The Main Ingredient (album)

Infobox Album
Name = The Main Ingredient
Type = Studio album
Artist = Pete Rock & CL Smooth


Released = November 8, 1994
Recorded = 1993–1994
Genre = Hip Hop
Length = 75:38
Label = Elektra Records
61661
Producer = Pete Rock
Reviews = *Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:76vsa9tgu23f/ link]
*The Source Rating|4|5 [http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1095797&BAB=M link]
*RapReviews.com rating-10|9 [http://rapreviews.com/archive/BTTL_mainingredient.html link]
Last album = "Mecca and the Soul Brother"
(1992)
This album = "The Main Ingredient"
(1994)
Next album = "
(2003)
Misc = Extra chronology 2
Artist = Pete Rock
Type = Album
Last album = "Mecca and the Soul Brother"
(1992)
This album = "The Main Ingredient"
(1994)
Next album = "Soul Survivor"
(1998) Extra chronology 2
Artist = CL Smooth
Type = Album
Last album = "Mecca and the Soul Brother"
(1992)
This album = "The Main Ingredient"
(1994)
Next album = "American Me"
(2006) Singles
Name = The Main Ingredient
Type = studio
single 1 = I Got a Love
single 1 date = 1994
single 2 = Take You There
single 2 date = 1994
single 3 = Searching
single 3 date = 1995

"The Main Ingredient" is the second album by Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Released in late 1994. It would become their last album since, at the time of writing, the pair have relinquished their plans of a reunion. Like their previous album, "Mecca and the Soul Brother", "The Main Ingredient" was very well received by critics but overlooked by the mainstream.

Overview

Characterized by sultry soul and jazz samples, "The Main Ingredient" saw a more refined sound than the duo’s debut, building on the praise that they had already garnered. The album is notable for its snappy, crispy drums and extensive use of vocal scratches. Although missing a centerpiece on the scale of "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)", the album contains some of the group's best loved work in the form of tracks such as the upbeat "In The House", and the catchy "Sun Won't Come Out", which features a lush vocal sample from the song of the same name by Harvey Scales.

Continuing a theme initiated by "Mecca and the Soul Brother", brief instrumental interludes are placed at the beginning and end of songs, often leaving the listener yearning for more. With the exception of just a few tracks, this feature is recurrent throughout the album. In addition, "The Main Ingredient" saw Rock fleshing out and defining his trademark production style, which is now recognized for often containing smooth basslines, swirling horns, filtered samples, and spacious grooves. The production on this album proved to be influential upon a legion of latter day producers.

Reception and aftermath

Though overlooked at the time of its release, the album has since been re-evaluated with high critical acclaim leading many to consider it more focused, polished and cohesive than its predecessor. It is regarded by many to be the best work by both Pete Rock & CL Smooth. Allmusic's Stanton Swihart called it "an album that is far more focused" and "just as good as the first record, perhaps an even more satisfying single listen." Swihart described Rock's production work as "among some of the most seductive in hip-hop", and CL as "lyrically on point, spitting out intellectual rhymes and narratives that are just as propulsive and engaging as the music."

"I Got a Love" was the album's lead off single, followed by the Keni Burke sampling "Take You There" and "Searching", released in 1995. That same year, the duo appeared in a well received Sprite commercial, however they soon announced their breaking up citing creative differences; although both parties have since admitted that an unstable working relationship was the main cause.

Track listing

#In the House – 5:27
#Carmel City – 3:52
#I Get Physical – 4:54
#Sun Won't Come Out – 4:24
#I Got a Love – 5:04
#Escape – 5:14
#The Main Ingredient – 5:17
#Worldwide – 3:02
#All The Places – 5:39
#Tell Me – 4:17
#Take You There – 4:47
#Searching – 4:45
#Check It Out – 3:57
#In The Flesh – 5:48
#It's On You – 5:21
#Get On The Mic – 3:50

amples Used

Source: Rap Sample FAQ [ [http://the-breaks.com/search.php?term=Pete+Rock+%26+CL+Smooth&type=6 Search ] ]
*"In The House"
**"Capricorn" by The Cannonball Adderley Quintet (from the 1976 album "Music, You All")
**"The Sorcerer of Isis" by Power of Zeus (from the 1970 album "The Gospel According to Zeus")
**"Verses from the Abstract" by A Tribe Called Quest (from the 1991 album "The Low End Theory")
**"September 13th" by Deodato (from the 1973 album "Prelude") (intro)
**"Make The Music With Your Mouth, Biz" by Biz Markie (from the 1988 album "Goin' Off") (intro)
**"Ain't Got Time" by Roy Ayers Ubiquity (from the 1972 album "He's Coming") (outro)
*"Carmel City"
**"Enchanted Lady" by Milt Jackson with the Ray Brown Big Band (from the 1970 album "Memphis Jackson")
**"Dizzy" by Hugo Montenegro (from the 1969 album "Moog Power")
*"I Get Physical"
**"Face it Boy, It's Over" by George Benson (from the 1968 album "Shape of Things to Come")
**"Just Rhymin' with Biz" by Big Daddy Kane (from the 1988 album "Long Live the Kane")
*"Sun Won't Come Out"
**"Sun Won't Come Out" by Harvey Scales
**"Nautilus" by Bob James (from the 1974 album "One")
**"Take Me to the Mardi Gras" by Bob James (from the 1975 album "Two") (outro)
**"Just the Way You Are" by Billy Joel (from the 1977 album "Stranger") (outro)
*"I Got A Love"
**"Ain't Got The Love (Of One Girl on My Mind)" by The Ambassadors (from the 1969 album "Soul Summit")
**"Groovy Situation" by Mel & Tim (from the 1969 album "Good Guys Only Win in the Movies")
**"Cool V's Tribute To Scratching" by Biz Markie (from the 1988 album "Goin' Off")
**"Just Rhymin' with Biz" by Big Daddy Kane
*"Escape"
**"Sun Goddess" by Ramsey Lewis (from the 1974 album "Sun Goddess")
**"Escape-ism" by James Brown (from the 1971 album "Hot Pants")
**"Enchanted Lady" by Milt Jackson (outro)
**"Yes We Can Can" by Pointer Sisters (from the 1973 album "Pointer Sisters") (outro)
*"The Main Ingredient"
**"The Harlem Buck Dance Strut" by Les McCann (from the 1973 album "Layers")
**"Psychadelic Shack" by Albino Gorilla (from the 1970 album "Detroit 1984")
**"Just Rhymin' with Biz" by Big Daddy Kane
**"Submission" by Tyrone Washington (from the 1971 album "Roots")
*"All the Places"
**"Places and Spaces" by Donald Byrd (from the 1976 album "Places and Spaces")
**"Mind Power" and "Take Some...Leave Some" by James Brown (from the 1974 album "The Payback")
**"Vapors" by Biz Markie (from the 1988 album "Goin' Off")
**"Far Out" by Crown Heights Affair (from the 1976 album "Do It Your Way") (outro)
*"Tell Me"
**"Keep Dreamin'" by Stan Getz (from the 1977 album "Another World")
**"You're Getting A Little Too Smart" by The Detroit Emeralds (from the 1973 album "Detroit Emeralds")
**"Don't Tell It" by James Brown (from the 1976 album "Bodyheat")
**"Just Rhymin' with Biz" by Big Daddy Kane
**"Funky President" by James Brown (from the 1975 album "Reality")
**"On the Hill" by Oliver Sain (from the 1972 album "The Main Man") (outro)
*"Take You There"
**"Risin' to the Top" by Keni Burke (from the 1982 album "Changes")
**"Zimba Ku" by Black Heat (from the 1975 album "Keep on Runnin'") (outro)
**"Upon This Rock" by Joe Farrell (from the 1974 album "Upon This Rock") (outro)
**"Vapors" by Biz Markie (outro)
**"Long Red" by Mountain (from the 1972 album "") (outro)
*"Searching"
**"Searching" by Roy Ayers Ubiquity (from the 1976 album "Vibrations")
**"I Got Soul" by Bama - The Village Poet (from the 1972 album "Ghettos of the Mind") (outro)
*"Check It Out"
**"Bumpin' on Young Street" by Young-Holt Unlimited (from the 1973 album "Oh Girl")
*"In the Flesh"
**"Face it Boy, It's Over" by George Benson
**"Fly Like an Eagle" & "Space Intro" by Steve Miller Band (from the 1976 album "Fly Like an Eagle")
**"Just Rhymin' with Biz" by Big Daddy Kane
**"Ralph's New Blues" by Modern Jazz Quartet (from the 1966 album "Blues at Carneige Hall") (intro)
**"Duji" by Kool & The Gang (from the 1974 album "Kool Jazz") (outro)
**"Schoolboy Crush" by Average White Band (from the 1975 album "Cut The Cake") (outro)
*"It's on You"
**"The Awakening" by Ahmad Jamal (from the 1970 album "Awakening")
**"Never My Love" by Tom Scott (from the 1968 album "The Honeysuckle Breeze")
**"Strictly Business" by EPMD (from the 1988 album "Strictly Business")
*"Get On The Mic"
**"Soul Girl" by Jeanne & the Darlings (1968)
**"Just Rhymin' with Biz" by Big Daddy Kane
**"You're My Everything" by Ahmad Jamal (from the 1970 album "Awakening") (outro)

Album singles

Trivia

*The album was a favorite of the late producer Jay Dee, who played it while meeting with Pete Rock to record Slum Village's "Once Upon A Time" for the album, "Fantastic, Vol. 2" in 1998.
*"Worldwide" is the first song to feature all three members of the group INI (Pete Rock, Grap Luva, and Rob-O). Noting the absence of CL Smooth, this essentially makes the track an INI song.

References