Easin' In

Recorded at Motown's Hitsville U.S.A. studios in Los Angeles for the soundtrack to the film Hell Up in Harlem, Easin' In featured Edwin Starr on vocals with instrumental contributions from a studio ensemble that included James Jamerson, Chuck Rainey, Dennis Coffey and Joe Sample. Freddie Perren and Fonce Mizell composed, arranged and produced the recording, with Art Stewart engineering. Released on Motown Records in 1974, Easin' In formed part of the soundtrack to the blaxploitation film Hell Up in Harlem, directed by Larry Cohen and starring Fred Williamson. Its prominent bassline, conga rhythms and atmospheric instrumentation made it a distinctive contribution to the film's musical identity. Easin' In became a frequently sampled recording in hip-hop, with its bassline and percussion providing material for later producers. Its inclusion on Edwin Starr compilations and retrospective collections of blaxploitation soundtracks has sustained its reputation among DJs, collectors and funk enthusiasts.