of the record to see what songs they would be interested in remixing. (Just a little info I got from one of my DJ/remixer pals that was asked to do a remix).

[pshabi]

Originally Posted by dave790

Oh I agree, I always just assumed 'vault' was accepted terminology for referencing unreleased material / projects. Though that would be cool though, I wonder if either Mike or Adam ever trifle through the Crap Factory from time to time.

And yes that's what I thought (in regards to the existence of another albums worth of material). It seemed crystal clear from said interview with Mike, and the Bob Dylan thing sounded very Beastie-plausible. I didn't mean to relaunch the debate, I'm just wary that the albums existence has always seemed to be inexplicably questioned.

edit: On another note, do you think any of the HSC 2009 editions were actually printed? I'd like to think there are a few promo copies knocking about with the original mix / track-listing, but then I also think something would have surfaced or leaked by now. It remains quite the curio worth owning / hearing for me.

Fyi.....the whole "vault" terminology came about because the BBoys themselves talked about releasing some Unreleased stuff in an email back in the day. It was in the HN era.

I always kinda assumed that most of that stuff was what they included on the HN reissue.

[dave790]

Originally Posted by Micodin

For TT5B listening sessions for reviewers they had 6 to 10 Apple iMacs (the bubble joints) with the album on it on a table with chairs and headphones. They tried their hardest to prevent leaks. For HSCP1 they pretty much did the same but the reviewer had to listen to the record on a iPod in the room with a Capital staffer. Crazy pills.

Diplo, Z-Trip and other DJs/remixers either got the entire album (HSCP1) sent to them digital or on a burned cd. They got a early peak of the record to see what songs they would be interested in remixing. (Just a little info I got from one of my DJ/remixer pals that was asked to do a remix).

Originally Posted by pshabi

Fyi.....the whole "vault" terminology came about because the BBoys themselves talked about releasing some Unreleased stuff in an email back in the day. It was in the HN era.

I always kinda assumed that most of that stuff was what they included on the HN reissue.

Unknown info for dave790 on both counts, cheers.

[Brass Monk]

Is double check your head the only place to find the alternate professor booty lyrics?
Is there a whole other verse or just 1 rhyme?
(the "serch for your dick but I bet it's too small" line)

[Brass Monk]

Originally Posted by Micodin

You're wrong.

*Tracklisting*
1. Tadlock’s Glasses
2. B-Boys In The Cut
3. Make Some Noise
4. Nonstop Disco Powerpack
5. OK
6. Too Many Rappers (featuring NAS)
7. Say It
8. The Bill Harper Collection
9. Don’t Play No Game That I Can’t Win (featuring Santigold)
10. Long Burn The Fire
11. Bundt Cake
12. Funky Donkey
13. Lee Majors Come Again
14. Multilateral Nuclear Disarmament
15. Pop Your Balloon
16. Crazy Ass Shit
17. Here’s A Little Something For Ya

I think you pretty much proved my point there. I don't think the BBoys previously stated idea of a 2 part album involved releasing the same material twice. Maybe it would be better for you to say "Hot Sauce Committee Part 2 Version 1 exists"

[Micodin]

Originally Posted by Brass Monk

I think you pretty much proved my point there. I don't think the BBoys previously stated idea of a 2 part album involved releasing the same material twice. Maybe it would be better for you to say "Hot Sauce Committee Part 2 Version 1 exists"

Hot Sauce Committee Part 1 exists. It had cover art, it was played to music journalists to review, given to artists to listen to remix (Diplo, Z-Trip, Switch, etc), they were ready to tour, and had a planned release date of September 15, 2009.

The original plan was to release the album in two parts. Then the plan changed when Yauch got sick and they delayed release date. Later they decided to have Philippe Zdar remix the songs from Part 1 and call it Part 2.

My point is there is a version of Part 1 that exists without the mix of Zdar. It's real and living on people's hard drives. It might be the same songs, but it sounds sonically different.

Why hasn't it been leaked? Maybe the few people that have it haven't shared it out of respect for Yauch? I'm sure the Dust Brothers and Mario C are holding onto Beastie treasures as well. The band disbanded tragically. No one wants to be "that guy" and leak their music without permission just to be selfish.

My two cents.

[dave790]

^^^