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

Guy - Do Me Right - UK CDS - (1991)

MCA Records ‎– MCSTD 1551, Uptown Records ‎– MCSTD 1551

A band that really needs no introduction around these parts, Guy are the combined talents of Teddy Riley alongside brothers Aaron and Damian Hall.

If you need to know anything about the boys then check out one of the other Guy posts.

The version on the album was great, drafting in MCA/Uptown Records mainstay Heavy D, cousin of Pete Rock, he was a nice counterpoint to Aaron's always on point vocals. Here Teddy & Co switch it up a little with a new hook "Been thru heartaches and pain..." and some interesting changes to the percussion. Heavy D returns to the track also with a fresh verse for the new mixes.

All good.

Predictably, my favourite here is The Extended Club Version.

Rest in peace, Heav xxx

Tracklist

1. Do Me Right (7" Edit)
2. Do Me Right (Extended Club Version)
3. Do Me Right (Piano Percapella)
4. Do Me Right (Remixed Radio Edit)

Download: G-DMR.7z | Filesize: 42.0MB

Guy - I Wanna Get With U - Europe CD Maxi - (1990)

MCA Records ‎– 9031-72997-2

Released the year before The Future album dropped, this gave an indication of how far Guy and Teddy Riley had come as a Producer in such a short space of time. These boys were hungry, and they were taking no prisoners.

Sadly, a dark sequence of events including former manager Gene Griffin allegedly embezzling much of the group's earnings, an ill fated tour supporting New Edition where Guy upstaged the headline act a few dates into the tour, with deadly consequences that saw one of New Edition's production managers shoot and kill Anthony Bee - a member of Guy's security detail; saw both Aaron Hall step back from main vocal duties as well as Guy disbanding well before their time.

All that grim stuff aside, Guy put out some of the best R&B of the era, not least of which was the uber funky I Wanna Get With U, with Teddy taking on most of the vocal duties (but Aaron supplying an amazing bridge section and other background duties like the call and response with TR), it stands today as a great example of a band who, at the time, were top of the world.

And that bassline! Oh my days! :)

I'm not sure which is the best mix for me. The 12" or Club Version will both see you in good hands. Either way, this was one of my favourite tracks on the album.

Enjoy!

Tracklist

1. I wanna Get With U (12" Version)
2. I wanna Get With U (7" Version)
3. I wanna Get With U (Club Version)

Download: G-IWGWU.7z | Filesize: 45.1MB

After 7 - Can't Stop - UK CDS - (1990)

Virgin America ‎– VUSCD 31, Virgin America ‎– 663645

Mickey posted the 12" some years back but I'm re-upping now with the CD Single. I'm going to steal his words for the next two paragraphs as I'm lazy.

"Originating from Indiana in 1988, After 7 have LA Face roots with Kevon and Melvin Edmonds, who are brothers of Kenny 'Babyface' Edmonds and Keith Mitchell, who is Antonio 'L.A.' Reid's cousin. They were huge in the US, very polished and soulful, with great vocal range. They were not as well known in the UK but still managed to make a dent.

Can't Stop was probably their most successful release, produced and mixed by L.A. & Face but here remixed by Tim Lever & Mike Percy for One World Productions. Lever and Percy originated in the British pop group Dead Or Alive but managed to later garner credibility as a production team on the UK soul scene between '89-'94. After working with some of the UK's finest soul talent they then returned to their roots writing and producing for acts such as S Club 7 under the name of Steelworks. Strange but true?"

This is a brilliant, classy bit of R&B/soul from the start of the 90's. I love the original but the remix is equally as good, and may even be better. Your mileage may vary but I change my mind over which version I prefer on the regular.

Remix treatment courtesy of One World (Mike Percy & Tim Lever) who were behind that wicked Down On Love track, and are well documented on this site.

Which version do you prefer? Drop us a line in the comments.

Tracklist

1. Can't Stop (One World 12")
2. Can't Stop (L.A.'s 7" Edit)
3. Can't Stop (One World Instrumental)
4. Can't Stop (Clap-A-Pella)

Discogs page | Mick's original post

Download: A7-CS.7z | Filesize: 43.5MB

Jay Mondi & The Livin' Bass ‎– All Night Long - UK Mini CDS - (1990)

10 Records ‎– TENCD 304

Very kindly supplied by Soul Vendor's Sopi aka Soptimus Prime. I've given it its own post to make things a little more permanent.

Big up, Sopi! :)

All Night Long was originally written and produced by Rick James for his protegee group The Mary Jane Girls. It's a bona fide classic, and has been sampled, interpolated and covered so many times in Hip Hop & R&B circles that it's become part of the very fabric of the culture.

Back in 1990, DJ Chris Paul, under the monicker Jay Mondi & The Living Bass put out a great cover of All Night Long, sampling both the drums  (as so many tracks did around the time (such as Loose Ends with Love's Got Me)) and stab from Sleep talk by Alyson Williams.

Sopi sums this track up the best for me; "This one is such a smooth banger."

You know that!

Tracklist

1. All Night Long
2. All Night Long (Club Mix)
3. Way To Go

Discogs page

320 MP3 download: JM&TLB-ANL.7z | Filesize: 32.7MB

Tammy Payne - Free - UK 12" - (1990)

WEA ‎– YZ510T, WEA ‎– 9301-71943-0

In the interests of honesty and full disclosure, I do not own this 12" and I have no recollection of where I got these from!! I have thought long and hard about posting this for that reason and because I can't scan the artwork to our normal high standards and I can't attest to the quality. As such, all the images will be sourced from Discogs (although I have cleaned up the cover).

This track was mentioned in one of the comments a few days back and it has swung me over. If you are the original source of this rip, I am not intending to steal your work. Please get in touch so I can either remove it or credit you.

What can I say about this release? I ADORE the Deneice Williams original, it's one of my GOAT tracks, and a cover of a tune that I love HAS to be bloody good - or don't bother doing it in the first place.

Step forward Miss Tammy Payne. The Trilogy Mix is nice but not as good as the original, I feel, but oh my days! The Freedom version was the one for me back in the day and got some heavy rotation as well. 

Whilst getting the info for this write up from Discogs, I found a very interesting comment from Shylok back in 2009:

"Massive UK Street Soul gem, the Freedom Version that uses "Headhunters "God Make Me Funky" drum break is the mix that got a lot of play on the inner city black music pirate radio stations in the early 90s, its worth noting of a rumour that a picture of some flowers was used on the sleeve in place of a picture of Tammy Payne due to the singer being white with the record labels A&R thinking it would make her a less credible singer & thus not appealing to a majority of black musics fan base, RnB at this time was mainly an underground genre that had yet to become mainstream"

Thanks for the info, Shylok!

Tracklist

1. Free
2. Free (The Trilogy Mix)
3. Push 'Em
4. Free (Freedom Version)

Discogs page

Download: TP-F.7z | Filesize: 31.8MB

Innocence - Let's Push It - UK CDS - (1990)

Cooltempo ‎– COOLCD 220, Cooltempo ‎– 323597 2

Innocence was a British R&B band fronted by vocalist Gee Morris that achieved success in the UK in the early 1990s. Masterminded by the production team of Anna Jolley, Mark Jolley and Brian Harris, Innocence's sound was a blend of R&B/Soul with elements of Ammbient house, Downtempo and Chill-out music.

The impeccably voiced Gee Morris had some dance releases as a solo artist in the 80s before her stint fronting Innocence. In more recent years, she's toured with Maizie Williams as part of her Boney M. line-up.

The fourth release by innocence and arguably their most played. 

It's pretty hard to argue against that beat, and Gee Morris' gorgeous vocals are on point as usual. At this stage I'm getting tired of repeating myself as to how much I like them lol

Let's push it is the kind of classy, soulful dance music you'd find at the coolest bars and venues and stands the test of time. What a great track!

Oh, and holy crap, is that the Tammy Payne Take Me Now break in Silent Voice Sax Urbana at around 4:40??!? So that's where Tammy's producers got it from.. (this release predates Take Me Now by a whole year)? I wonder what the original source is? I'm normally hot on my breaks but this one eludes me.

Tracklist

1. Let's Push It
2. Let's Push It (Big Beat Mix)
3. Silent Voice (Sax Urbana)

Download: I-LPI.7z | Filesize: 42.6MB

Anna Mwale - Get Free - (1990)

CBS Records XPR 1563

320 re-up - Originally posted by Mickey P on 15/06/19 - Kym

Absolutely stonking track, you want this. Written by Jean Bronte, John Ritt, Raymond Boye & Anna Mwale and produced by Zed Lovedust.

I don't know anything about her or any of the names on the label but The Eden Upstairs Remix is baaaad!

Tracklist

1. Get Free (Radio Edit)
2. Get Free (The Eden Upstairs Remix)
3. Get Free (The Eden Downstairs Remix)

Download: AM-GF.7z |Filesize: 40.5MB

Intelligent Hoodlum - Back To Reality (CJ Mackintosh Mixes) - (1990)

A&M Records, AMCD 598

Originally posted 09/04/2009. This was posted by me (Kym) but is attributed to Mickey P in the great Soul Vendor/Blogger cock-up haha.

Not so sunny here in North London today, but I thought I'd post another BBQ classic regardless. I'm not sure really how well you'll receive this one, as it's not soul as such, but a nice, chilled out slice of Hip-Hop, reminiscing about simpler times.

Intelligent Hoodlum (born Percy Chapman, although he would later switch to the moniker "Tragedy Khadafi") is an extremely eloquent rapper from Queens, New York. His first, self-titled album was a politically charged affair featuring the excellent Arrest the President, and a whirl of other contentious tracks. I loved it but it wasn't for everyone.

However, amongst the anger and social commentary on his debut there lurked a rather good party jam, the Soul II Soul sampling Back To Reality - no surprises for guessing what sample was used there, huh? ;)

On its release in the UK, Back To Reality was given a suite of remixes by one CJ Mackintosh. The pick of which for me is CJ's Drum And Bass Mix (no, it's not that kind of Drum & Bass), which cranked up the Soul II Soul elements, added nice piano chords, strings stabs, and made a great summer vibe kinda tune out of it. 

The Ragamuffin Mixis also pretty dope (love the strings), and has a different vibe. Worth checking and would be the one I'd recommend if the Drum And Bass Mix didn't exist.

The Raggamuffin Mix is also dope, Hope you dig this as much as I do. If you don't know it, give it a try and tell us whatcha think.

- Kymba :)

Tracklist

1. Back To Reality (Drum And Bass Mix)
2. Back To Reality (Back To Basics)
3. Back To Reality (Ragamuffin Version)
4. Back To Reality (Ragadub)

Download: IH-BTR.7z | Filesize: 43.8MB

Innocence - A Matter Of Fact - (1990)

Cooltempo COOLCD 223

320 Re-up originally posted by Mick 13/05/2008. This was the third single from Innocence, but unlike Mick, for me there is better in their repertoire. Over to you, Boss-Man - Kymba

The addictive writing of Jolley, Harris & Jolley, the beautiful voice of Gee Morris & the genius of Frankie Knuckles on this Def Mix Production culminate in the defining moment here for Innocence, in my humble opinion of course.

Decide for yourself which version is best, the Classic Club Mix got the most play on my decks, piano by John Poppo, Eric Kupper on keyboards, David Morales on percussion....

Hey! Whatd'ya want for nothing, a rubber biscuit?

Tracklist

1. A Matter Of Fact (7" Mix)
2. A Matter Of Fact (Classic Club Mix)
3. A Matter Of Fact (Extended Mix)

Download: I-AMOF.7z |  Filesize: 41.6 MB

Innocence - Silent Voice - (1990)

Cooltempo ‎– COOLCD 212, Cooltempo ‎– 3235362

Innocence was a British R&B band fronted by vocalist Gee Morris that achieved success in the UK in the early 1990s. Masterminded by the production team of Anna Jolley, Mark Jolley and Brian Harris, Innocence's sound was a blend of R&B/Soul with elements of Ammbient house, Downtempo and Chill-out music.

This was their second single, and it is a great track. The beat is slamming, and Gee's vocals are perfection. This was one of the first tracks I heard of theirs... I have a feeling it was on a Dance Daze live show on TV?

It has that sound they nailed - dance-floor friendly, but chilled. There's a touch of classiness about it that many contemporaries lacked.

There's also a remix of Natural Thing, their first single. It features a really cheeky Doors/Riders On The Storm sample, and is much more of a rave kinda track, despite still maintaining some chill-out vibes. 

I'd suggest jumping straight into track one, if it floats your boat get the Extended Mix on rotation.

Tracklist

1. Silent Voice
2. Silent Voice (Extended Mix)
3. Natural Thing (No-One Here Gets Out Alive)

Download: I-SV.7z | Filesize: 39.2MB

Innocence - Natural Thing - (1990)

Cooltempo ‎– COOLCD 201

Innocence was a British R&B band fronted by vocalist Gee Morris that achieved success in the UK in the early 1990s. Masterminded by the production team of Anna Jolley, Mark Jolley and Brian Harris, Innocence's sound was a blend of R&B/Soul with elements of Ammbient house, Downtempo and Chill-out music.

Way back in the day they were one of my favourite bands with their melting pot fusion sound ticking a bunch of boxes for me.

This was their first track, and we're off to a flying start with a ridiculously catchy hook. Seriously, listen to the hook a few times, and try and get that chorus out of your head. The beats are serious and the extra instrumentation sounds dope.

The Natural Thing (7 Inch) is perfect. Natural Thing (Elevation) is not so much a 12" mix as a 24", weighing in at ten minutes long, and is most welcome, although some folks may find the duration of this version a bit of a stretch.

The Original isn't bad, though very much wannabe Soul II Soul sounding, as most things were back then in the UK club scene. Completely different vibe to the other two versions though and not quite as good.

So jump right into the Natural Thing (7 Inch). Boom!

Tracklist

1. Natural Thing (7 Inch)
2. Natural Thing (Elevation)
3. Natural Thing (Original)

Download: I-NT.7z | Filesize: 39.9MB

Joanna Law - First Time Ever - (1990)

ZYX Records ‎– ZYX 6371-8

Classic track alert!!

Mick uploaded this gem back in 2008. I couldn't believe I'd found it after all this time, so I owe him big time for making it available to those of us who love good music. Mick posted a rip of the 12" (which I re-upped in October 2012) and I've subsequently purchased the CD single from Discogs for a premium price... but it's worth every penny, so I'm uploading it to Soul Vendor in lovely 320 goodness.

Unlike the boss man, it was all about the Mellow Groove version for me, with its very cheeky sampling & reworking of the strangely groovy drums from Paul Simon's 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover, although the Bumpy Mix is quality in its own right.

I should also mention that haunting acapella as used to absolutely devastating effect by Coldcut on their 70 Minutes of Madness mix, a CD so awesome that you really ought to own and marvel at.

Anyway, Here's what The Man had to say about it in his original post :

"Another gem engineered by Lee Hamblin. This cover of The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, written by British folk singer, songwriter Ewan MacColl (Kirsty's Dad) and originally sung by Roberta Flack back in 1972. Produced and mixed by Simon 'The Funky Ginger' Law down at The Fallout Shelter in February 1990.

This song is all about the beautiful voice of Ms. Joanna Law, the voice behind many a hit. Simon A. Law, her brother I believe but cannot confirm, is also playing piano with the mighty James 'JTQ' Taylor on Hammond Organ and Ross Anderson on Bass. It includes the Acappella used on the legendary Coldcut - Journeys By DJ mix back in '95. My money goes on the superb Bumpy Mix, lay back, kick it and enjoy the ride. Just under 8 minutes of gently rolling groove with an angel singing on it."

Tracklist:

1. First Time Ever (Mellow Groove)
2. First Time Ever (Bumpy Mix)
3. First Time Ever (Acapella)

Download: JL-FTE.7z | Filesize: 37.1MB

Deee-Lite - Groove Is In The Heart - (1990)

Elektra ‎– EKR 114CD, Elektra ‎– 7559-66613-2, Elektra ‎– EKR114CD

What an absolutely legendary cut this is from Deee-Lite.

We've talked about classics on here before and this one certainly fits that tag.

This song is built from samples which include a big ol' chunk of the drums from Vernon Burch's 'Get Up' (1979), a much smaller piece of Billy Preston's Stevie Wonder cover 'Uptight' (1966), that dope bassline from mister Herbie Hancock's 'Bring Down the Birds' (1966), multiple elements from Bel-Sha-Zaar, Tommy Genapopoluis and The Grecian Knights 'Introduction' (1969) (what a weird excersize track that one is) ...and I know I must have missed some.

Have a look at the credits on this bad-boy - 'Tip, Bootsy, Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley and engineer Bob Power. That's about as heavyweight a team as you're ever going to get.

Credits
Composer: Deee-Lite
Vocals: Q-Tip
Background Vocals: Bootsy Collins
Saxophone: Maceo Parker
Trombone: Fred Wesley
Arranger: Deee-Lite
Additional Arrangement, Engineering & Mixing: Mike Rogers
Assistant Engineers: Eddie Sancho, Derek Lategan
Additional Engineer: Bob Power

It's the Meeting Of The Minds Mix you'll be wanting. That's the full length version with additional vocals to provide extra flavour courtesy of Bootsy Collins and Q-Tip, and remains to this day the definitive version of this song.

It's an essential party jam and never fails to move people with its feelgood happy-happy-joy-joy vibes. I've always loved it!

Dig

The chills that you spill up my back 

Keep me filled with satisfaction when we're done

Satisfaction of what's to come

I couldn't ask for another

No, I couldn't ask for another

Your groove, I do deeply dig

No walls, only the bridge, my supper dish

My succotash wish

I couldn't ask for another

No, I couldn't ask for another

Groove is in the heart, Groove is in the heart

Groove is in the heart, Groove is in the heart

Watch out!

The depth of hula groove

Move us to the nth hoop

We're going through to, Horten hears a who

I couldn't ask for another

No, I couldn't ask for another

DJ Soul was on a roll

I been told he can't be sold

Not vicious or malicious

Just de-lovely and delicious

I couldn't ask for another

Someone's in this torso (yeah)

Hot! Gotta deal you wanna know (wanna know)

Dee-Liteful truly Dee-Liteful (liteful)

Makin' it doin' it 'specially at show (show)

Feeling kinda high like a Hendrix haze (haze)

Music makes motion moves like a maze (maze)

All inside of me (side)

Heart especially (yeah)

Help of the rhythm where I wanna be (c'mon)

Flowin' glowin' with electric eyes (ha)

You dip to the dive baby you'll realize (yeah)

Baby you'll see the funky side of me

Baby you'll see that rhythm is the key (hmm!)

Get get ready with it (with it)

Can't can't quit it (quit it)

Stomp on the street when I hear a funk beat (beat)

Playing Pied Piper

Follow what's true

Baby just sing about the groove (sing it)

Groove is in the heart

Tracklist

1. Deee-Lite With Bootsy & Q-Tip - Groove Is In The Heart (Meeting Of The Minds Mix)
2. Deee-Lite - Groove Is In The Heart (Peanut Butter Mix)
3. Deee-Lite - What Is Love? (Holographic Goatee Mix)
4. Deee-Lite - What Is Love? (Rainbow Beard Mix)

Download: DL-GIITH.7z | Filesize: 37.2MB

Mica Paris - South Of The River - (1990)

4th & Broadway BRCD 199

320 Re-Up - originally posted by Mickey P back in 5th July 2008!

This incredible release is one of my all time favourites from Mica. South Of The River from the Contribution album, remixed by the Blacksmith crew.

Pretty good stuff but then we have Where Are The Children, an absolute gem, soul music the way it's meant to be. The track is one of two tracks recorded at Ground Control, Santa Monica, written and produced by Patrick Moten & J.A. Greene for Golden Empire, the cherry on top comes courtesy of Gerald Albright supplying sax. This track has everything except Bobby Womack!

In contrast we have I Should've Known Better, written and produced by Mica & Omar. Omar plays all the instruments and it's kept sparse and simple but that does not detract from it's effectiveness in any way. Mica has room to breathe, space to perform and Omar's beats behind that dangerous bass line, this is a killer track. Enjoy!

Kym's Note: What a fantastic release! The title track South Of The River is one of her best (but she has so many classics), coming with two mixes by the mighty Blacksmith crew. Their Upso Mix comes correct with a (then) fresh new jack swing vibe. The Brixton Bass Mix has a more organic, typically Blacksmith vibe and just edges it out of the two for me. A great summer track.

Where Are The Children  is such a sublime piece of true soul, beautifully sung by or Mica. Seems to end too quickly though, just when you think it's gonna peak?

And then we have one of my all time favourite tracks I Should've Known Better - a flawless cut. Omar's bassline is DEVASTATING! (Please note though, this is the regular length version clocking in at 5:08 to be found most places this track pops up at. I will later post the I Never Felt Like This Before single which contains a version with an extra 31 seconds. Hey, when you love this song as much as I do that half a minute is almost orgasmic lol).

My suggestion is hit South Of The River (Brixton Bass Mix) and I Should've Known Better and hit them hard. Several times. Then check the other tracks as they're all great. What a serious release this one is.

Tracklist

1. South Of The River (Upso Mix)
2. South Of The River (Brixton Bass Mix)
3. Where Are The Children
4. I Should've Known Better

 Download: MP-SOTR.7z |  Filesize: 40.8MB

Aswad ‎– Next To You - (1990)

Island Records ‎– CIDM 753, Island Records ‎– 875 963-2

Well, the sun is shining so I thought that was a good excuse as any to post up this summertime joint.

Aswad (Arabic for "black") are the UK's premier reggae group, noted for adding strong R&B and soul influences to the reggae sound. They have been around since the mid-1970s, having released a total of 21 albums.

Current members

• Angus "Drummie Zeb" Gaye – vocals, drums (1975–present)
• Tony "Gad" Robinson – vocals, bass, keyboards (1976–present)

Former members

• Brinsley "Dan" Forde – vocals, rhythm guitars (1975–1996, 2009)
• Donald "Dee" Griffiths – lead guitars (1975–1980)
• George "Ras" Oban – bass (1975–1979)
• Courtney "Khaki" Hemmings – keyboards (1975–1976)

Aswad released their most recent material in 2009, with the album City Lock. They released the singles "What Is Love?" and "Do That Thing" in the same year.

These boys are artists of the highest order.

Next To You is such a nice track, taking me back to blazing summer afternoons in the early nineties. This one's thirty years old next year. Feeling old yet?

It feels more R&B than reggae, although with reggae overtones, obviously.  The Roughneck Mix is your extended version, so investigate that if you're into the tune. The Jazz mix ain't really Jazz at all, but does make for a nice variation, being a little more piano driven. The Dimension Dub is a sample fest and also a very competent variation that's worth checking.

Tracklist

1. Next To You
2. Next To You (Roughneck Mix)
3. Next To You (Jazz Mix)
4. Next To You (Dimension Dub Mix)

Download: A-NTY.7z | Filesize: 40MB