Special Herbs, Vols. 4, 5 & 6

Infobox Album | Name = Special Herbs, Vols. 4, 5 & 6
Type = Album
Artist = Metal Fingers
Released = November 24, 2003
Recorded = Various dates
Genre = Hip-hop
Length = 73:30
Label = Shaman Works
Producer = Metal Fingers
Reviews =
Last album = "Special Herbs, Vol. 4"
(2003)
This album = "Special Herbs, Vols. 4, 5 & 6"
(2003)
Next album = "Special Herbs, Vols. 5 & 6"
(2004)

"Special Herbs, Vols. 4, 5 & 6" is an album of instrumental works released by Daniel Dumile under the Metal Fingers moniker. As with the other installments of the "Special Herbs" series, each track is named for a herb (or similar flora) or herbal preparation, with the exception of "Coffin Nails" which could refer either to a slang term for tobacco cigarettes or literally to nails from coffins, which have been traditionally used in conjunction with certain herbs in the performance of ceremonial magic rituals.

The album's title is slightly misleading, in that it is not an entirely new volume: the second part of the previous installment in the Metal Fingers series (confusingly also called "Special Herbs, Vol. 4" but also commonly known as "Special Herbs, Vols. 3 & 4"; it is this latter "Volume 4" that is duplicated), appears again here as the first eight tracks of "Vols. 4, 5 & 6". The difference in record labels on which the various albums were released explains this anomaly, similar to the earlier doublings of "Vol. 2" and "Vol. 4". After this volume, the numbering of the series becomes more consistent, and there are no such overlapping tracks.

The original artwork for both the CD and vinyl versions contained depictions of Marvel Comics' Dr. Doom character (from the Fantastic Four). The original album with this artwork is now deleted but can surface from time to time on online auction sites. An updated cover was created for the album featuring MF Doom's own face.

Track listing

# "Blood Root" – 3:00
#* Produced by Metal Fingers
# "Star Anis" – 3:28
#* Produced by Metal Fingers
# "Lemon Grass" – 4:21
#* Produced by Metal Fingers
# "Four Thieves Vinegar" – 3:34
#* Produced by Metal Fingers
# "Galangal Root" – 2:33
#* Produced by Metal Fingers
#* Contains a sample from "Black Cow" by Steely Dan, from the album "Aja".
# "Spikenard" – 3:33
#* Produced by Metal Fingers
#* Contains a sample from "Ain't No Price on Happiness" by The Spinners, from the album "Mighty Love".
# "Cinquefoil" – 2:59
#* Produced by Metal Fingers
#*Contains a sample from "Space" by Galt MacDermot
# "Hyssop" – 2:33
#* Produced by Metal Fingers
# "Pennyroyal" – 3:11
#* Produced by Metal Fingers
# "Lavender Buds" – 3:05
#* Produced by Metal Fingers
# "White Willow Bark" – 4:24
#* Produced by Metal Fingers
# "Orange Blossoms" – 1:59
#* Produced by Metal Fingers
# "Coffin Nails" – 2:56
#* Produced by Metal Fingers
#* Contains a sample from "Space Oddity" by "David Matthews", from the album "Dune"
# "Kava Kava Root" – 4:07
#* Produced by Metal Fingers
#*Contains a sample from "Cat" by "Teruo Nakamura", from the album "Rising Sun"
# "Valerian Root" – 4:53
#* Produced by Metal Fingers
#* Contains a sample from "Do it Again" by New Birth, from the album "Comin from All Ends".
# "Jasmine Blossoms" – 2:58
#* Produced by Metal Fingers
# "Black Snake Root" – 3:44
#* Produced by Metal Fingers
# "Horehound" – 3:07
#* Produced by Metal Fingers
# "Dragons Blood" – 4:07
#* Contains a sample from a vintage "Spider-Man" episode entitled, "The Devious Dr. Dumpty"
#* Produced by Metal Fingers
# "Myrtle Leaf" – 5:16
#* Produced by Metal Fingers
# "Patchouly Leaves" – 3:46
#* Produced by Metal Fingers
#* Contains a sample from "Our Day Will Come" by Isaac Hayes, from the album "...To Be Continued"

Other versions

* "Star Anis" is an instrumental version of "Space Tech Banana Clip" by Babbletron, from the album "Mechanical Royalty".
* "Four Thieves Vinegar" is an instrumental version of "Escape From Monsta Isle" by Rodan, Megalon, Kong, & Spiega, from the Monsta Island Czars album "Escape from Monsta Island!".
* "Galangal Root" is an instrumental version of "Gas Drawls" by MF DOOM, from the album "".
* "Spikenard" is an instrumental version of "Go With The Flow" by MF DOOM, from the same album.
* "Orange Blossoms" is an instrumental version of "The Instructor" by B.I., from the "Spark the Sound" split 7" with Chris Craft featuring MF DOOM. It is also used by Ghostface Killah on "Underwater" from the album "Fishscale".
* "Kava Kava Root" is an instrumental version of "Anarchist Bookstore Pt. 1" by MC Paul Barman, from the album "Paullelujah!". It is also used on "Stress Box" by MF Grimm, from the MF DOOM collaboration album "Special Herbs and Spices Volume 1".
* "Valerian Root" is an instrumental version of "Anarchist Bookstore Pt. 2" by MC Paul Barman, from "Paullelujah!" .
* "Jasmine Blossoms" is an instrumental version of "Hoe Cakes" by MF DOOM featuring Mr. Fantastik, from the album "MM..Food?".
* "Horehound" is an instrumental version of "Kookies" by MF DOOM, from the same album. It is also used on "Tonight's Show" by MF Grimm featuring Invisible Man and Lord Smog, from "Special Herbs and Spices Volume 1".
* "Dragon's Blood" is an instrumental version of "Fig Leaf Bi-Carbonate" by MF DOOM from "MM..Food?". It is also used on "1000 Degrees" by MF Grimm, from "Special Herbs and Spices Volume 1"; and also on "Gunz N' Razors" by Ghostface Killah featuring Trife Da God, Cappadonna and Killa Sin, from the album "More Fish".
* "Myrtle Leaf" is an instrumental version of "Monster Zero" by King Geedorah, from the album "Take Me to Your Leader".
* "Patchouly Leaves" is an instrumental version of "Operation: Greenbacks" by MF DOOM featuring Megalon, from the album "Operation: Doomsday".
* "Coffin Nails" is an instrumental version of " Rapp Snitch Knishes" by MF DOOM featuring Mr. Fantastik, from the album "MM..Food"

External links

* [http://www.angelfire.com/indie/slade916/special_herbs.html Special herbs guide]
* [http://www.rotten.com/library/occult/magic/spells/ Article on ritual magic] from rotten.com including reference to use of coffin nails