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"Catch the Beat" was an early song for rapper T-Ski Valley. It was a hit for him in 1981. Over the years it has been sampled by many artists as well as charting with remixing and new titles.

Background

The song came about as a result of T-Ski Valley who was known as Tyrone in the early days being hired to set up the break beat section at the back of the store run by Bad Osborne. After asking Osborne if he could record sone hip hop songs, Osborne booked Tyrone some time with Bob Blank's Blank Tape Studios. This was the same the studio where some early rap and disco artists such as Musique and the Salsoul Orchestra made their recordings. The single that emerged from Tyrone's recording session was "Catch the Beat" by T-Ski Valley. Produced by Brad Osborne, the song was released in the US on Grand Groove GG 7701.

"Catch the Beat" uses a sample from "Heartbeat" by Taana Gardner.

It has been sampled in at least 82 recordings. The song "Over" by will.i.am which appears on his Songs About Girls album uses a sample of "Catch the Beat".

Reception

In an article by Stuart Baker in Hot Stuff magazine issue #11, "Catch the Beat" was referred to as a groundbreaking rap song. An early rap favorite, the track has been described as a huge hit in the black community. According to Piccadilly Records, the song captures the post-Disco Bronx era of Rap.

In 2002 a remix by Dimitri from Paris, "Catch the Beat (Dimi's & Mousse T.'s Old School Mix" bw "Catch the Beat (Bibi Better Days Mix)", "Catch The Beat (Acapella)" was released on Peppermint Jam PJMS0063. The editor of the The Beat Box, Hot Plate section (Billboard 20 July) wrote that it was "cleverly reworked by Dimitri From Paris and Mousse T." and they had "collectively infused it with an old-school contemporary feel".

Hit

The song has been described as an underground hit. and according to the 31 August, 1981 issue of Cash Box, "Catch the Beat" was in the East Coast Dance Music Top Ten for the week of 1 August 1981. The song would become an underground hit. As reported by Record World in the 12 December 1981 issue, the New York area hit "Catch the Beat" was continuing to sell well.

Later years

In 1984, "Catch the Beat (Scratch the Beat)" was released on Master Mix 12CHE 8409 as well as BMC 3597. A hit in the UK, it spent ten weeks on the Record Mirror disco chart, peaking at no. 33. It would re-emerge on the Disco Top 85 chart at no. 75. It stayed in the chart for one more week.

In 2024, "Catch the Beat (Deetron Rollerskate Remix)" peaked at no. 42 on the iTunes chart on the week of 8 September.

References

1. Remixology, Tracing the Dub Diaspora, By Paul Sullivan · 2013 - ISBN 9781780232102 - 4 NYC, Dub, Rap, Disco and Illbient, Dub in NYC - Page 96
2. Genius - Catch The Beat! T-Ski Valley
3. Remixology, Tracing the Dub Diaspora, By Paul Sullivan · 2013 - ISBN 9781780232102 - 4 NYC, Dub, Rap, Disco and Illbient, Dub in NYC - Page 96
4. Who Sampled - Songs that Sampled Catch the Beat by T-Ski Valley
5. Let's Get It Started: The Rise & Rise of the Black Eyed Peas, By Daryl Easlea · 2012 - ISBN:9780857127952, 0857127950 - Also using a break from T/Ski Valley's old-school rap hit, 'Catch The Beat'
6. Hot Stuff, 11 - Page 87 Disco Reggae Rockers by Stuart Baker Soul Jazz Records
7. DJ Screw: A Life in Slow Revolution, Lance Scott Walker · 2022 - ISBN 9781477325155 - Page 32
8. Spotify Throwbacks, November 8, 2018 - T-Ski Valley: Catch the Beat (1982)
9. 50 Years Of Hip Hop: The Solo MC Jams (Black Friday 23 Edition), TUFLP0905, 24 Nov '23 - Notes
10. Discogs - T Ski Valley* – Catch The Beat (Dimi's Mousse T's Old School Remix)
11. Billboard, July 20, 2002 - Page 25 The Beat Box, Hot Plate
12. Remixology, Tracing the Dub Diaspora, By Paul Sullivan · 2013 - ISBN 9781780232102 - 4 NYC, Dub, Rap, Disco and Illbient, Dub in NYC - Page 96
13. Cash Box, August 1, 1981 - Page 16 Dance Music Chart, Top Ten
14. Remixology, Tracing the Dub Diaspora, By Paul Sullivan · 2013 - ISBN 9781780232102 - 4 NYC, Dub, Rap, Disco and Illbient, Dub in NYC - Page 96
15. Record World, December 12, 1981 - Page 24 Stars on 12 -Inch: Indies Cover Hits By Brian Chin (Continued from page 3)
16. James Hamilton's Disco Page, November 24, 1984 - November 24, 1984: Thelma Houston, James Ingram, Kool & The Gang, T.Ski Valley, Scheer Music, Odds 'N' Bods, T.SKI VALLEY: ‘Catch The Beat (Scratch The Beat)’ (Master Mix 12CHE 8409)
17. Amazon - Catch The Beat (Scratch The Beat), Product details
18. Record Mirror, June 30, 1984 - Page 52 Record Mirror Disco, 45 -
19. Record Mirror, July 28, 1984 - Page 33 Record Mirror Disco, 33 40
20. Record Mirror, August 4, 1984 - Page 31 Record Mirror Disco, 35 33
21. James Hamilton's Disco Page, September 22, 1984 - Disco Top 85 – September 22, 1984, 75 — CATCH THE BEAT (SCRATCH THE BEAT), T.Ski Valley, Belgian BMC 12in
22. James Hamilton's Disco Page, September 29, 1984 - Disco Top 85 – SEPTEMBER 29, 1984, 79 75 CATCH THE BEAT (SCRATCH THE BEAT), T.Ski Valley, Belgian BMC 12in
23. James Hamilton's Disco Page, October 6, 1984 - Disco Top 85 – October 6, 1984
24. Top Charts - Catch the Beat (Deetron Rollerskate Remix) Charts History, Highest position on iTunes Chart #42 (September 08 2024)

External links

• Discogs - T/Ski Valley* / Grand Groove Bunch – !Catch The Beat! / !Catch The Groove!
• Cifraclub - Lyrics

• 1981 singles
• T-Ski Valley songs
• Songs written by Tyrone Cox
• Song recordings produced by Glen Adams