12/13/2023
Dan LeRoy’s “33 1/3 - Paul’s Boutique”. The 33 1/3 is a series of books that focus on a single music album.
Obviously this is about the Beastie Boys “Paul’s Boutique” album. For music nerds it’s amazing as it delves into the production of one of the most sampled albums ever made. (105 total samples)
The producers (the dust brothers) were two fellas who helped the careers of tone loc and young mc with their catchy tunes. One of the Beasties (Ad Rock) was at a party and heard the sounds of bust a move and wild thing before they were actually finished products and thought “I need to meet these guys”.
This is a quick read and filled with fun anecdotes (eg the Beasties stayed in an LA producers home and raided their closets of 70’s outfits and showed up at parties dressed up in them. Hence the “Hey Ladies” video).
More importantly the book gives insight into not settling into comfort. Executives wanted License to Ill part 2 from the Beastie Boys but they refused to be “the fight for your right to party” guys anymore.
Sticking to their vision they created one of the wildest, coolest albums ever made and this book explores it to the fullest.
