The Samuel L Jackson 5 Release Controversial Debut Album
On This Day in 1969, The Samuel L Jackson 5 released it’s only studio album. Despite being extremely controversial, the album has influenced many bands and musicians, and the industry in general. In particular, the album’s raw energy, and Samuel’s sneering delivery and “half-singing”, are often considered game-changing. It is frequently listed as the most influential soul album, and one of the most important albums of all time.
Samuel L and his brothers, Leroy, Bubba, Clyde & Marcellus grew up in Larry, Indiana and were the arch rivals of ‘The Jackson 5’, who grew up one town over in Gary, Indiana. The two groups performed in the same clubs on the Chitlin’ circuit and were signed on the same day in 1968, to Motown records.
Their rivalry was bigger than the Beatles vs Rolling Stones and more violent than the East Coast/West Coast rap wars. In 1967, Joe and Jermaine Jackson tortured and sodomized Samuel L’s brother Marcellus in the basement of an abandoned building. In retaliation, Samuel L and his brothers threw Tito out of a fourth story window. Tito was fine but still stutters to this day.
The Samuel L Jackson 5 recorded their album in the spring of 1969. They would record the basic tracks during the day and then sneak back into Motown studios at night to record the vocals. When Berry Gordy heard the finished album, he took a baseball bat to the studio and pulled a gun on Samuel L Jackson. “Every song has the word ‘Motherfu*ker’ in it” screamed Gordy. “You are a crazy Motherfu*ker if you think I am releasing this album. I will shoot you and your brothers right here and now. Get out of my studio.”
Since Motown refused to release the album, Samuel L and his brothers put a live Tiger into Berry Gordy’s bathroom which convinced him to rip up their contract. The Samuel L Jackson 5 signed an agreement with ‘Madhouse’ Records, owned by Eldridge Cleaver, which released their debut album, ‘Say What Motherfu*ker’, on this day in 1969. The album contained the songs, “I Want You Back Motherfu*ker”, “I’ll Be There Motherfu*ker”, “ABC Motherfu*ker”, “Dancing Motherfu*king Machine”, “Ben You Motherfu*king Sewer Rat”, “Pigs Are Filthy Animals”, & “Beat it Motherfu*ker”.
The Samuel L Jackson 5 were way ahead of their time and were revolutionaries but made absolutely no money. The album received no airplay and peaked at #197 on the Billboard charts. In-fighting, drugs, arrests, suicides, and murder, broke up the band in 1970. Berry Gordy owned the rights to the original songs and they were re-recorded using wholesome lyrics and became huge hits for ‘The Jackson 5’. Samuel L Jackson became a famous actor and parts of his story were used by Quentin Tarantino in ‘Pulp Fiction’.
