THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

754- Coldcut featuring Yazz and the Plastic Population-Doctorin’ the House.

1988-Number 6 single.

Best Bit-At 2.12. ‘Ooh’ Matron.

Coldcut were formed in London, England, in 1986, by the ‘Electronic,’ House,’ ‘Hip-Hop,’ ‘Trip-Hop,’ ‘Downtempo,’ music production duo of Matt Black, and Jonathan More. They are credited as being pioneers of ‘Pop Sampling’ in the 1980’s, for their innovative use of mixing ‘Hip-Hop,’ ‘Soul,’ and ‘Funk,’ etc, with spoken word from film and television. The duo’s first release ‘Say Kids What Time Is It?’ released in January 1987 mixed the ‘Jungle Books’ ‘King of the Swingers,’ with the break from James Brown’s 1969 track ‘Funky Drummer,’ (see also best songs 253) and is considered to be the first UK record built entirely on samples. Artists such as The Chemical Brothers, (see also best songs 502 and 53) and Fatboy Slim, (see also best songs 950-760-387 and 95) have cited Coldcut as an inspiration in the development of the ‘Big Beat’ genre. In October 1987 Coldcut were asked to remix the American ‘Hip Hop’ Artists ‘Eric B & Rakim’s track ‘Paid in Full,’ their remix is said to have ‘laid the groundwork for ‘Hip-Hop’s’ entry in to the UK mainstream’ (see also best songs 856.)

Matt Black who was a computer programmer, first met Jonathan More in a record shop in London, at that time both were already involved in the underground music scene. Their first collaboration ‘Say Kids What Time Is It?’ was sampled by ‘MARRS’ for their 1987 UK Number 1 single ‘Pump Up the Volume.’ In 1990 the duo set up their own record label ‘Ninja Tune,’ as a means to escape the creative control of major labels, and also as a vehicle to release music of an underground nature. The label’s first releases were the first five volumes of ‘DJ Food’s Jazz Brakes,’ and were produced by Coldcut in the early 1990’s. The Albums were composed of instrumental sample based cuts, that led the duo to help pioneer new instrumental ‘Hip-Hop’ beats genres, and, to this day they are recognised as being indispensable tools for DJ’s. The record label remains active at the time of writing, and has produced dozens of artists over the years.

The discography of Coldcut includes 10 Albums released between 1989-2017, and 21 singles issued between 1987-2016, there are also four official compilation and mix Albums available. In the UK, Coldcut have charted within the top 40 singles chart on four occasions, with ‘Doctorin’ the House,’ featuring Yazz and the Plastic Population, peaking the highest at Number 6. Coldcut were responsible for giving the English singer Lisa Stansfield here first hit single when their track ‘People Hold On,’ featuring Lisa Stansfield, reached Number 11 in the UK in 1989. In 1988, Coldcut were the producers of the UK Number 1 single ‘The Only Way Is Up,’ by ‘Yazz and the Plastic Population,’ who also feature on ‘Doctorin’ the House.’

‘Doctorin’ the House’ was the second of five singles released from ‘What’s That Noise?’ the debut studio Album from Coldcut, from April 1989. The Album consisted of 17 tracks released on two vinyl discs, and featured alongside Coldcut, artists as diverse as Mark E. Smith, and Queen Latifah. ‘Doctorin’ the House’ which has in excess of 20 different samples, was produced by Coldcut, with Yazz who provides vocals on the track, also given songwriting credit. Yazz was born Yasmin Evans on May 19th, 1960, in Shepherd’s Bush, London, United Kingdom, and has to date released seven Albums between 1988-2011, and 14 singles between 1988-1998. In the UK, seven of those singles have reached the top 40, with “The Only Way Is Up,’ peaking at Number 1 in 1988. After a failed marriage and her dependency on alcohol during the 1990’s, Yazz turned to religion, and in 2008 released the Album ‘Running Back to You,’ which charts her spiritual journey, and her new found Christian faith.

‘We’ve got a hot one for you, can you take care of it? We’ve got a hot one for you, can you take care of it? Yeah, you just hit me. Listen, listen, listen for the beatbox, beat dis. Now who’s jackin’ the house? That wicked plastic man.’