Skull Snaps

Skull Snaps was a mysterious funk group that released one eponymous album on the small GSF label in 1973 before disappearing. Formerly known as The Diplomats, a formation that released numerous singles between 1963 and 1970 with middling success, Skull Snaps are known primarily for their spectacular drum breaks. The familiar opening drum pattern of It's A New Day was first sampled by Connecticut hip-hop artist Stezo on "It's My Turn", and has since been used by Ol' Dirty Bastard and The Prodigy.

Following the Skull Snaps sessions the group recorded a cover version of Manu Dibango's underground hit 'Soul Makossa', using the name All Dyrections, for the Budah label. Two years later they recorded one final single under the Skull Snaps name, 'Al's Razor Blade', with 'Ain't That Lovin' You' as a B-side, for Grill records.
Skull Snaps' only album was a rare collectors' item trading for between $200 to $300. It has now been reissued on both vinyl and CD. In 2005, Australian reissue label Aztec Music released the first official re-issue on CD - a deluxe 6-panel digi-pak, remastered with two bonus tracks, "Al's Razor Blade" and "Ain't That Loving You".

Ten12 Records re-united all the original members of the Skull Snaps (Erv Littleton Waters, Sam O. Culley, and George Bragg) in 2005 in tandem with the band's first official release, Snapped/ I'm Your Pimp, since their 1975 single. Incidentally 'I'm Your Pimp' was a massive hit on the Northern Soul scene in the UK in the 70s often played at the legendary Wigan Casino all nighters. Ten12 Records under the direction of Skull Snaps frontman Erv Waters plans to release the entire Skull Snaps catalog on CD/DVD with recordings from the original album plus five bonus tracks, "Al's Razor Blade," "Ain't That Lovin' You," "On Top Of It," "Soul Makossa," and "She's The One", with live footage and archived photos.

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