Planet Rock: The Album Explained

Planet Rock
Type:	studio
Artist:	Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force
Cover:	Planet Rock The Album.jpg
Released:	December 1, 1986
Recorded:	1981–1986
Length:	46:09
Prev Title:	Death Mix
Prev Year:	1983
Next Title:	Beware (The Funk Is Everywhere)
Next Year:	1986

Planet Rock: The Album is an old school hip hop album by Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force, released in 1986 as a collection of previous singles. The song "Planet Rock" was one of the earliest hits of the hip hop music genre and remains one of its pioneering recordings. The single's liner notes include members of Kraftwerk with the songwriting credits. In creating the track, portions of Kraftwerk's "Numbers" and "Trans-Europe Express" were interpolated (re-recorded in the studio, rather than through the use of a digital sampler), along with portions of songs by Captain Sky and Ennio Morricone.

Legacy

The song "Planet Rock" was ranked by Rolling Stone magazine at #240 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time,^[1] and went on to become the first gold-certified vinyl 12-inch single. Slant Magazine listed the album at #84 on its list of "Best Albums of the 1980s".^[2] The album was also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.^[3] "Renegades of Funk", the third track, was covered by Rage Against the Machine on their 2000 album Renegades.

Personnel

• Arthur Baker – producer, mixing
• Keith LeBlanc – producer
• Herb Powers Jr. – mastering
• Latin Rascals – remixing
• Afrika Bambaataa – producer, mixing
• John Aquilino – illustrations, hand lettering
• Jay Burnett – mixing
• Albert Cabrera – remixing
• Skip McDonald – producer
• Tony Moran – remixing
• John Robie – producer, mixing
• LeRoi Evans – producer, mixing
• Rae Serrano – producer
• Adrian Sherwood – mixing
• Andy Wallace – mixing
• Doug Wimbish – producer
• Monica Lynch – art direction
• Steven Miglio – artwork, design
• Fats Comet – producer, mixing
• M.C. G.L.O.B.E. – additional vocals

Notes and References

1. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-20110407/afrika-bambaataa-and-the-soul-sonic-force-planet-rock-19691231 500 greatest songs of all time—rolling stone
2. Web site: The 100 Best Albums of the 1980s - Feature - Slant Magazine. slantmagazine.com.
3. Book: Robert Dimery. Michael Lydon. 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition. 23 March 2010. Universe. 978-0-7893-2074-2.