Dexter Wansel Theme From The Planets

Science fiction was big in the 1970s. So from a marketing standpoint, it made sense when, in 1976, Dexter Wansel went for a sci-fi theme on his debut album, Life on Mars. Not that the Philadelphia producer/keyboardist needed a gimmick to get over -- if you're good enough to work with heavyweights like the O'Jays, the Stylistics, and the Intruders, you don't need a gimmick. Even without the sci-fi theme, Life on Mars would have been a memorable debut for Wansel, who produced the album and wrote or co-wrote all of the material. This diverse LP is far from predictable; if you bought Life on Mars for its title song (a haunting piece of space funk that employs members of Instant Funk), you quickly learned that the record also includes mellow quiet storm offerings ("One Million Miles From the Ground," "Together Once Again") as well as Curtis Mayfield-influenced funk ("You Can Be What You Wanna Be") and pop-jazz/crossover instrumentals ("A Prophet Named K.G.," "Theme From the Planets"). In fact, one of the musicians Wansel employs is saxophonist Bob Malach, a jazzman who is heavily influenced by Michael Brecker but is more Grover Washington-influenced on this album. Ranging from decent to excellent, Life on Mars is arguably Wansel's strongest album.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Dexter Wansel
• Theme From The Planets

[louishenna]

Where wiz and stalley got there sample from wow!

[TheSwagIsBack]

J Cole used this for "Light Please" Stalley used this for "Slapp" & Wiz used this for "Spotlight"

[BttfJunkie1]

@rblakley4 can you hook us up with some charts or what?!

[KillTyrant]

Surprised no one noticed but diggy in his song "do it like you" sampled this as well (altho ill admit to a lesser degree)

[rblakley4]

This song take me back when I had the desire to play boards, Dexter Wasel Theme from The Planet was on a demo record that my Dad got from a TV Retail Store as a gift, when I heard this song I fell in love with the arrangements, the various synthesizer sounds, man I had to learn that song and I did.

[4evarealAB94]

Diggy Simmons producer used this on do it like you

[soneoo]

IM THE GREATEST, oh cool drum break screw J Coolio

[MrSlamCAC]

I HAD 2 OF THIS ALBUM IN MY RECORD CRATES BACK IN 1984, I USED TO TEAR IT UP ON THE WHEELS OF STEEL !!! ONE OF MY FAVORITE "BREAKBEATS" AND AN EXCELLENT JAZZ RECORD !!!

ITS GREAT HEARING IT AGAIN !!! IN ALL OF ITS NEW SAMPLED USES !!!

[601dude]

Kid 'N Play used this for "Last Night"

[Spinnazn1]

@22youngzae He used the Beginning of the Song with the Drum Intro

[TheLilpeace26]

Make it Slapp yeah!!

[KillTyrant]

@MrRevofev yeah sorry I didnt mean to come off like an ass, I didnt mean to belittle you or nothin sometimes you just listen out for the wrong things or you focus on the wrong sounds. Like you might be focusing on the melody rather then the beat itself which is leads to you having a harder time listening out for the similarities. Again I to apologize for my rather brash comment. In the end however, both songs are fire so just be happy you got 2 chill songs to listen to ;)