VA - Dusty Fingers: The Ultimate Collection Of Rare Groove Samples
VA - Dusty Fingers: The Ultimate Collection of Rare Groove Samples
If you are a fan of hip hop, funk, soul, jazz, or rock music, chances are you have heard some of the samples from the legendary series VA - Dusty Fingers. This collection of rare and obscure vinyl records from the 60s to the 80s was compiled by DJ and crate digger Danny Dan The Beat Mann between 1997 and 2008. It features some of the most sought-after and influential breaks, loops, and melodies that have been sampled by countless producers and artists such as DJ Premier, RZA, Dr. Dre, Kanye West, Eminem, Jay-Z, and many more.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the history and legacy of VA - Dusty Fingers, as well as review the complete collection of 24 volumes that covers over 300 tracks of pure gold. Whether you are a music lover, a sample hunter, or a beat maker, you will find something to inspire you in this amazing anthology of sonic gems.
VA - Dusty Fingers: The Ultimate Collection of Rare Groove Samples
The History and Legacy of VA - Dusty Fingers
The story of VA - Dusty Fingers begins with Danny Dan The Beat Mann, a Bronx-born DJ who started his career in the late 80s as a member of the rap group The Awesome Two. He was also a part of the legendary D&D Studios, where he worked with some of the biggest names in hip hop such as KRS-One, Big Daddy Kane, Nas, and Gang Starr. Danny Dan was known for his extensive and eclectic record collection, which he amassed over the years by digging through crates of vinyl in flea markets, thrift stores, garage sales, and record shops all over the world. He had a knack for finding rare and obscure records that contained hidden gems of sound that could be used for sampling.
In 1997, Danny Dan decided to share some of his discoveries with the world by releasing the first volume of VA - Dusty Fingers. The series was named after the term "dusty fingers", which refers to the condition of a record digger's hands after sifting through piles of dusty vinyl. The cover art of each volume featured a photo of Danny Dan's hands holding a record with his fingers covered in dust. The series was marketed as "the original school of hip hop breaks", and each volume contained about 12 to 15 tracks of various genres and styles that had been sampled or could be sampled for making beats. The tracks were mostly instrumental or had minimal vocals, and were selected for their quality, rarity, and suitability for sampling.
The series was an instant hit among hip hop fans and producers, who recognized many of the tracks from their favorite songs or discovered new ones that sparked their creativity. Some of the tracks became classics in their own right, such as "Scorpio" by Dennis Coffey, "Ashley's Roachclip" by The Soul Searchers, "It's A New Day" by Skull Snaps, "Synthetic Substitution" by Melvin Bliss, "The Mexican" by Babe Ruth, "Apache" by Incredible Bongo Band, "Nautilus" by Bob James, "Funky Drummer" by James Brown, "Impeach The President" by The Honey Drippers, and many more. The series also introduced many obscure artists and composers to a wider audience, such as Piero Umiliani, Galt MacDermot, David Axelrod, Keith Mansfield, Alan Hawkshaw, Brian Bennett, Janko Nilovic,
and others.
The series continued until 2008, when Danny Dan released the final volume 24. In total,
VA - Dusty Fingers spanned over 11 years and featured over 300 tracks from various countries and eras. It became one of the most influential and respected sources of samples for hip hop and other genres of music. It also inspired many other similar compilations and projects that followed its footsteps.
The Complete Collection of VA - Dusty Fingers
If you want to experience the full scope and diversity of VA - Dusty Fingers, you can get the complete collection of all 24 volumes in digital format from various online platforms. You can also find some physical copies of the CDs or vinyl records on eBay or Disc 04f6b60f66