Special Herbs, Vols. 4, 5 & 6
Encyclopedia
Special Herbs, Vols. 4, 5 & 6 is an album of instrumental works released by Daniel Dumile
under the Metal Fingers moniker. As with the other installments of the Special Herbs series, each track is named for a herb (or similar flora
) or herbal preparation, with the exception of "Coffin Nails" which could refer either to a slang term for tobacco
cigarettes or literally to nails from coffin
s, which have been traditionally used in conjunction with certain herbs in the performance of ceremonial magic
rituals.
The album's title is slightly misleading, in that it is not an entirely new volume: the second part of the previous installment in the Metal Fingers series (confusingly also called Special Herbs, Vol. 4
but also commonly known as Special Herbs, Vols. 3 & 4; it is this latter "Volume 4" that is duplicated), appears again here as the first eight tracks of Vols. 4, 5 & 6. The difference in record label
s on which the various albums were released explains this anomaly, similar to the earlier doublings of Vol. 2
and Vol. 4
. After this volume, the numbering of the series becomes more consistent, and there are no such overlapping tracks.
The original artwork for both the CD and vinyl versions contained depictions of Marvel Comics
' Dr. Doom character (from the Fantastic Four
). The original album with this artwork is now deleted but can surface from time to time on online auction sites. An updated cover was created for the album featuring MF Doom's own face.
Daniel Dumile
Daniel Dumile is a hip hop artist who has taken on several stage names in his career, most notably MF DOOM, where the "MF" stands for metal face, and for tracks he has produced, metal fingers...
under the Metal Fingers moniker. As with the other installments of the Special Herbs series, each track is named for a herb (or similar flora
Flora
Flora is the plant life occurring in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring or indigenous—native plant life. The corresponding term for animals is fauna.-Etymology:...
) or herbal preparation, with the exception of "Coffin Nails" which could refer either to a slang term for tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
cigarettes or literally to nails from coffin
Coffin
A coffin is a funerary box used in the display and containment of dead people – either for burial or cremation.Contemporary North American English makes a distinction between "coffin", which is generally understood to denote a funerary box having six sides in plan view, and "casket", which...
s, which have been traditionally used in conjunction with certain herbs in the performance of ceremonial magic
Magic (paranormal)
Magic is the claimed art of manipulating aspects of reality either by supernatural means or through knowledge of occult laws unknown to science. It is in contrast to science, in that science does not accept anything not subject to either direct or indirect observation, and subject to logical...
rituals.
The album's title is slightly misleading, in that it is not an entirely new volume: the second part of the previous installment in the Metal Fingers series (confusingly also called Special Herbs, Vol. 4
Special Herbs, Vol. 4
Special Herbs, Vol. 4 is an album of instrumental works released by Daniel Dumile under the Metal Fingers moniker, the fourth part of his Special Herbs series...
but also commonly known as Special Herbs, Vols. 3 & 4; it is this latter "Volume 4" that is duplicated), appears again here as the first eight tracks of Vols. 4, 5 & 6. The difference in record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
s on which the various albums were released explains this anomaly, similar to the earlier doublings of Vol. 2
Special Herbs, Vol. 2
Special Herbs, Vol. 2 is the second album in the Special Herbs series of instrumental works released by Daniel Dumile under the Metal Fingers moniker...
and Vol. 4
Special Herbs, Vol. 4
Special Herbs, Vol. 4 is an album of instrumental works released by Daniel Dumile under the Metal Fingers moniker, the fourth part of his Special Herbs series...
. After this volume, the numbering of the series becomes more consistent, and there are no such overlapping tracks.
The original artwork for both the CD and vinyl versions contained depictions of Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
' Dr. Doom character (from the Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four is a fictional superhero team appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The group debuted in The Fantastic Four #1 , which helped to usher in a new level of realism in the medium...
). The original album with this artwork is now deleted but can surface from time to time on online auction sites. An updated cover was created for the album featuring MF Doom's own face.
Track listing
- "Blood RootBloodrootBloodroot is a perennial, herbaceous flowering plant native to eastern North America from Nova Scotia, Canada southward to Florida, United States...
" – 3:00- Produced by Metal Fingers
- "Star AnisStar aniseIllicium verum, commonly called Star anise, star aniseed, or Chinese star anise, is a spice that closely resembles anise in flavor, obtained from the star-shaped pericarp of Illicium verum, a small native evergreen tree of northeast Vietnam and southwest China...
" – 3:28- Produced by Metal Fingers
- "Lemon GrassCymbopogonCymbopogon is a genus of about 55 species of grasses, native to warm temperate and tropical regions of the Old World and Oceania. It is a tall perennial grass...
" – 4:21- Produced by Metal Fingers
- "Four Thieves VinegarFour Thieves VinegarFour Thieves Vinegar is a concoction of vinegar infused with herbs, spices or garlic that was believed to protect users from the plague...
" – 3:34- Produced by Metal Fingers
- "GalangalGalangalGalangal is a rhizome of plants of the genus Alpinia or Kaempferia in the ginger family Zingiberaceae, with culinary and medicinal uses originated from Indonesia...
Root" – 2:33- Produced by Metal Fingers
- Contains a sample from "Walk on By" by Isaac HayesIsaac HayesIsaac Lee Hayes, Jr. was an American songwriter, musician, singer and actor. Hayes was one of the creative influences behind the southern soul music label Stax Records, where he served both as an in-house songwriter and as a record producer, teaming with his partner David Porter during the...
, from the album Hot Buttered SoulHot Buttered SoulHot Buttered Soul was Isaac Hayes' second studio album. Released in 1969, it is recognized as a landmark in soul music.-Album history:The album almost never came to be...
and Always (Atlantic Starr song)Always (Atlantic Starr song)"Always" was the second single from All in the Name of Love, the seventh album from R&B group, Atlantic Starr. The song went to number one on both the Hot Black Singles and Billboard Hot 100 charts in June 1987. The song also spent two weeks atop the U.S. adult contemporary chart...
by Atlantic StarrAtlantic StarrAtlantic Starr was a 1980s R&B band. Among their biggest hits were "Always" and "Secret Lovers."- History :The group was started in 1976 in White Plains, New York by trumpeter Duke Jones , drummer Porter Carroll Jr., bassist Clifford Archer, percussionist and flautist Joseph Phillips, and three...
, from the album All In the Name of LoveAll in the Name of LoveAll In The Name Of Love is a hit album by the R&B band Atlantic Starr recorded in 1986 and released in early 1987. It featured the band's biggest hit on the pop charts, "Always" as well as the top ten R&B follow-up, "One Lover at a Time" and the late-1986 single "Armed and Dangerous," which was...
.
- "SpikenardSpikenardSpikenard is a flowering plant of the Valerian family that grows in the Himalayas of China, also found growing in the northern region of India and Nepal. The plant grows to about 1 m in height and has pink, bell-shaped flowers...
" – 3:33- Produced by Metal Fingers
- Contains a sample from "Ain't No Price on Happiness" by The SpinnersThe Spinners (U.S. band)The Spinners is a soul music vocal group, active for over 50 years, and with a long run of pop and R&B hits especially during the 1970s. The group, originating from Detroit, still tours regularly ....
, from the album Mighty LoveMighty Love-Personnel:*Billy Henderson, Bobby Smith, Philippé Wynne, Henry Fambrough, Pervis Jackson – vocals*Linda Creed, Barbara Ingram, Carla Benson, Evette Benton – backing vocals*MFSB – instrumentation-Charts:AlbumSingles...
.
- "CinquefoilPotentillaPotentilla is the genus of typical cinquefoils, containing about 500 species of annual, biennial and perennial herbs in the rose family Rosaceae. They are generally Holarctic in distribution, though some may even be found in montane biomes of the New Guinea Highlands...
" – 2:59- Produced by Metal Fingers
- Contains a sample from "Space" by Galt MacDermot
- "HyssopHyssopHyssop is a genus of about 10-12 species of herbaceous or semi-woody plants in the family Lamiaceae, native from the east Mediterranean to central Asia. They are aromatic, with erect branched stems up to 60 cm long covered with fine hairs at the tips. The leaves are narrow oblong, 2–5 cm...
" – 2:33- Produced by Metal Fingers
- "PennyroyalPennyroyalPennyroyal refers to two plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. For the American species, see American pennyroyal. The European pennyroyal, Mentha pulegium, , is a plant in the mint genus, within the family Lamiaceae. Crushed Pennyroyal leaves exhibit a very strong fragrance similar to spearmint...
" – 3:11- Produced by Metal Fingers
- "LavenderLavenderThe lavenders are a genus of 39 species of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. An Old World genus, distributed from Macaronesia across Africa, the Mediterranean, South-West Asia, Arabia, Western Iran and South-East India...
Buds" – 3:05- Produced by Metal Fingers
- "White WillowWhite WillowSalix alba is a species of willow native to Europe and western and central Asia. The name derives from the white tone to the undersides of the leaves....
Bark" – 4:24- Produced by Metal Fingers
- "OrangeOrange (fruit)An orange—specifically, the sweet orange—is the citrus Citrus × sinensis and its fruit. It is the most commonly grown tree fruit in the world....
Blossoms" – 1:59- Produced by Metal Fingers
- "Coffin Nails" – 2:56
- Produced by Metal Fingers
- Contains a sample from "Space Oddity" by "David Matthews", from the album Dune
- "Kava Kava RootKavaKava or kava-kava is a crop of the western Pacific....
" – 4:07- Produced by Metal Fingers
- Contains a sample from "Cat" by "Teruo Nakamura", from the album "Rising Sun"
- "Valerian RootValerian (plant)Valerian is a hardy perennial flowering plant, with heads of sweetly scented pink or white flowers which bloom in the summer months. Valerian flower extracts were used as a perfume in the sixteenth century....
" – 4:53- Produced by Metal Fingers
- Contains a sample from "Do it Again" by New Birth, from the album Comin from All Ends.
- "JasmineJasmineJasminum , commonly known as jasmines, is a genus of shrubs and vines in the olive family . It contains around 200 species native to tropical and warm temperate regions of the Old World...
Blossoms" – 2:58- Produced by Metal Fingers
- Contains a sample from "Sweet Love" by Anita BakerAnita BakerAnita Baker is an American R&B/soul jazz singer-songwriter. To date, Baker has won eight Grammy Awards, and has four platinum albums and two gold albums to her credit....
, from the album RaptureRaptureThe rapture is a reference to the "being caught up" referred to in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, when the "dead in Christ" and "we who are alive and remain" will be caught up in the clouds to meet "the Lord"....
.
- "Black Snake RootCimicifuga racemosaActaea racemosa is a plant of the buttercup family . It is native to eastern North America from the extreme south of Ontario to central Georgia, and west to Missouri and Arkansas...
" – 3:44- Produced by Metal Fingers
- "HorehoundHorehoundHorehound or hoarhound is a common name applied to two related genera of flowering plants in the family Lamiaceae:*Ballota*MarrubiumSpecifically, it may refer to the following species:*White Horehound or Common Horehound...
" – 3:07- Produced by Metal Fingers
- "Dragons BloodDragon's bloodDragon's blood is a bright red resin that is obtained from different species of a number of distinct plant genera: Croton, Dracaena, Daemonorops, Calamus rotang and Pterocarpus. The red resin was used in ancient times as varnish, medicine, incense, and dye...
" – 4:07- Contains a sample from a vintage Spider-ManSpider-Man (1967 TV series)Spider-Man is an animated television series that ran from September 9, 1967 to June 14, 1970. It was jointly produced in Canada and the United States and was the first animated adaptation of the Spider-Man comic book series, created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko...
episode entitled, "The Devious Dr. Dumpty" - Produced by Metal Fingers
- Contains a sample from a vintage Spider-Man
- "Myrtle Leaf" – 5:16
- Produced by Metal Fingers
- "Patchouly LeavesPatchouliPatchouli is a species from the genus Pogostemon and a bushy herb of the mint family, with erect stems, reaching two or three feet in height and bearing small, pale pink-white flowers...
" – 3:46- Produced by Metal Fingers
- Contains a sample from "Our Day Will Come" by Isaac HayesIsaac HayesIsaac Lee Hayes, Jr. was an American songwriter, musician, singer and actor. Hayes was one of the creative influences behind the southern soul music label Stax Records, where he served both as an in-house songwriter and as a record producer, teaming with his partner David Porter during the...
, from the album ...To Be Continued...To Be Continued...To Be Continued is a studio album by American soul musician Isaac Hayes, issued in 1970 on Stax Records' Enterprise label. The LP includes Hayes' cover of the Burt Bacharach/Hal David composition "The Look of Love", which was issued as a single in an edited form, peaking at #79 on the Billboard...
Other versions
- "Star Anis" is an instrumental version of "Space Tech Banana Clip" by Babbletron, from the album Mechanical Royalty.
- "Four Thieves Vinegar" is an instrumental version of "Escape From Monsta Isle" by Rodan, Megalon, Kong, & Spiega, from the Monsta Island CzarsMonsta Island CzarsMonsta Island Czars is a hip-hop group based in New York City, New York, USA most notable for members MF Grimm and former member MF DOOM.-History:...
album Escape from Monsta Island!Escape from Monsta Island!Escape from Monsta Island! is the first full-length album released by the Monsta Island Czars, notably featuring Daniel Dumile under his King Geedorah/King Ghidra alias.This album is very highly regarded among underground hip-hop fans...
. - "Galangal Root" is an instrumental version of "Gas Drawls" by MF DOOMMF DoomDaniel Dumile is a hip hop artist who has taken on several stage names in his career, most notably MF DOOM, where the "MF" stands for metal face, and for tracks he has produced, metal fingers...
, from the album Operation: DoomsdayOperation: DoomsdayOperation: Doomsday is the debut solo album by hip hop artist Daniel Dumile, under his MF DOOM alias, marking Dumile's return to the hip hop scene after KMD's demise...
. - "Spikenard" is an instrumental version of "Go With The Flow" by MF DOOM, from the same album.
- "Orange Blossoms" is an instrumental version of "The Instructor" by B.I., from the Spark the Sound split 7" with Chris Craft featuring MF DOOM. It is also used by Ghostface KillahGhostface KillahDennis Coles , better known by his stage name Ghostface Killah, is an American rapper and prominent member of the Wu-Tang Clan. After the group achieved breakthrough success in the aftermath of Enter the Wu-Tang , the members went on to pursue solo careers to varying levels of success...
on "Underwater" from the album FishscaleFishscaleFishScale is the fifth studio album by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah, released March 28, 2006 on Def Jam in the United States. The album features guest appearances from every member of the Wu-Tang Clan, as well as Ghostface Killah's Theodore Unit...
. - "Kava Kava Root" is an instrumental version of "Anarchist Bookstore Pt. 1" by MC Paul BarmanMC Paul BarmanPaul Nathaniel Barman better known as MC Paul Barman is a Jewish- American emcee from Ridgewood, New Jersey, who attended Brown University....
, from the album Paullelujah!Paullelujah!Paullelujah! is MC Paul Barman's first full length album, released in 2002. It featured production from artists MF Doom, Prince Paul, MikeTheMusicGuy and Phofo.-Track listing:...
. It is also used on "Stress Box" by MF GrimmGM GrimmPercy Carey , also known by the stage names MF Grimm and originally Build and Destroy, is an American underground rapper, music producer and Eisner Award-nominated comic book writer from New York City.-Early life:...
, from the MF DOOM collaboration album Special Herbs and Spices Volume 1Special Herbs and Spices Volume 1Special Herbs + Spices Vol. 1 is the third collaboration album released between American rappers MF DOOM and MF Grimm, released in 2004 on Grimm's own Day By Day Entertainment label. Unlike their previous works, this CD is solely focused on MF Grimm's rhyming over MF DOOM's production...
. - "Valerian Root" is an instrumental version of "Anarchist Bookstore Pt. 2" by MC Paul Barman, from Paullelujah! .
- "Jasmine Blossoms" is an instrumental version of "Hoe Cakes" by MF DOOM featuring Mr. Fantastik, from the album MM..Food?MM..Food?Mm.. Food is an album by American hip hop artist Daniel Dumile, his second full-length under the MF DOOM moniker. It was released on November 16, 2004 on Rhymesayers Entertainment.-Overview:...
. - "Horehound" is an instrumental version of "Kookies" by MF DOOM, from the same album. It is also used on "Tonight's Show" by MF Grimm featuring Invisible Man and Lord Smog, from Special Herbs and Spices Volume 1.
- "Dragon's Blood" is an instrumental version of "Fig Leaf Bi-Carbonate" by MF DOOM from MM..Food?. It is also used on "1000 Degrees" by MF Grimm, from Special Herbs and Spices Volume 1; and also on "Gunz N' Razors" by Ghostface Killah featuring Trife Da God, CappadonnaCappadonnaDarryl Hill best known by his stage name Cappadonna, is an American rapper and oftentimes member of the Wu-Tang Clan. He is also a member of rap duo Wu South, along with Ratchet Rush.-Biography:...
and Killa SinKillarmyKillarmy is a hip hop group, also known through its affiliation with the Wu-Tang Clan It is one of the earliest and most successful of the many Wu-Tang affiliates along with Sunz of Man....
, from the album More FishMore FishMore Fish is the sixth studio album by rapper Ghostface Killah, released on December 12, 2006 through the Def Jam label.The album's name derives from Ghostface's earlier 2006 release, Fishscale. The track "Good", featuring Ghostface's fellow Theodore Unit member Trife Da God and Mr. Maygreen, and...
. - "Myrtle Leaf" is an instrumental version of "Monster Zero" by King Geedorah, from the album Take Me to Your LeaderTake Me to Your Leader (King Geedorah album)Take Me to Your Leader is the first full-length album released by Daniel Dumile under the alias 'King Geedorah'. Regarding the album, Dumile says,...
. - "Patchouly Leaves" is an instrumental version of "Operation: Greenbacks" by MF DOOM featuring Megalon, from the album Operation: Doomsday.
- "Coffin Nails" is an instrumental version of " Rapp Snitch Knishes" by MF DOOM featuring Mr. Fantastik, from the album MM..Food
External links
- Special herbs guide
- Article on ritual magic from rotten.comRotten.comRotten.com is a United States-hosted shock site with the slogan "An archive of disturbing illustration" it is operated by Soylent Communications....
including reference to use of coffin nails