Our next spotlight is on number 254 on The List, which yours truly submitted (Mastodon handle: buffyleigh).
ESG (or, Emerald, Sapphire & Gold) is an iconic no wave/post-punk/art-funk band, founded in 1978 by three sisters from the South Bronx, Renee, Valerie, and Marie Scroggins. After recording 3 songs for their 1981 “You’re No Good” single with the infamous Martin Hannett for Factory Records, the single was expanded and released the same year on 99 Records as their self-titled EP. Both the single and EP contain what is perhaps their most well-known work, albeit indirectly – the instrumental “UFO” is one of the most sampled songs ever, used in at least 580 tracks by artists such as The Notorious B.I.G., MF Doom, Public Enemy, N.W.A, Beastie Boys, TLC, Nine Inch Nails, and even Miles Davis. “Moody”, the other song from their initial single, and the EP in general, was also a huge hit in clubs and the house music scene. The band played the opening night of The Haçienda, the legendary Manchester nightclub.
Come Away with ESG is the band’s first full-length, containing songs from their previous EPs (including an extended version of “Moody”) as well as some other great danceable tunes. For this album, the Scroggins’ sister Deborah also joined. As with the previous EPs, the sound is minimal, stripped-down, and funky, focusing on drums, bass, congas, and some vocals sprinkled here and there. While it would be nearly 10 years until their next release (partially due to 99 Records shutting down soon after Come Away with ESG), the band remained active into the 90s, and continues today.
And indeed, though the LP and band in general have been cited over the decades by numerous artists as being enormously influential, ESG has recently had a well-deserved resurgence in attention. The self-titled EP was revamped into a 2015 Record Store Day release called The Moody EP (which is how they came across my radar). Come Away with ESG (with new cover art) was reissued by Fire Records for its 35th anniversary in 2018, and a 33 1/3 volume dedicated to the LP was published in 2023. A documentary on the band, Are You Serious? The ESG Story, directed by Renee Scoggins, was just released in January, with screenings accompanying live shows.
If you’re looking into what New York City’s no wave genre/scene of the 70s and 80s entailed, make sure to include ESG in your playlist!
[Alt text for accompanying image: The artwork is a collage created by torn up black and white photos of hands, a boombox, someone smiling, and a fire hydrant. The top and bottom are bright orange, with the album title in the top right corner, and small photos of the band members in the bottom right corner.]
https://1001otheralbums.com/2024/03/06/esg-come-away-with-esg-1983-us/
3/7: There were a few new releases, and then suddenly this year they have really gone for broke! Originally released in 1981, “Chantons Noël: Ghosts of Christmas Past” is a festive compilation album updated with more recent tracks by Crépuscule and 
