CYCLE MUSIC #07
B.J. Thomas “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head”
B.J. Thomas “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head”
Music Cycles Around The World
#01 New York
3rd Bass “Brooklyn-Queens”
After 15 instalments, my column CYCLE MUSIC, where I’ve written about cycling and the music I love, has come to an end.
Starting from this issue, I’m launching a new series titled Music Cycles Around The World. With the theme of “cities and music”, the idea is to explore the world through both cycling and sound.
We begin with New York, where the Five Boro Bike Tour—a ride event that takes in all five boroughs including Brooklyn and Queens—is scheduled for 4th May. The title speaks for itself, so let’s kick things off with “Brooklyn-Queens” by 3rd Bass.
3rd Bass were a mixed-race hip-hop trio formed in Queens in 1987, made up of MC Serch, Prime Minister Pete Nice, and DJ Richie Rich. Before disbanding in 1992, they released two full-length albums and a handful of memorable singles. They’re also considered legendary for their early connections with a young MF Doom and Nas.
Their debut album The Cactus Album, released in 1989 on the iconic hip-hop label Def Jam, is regarded as a classic of the so-called “middle school” era. At the time, I was captivated by the fresh, vibrant sound of the emerging “new school”, especially De La Soul’s debut album 3 Feet High and Rising. That record’s colourful sonic palette was shaped by producer Prince Paul—who also brought his brilliantly eclectic sampling style to The Cactus Album, making it shine just as brightly.
“Brooklyn-Queens” was also released the following year, in 1990, as a vibrant 12-inch single featuring a remix by C.J. Mackintosh. This groovy track transcended genres, winning fans across the board. Driven by a breezy sway beat sampled from The Emotions’ classic “Best Of My Love”, it became a firm favourite among Free Soul fans—a proper floor-filler and an irresistible party tune.
I didn’t just spin it heavily in my DJ sets—it also made its way onto the compilation CD Ultimate Free Soul 90s, and I reissued it as a split 7-inch single alongside Nice & Smooth’s “Cake & Eat It Too”. It’s one of those tracks that sounds absolutely brilliant pumping through your headphones while cruising on a road bike—pure joy on wheels!
♬Music Cycles Around The World STORAGE♬
#01 3rd Bass “Brooklyn-Queens”
♬CYCLE MUSIC STORAGE♬
#01 The Style Council “My Ever Changing Moods”
#02 Cordelia “Play Pretend”
#03 Corinne Bailey Rae “Put Your Records On”
#04 Georgie Fame ”Happiness”
#05 Alulu Paranhos “Bicicletinha”
#06 Motoharu Sano “Angelina”
#07 B.J. Thomas “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head”
#08 The Smiths “This Charming Man”
#09 Dominic Miller “Bicycle”
#10 NewJeans “Bubble Gum”
#11 Tank and the Bangas “Smoke.Netflix.Chill.”
#12 Kraftwerk “Tour de France”
#13 Livingston Taylor “Don’t Let Me Lose This Dream”
#14 RM “Bicycle”
#15 Norah Jones “Christmas Calling (Jolly Jones)”
Profile
Toru Hashimoto (SUBURBIA)
Editor / Music Selector / DJ / Producer. Founder of Suburbia Factory. Owner of Shibuya’s “Cafe Apres-midi” and “Apres-midi Selecao.” Over 350 compilation CDs, including series like ‘Free Soul,’ ‘Mellow Beats,’ ‘Cafe Apres-midi,’ ‘Jazz Supreme,’ ‘Music With A View,’ and many others, have been curated, making him the world’s foremost selector. He oversees and produces music broadcast channels “usen for Cafe Apres-midi” and “usen for Free Soul” on USEN, wielding significant influence in Japanese music scene since the 1990s. In recent years, his ‘Good Mellows’ series with a focus on mellow chillout has gained great popularity both domestically and internationally.
Art Work＿yua
Post Date：2025.04.21
