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White Lines (Don't Don't Do It)
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Wikipedia article
"'White Lines (Don't Don't Do It)'" is a song by Melle Mel, released as a 12" in 1983 on Sugar Hill Records. The song, which warns against the dangers of cocaine, addiction, and drug smuggling, is one of Melle Mel's signature tracks. The bassline is taken from a performance of the Sugar Hill house band (featuring bassist Doug Wimbish) covering "Cavern", a single by New York City band Liquid Liquid.
Overview
When originally released on Sugar Hill Records, the record was credited to 'Grandmaster & Melle Mel' (some international issues carried the credit 'Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel'). By this time, Grandmaster Flash had already stopped touring with Mel and was suing Sugar Hill Records for back royalties. The animosity between the two artists continued well into the future.
"White Lines" peaked at No. 47 on the 'Billboard' Hot Black Singles chart in 1983. The song fared better in the United Kingdom, reaching number 7 on the UK Singles Chart in July 1984, spending 17 consecutive weeks in the top 40. It was the 13th best-selling single of 1984 in the UK, selling more than several number one hits that year.
The song was co-written by Melle Mel and Sylvia Robinson. Originally, it was intended to be an ironic celebration of a cocaine-fueled party lifestyle, but it was abridged with the "don't do it" message as a concession to commercial considerations.
The lines "A businessman is caught with 24 kilos / He's out on bail and out of jail and that's the way it goes" refers to car manufacturer John DeLorean, who in 1982 became entrapped in a scheme to save his company from bankruptcy using drug money. Some of the lyrics in "White Lines" ("something like a phenomenon") echoed lyrics from the song "Cavern" by Liquid Liquid ("slip in and out of phenomenon"), in addition to the note-by-note appropriation of the bass line from "Cavern" with a rapping track overlaid. Sugar Hill did not get proper clearance to use "Cavern," resulting in years of lawsuits, ultimately in Liquid Liquid's favor. As a result of the $600,000 judgment against Sugar Hill, the label declared bankruptcy to circumvent paying the judgment.
An unofficial music video was directed by Spike Lee, then a New York University film student, and starred actor Laurence Fishburne.
Charts
Year-end charts
Duran Duran version
{{Infobox song
| name = White Lines (Don't Do It)
| cover = Duranduran whitelines.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Duran Duran
| album = Thank You
| B-side = *"Save a Prayer"
*"None of the Above"
| released = 1995
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Rap rock
| length = 5:31
| label = *EMI
*Capitol
| writer = *Melle Mel
*Sylvia Robinson
| producer =
| chronology = Duran Duran
| prev_title = Perfect Day
| prev_year = 1995
| next_title = Out of My Mind
| next_year = 1997
| misc =
}}
A 1995 cover version of "White Lines" featuring performances from Grandmaster Flash and Melle Mel was released as the second single from the Duran Duran covers album 'Thank You'. The single reached No. 17 on the UK Singles Chart, No. 5 on the US Dance Club Songs chart, No. 20 in Australia and No. 31 in New Zealand. The band continues to perform the song as a regular part of their live set.
This single had more promo releases than most bands have releases, and across this myriad of 12" and CD singles the band released more than 20 distinct remixes and edits of "White Lines", many of which were crafted by DJ Junior Vasquez. Apart from the singles and the 'Thank You' album, the song also appeared as a B-side on the first single from the album, "Perfect Day".
A black and white video was shot in January 1995 by Nick Egan, featuring Duran Duran, Melle Mel, and the Furious Five performing the song accompanied by breakdancers and people in skeleton masks.
On July 8, 2009, 'The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson' did a lip sync version of the Duran Duran cover featuring puppets on backing vocals.
Charts
References
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