Finger In It

Recorded in New York during the early 1970s for producer and independent label owner Paul Winley, 'Finger in It' was performed by the Mighty Tom Cats, a studio ensemble associated with Winley's recordings. The instrumental appeared on the group's album Soul Makossa and was also issued on a 1974 single backed with 'Dance Girl'. Released in 1974 on Paul Winley Records, 'Finger in It' featured a driving rhythm section, prominent bassline and tightly interlocking instrumental passages. The recording formed part of Winley's independent catalogue, which connected New York's club scene with the emerging culture of extended instrumental dance records. The recording became a favourite among specialist DJs and rare groove collectors, including audiences associated with Britain's Blackpool Mecca scene. Its inclusion on the 2001 compilation Death Mix: The Best of Paul Winley Records, alongside recordings associated with Afrika Bambaataa, helped preserve its connection to the formative years of hip-hop DJ culture.