Mica Paris - One - (1995)

Cooltempo Records, CDCOOL304

Originally posted in 2009 by me. Now re-upped in 320. This is another of those odd ones that is now being attributed to Mickey. Really weird, that. - Kymba

Following on from Mickey's The Chimes post, "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" which is a U2 cover version par excellence, I thought I'd do the same. We're all about the continuity here!

So take one pretentious rock/pop star's arguably finest moment. Get someone hugely talented, vocally, in to re-sing it and voila - instant magic! (Ah... but it was 'a good song' and Mica is probably the only singer who could've truly improved it? Mickey)

Yup, you're right, Mick. I'll take my slap on the wrists there - it is a classic song with truly beautiful lyrics, and I'm letting my dislike for Bono & Co colour my words, but listening to Mica Paris sing it is like hearing it the way it should be rather than just a mere cover.

Mica sings with effortless grace, and real passion. Her smokey vocals - I almost melt when she ups the emotion with the line "...did I disappoint you..." - over the slick, non intrusive beats, really are a match made in heaven. Having said that, Mica could ride over a Gun N Roses beat and make it sound wicked.

There's a suite of mixes, and I'll hazard a semi-educated guess and say that our Mickey would go for the lovely Perfecto mixes, but, for me, the Ethnic Boyz mix is the best (points awarded if you can tell me what song is sampled for the main loop), closely followed by the Original Mix. 

That's not to say the others are bad at all, though!

Tracklist

1. One (Perfecto 7" Edit)
2. One (Original Mix)
3. One (Perfecto Mix)
4. One (Ethnic Boyz Mix)
5. One (Perfecto Dub)

Download: MP-O.7z | Filesize: 58.9MB

The Chimes - The Chimes 1990

CBS Records 466481-1

When The Chimes released 1-2-3, I feared the worst. I suspected another Pop/Soul band to lower the tone of British Dance music. Heaven was a good quality, stronger song but it wasn't until I heard an album track that I realised there was something special here.

It was Stronger Together that convinced me that I needed to buy this album and what a great decision that was. Every track on the album is strong with 1-2-3 being (IMHO) the weakest of the collection. The Chimes managed to do for I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, what Mica Paris would later do for One. U2 ballads seem to translate well to soul arrangements. This is an album that would be well worth having on CD if it's been released?

Worth mentioning here that Pauline Henry was the voice of The Chimes but the main man was Michael Peden, who also produced YoYo Honey.

• Love So Tender
• Heaven
• True Love
• 1-2-3
• Underestimate
• Love Comes To Mind
• Don't Make Me Wait
• Stronger Together
• I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
• Stay

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: 1990 The Chimes.rar Filesize: 66.44 MB