Adventures on the Wheels of Steel is a 3CD compilation album by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five and Grandmaster Melle Mel. It was released in 1999 on the Castle Music label and is a boxed set containing three CDs in slimline jewel cases together with a fold out insert.
This set contains a mixture of tracks by the various incarnations of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five including their debut Super Rappin' No 1 and Grandmaster Melle Mel. Several errors are present with regard to the correct artist. Two previously unreleased tracks are included (*).
The foldout booklet repeats the essay by Lewis Dene (Blues & Soul Magazine) from October 1997 that originally appeared on the album The Greatest Mixes.
Track listing
CD1
- "Freedom"<small> (Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five)</small> â 8:18
- "The Birthday Party"<small> (Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five)</small> â 8:21
- "The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel"<small> (Grandmaster Flash)</small> â 7:13
- "Showdown"<small> (The Furious Five meets The Sugarhill Gang)</small> â 5:55
- "It's Nasty (Genius of Love)"<small> (Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five)</small> â 7:53
- "Flash to the Beat (Parts 1 & 2)"<small> (Grandmaster Flash)</small> â 10:49
- "The Message"<small> (Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five featuring Melle Mel and Duke Bootee)</small> â 7:13
- "Scorpio"<small> (Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five)</small> â 4:54
- "Message II (Survival)"<small> (Melle Mel and Duke Bootee)</small> â 6:54
- "New York New York"<small> (Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five)</small> â 7:26
CD2
- "White Lines (Don't Do It)"<small> (Grandmaster Flash and Melle Mel)</small> â 7:39
- "Jesse"<small> (Grandmaster Melle Mel)</small> â 6:13
- "Beat Street"<small> (Grandmaster Melle Mel & the Furious Five with Mr. Ness & Cowboy)</small> â 7:07
- "We Don't Work for Free"<small> (Grandmaster Melle Mel and the Furious Five)</small> â 5:03
- "Step Off"<small> (Furious Five featuring Melle Mel & Scorpio)</small> â 7:22
- "Pump Me Up"<small> (Grandmaster Melle Mel and the Furious Five)</small> â 4:40
- "Mega-Melle Mix"<small> (Grandmaster Melle Mel)</small> â 5:00
- "King of the Streets"<small> (Grandmaster Melle Mel)</small> â 5:11
- "Vice"<small> (Grandmaster Melle Mel)</small> â 5:05
- "Street Walker"<small> (Mass Production with special guest Grandmaster Melle Mel)</small> â 6:14
- "Super Rappin' No 1"<small> (Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five)</small> â 12.03
CD3
- "Trinidad Spot"<small> (Grandmaster Melle Mel)</small> â 0:39
- "She's Fresh"<small> (Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five)</small> â 4:56
- "It's A Shame (Mt. Airy Groove)"<small> (Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five)</small> â 4:58
- "Internationally Known"<small> (Grandmaster Melle Mel and the Furious Five)</small> â 6:50
- "Hustlers Convention"<small> (Grandmaster Melle Mel and the Furious Five)</small> â 6:15
- "The Truth"<small> (Grandmaster Melle Mel and the Furious Five)</small> â 4:18
- "World War III"<small> (Grandmaster Melle Mel and the Furious Five)</small> â 8:48
- "The New Adventures of Grandmaster"<small> (Grandmaster Melle Mel and the Furious Five)</small> â 5:40
- "Freestyle"<small> (Grandmaster Melle Mel and the Furious Five)</small> â 4:46
- "Black Man"<small> (Grandmaster Melle Mel and the Furious Five)</small> â 4:00
- "Drug Wars"<small> (Grandmaster Melle Mel and the Furious Five)</small> â 4:46
- "Kick the Knowledge"<small> (Grandmaster Melle Mel and the Furious Five)</small> â 4:18 *
- "D.C. Cab"<small> (Grandmaster Melle Mel and the Furious Five)</small> â 4:22 *
Notes
- <small>"The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel" is incorrectly credited. It should be credited to 'Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five'.</small>
- "<small>White Lines (Don't Do It)" has also been credited to 'Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five' and as 'Grandmaster and Melle Mel'.</small>
- <small>"Beat Street" was also released in an edited version as Beat Street Breakdown.</small>
- <small>"Step Off" is incorrectly credited. It should be credited to 'Grandmaster Melle Mel and the Furious Five'.</small>
- <small>"Mega-Melle Mix" has also been released as Step Off Megamix.</small>
- <small>"Trinidad Spot" is a radio advert for then upcoming shows in Trinidad on July 8 and 9.</small>
- <small>"Internationally Known" is incorrectly credited. It should be credited to Grandmaster Melle Mel and the Furious Five. It originally appeared on Greatest Messages.</small>
- <small>"Hustlers Convention" has the word 'shit' bleeped out.</small>
- <small>"The Truth" is the slightly edited version. It is also incorrectly credited. It should be credited to 'Grandmaster Melle Mel and the Furious Five'.</small>
- <small>"D.C. Cab" was re-written and released as "Jesse".</small>
References