Dissecting Donuts
May 19, 2008
Last weekend I was looking through one dusty crate after another, and unfortunately coming to the end of my search with nothing to show for. At this point, the shop owner told me to wait around because he was going to “blow my mind.” Just then, he put on a record that sounded very familiar from the jump. It was by a 70′s rock group called 10CC, and the track was titled “Worst Band in the World.” Here it goes:
10CC: “Worst Band in the World”
Recognize that tune?
If you are familiar with J-Dilla and his later work Donuts, then you should recognize this as the main sample used for the second track entitled “Workinonit.” This song proves just how amazing his ear was for finding samples and turning them into classics.
That being said, I got a little inspired to dive into the brilliant mind of James Yancey. Over the weekend, I went ahead and looked through each track on Donuts and the samples used to create this masterpiece. The results are pretty incredible, and further my reasoning for waving the Dilla flag at every chance I get.
Check it out:
1) Donuts (Outro)
No stream available: DOWNLOAD
2) Workinonit (Check link above)
3) Waves
4) Light My Fire
5) The New
6) Stop
7) People
8 ) The Diff’rence
9) Mash
10) Time: Donut of the Heart
11) Glazed
12) Airworks
13) Lightworks
14) Stepson of the Clapper
15) The Twister (Huh, What?)
16) One Eleven
17) Two Can Win
18 ) Don’t Cry
19) Anti-American Graffiti
20) Geek Down
21) Thunder
No stream available: DOWNLOAD
22 & 23) Gobstopper (Check for the break @ 2:06) & One For Ghost
24) Dilla Says Go
25) Walkinonit
26) Da Factory
27) U-Love: Can’t find this one anywhere (Jerry Buttler, “Just Because I Really Love You”)
28 ) Hi
29) Bye
30) Last Donut of the Night
31) Donuts (Intro)
WHOA. If anyone needs proof of Dilla’s genius, all you have to do is look through his eclectic choice of samples.
Even though Donuts was made on his death bed, his last fully completed piece of work couldn’t have been filled with more life. If you’re not up-to-date with this record, I suggest you stop what your doing immediately and go to your local record store. If they don’t have a copy, make sure to slap them across the face before leaving.
Donuts is a true classic, and should be regarded as nothing less. Finding this 10CC record has refreshed my obsession with Dilla (not like it ever left) and you can be assured that Donuts has been on repeat ever since. And on that note, it’s safe to say my mind was hella blown.
Yo, son. This post is straight illin’! It has answered many questions and has allowed us to delve further into the mind of a mad genius. A true classic, indeed…
[...] wild, huh? I know I’ve been on a Dilla trip lately, but re-discovering Donuts fucked me up pretty [...]
Dusty finger tips indeed. Though, will you tell us what the “Da Factory” sample source is? I’ve been diggin’ for Dilla cuts for some time. Also, “Anti-American Graffiti” was Tin Tin ‘Family Tree’ off the self-titled LP on Atco Records and the Jerry Butler track is off “The Ice Man Cometh” LP on Mercury Records. I hope not to insult your intelligence but to aide in the diggin’ crusade.
“Da Factory” is “Animosity” by The Weinberg Method…I had my chance at that Tintin record not too long ago, but it got jacked right in front of me…Goddam Dilla lovers.
I forgot to mention “Thunder” being ‘Sweet Misery’ by Martha Reeves off of her self-titled solo album (1974).
Thanks so much for the breakdown of Dilla’s greatest record. I still can’t believe how much heart and soul Dilla was able to embed into Donuts, especially considering that the bulk of the production work was done from a hospital bed.
I still can’t listen to “Last Donut of the Night” w/out getting chills all over. And once the record slips into “Donuts (intro)” I just lose it sometimes. It’s a cathartic track and a brilliant way to end (and begin) the record. Dilla and Donuts forever!
I’m with you on that Curtis. Nicely put!