Will the real M|A|R|R|S - "Pump Up the Volume" please stand up?

26th September 1987: JH's lead news item concerns SAW's legal action against the remix:

STOCK AITKEN WATERMAN had, as we went to press last week, taken out an injunction to prevent sales of the M|A|R|R|S remix because of its scratched-in use of a tiny bit from ‘Roadblock’, but later withdrew this before going to court (at that stage the remix was only available commercially as the seven-inch, the 12-inch now being out too) – it could have become a test case about the use of samples and scratches filched from other people’s records, so maybe it was dropped because it could also have become a case of the pot calling the kettle black? … Pete Waterman maintains that the use of ‘Pump Up The Volume’ in Sybil’s Red Ink Mix is something that M|A|R|R|S should have out with her label, Champion, rather than getting back at him through ‘Roadblock’ (especially as his involvement with the Red Ink Mix was, he claims, minimal).

JH also notes that the acappella of Michael Jackson's similarly tempoed "Bad" synchs superbly over "Pump Up The Volume".

The club chart has the original mix at #1, Sybil's Red Ink mix at its peak position of #3, and the now officially released 12" remix at #4. Only Levert's "Casanova" at #2 stands in the way of total top three domination.

3rd October 1987: It's a clean sweep for "Pump Up The Volume", which reaches #1 on the pop chart (where it will remain for two weeks) and #1 on Record Mirror's separately compiled "Pop Dance" DJ reaction chart (the start of a five week run at #1). On the club chart, the remix dislodges the original mix at #1, where it will also remain for two weeks, giving the track five combined weeks at the top. Rakim's sampled titular line starts to crop up on other records, initially on Big One Crew featuring Cut Master MC 'Reggae Got Soul' and Blue Mercedes 'I Want To Be Your Property (Street Latin Wolff Mix)'. There will be many, many more.

10th October 1987: The court case is confirmed, now dressed up as a matter of principle.

Stock Aitken Waterman are taking M|A|R|R|S to court over their use of ‘Roadblock’ in a scratch – had they asked for permission it would have been given, but this test case (probably not heard until next year) is being brought to obtain a ruling about the whole use of samples and scratches, in the hope of clarifying the law.

31st October 1987: JH reports that in West Germany, "all sorts of new “versions” of M|A|R|R|S’ 'Pump Up The Volume' are appearing, the best cutting in Rolling Stones-type stuff."

21st November 1987: One of these German bootlegs surfaces, but I can find no further evidence of its existence

Bert Rogers kindly sent me from Germany his own copy of the locally bootlegged Jeli version of ‘Pump Up The Volume’, re-scratched and over-dubbed with added rock guitar intros by such as the Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton, 0- 114⅓-113¼-114½-0-115-0bpm before then branching out into a very long general disco oldies medley.

5th December 1987: SAW reference the impending court case in a remix, with the mock trial commencing from 4:01:

Stock Aitken Waterman’s disappointing ‘Pack Jammed (With The Party Posse)’ is also due on December 13 in a far better (0-)99¼-0bpm Writ Mix (Breakout USAF 620, flipped by the (0-)99¼bpm original), with lots of snips from the team’s other hit productions and John Sachs laying off on the “skiddendaddy” to play instead a high court judge who, by the use of amusing cut ups, seems to be trying M|A|R|R|S for sampling the scream from ‘Roadblock’ – this could indeed make the record sub judice as the “guilty” verdict might be seen to influence the real court case that’s pending!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJoylZarMIE

Two US remixes of "Pump Up The Volume emerge:

M|A|R|R|S’ 113bpm US remix of ‘Pump Up The Volume’ (US 4th + B’way BWAY 452) has had its samples carefully vetted, and includes a new “Mars needs women” overlaid 113¼-0bpm Bonus Beat

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5yzeSkPMqA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlnlF194MN0

4th June 1988: Rakim's sample re-emerges on L.A. Mix's "Check This Out", which peaks at #6 on the pop chart this week. The 7" version, and the video version that was shown on Top Of The Pops, also feature James Hamilton's filmed riposte ("GET OFF!"), at 1:52.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POkFroHYd6s

17th December 1988:

Stock Aitken Waterman’s case against M|A|R|R|S (for the unauthorised use of a snip from ‘Roadblock’ in ‘Pump Up The Volume’), long anticipated as a test case about sampling, appears to have ended up by being settled out of court in Pete Waterman’s favour, thus depriving the industry of some possible legal precedents.

24th December 1988: The saga concludes.

4AD Records, apologising unreservedly for not first obtaining permission before M|A|R|R|S used a two second sample of Stock Aitken Waterman ‘Roadblock’ in ‘Pump Up The Volume’ – to complete last week’s report – gave a donation at Pete Waterman’s request to the Great Ormond Street Hospital For Children, and a substantial contribution towards legal costs.

JH also notes that the acappella of Michael Jackson's similarly tempoed "Bad" synchs superbly over "Pump Up The Volume".

YSI?

fantastic work mike, thanks!

Since you asked nicely!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt3os_PF_zA

nothing could beat this! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3S_GMobKvU

neat, i gotta dig in here.