In Control, Volume 1
| In Control, Volume 1 | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 20, 1988 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Label | ||||
| Producer | Marley Marl | |||
| Marley Marl chronology | ||||
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| Singles from In Control, Volume 1 | ||||
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In Control, Volume 1 is the debut studio album by American hip hop record producer Marley Marl, of the Juice Crew.[1] It was released on September 20, 1988, through Cold Chillin' Records with distribution via Warner Bros. Records.
The album compiles ten studio recordings by fellow Juice Crew members and artists affiliated with Marley Marl. It showcased his style of hip hop production and sampling at a time when he became one of the first super-producers in hip hop music.[2] The album is broken down track-by-track by Marley Marl in Brian Coleman's book Check the Technique.[3]
The opulent cover stood in contrast to Marley Marl's real living conditions: "I was still living in the projects. I was paying like $110 a month for my rent, free electricity. So New York City Housing Authority kind of co-produced some of my earlier hits".[4]
Critical reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [5] |
| Robert Christgau | B+[6] |
Trouser Press noted that "the album's diversity is to its credit, but Marl gives too much play to second-string rhymers, leaving the LP's few highlights (such as the Biz twigging Barry Manilow in 'We Write the Songs' and Shanté playing cute word games in 'Wack Itt') adrift on a sea of verbal boreplay."[7]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Droppin' Science" (featuring Craig G) | 4:59 | |
| 2. | "We Write the Songs" (featuring Heavy D and Biz Markie) |
| 5:25 |
| 3. | "The Rebel" (featuring Tragedy Khadafi) |
| 3:46 |
| 4. | "Keep Your Eye on the Prize" (featuring Master Ace and Action) |
| 5:42 |
| 5. | "The Symphony" (featuring Master Ace, Craig G, Kool G Rap and Big Daddy Kane) |
| 6:06 |
| 6. | "Live Motivator" (featuring Tragedy Khadafi) |
| 4:45 |
| 7. | "Duck Alert" (featuring Craig G) |
| 4:12 |
| 8. | "Simon Says" (featuring Master Ace and Action) |
| 4:02 |
| 9. | "Freedom" (featuring M.C. Shan) |
| 4:27 |
| 10. | "Wack Itt" (featuring Roxanne Shante) |
| 4:45 |
Personnel
[edit]- Marlon "Marley Marl" Williams – main artist, producer, mixing
- Craig "Craig G" Curry – featured artist (tracks: 1, 5, 7)
- Marcel "Biz Markie" Hall – featured artist (track 2)
- Dwight "Heavy D" Myers – featured artist (track 2)
- Percy "Tragedy Khadafi" Chapman – featured artist (tracks: 3, 6)
- Duval "Masta Ace" Clear – featured artist (tracks: 4, 5, 8)
- Action – featured artist (tracks: 4, 8)
- Nathaniel "Kool G Rap" Wilson – featured artist (track 5)
- Antonio "Big Daddy Kane" Hardy – featured artist (track 5)
- Shawn "MC Shan" Moltke – featured artist (track 9)
- Lolita "Roxanne Shanté" Gooden – featured artist (track 10)
- George DuBose – photography
- James Colosimo – logo design
Charts
[edit]| Chart (1988) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[8] | 163 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[9] | 25 |
References
[edit]- ^ MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 376.
- ^ MacInnes, Paul (June 13, 2011). Marley Marl becomes the first super-producer, due to In Control, Volume One. The Guardian. Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
- ^ Coleman, Brian. Check The Technique: Liner Notes for Hip-Hop Junkies. New York: Villard/Random House, 2007.
- ^ Muhammad, Ali Shaheed; Frannie Kelley. "Marley Marl on The Bridge Wars, LL Cool J and Discovering Sampling". NPR. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
- ^ Witt, Chris. "In Control, Vol. 1 - Marley Marl | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (March 14, 1989). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
- ^ Robbins, Ira. "Marley Marl". Trouser Press. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
- ^ "Marley Marl Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 4, 2017.
- ^ "Marley Marl Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 4, 2017.
External links
[edit]- Marley Marl – In Control, Volume 1 at Discogs (list of releases)
