ESG - Dance to the Best of ESG

  by Fiona Hutchings

published: 12 / 9 / 2010

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Review

Perhaps wisely the Scroggin sisters did not follow the lead of Sisters Sledge and Pointer and named them elves after their birthstones rather than follow the sororal route. Thus from the dazzling basis of their original miniker of Emerald, Sapphire and Gold and the less salubrious South Bronx of the late 1970s ESG was born. Often sampled but rarely acknowledged ESG have never reached the dizzy commercial heights of so many who have borrowed their soaring lyrics, phat beats and high hat smashes. It was a topic they addressed themselves with the 1992 track 'Sample Credits Don't Pay Our Bills' sadly not included in this comprehensive two disc collection. Having spent some time utilising the combined power of Wikipedia, Google and YouTube I have managed to identify where I know several of the tracks from and I won't spoil your enjoyment by giving you the answers should you wish to do the same. Suffice to say that even if you think you have never heard any ESG I would bet money that you have. There is a lot more instrumental tracks than I expected and occasionally the production lacks polish and the vocals sound like they were recorded in a goldfish bowl. This makes me feel shortchanged on several tracks as I strain to hear over the snare and bass. 'Tiny Sticks' and 'Moody' are classics which sound as current now as they did then. While the ESG style draws heavily on funk, hip hop and disco, less expected is the odd touch of jazz and the very British influence of Factory Records. From the South Brox to the opening night of the Hacienda? Perhaps not as incongruent as it first seems! Overall there is something here to appeal to most musical tastes. Later tracks such as 'Standing in Line' feature a more rockier guitar sound if the jazz funk doesn't appeal. Altogether an album that carries a certain historical weight.

Track Listing:-

1 You're No Good
2 Tiny Sticks
3 Moody
4 Come Away
5 UFO
6 Dance
7 Parking Lot Blues
8 Christelle
9 Talk It
10 Erase You
11 Hold Me Right
12 It's Alright
13 Get Funky
14 My Love For You
15 About You
16 Insane (Tambourine Mix)
17 Keep On Moving
18 I Can't Tell You What To Do
19 Moody (Spaced Out)
20 Dance To The Beat Of Moody
21 Bam Bam Jam
22 A New Day
23 In The Streets
24 Erase You (Puppy To Your Side)
25 You're No Good (Alternate Version)
26 Standing In Line
27 I Wanna Dance
28 Six Pack (Original Version)
29 Moody (A New Mood)
30 There Was A Time
31 Earn It
32 Like This

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