SAMPLED examines the skeletal production of a contemporary rap, R&B, hip-hop or pop song — Where did the loop, sample, or chopped up vocal providing the backbone originate? SAMPLED gives you the history, the context, and the insight.

This week, the sample in question is taken from “I Could Never Be Happy” by 1970s Chicago R&B/disco girl-group The Emotions:

The Emotions were put together in Chicago, Illinois in the mid sixties by Joseph Hutchinson, originally consisting of three of his five daughters: Wanda, Jeanette, and Sheila Hutchinson. When youngest sister Sheila was just five years old, the group began singing in church choirs, and performing as the Hutchinson Sunbeams, often accompanied by their father on guitar.

In 1968, the Hutchinson Sunbeams changed their name to The Emotions, and released their first record So I Can Love You just one year later. Their first record yielded two minor radio hits, and the group was invited to perform at an outdoor concert in Rochester, New York, where they were noticed by the host of the concert, radio DJ Herb Hamlett.

The Emotions’ association with Hamlett brought them notoriety in New York State, but when the group found an ally in Maurice White of Earth Wind & Fire in 1977, their popularity finally spiked. White produced The Emotions’ breakthrough album Rejoice, which established them as one of the most popular girl-groups of the late ’70s disco movement. The Emotions had a number one hit with “Best Of My Love,” and Rejoice was certified platinum. They would continue to release new albums until 1985, and they’re still actively performing today, but The Emotions would never eclipse the success they found with “Best Of My Love.”

The song “I Could Never Be Happy” appears on The Emotions’ second album Untouched, and is a soulful R&B ballad featuring the dynamic lead vocals of Sheila Hutchinson, who transitions from a whisper to a wail with an effortless grace.

“I Could Never Be Happy” was recently sampled by Kanye West on “White Dress,” a song that appears on the soundtrack for RZA’s directorial debut The Man With The Iron Fists:

When compiling the soundtrack for his directorial debut, RZA called on some heavy-hitting talent across several genres, including The Black Keys, BADBADNOTGOOD, Pusha T, Danny Brown, and even a few members of the Clan. On the whole, the soundtrack is a mixture of hip-hop and vintage R&B, and Kanye West’s “White Dress” is a perfect signifier of that fusion.

“White Dress” is a co-production by Kanye West and RZA, with additional production from up and coming Chicago production duo Boogz & Tapez. Yeezy’s ode to Kim K harkens back to the rapper’s early days, when he was constantly flipping R&B samples instead of messing with vocoders, and on “White Dress” it’s certainly a welcome renaissance.

Kanye chops the intro from “I Could Never Be Happy” by The Emotions, and layers a pitched-down sample of Mario’s vocal from Game’s 2012 single “All The Way Gone” on top for his hook. Additional drum programming, synths, and even chimes round out the arrangement on “White Dress,” a smooth, romantic (well, as romantic as Kanye can be) interpretation of the original, honouring the lyrical message of the source.