Mint Condition - Let Me Be The One - UK CDS - (1997)

Polydor ‎– 571713-2

Mint Condition hail from Minneapolis, Minnesota. At the time of writing this they are 8 albums deep and can list things like supporting the man, the legend Prince among their many accomplishments. The have also been nominated for four Grammy and Soul Train Awards.

These boys ain't playin'!!

Let Me Be The One is arguably my favourite cut of theirs. It's an on the DL joint heavy on the groove with a bubbling undercurrent of sensuality and exactly the kinda neo soul vibes that I like. However, it was when it got the remix treatment that it truly elevated for me.

So, the Album versions are fabulous, but it's the Ummah versions you should check for. Track two is much my favourite of them. It's the Ummah Mix featuring Q-Tip. Sublime production from who I assume is J Dilla, lends a blunted, low key sexy vibe to things and the track is all the better for it.

My only critique is that it's an edit and not a full ength version

Tracklist

1. Let Me Be The One (Album Edit)
2. Let Me Be The One (Ummah Radio Remix featuring Q-Tip)
3. Let Me Be The One (Ummah Remix Instrumental Q-Tip Version)
4. Let Me Be The One (Ummah Radio Remix featuring Phife)
5. Let Me Be The One (Ummah Remix Instrumental Phife Version)
6. Let Me Be The One (Silk's Radio Remix)
7. Let Me Be The One (Album Version)

Discogs page

Download: MC-LMBTO.7z | Filesize: 71.2MB

Al Jarreau Feat. Phife ‎Dawg – In My Music (Dodge Remixes) - (2001) / In My Music (Remixes Promo) - (2000)

Al Jarreau Feat. Phife ‎– In My Music (Dodge Remixes) - 2001

GRP ‎– 158 568-2

My second birthday gift today is a two part post for you, Vendistas.

Musical heavywieght Al Jarreau is a legendary figure within the jazz and soul worlds. 

Alwin Lopez Jarreau (March 12, 1940 – February 12, 2017) was an American singer and musician. He received a total of seven Grammy Awards and was nominated for over a dozen more. Jarreau is perhaps best known for his 1981 album Breakin' Away. He hit the mainstream in a BIG way when he did the theme tune to the 80's classic TV show Moonlighting, starring Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis (Now there's a blast from the past for you!), and was among the performers on the 1985 charity song "We Are the World."

He had such an expansive and influential career that I really couldn't do it justice in a single post devoted to just one song of his, so please check out his Wikipedia entry for more info.

Malik Izaak Taylor was born November 20, 1970 and sadly passed in March 22, 2016.  Known professionally as Phife Dawg (or simply Phife), Malik was an American rapper and a member of the group A Tribe Called Quest. He was also known as the "Five-Foot Assassin" and "The Five-Footer", because he stood at just 5 feet 3 inches.

Phife formed A Tribe Called Quest, then simply named Quest, with childhood friend Q-Tip and DJ Ali Shaheed Muhammad (also for a short time Jarobi White) in 1985. The band would go on to have a huge affect on the Hip Hop landscape, understandably frequently cited as many peoples' favourite Hip Hop band. 

The melodic Mix is nice, but I would suggest jumping into Dodge's Main mix immediately, as it's my favourite. They're both an upgrade over the original, although that one is great in its own right... but you know how I feel about my man Dodge!

Tracklist

1. In My Music (Dodge's Main Mix Radio Edit)
2. In My Music (Dodge's Main Mix)
3. In My Music (Melodic Mix)
4. In My Music (Original Album Version)

Discogs page

Download: AJ-IMM-CDS.7z | Filesize: 40.7MB

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Al Jarreau Feat. Phife ‎– In My Music (Dodge Remixes) - Original Promo - 2000

Verve Records ‎– VERR-01049-2

And because I love you, here is the UK promo release on Verve Records from a year before.

It's 7 tracks with three variations on the Dodge Main Mix as well as three variations of the Melodic Mix, all topped off with the original album mix.

This is a good one for mixologists but it'd be nice if they'd put an acapella on there!

Thanks for your amazing music, Al! xx

Peace & luvizm, people!

Tracklist

1. In My Music (Dodge's Main Mix)
2. In My Music (Dodge's Main Mix Radio Edit)
3. In My Music (Dodge's Main Mix Instrumental)
4. In My Music (Melodic Mix)
5. In My Music (Melodic Mix Radio Edit)
6. In My Music (Melodic Mix Instrumental)
7. In My Music (Album Version)

Discogs page

Download: AJ-IMM-P.7z | Filesize: 67.9MB