Classic Orson Welles radio broadcasts are sampled on a forthcoming album by Grammy nominated rapper Logic.
Welles can he heard prominently on two tracks on Logic’s album, No Pressure, which is set to arrive on Friday, July 24, via Def Jam Recordings/Visionary Music Group. (Some of the album tracks have already leaked online.)
The two Logic tracks featuring Welles’ voice are No Pressure Intro and Obediently Yours. They serve as the opening and closing tracks on the album and can be found below.
No Pressure Intro lifts nearly a full minute of Welles’ playful introduction to a 1942 performance of the classic Suspense thriller The Hitch-Hiker. It kicks off what the chart-topping rapper says will be his last album.
The Hitch-Hiker was written for Welles by Louise Fletcher (Sorry, Wrong Number) and he performed it four times during the 1940s.
Obediently Yours takes its name from a sign-off Welles frequently used throughout his career and showcases five minutes of Welles speaking out against racism and other social ills. The Welles’ sample used on Obediently Yours comes from an episode of Orson Welles Commentaries, following the beating and blinding of black veteran Isaac Woodard by a white police officer.
Logic, whose real name is Sir Robert Bryson Hall II, chose to give the latter sample a crackly, old-time radio sound, even though clearer versions are available from the Lilly Library.
In the past, Logic has recorded with hip hop artists like Eminem, Wiz Khalifa, Big Sean, and members of the Wu-Tang Clan. The Maryland native has cited such diverse influences as Frank Sinatra, A Tribe Called Quest and filmmaker Quentin Tarantino.
No Pressure is not the first time Welles has been featured in popular music.
In 1975, Welles recorded narration for Alan Parsons Project’s Tales of Mystery and Imagination. It arrived too late to be included on the original vinyl release, but was added to the CD release in 1987.
Welles performed with the heavy metal band Manowar on two songs – Dark Avenger and Defender. The narration was recorded during the 1981-1982 sessions for their debut album Battle Hymns.
A year before his death in 1985, Welles recorded the single I Know What It Is To Be Young (But You Don’t Know What It Is To Be Old), backed by the Ray Charles Singers.
Welles has also been referenced in songs by music acts ranging from Queen (Radio Gaga) to The White Stripes (The Union Forever).
Logic received permission from the Estate of Orson Welles to use his voice on the two recordings. Licensing for the estate is handled by Reeder Brand Management.
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