Mac Band Featuring The McCampbell Brothers ‎– Roses Are Red - Euro Mini CDS - (1988)

MCA Records ‎– 257 859-2

Secind birthday post of the day and it is a straight classic.

"Roses Are Red" is a 1988 single by The Mac Band featuring The McCampbell Brothers, and produced by the legendary LA and Babyface. The Mac Band WERE the McCampbell brothers, so it's a slightly odd name?

This was their most successful of six chart singles on the US Billboard Hot Black Singles chart, peaking at number one for one week on that chart. "Roses Are Red" did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100. In a weird twist of fate, it fared better this side of the big pond, where it hit #8 on the UK Singles Chart.

This Extended Version is pretty hard to find in good quality, so it is shared with love on here. There's also a nice instrumental version as well for creative mixology. I've also included the regular, non extended version from one of the Nite Flight albums.

"Roses Are Red" is a great, great piece of R&B with LA & babyface at the height of their powers, and is a real favourite of mine.

Tracklist

1. Roses Are Red (Extended Version)
2. Roses Are Red (Instrumental)
3. BONUS TRACK: Roses Are Red

Discogs page

Download: MB-RAR.7z | Filesize: 65.6MB

Bassomatic - Fascinating Rhythm - UK CDS - (1990)

Virgin ‎– VSCDT1274, Virgin ‎– VSCDT 1274

Wow! I'd put money on the fact that I'd already posted this a couple of years ago or more?

It seems not. What an oversight! Still, what better day to correct that than on my birthday, right?

An absolute BANGER from 1990 courtesy of William Orbit, which relies heavily on a Harry J All-Stars Liquidator (love that track) sample. This one is a UK urban classic so don't waste any more time reading my bollocks and go download it while it is still hot.

Now the best version of this track was always the Lisa Loud Mix, criminally overlooked in favour of a shortened edit. I've taken the liberty of fixing that mistake, and you can now find both versions here.

Trainspotters note: The artist name is also written as "Bass-o-matic" on the disc artwork and "Ba$$omatic" on the spine. I've gone with the front cover and Discogs.

Tracklist

1. Fascinating Rhythm (The Loud Edit)
2. Fascinating Rhythm (Soul Odyssey Mix)
3. Fascinating Rhythm (The Blue Mix)
4. Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Bass (Va Va Voom Mix)
5. Bonus - Fascinating Rhythm (The Loud Mix)

Discogs page

Download: B-FR.7z | Filesize: 50MB

Levert - Casanova - US CDV - (1987)

Atlantic ‎– 7 81830-2, Atlantic ‎– 81830-2

This one takes me back! I was barely into double digits in age when I first heard it.

The Levert brothers are the sons of The O'Jays' founder and lead-singer Eddie Levert, and as a result, are something approaching R&B royalty. They released their debut album in 1985 

Gerald Levert was a Soul singer born in July 1966; Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A. and died 10 November 2006 autopsy report concluded accidental overdose of prescription narcotics and over-the-counter drugs and pneumonia.

Sean Levert was born September 28, 1968 and sadly passed away March 30, 2008, 6 days after being admitted to jail (Cuyahoga County Correctional Facility). According to coroner's report his death was caused by complications from sarcoidosis, issues of high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and withdrawal from Xanax. His wife won a lawsuit against Cuyahoga County and was awarded 4 million dollars.

Such a sad, sad end to a couple of legendary figures within the R&B scene.

What a great track! A true summertime jam for sure. And is it me, or do those drums sound a lot like the Bobby Brown Don't Be Cruel pattern?

This is the full original extended mix of Casanova, instead of the shorter edit that's been erroneously labelled on some compilations as 'extended'. 

It can be difficult to source so is shared with love and respect, as always. Also included is Throwdown and the regular, radio mix of Casanova.

Peace & luvizm x

Tracklist

1. Casanova (Extended Mix)
2. Throwdown
3. Casanova

Discogs page

Download: L-C.7z | Filesize: 53.5MB

Don-E - Crazy - UK CDS - (1993)

4th & Broadway – BRCD 272

The multi-talented Don-E found initial success, both here and stateside with the brilliant Love Makes The World Go Round, and associated album Unbreakable, back in 1992, which got to 18 on the UK charts.

His second album, 1995's Changing Seasons, didn't quite live up to the hype of the first and he parted company with the label, retreating into producing for others rather than being an artist himself. During this time he signed to D'Angelo's label, which is quite the honour!

Between these two albums he dropped the single 'Crazy' (or 'Craz-E' as shown on the cover). It featured on neither album though so I wonder if that was Don-E distancing himself from it?

He would return as an artist in a BIG way ten years later with Try This, in 2005, which is a wicked album, one my my favourites actually, and I urge you to go treat yourself to it. It's Neo soul at its best. More albums would follow: Natural (2008), Ladies Night Part 1 (2012), Little Star (2013), Future Rare Grooves (2014), Future Rares 2 (2015).

Despite our very own Mickey P being disparaging about this release, and the fact Don-E chose not to feature it on an album, I actually quite like it. Don't get it twisted, it is FAR from his best cut, but it isn't truly horrible.

The Brixton Flavour mix is probably the best option, but considering it is a Blacksmith production and features the always wicked General Levy, it isn't elevated much at all. The drums seem too weak and the bassline is pretty by-the-numbers. Shame.

Also included is a bonus rough n ready remix by yours truly, stripping out the drums and replacing it with the beats from Lords Of The Underground's classic cut Psycho. I used an AI to seperate the original track into stems and that's slightly affected the vocals in some parts?

Before I finish, Don-E is still active as an artist, both as part of the British Collective (please search out their album on Amazon or somewhere to support them) and go check out his personal BandCamp page. https://don-e1.bandcamp.com/ which has some heavy releases on there. 

Don-E is one of our own and deserves all the love we can offer him. 

Peace & luvizm x

Tracklist

1. Crazy (Radio Version)
2. Crazy (Brixton Flavour 12")
3. Unbreakable (Radio Remix)
4. Crazy (DON-E's Irie Version)
   

1. BONUS: Don-E - Crazy (Kym B's Psycho Blend)

Discogs page

Download: D-E-C.7z | Filesize: 59.1MB