Ultimate Breaks and Beats


Ultimate Breaks and Beats was a series of 25 compilation albums released from 1986 to 1991 by Street Beat Records and edited by "BreakBeat Lou" Flores and "BreakBeat Lenny" Roberts. Featured on the albums were funk, R&B, soul, jazz and rock tracks from the 1960s to 1980s that included influential drum breaks.
The albums found high popularity with hip hop producers, with each new release in the series leading to many records featuring samples of the breaks. In this way, the series impacted the soundscape of rap, hip hop, dance, and pop music in general.
Re-releases of the LPs, some packaged in pairs for DJ scratching and mixing (recorded music)|mixing] convenience, became available and are currently found in many record stores. CDs of some of the volumes may be found as well, including a 2-CD and DVD box set featuring nearly all of the tracks on the 25 albums.

Releases

Complete track listing, taken from Geocities.com and updated with performers' names, missing in the track lists of volumes SBR 499, SBR 500 and the first version of SBR 508.
An asterisk after a track name indicates that the song was remixed for inclusion in this compilation.

Not official

SBR 499

  1. The Limit – "She's So Divine"
  2. Kashif – "I Just Gotta Have You "
  3. Kenton Nix featuring Bobby Youngblood – "There's Never Been "
  4. Mr. Magic – "Magic's Message "

SBR 500

  1. Tia Monae – "Don't Keep Me Waiting"
  2. Cloud One – "Flying High"
  3. Ednah Holt – "Serious, Sirius Space Party"
  4. – "Let's Do It"

Official start of the series

SBR 501

  1. The Monkees – "Mary Mary"* Colgems Records
  2. Wilbur "Bad" Bascomb – "Black Grass"* Paramount Records
  3. The Winstons – "Amen, Brother"* Metromedia Records***
  4. 7th Wonder – "Daisy Lady" Parachute Records
  5. D.C. LaRue – "Indiscreet" Pyramid Records
  6. Rufus Thomas – "Do the Funky Penguin" Stax Records
  • The break on "Amen Brother" was pitched down from 45 rpm to 33 rpm

SBR 502

  1. Wilson Pickett – "Get Me Back on Time, Engine #9"* Atlantic Records
  2. Juice – "Catch a Groove"* Greedy Records
  3. The Rolling Stones – "Honky Tonk Women"* London Records
  4. Funkadelic – "You'll Like it Too" LAX Records
  5. Roy Ayers Ubiquity – "Boogie Back" Polydor Records
  6. Orchestra Internationale featuring Sal Conte – "Chella llà" Fiesta Records

SBR 503

  1. Cheryl Lynn – "Got to Be Real" Columbia records
  2. Incredible Bongo Band – "Apache" Pride/MGM Records
  3. Herman Kelly & Life – "Dance to the Drummer's Beat" TK Disco / Alston / Electric Cat Records
  4. Incredible Bongo Band – "Bongo Rock"* Pride/MGM Records
  5. Upp – "Give It to You" Epic Records
  6. Jackie Robinson – "Pussyfooter"* Les Disques Direction Records

SBR 504

  1. Syl Johnson – "Different Strokes"* Twilight Records
  2. Bobby Byrd – "I Know You Got Soul"* King Records
  3. Z. Z. Hill – "I Think I'd Do It"* Mankind Records
  4. Gaz – "Sing Sing" SalSoul Records
  5. Isaac Hayes – "Breakthrough" Enterprise Records
  6. Tom Jones – "Looking Out My Window"* Parrot Records ***Note: Looking Out My Window" does not appear on the 1968 LP "Help Yourself" although it does so on later cd reissues.
  7. Dynamic Corvettes – "Funky Music Is the Thing Part 2" Abet Records

SBR 505

  1. Johnny "Hammond" Smith – "Shifting Gears"* Milestone Records
  2. Bo Diddley – "Hit or Miss"* Cadet / Chess Records
  3. The Wild Magnolias – " Soul, Soul, Soul"* Polydor Records
  4. Melvin Bliss – "Synthetic Substitution" Sunburst Records
  5. Freedom – "Get Up and Dance" TK Disco / Malaco Records
  6. 20th Century Steel Band – "Heaven and Hell Is on Earth" United Artists Records
  7. Banbarra – "Shack Up Part 2"

SBR 506

  1. Please – "Sing a Simple Song" Telefunken Records
  2. James Brown – "Cold Sweat" King Records
  3. The Cecil Holmes Soulful Sounds – "2001" Buddah records
  4. Dennis Coffey – "Son of Scorpio"* Sussex Records
  5. The Magic Disco Machine – "Scratchin'"* Motown records
  6. Fat Larry's Band – "Down on the Avenue" WMot Records
  7. Uncle Louie – "I Like Funky Music" Marlin Records

SBR 507

  1. James Brown – "Give It Up or Turnit a Loose" Polydor Records
  2. Funky Constellation – "Street Talk " ROTA Records
  3. Pleasure – "Let’s Dance" Fantasy Records
  4. John Davis and the Monster Orchestra – "I Can’t Stop" SAM Records
  5. John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra – "Planetary Citizen" CBS Records
  6. Funkadelic – "Good Old Music" Westbound Records
  7. William Ray – "You Are What You Are" Magic Touch Records

Discontinued (see notes below)

SBR 508

  1. The Puppets – "The Way of Life"
  2. Wish & Fonda Rae – "Touch Me "
  3. Up Front – "Infatuation"
  4. Stacye Branché – "Precious and Special"

Continued

SBR 509

  1. Ingrid – "Easter Parade" Polydor Records
  2. ESG – "UFO"* 99 Records
  3. Billy Squier – "Big Beat" Capitol Records
  4. Liquid Liquid – "Cavern" 99 Records
  5. Mountain – "Long Red"* Windfall Records
  6. Tyrone Thomas and the Whole Darn Family – "Seven Minutes of Funk" Soul International Records
  • ** Note UFO by ESG was pitched down from 45rpm to 33 1/3rpm****

SBR 510

  1. James Brown – "Funky President" Polydor Records
  2. Dexter Wansel – "Theme from the Planets"* Philadelphia International Records
  3. Rhythm Heritage – "Theme from "S.W.A.T.""* ABC Records
  4. The Jackson Five – "It's Great to Be Here"* Motown Records
  5. The Brothers Johnson – "Ain't We Funkin' Now" A&M Records
  6. La Pregunta – "Shangri La" GNP Records
  7. Esther Williams – "Last Night Changed It All "*** 'Friends & Co. Records
1 – The Lp, 45rpm and the 12" of "Last Night Changed It All" are all different versions from one another.
2 – Note: "Theme from the Planets" was recorded at 45 rpm speed on this release.

SBR 511

  1. The Honey Drippers – "Impeach the President"* Alaga Records
  2. The Headhunters – "God Make Me Funky" Arista Records
  3. Lucy Hawkins – "Gotta Get Out of Here" SAM Records
  4. Orange Krush – "Action"* Prep Street / Mercury Records
  5. Funk, Inc. – "Kool Is Back" Prestige Records
  6. Fausto Papetti – "Love's Theme"* Durium Records

SBR 512

  1. Junie – "Granny's Funky Rolls Royce" Westbound Records
  2. James Brown – "Funky Drummer"* King Records
  3. The Mohawks – "The Champ" Pama Records
  4. Aerosmith – "Walk This Way" Columbia Records
  5. Thin Lizzy – "Johnny the Fox Meets Jimmy the Weed" Mercury Records
  6. The Soul Searchers – "Ashley's Roachclip"* Sussex Records
  7. Chicago Gangsters – "Gangster Boogie"* Gold Plate Records
  8. T-Connection – "Groove to Get Down" Dash Records

SBR 513

  1. Babe Ruth – "The Mexican" Harvest / EMI Records
  2. Babe Ruth – "Keep Your Distance"* Capitol Records
  3. Coke Escovedo – " I Wouldn't Change a Thing" 2 Mercury Records
  4. Eastside Connection – "Frisco Disco" Rampart Records
  5. In Search Of...Orchestra – "Phenomena Theme" AVI Records
  6. The Meters – "Handclapping Song" Josie Records
2 – " I Wouldn't Change a Thing" is actually two songs by Coke Escovedo put into one track: the ending of "Runaway" and "I Wouldn't Change a Thing".

SBR 514

  1. Stanley Turrentine and Milt Jackson – "Sister Sanctified" CTI Records
  2. J. J. Johnson – "Willie Chase" MCA Records
  3. Kid Dynamite – "Uphill Peace of Mind" Cream Records
  4. Ralph MacDonald – "Jam on the Groove" Marlin Records
  5. Experience Unlimited – "Knock Him Out Sugar Ray" Vermack Records
  6. Fred Wesley & The J.B.'s – "Blow Your Head" People Records

SBR 515

  1. Donald Byrd – "Change " Blue Note Records
  2. Roy Ayers – "Brother Green " Polydor Records
  3. Grover Washington Jr. – "Mister Magic" Motown Records
  4. David Matthews – "Star Wars" CTI Records
  5. John Cougar Mellencamp – "Jack and Diane" Riva Records
  6. Pleasure – "Bouncy Lady" Fantasy Records
  7. Jefferson Starship – "Rock Music" Grunt/RCA Records

SBR 516

  1. Commodores – "The Assembly Line" Motown Records
  2. Johnny Jenkins – "I Walk On Gilded Splinters" Capricorn Records
  3. Le Pamplemousse – "Gimme What You Got"* AVI Records
  4. Marvin Gaye – "T Plays it Cool" Talma Records
  5. Lyn Collins – "Think (About It)"* People Records
  6. The Galactic Force Band – "Space Dust"* Springboard Records
  7. Steve Miller Band – "Take the Money and Run"* Capitol Records

SBR 517

  1. Baby Huey – "Listen to Me" Curtom Records
  2. Bobbie Knight & The Universal Lady – "The Lovermaniacs "* Brunswick Records
  3. The Pointer Sisters – "Yes We Can Can" Blue Thumb Records
  4. Monk Higgins – "One Man Band " Buddah Records
  5. Kool & The Gang – "N.T." De-Lite Records
  6. Dyke & the Blazers – "Let a Woman Be a Woman, Let a Man Be a Man"* Original Sounds Records
  7. Bram Tchaikovsky – "Whiskey and Wine" Radar Records***note The song "Whiskey & Wine" was originally covered by the group The Motors and Bram Tchaikovsky was an original member. Their version from the album "1" is a studio recording and has no drum break***
  8. "L.L. Bonus Beats" – Fancy – "Feel Good"* Big Three Records BT 89502 ***note; Looped as a 1:40 min. bonus beat on vinyl edition at 45 RPM***.

SBR 518

  1. Bar-Kays – "Let's Have Some Fun" Mercury Records
  2. Lafayette Afro Rock Band – "Conga" Makossa Records
  3. Yellow Sunshine – "Yellow Sunshine" TSOP Records
  4. The Jimmy Castor Bunch – "It's Just Begun"* RCA Records
  5. Marva Whitney – "It's My Thing" King Records
  6. Kay Gees – "I Believe in Music" Gang Records
  7. Dennis Coffey – "Ride Sally Ride" Sussex Records
4 – ***Note that the intro used in the beginning of the song is taken from the group's track "Troglodyte ".

SBR 519

  1. The Blackbyrds – "Rock Creek Park" Fantasy Records
  2. KC and the Sunshine Band – "I Get Lifted" TK Disco Records
  3. Brother Soul – "Cookies" Leo Mini Records
  4. Foster Sylvers – "Misdemeanor" Pride / MGM Records
  5. Wild Sugar – "Bring it Here" TSOB Records
  6. Miami – "Chicken Yellow" Drive Records
  7. The Olympic Runners – "Put the Music Where Your Mouth Is" London Records
  8. Lightnin' Rod – "Sport" United Artists Records

SBR 520

  1. Roy Ayers – "Lonesome Cowboy"* Polydor Records
  2. Duke Williams – "Chinese Chicken" Capricorn Records
  3. Joe Quarterman – "I'm Gonna Get You"* GSF Records
  4. Friend & Lover – "Reach Out of the Darkness"* Verve Forecast Records
  5. The Chubukos – "House of Rising Funk" Mainstream / Red Lion Production Records
  6. Eddie Bo – "Hook & Sling" Scram Records
  7. Bill Withers – "Kissing My Love" Sussex Records
5 – The group was called The Chubukos for the 7" single, but they were called Afrique for their LP Soul Makossa.

SBR 521

  1. The Politicians – "Free Your Mind" Hot Wax Records
  2. The Village Callers – "Hector" Rampart Records
  3. Joe Tex – "Papa Was Too"* Dial / Atlantic Records
  4. Sound Experience – "Devil with the Bust" Philly Soulville Records
  5. James Brown – "Soul Pride" King Records
  6. All the People – "Cramp Your Style"* Blue Candle Records
  7. Johnny Pate – "Shaft in Africa" ABC Records
  8. Barry White – "I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little Bit More Baby"* 20th Century Records
  9. "L.L. Bonus Beats #2" – Tommy Roe – "Dizzy" ABC Records ***Note... Looped into a 1:40 min bonus beat.

SBR 522

  1. Barrabas – "Woman" RCA Records
  2. Creative Source – "Corazon" Sussex Records
  3. Southside Movement – "Save the World" 20th Century Records
  4. The J.B.'s – "The Grunt "* King Records
  5. Rufus Thomas – "Do the Funky Penguin "* Stax Records
  6. Shotgun – "Dynamite "* ABC Records
  7. Gary Numan - "Films" Beggars Banquet Records

SBR 523

  1. Rufus Thomas – "The Breakdown "* Stax Records
  2. Jim Dandy – "Country Cooking" Chrysalis Records
  3. Pleasure – "Joyous" Fantasy Records
  4. Solomon Burke – "Get Out of My Life, Woman"* Atlantic Records
  5. Alphonse Mouzon – "You Don't Know How Much I Love You" Blue Note Records
  6. Delegation – "Oh Honey" Shady Brook Records
  7. Freda Payne – "The Easiest Way to Fall"* Invictus Records

SBR 524

  1. Lowell Fulson – "Tramp" Kent / United Records
  2. Freddie Scott – " Got What I Need" Shout Records
  3. Lyn Collins – "You Can't Love Me, If You Don't Respect Me" People Records
  4. The Emotions – "Blind Alley" Volt / Stax Records
  5. Lonnie Liston Smith – "Expansions " Flying Dutchman Records
  6. Otis Redding – "Hard to Handle"* ATCO Records
  7. The Grass Roots – "You and Love Are the Same" ABC / Dunhill Records
  8. Tom Scott and the L.A. Express – "Sneakin' in the Back" Ode Records

SBR 525

  1. Southside Movement – "I've Been Watching You" 20th Century Records
  2. Lou Donaldson – "Pot Belly" Blue Note Records
  3. Samba Soul – "Mambo #5" RCA Records
  4. Five Stairsteps – "Don't Change Your Love"* Curtom Records
  5. Lamont Dozier – "Take Off Your Make-up" ABC Records
  6. Ike White – "Love and Affection" LAX Records
  7. James Brown – "The Payback"* Polydor Records

Oddities

There are some oddities in the collection, with releases SBR 499 and SBR 500 discontinued and now considered "unofficial", while SBR 508 was released with two different track listings. The later, alternate track listing for SBR 508 is as below.

SBR 508

  1. Incredible Bongo Band – "Sing, Sing, Sing"
  2. J. J. Johnson – "Parade Strut"
  3. Blowfly – "Sesame Street"
  4. Manzel – "Midnight Theme"
  5. Mike Curb Congregation – "Burning Bridges"
  6. Freddie Perren – "Two Pigs and a Hog"
  7. The Fatback Band – "Fatbackin'"
  8. Jesse Green – "Flip"

Later volumes

Also, two later volumes were released, both as SBR 526. The first version was re-released as Strictly Breaks 1, and the second version was actually mixed and re-edited by Louis Flores.

SBR 526

  1. Joe Tex – "You Said a Bad Word"
  2. Johnnie Taylor – "Ever Ready"
  3. Coalkitchen – "Keep on Pushing"
  4. Graham Central Station – "The Jam"
  5. Trouble Funk – "Let's Get Small"
  6. Tony Alvon & the Belairs – "Sexy Coffee Pot"
  7. Hank Carbo – "Hot Pants Pt. 2"

Other notes

The earliest track on the Ultimate Breaks and Beats series is Joe Tex's "Papa Was Too", released in 1966, with the latest being Fonda Rae's "Touch Me ", released in 1984.
The rarest track to be included on the Ultimate Breaks & Beats series is Manzel's "Midnight Theme", originally released on a Fraternity Records 7" record in 1975, though multiple reissues have been released and the song is available on many websites, including YouTube. However, for unknown reasons, the track was the only track left off a CD of all the tracks ever released on the Ultimate Breaks and Beats albums, possibly due to copyright issues.
DJ Superix, a British DJ, is the first DJ known to have compiled every single break from every volume of Ultimate Breaks and Beats into one mix, entitled "Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate!", released in 2008. DJs Harry Love and MK originally released a mix CD as a tribute to the series entitled Beats Per Minute. While this CD did not feature every break, it was one of the first in the UK dedicated to be the Ultimate Breaks & Beats series.
The first ever DJ mix in tribute to Ultimate Breaks & Beats is DJ Q Bert's Demolition Pumpkin Squeeze Musik. Subtitled as "A Pre-School Break Mix", DJ QBert mixed duplicate copies of UBB tracks with scratching and incorporated dialogue and samples from television, film and popular culture, notably comic books, cartoons and video games.

Other similar breakbeat compilations

Many drum break series compilation albums followed Ultimate Breaks and Beats, including:
  • Diggin
  • Strictly Breaks
  • Dusty Fingers
  • Soul Beats
  • Super Breaks and Beats
  • Argo/Cadet Grooves
  • Drum Crazy
  • Schoolyard Breaks, Rhythm Madness, and Circuit Breaks
  • ''Breaksploitaton''