Don-E - Fakin' The Funk - UKCDS - (1995)

4th & Broadway BRCD 290

320 RE-UP! Originally posted by Mickey P 13/07/2008

Mick says: After the hype, the success and the mistake, Don-E slipped away to produce his sophomore set. His return was greeted with a lot less fuss, many people have likely not heard of Changing Seasons, the album was certainly nowhere near as successful as Unbreakable. 

This was, I believe, the first single released before the album was released (but don't quote me) and Dodge from Dodge City Productions was called in for remix duty. The Soul Inside Mix gives a different slant to what is already a fair track but it don't raise it to essential. 

It is still a release worth having though and a promise of better to come.

Kymba says: I personally think Don-E gets better with age and his Try This album is near flawless. 

Back on track, this a wicked release. every track is good but Dodge's Soul Inside mix is the pick for me. There were also a set of "Crooklyn Dodge" mixes that I haven't got and would love to hear, if anyone out there has them?

Tracklist

1. Fakin' The Funk (Album Edit)
2. Fakin' The Funk (Soul Inside Mix)
3. Fakin' The Funk (Fakin' It Mix)
4. Tonight 

Discogs page 

Download: D-E-FTF.7z | Filesize: 46.2MB

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

Don-E - Love Makes The World Go Round - UK CDS - (1992)

4th & Broadway 12 BRW 242

320 Re-up! Originally posted by Mick on 16/06/2008.

I LOVE Don-E, and I view him as one of the UK's finest artists. This one is a classic and better still would follow. While you're checking this, make sure to buy all the British Collective stuff you can get your hands on. They are comprised of Don-e, Junior, Leee John, Noel McKoy, Omar and Special Guests such as Carl McKintosh and other classic UK soul voices.

Here's Micky's original write-up (and yes, Don-E is from Brixton).

Kym x

Don-E came out of South London if I remember rightly, can anybody confirm that. A multi talented young lad with a good understanding of what was happening at the time. This debut release had a huge impact on the soul & dance scene with Don-E being proclaimed as both a genius and a Stevie Wonder sound-alike. Oh well, can't please them all but I'd take that as a compliment anyway?

Personally, I think the London Mix is blinding and Mystery is a cool track too. Grab the album if you can, there are some damn good tracks on it.

 

Tracklist

1. Love Makes The World Go Round (Radio Mix)
2. Love Makes The World Go Round (Extended Club Mix)
3. Love Makes The World Go Round (London Mix)
4. Mystery

Discogs page

Download D-E-LMTWGR.7z| Filesize: 43.7MB

Shy FX & T-Power - Feelings - UK CDS - (2005)

Digital Soundboy Recording Co. ‎– SBOY001CDS

Before I start I just need to say how much I adore the art on this!

Anyway...

Maybe I am pushing the boundaries of what The Soul Vendor should be about with this and the previous cut, but at least I have the excuse of the Incognito Mix (just as I had the Venus Tribe excuse last time) which is as dope as you'd imagine, given their pedigree.

I grew up on Hip Hop, Soul and later Drum & Bass (in my raving days). Shy FX and T Power are both legendary in their own rights as producers on the D&B scene, but together they were spectacular! Check classics such as Shake Ur Body and this track, Feelings. They put out two fantastic albums and served up a bunch of wicked cuts for the raving crew.

This track is one that even non D&B fans will ask... 'What's that one song that goes "Yeah yeah yeah yeah" - I like that one!'. It even blew up to the degree that it surfaced above D&B only radio and was featured on many urban music stations.

And then there's the Incognito remix. Long term followers of this blog know that Incognito would be our house band, if that were possible. Here they bring a cool, summery downtempo vibe, and, amazingly for a track with a simple single vocal phrase, they work their magic and turn it into a full vocal affair.

Now, I won't judge you for not liking the original (even though you'd be wrong), as Drum & Bass isn't everyone's cup of tea, but if you talk smack about the Incognito version you can take your ass back outside. ;)

Discogs page

Tracklist

1. Feelings (Radio Edit)
2. Feelings
3. Feelings (Incognito Mix)

Download: SFX+TP-F.7z | Filesize: 35.4MB

Shy FX & T Power - Shake Ur Body - UK CDS - (2002)

Positiva ‎– CDTIV 171, Positiva ‎– 7243 5 50693 0 6

I love it when my underground music blows up into the mainstream and enjoys some well deserved success - and here is a great example of just that that.

Shy FX and T Power are both legendary in their own rights as producers on the Drum & Bass scene, but together they were spectacular! They dropped classics such as this track and later, Feelings, which is to follow. They put out two fantastic albums and served up a bunch of wicked cuts for the raving crew.

Featuring the fabulous vocals of the hugely talented Dianne Joseph (Truce, Venus Tribe), and a nice latin inspired groove, they knocked this one out of the park.

I always lean more into the full length versions rather than radio edits, so I'd say jump right into the Original Mix.

However, if you're not feeling Drum & Bass, there is a UK Garage mix courtesy of Sunship (AKA Ceri  Evans from The Brand New Heavies), and, even better, The DJ Dodge produced Venus Tribe Mix (Di also supplied the sublime vocals for the Venus Tribe project), bringing you some tasty R&B vibes.

Tracklist

1. Shake Ur Body (Radio Edit)
2. Shake Ur Body (Original Mix)
3. Shake Ur Body (Sunship Vocal Mix)
4. Shake Ur Body (Venus Tribe Mix)

Discogs page

Download: SFXTP-SUB.7z | Filesize: 38.2MB

Sinclair - (I Wanna Know) Why - UK CDS - (1994)

Dome Records ‎– CDDOME 1009

What's this? Do I spy a funky, soulful re-working of the chorus of Annie Lennox's dreary old hit?? Well no actually, it's more like Louisa Mark - Six Sixth Street!

Welcome back one Mr Sinclair to the Soul Vendor archives.

Mickey's already written about Mike Sinclair elsewhere here, sadly as seemed common for UK artists in the 80's and 90's, he wasn't well supported by his home nation and despite making a moderate splash, especially on urban radio, eventually faded into obscurity. What a damn shame.

Anyway, like Ain't No Cassanova before it, (I wanna Know) Why is a great, catchy little slice of quality UK R&B. I don't much like the Masters At Play house mix but the original vibes are the best. Jump straight into track one.

I do really like the Ska Mix as well, which flips the vibe and has echoes of Message To You, Rudi by The Specials in this mix.

Wicked stuff once again, Mr Sincair!

I'm not sure if Mike is still performing but, as ever, I urge you all to support the artist and go see a show or something, when we are once again allowed.

Tracklist

1. (I Wanna Know) Why
2. (I Wanna Know) Why (Ska Mix)
3. (I Wanna Know) Why (Masters At Play Dub)
4. Music Is The Key Of Life

Discogs page

Download: S-IWKW.7z | Filesize: 43.2MB

Sinclair - Ain't No Cassanova '95 - UK CDS - (1995)

Dome Records ‎– CD DOME 103

So Mickey P had already posted the original 1993 version, re-upped in 320 by yours truly. 

I've got a lot of love for that release. I remember it being big on UK street soul radio in the early 90's (KISS FM (when it was good), Choice FM & others) and I always loved that bassline. So good! I was also taken with the naughty reworking of the Sammuel So You Like What You See sample, which is a monster of a cut in its own right.

The Groove 95 remix features a cheekily little interpolation of the Jackson 5 I Want You back bassline, which will forever be associated with Eric B & Rakim in my mind.

The Ken Kessie U.S. Mix has a rap by Pepperhead aka Jeffrey Wiltshire, who I've seen named on a couple of cuts but I'm not too knowledgeable about. The drums are mad crisp and the bassline nods back to the original, which is nice, but it lacks the Sammuel sample. Probably my pick of the bunch on this CD.

2B3 are Neville Thomas and Pule Pheto and they were all over any urban act worth their salt in the 90s including D'Angelo, Jodeci, Silent Eclipse, Beverley Knight, Evelyyn Champagne King and many, many more. You can find many of their productions on this blog. Here 2B3 sample Levert's superb classic Casanova (see what they did there?) to build something new but familiar with. I'll be posting that Levert track in the coming few weeks.

Ultimately however, despite liking these newer three versions, I keep coming back to the regular and/or US Encore Mix from the original 1993. There's something in the originals bassline that speaks to me.

Tracklist

1. Ain't No Casanova (Groove '95 Remix)
2. Ain't No Casanova (Ken Kessie U.S. Mix)
3. Ain't No Casanova (2B3 Back To Basics Remix)
4. Stay With Me Tonight

Discogs page

Download: S-C-95.7z | Filesize: 40.7MB

Sinclair - Ain't No Cassanova - UK CDS - (1993)

Dome Records CDDOME 1004

320 re-up! originally posted by Mick back in 16/04/09 - can you believe it was over ten years ago?
That makes it even more funny reading the comments below of us folks moaning about getting old lol
I love this track which cheekily borrows heavily from Sammuel's dope So U Like What U See but puts an entirely new spin on it. Wicked UK summertime jam tingz!

 - Kymba

Mike Sinclair sprung onto the UK Soul scene in 1992, thanks to some great support from specialist radio. I Want You Back was the tune that launched him but it was this tune in 1993 that nailed his colours to the mast. Championed by the likes of Choice FM and Echoes, Ain't No Casanova was played by everyone everywhere. It was a great example of Brit Street Soul during that time and came very close to crossing over, denting the UK Top Twenty at #28 in September of '93.

Ain't No Casanova was written and produced by Dwayne Burke & William Flowers at Groove And A Quarter and the Groove Mix is also theirs. Groove And A Quarter released I Want You Back on their own label, G&Q Records. The third mix is the US Encore Remix by Ken 'Dr. Shaft' Kessie who worked on some Tony! Toni! Toné! releases. Back in the day it was all about the Groove mix but listening now, I'm liking Ken's mix which features a rap by Pepperhead.

For the real soul lovers out there (QS), check out It's Over. Penned by Mike himself and produced by Ashley Ingram who clearly has the silky touch required for the Quiet Storm genre. This is Sinclair at his best, a little slice of soul heaven, pure class!

Tracklist

1. Ain't No Casanova
2. Ain't No Casanova (Groove Remix)
3. Ain't No Casanova (US Encore Mix featuring Pepperhead)
4. It's Over

Discogs page

Download: S-ANC.7z | Filesize: 42.9MB

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 - In Deeper Life EP - 12" Re-Up - (1996)

Cup Of Tea Records COT 018

Re-Up: Originally posted 03/09/2008.

I do not own this EP but I did download from Mick back in the day.
Apologies it is not in 320! - Kym

In 1996 this EP, written by Tammy Payne & produced by Jim Barr*, was released on the obscure Bristol label, Cup Of Tea, serving Jazz oddities like Junkwaffel & Purple Penguin. I apologise for the sizzling bacon on some tracks but I'm not aware of this vinyl being available elsewhere.

It's not as accessible as Take Me Now and gives an idea how much of a difference the Loop Mix made to the original version. One for the Jazz Heads out there. I like it, left-field and out there but it's interesting and I'm feeling it.

*Jim Barr was bass player with Portishead (1993-1997) before becoming a producer and shortly after this EP, teaming up with Tammy Payne as Sissi on Cup Of Tea in the late 90's and more recently Jukes on Twisted Nerve.

• A1 Reason
• A2 Voices
• A3 In Deeper Life
• B1 This Is Where
• B2 Voices (Seamus 'C' Horse Mix)

Download: TP-IDL.7z | Size: 23.7 MB

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

Eric B & Rakim - Paid In Full (Promo) - Re-Up - (1987)

4th & Broadway 12 BRX 78

Re-Up!: Originally posted by Mick on 12/04/2012.
I reconstructed this from three 320 sources so it's not strictly a vinyl rip. - Kymba

In 1987 when Eric B & Rakim could do no wrong, Coldcut was called upon to remix Paid In Full. Seven Minutes Of Madness turned out to be the most popular mix that year, from the dance-floor point of view at least. It was, quite deservedly, played to death! Eric B was not a happy man though, even though it must have doubled, if not quadrupled the sales of his album. He hated that remix, suggesting that Ofra Haza's Hebrew vocal sample from "Im Nin'Alu" could have been saying "Fuck You" for all we knew. The thing that probably irked him most was that he had no say about the remix and its release.

The real shame was that nobody else got a look in. This promo 12" (handed out at the DMC Convention if I remember rightly) is a remix created by South London's own Derek Boland. Boland had been a DJ on the pirate stations (LWR 92.5) for sometime where he created his own remixes for his show.


This remix of Paid In Full uses a nice sample from John 'Cougar' Mellancamp's - Jack & Diane and a chunk of Chuck Brown's - We Need Some Money. That's Rock Music and Go-Go in this Hip-Hop mix. It's a great version and it deserved more airplay. 

Try it, you'll like it.

Tracklist

• Paid In Full (Derek B's Urban Respray)
• Paid In Full (Album Mix)
• Eric B Is On The Cut 

Download: EB&R-PIF-P.7z | Filesize: 27.7MB

Coldcut - Beats + Pieces - 12" Re-Up - (1987)

Ahead Of Our Time CCUT 1

RE-UP!: Originally posted by Mickey P on 04/04/2012.

I don't have this myself but I did download Mick's original post, so...
If anyone can do us a nice 320 of this, I'd appreciate it! - Kym

1987 was a great year for interesting new ideas. PC's were becoming more available and Cut'n'Paste technology became the new thing. Hot on the heels of Double Dee & Steinski, came Coldcut.

Jonathan Moore & Matt Black have taken the concept to a whole new level nowadays but back in '87 they delivered this slab of vinyl to an unsuspecting world. Featuring Floormaster Squeeze, but doing what, I ask?

Note the logo on the sleeve....

"SORRY, BUT THIS JUST ISN'T MUSIC"

Tracklist

1. Mo' Bass Remix
2. Edit
3. More Beats 

Download: CC-B+P.7z | Filesize: 16.3MB

Innocence - Remember The Day - UK CDS - (1991)

Cooltempo ‎– coolcd226, Cooltempo ‎– COOLCD 226, Cooltempo ‎– 3236372

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 lovely Gee Morris had some 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.

Remember The Day is hands-down my favourite release by the band, and has a lovely chilled but smouldering vibe. It's more downtempo than some of their other singles, but no less danceable for it. It just works so damn well.

Gee's vocals are always great, and here there is a mournful, sexy edge to them as she glides over that low-key funky beat. 

Any of the mixes work for me; track one is the classic edit, the Final Mix is essentially the 12" extended, whereas the aptly named Ambient Mix does away with the drums for an even more blissed-out experience. so choose accordingly depending on your mood.

Tracklist

1. Remember The Day
2. Remember The Day (The Final Mix)
3. Remember The Day (Ambient Mix)

Download: I-RTD.7z | Filesize: 39.0MB

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

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