Experienced crate diggers are no doubt familiar with New Birth, the 17-piece funk ensemble sampled on classic hip-hop records by Wu-Tang Clan, De La Soul, Junior M.A.F.I.A., Black Sheep, Lil Wayne, Ice Cube, and many more. The genesis of New Birth can be traced back to The Nite-Liters, a Louisville-based instrumental outfit. Founded in 1963 by Motown songwriter/producer Harvey Fuqua and saxophonist Tony Churchill, The Nite-Liters released a handful of albums in the early 70s, scoring a few minor hits and perfecting the sound that would power New Birth to further success as the decade progressed. While much of the The Nite Liters’ early material has been overlooked, their self-titled debut album is worth revisiting. Originally released on RCA Records in 1970, The Nite Liters is a raw, soulful masterpiece that has been sampled by KMD, Ghostface Killah and others. This historic release is now back on print on limited-edition “Nite Lite” colored vinyl.
