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

Beats exchange

I've been asked for a couple of tracks I just do not have so I thought I'd throw the request out to everyone else on here. If there are any YOU want, drop me a note and I'll add it to the list.

You never know, some kind soul (vendor) may be able to help.

Soul Vendor's Most Wanted:

• A La Mode - 1 Only Love - 12" 
  https://www.discogs.com/A-La-Mode-1-Only-Lover/release/869690
• Paul Johnson - If We Lose Our Way - 12" Promo https://www.discogs.com/Paul-Johnson-If-We-Lose-Our-Way/release/1864564
• Young Disciples - Apparently Nothing (Remixes)
• Diana Brown & Barrie K Sharp - Sun Worshippers
  https://www.discogs.com/Diana-Brown-Barrie-K-Sharpe-Sun-Worshippers/release/36705

Massive thanks going out to those who have already chipped in; Manik, Anonymous and the rest of the fam. Really appreciated.

Peace & luvism x

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

Simon Harris Starring Dina Carroll & Monte Luv ‎– Don't Stop The Music - UK CDS - (1990)

Living Beat Records ‎– SMASH 10CD

In 1986, Simon Harris, who would later become best known for producing the number one hit "Bass (How Low Can You Go?"), founded the label Music of Life with hundreds of productions, many by Simon himself,  involving UK, US and Jamaican urban artists. Simon broke new ground alongside Asher D and Daddy Freddy, when they released "Ragamuffin Hip Hop", a fusion of reggae and hip hop, and helped to lay the foundations of the urban UK music scene for years to come.

He has remixed many artists such as Norman Cook (Fatboy Slim), Arthur Baker, War, James Brown, George Clinton, Tony! Toni! Toné! and Prince (The Most Beautiful Girl in the World) to name a few.

He's also the man behind the legendary Beats Breaks and Scratches series of albums – which I've got several of.

This tune has real pedigree, being a cover cover of the 1980 classic by Yarbrough and Peoples, with Mr Harris and team infusing it with 90s urban sensibilities.

His team for this release features the excellent Dina Carroll blessing us with her beautiful vocals as well as rapper Monte Luv. 

It also opens with a nice breakbeat, underpinning the whole song, and I do like a break!

Wicked stuff! :)

Tracklist

1. Don't Stop The Music (Critical Club Mix)
   Featuring [Starring] – Dina Carroll, Monte Luv
2. Ragga House (Return Of The Prodigal Raggamuffin Mix)
   Featuring [Starring] – Daddy Freddy
3. Love Brake
4. Don't Stop The Music (Radio Edit)
   Featuring [Starring] – Dina Carroll, Monte Luv

Discogs page

Download: SH-DSTM.7z | Filesize: 43.9MB

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

McKoy ‎– On The Streets - UK CDS - (1993)

Right Track Records ‎– CD TUM 

Noel McKoy is a revered soul singer from South London. He also currently owns the Dutch Pot nightclub in London. How's that for diversification? :D In recent times Noel has linked with fellow UK soul icons such as Don E, Omar, Lee Johns, Carl McIntosh and more to form the British Collective. Look up and buy their album 'The Renaissance' if you can. It's wicked.

Noel cites influences such as The Beatles, Dennis Brown, Chaka Khan, Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela. Quite a mix!

McKoy the band have been covered on here multiple times, so I will keep this short and sweet. 

(Mickey did a much better write up of this one here.)

Allow me to save you time and effort; the 7" and Extended versions are great, the Mother Mix does nada for me... jump straight into track 3 without hesitation.

Track 3 is the Soweto Meets Moss Side mix, by far my favourite version, and features The James Taylor Quartet doing their thang. Funky, old skool vibes run throughout this one, lifting it above the original versions and blowing away the other mix. It's brilliant and possibly even tops the always wicked Family as Mr McKoy's finest moment (Actually, that last statement is a biggie and it depends on my mood).

Thanks for the funky UK vibes, Noel!

Tracklist

1. On The Streets (7" Version)
2. On The Streets (Extended Mix)
3. On The Streets (Soweto Meets Moss Side)
4. On The Streets (Mother Mix)

Discogs page

Download: M-OTS.7z | Filesize: 44.3MB

McKoy ‎– Fight - (1992)

Right Track Records ‎– CD RT KOY-02

Mick's original write-up can be found here.

More goodness from the awesome Noel McKoy and band who have been covered on here many times. McKoy had a real knack for blending social commentary with heartfelt soul music and were essential listening for younger me.

In recent times, Noel has been a part of the brilliant British Collective, along with Don E, Omar, Carl McIntosh, Lee Johns and several other UK soul veterans.

The City Lick is, of course, produced by the legendary and always dope Dodge & IG Culture, no surprises that it is probably my favourite version, although mad love to the original version should be taken as a given.

Paul Gotel's Belvedere Mix is also pretty good with its recreation of the bassline from Gwen McCrae's All This Love I'm Giving.

But all that aside the Original & City Lick are perfection. Start there and branch out is my advice.

Tracklist

1. Fight (7" Mix) 3:20
2. Fight (City Lick Mix)
3. Fight (Paul Gotel Belvedere Mix)
4. Fight (Original Mix)

Discogs page

Download: M-Fi.7z | Filesize: 41.2MB

Terminator X & The Godfathers Of Threatt – It All Comes Down To The Money - (1994)

Rush Associated Labels – 660275 2

Re-Up! Originally posted by me on August 1st 2019. The Artwork somehow was missing so it's all redone for you.

Norman Rogers (born August 25, 1966), known as Terminator X, is a retired American DJ best known for his work with legendary hip-hop group Public Enemy, whom he left in 1998. He also produced two solo albums, Terminator X & The Valley of the Jeep Beets (1991) and Terminator X & The Godfathers Of Threatt presents Super Bad (1994) (which this track is taken from). In 2013, Terminator X was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Public Enemy.

After retiring from the music scene, Mr X now runs an ostrich farm in Vance County, North Carolina. Fairplay to the man, but that is quite some change of pace!

Super Bad was a really good album, and this was my favourite track on it. It samples "I Got My Mind Made Up (You Can Get It Girl)" by Instant Funk & contains elements from "You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else" by The Jones Girls. The chorus is real catchy and sung fabulously by Khadejia Bass. I doubt she is, but I always wondered if she was related to Fontella Bass. 

Features old skool heroes Whodini on the raps, who were both the first Hip Hop band to put out a rap track accompanied by a video as well as the first certified gold selling Hip Hop album. 

The bottom line here is that while this is a great release for remixers and DJs, my advice is to jump straight into the Extended Mix. It also sounds great played LOUD! I do like a track where the bass is nice and heavy.

Tracklist

1. It All Comes Down To The Money (Radio Mix)
2. It All Comes Down To The Money (Instrumental)
3. It All Comes Down To The Money (Breakdown)
4. Ruff E Nuff (Radio Edit)
5. It All Comes Down To The Money (Extended Mix)
6. It All Comes Down To The Money (Pianopella)

Discogs page

Download: TX-IACDTTM.7z | Filesize: 82.7MB

Naughty By Nature - OPP (Remixes) - UK CDS - (1991)

Big Life ‎– BLR D74

Back in 1986 three talented young guys (Treach (Anthony Criss), Vin Rock (Vincent Brown), and DJ Kay Gee (born Keir Lamont Gist)) from New Jersey got together as The New Style, and released an album called the Independent Leaders.

Soon after, a certain Queen Latifah took them under her wing, and they went on to achieve meteoric success under the name of Naughty By Nature.

As a group they were fire, and for a while, I had Treach figured as one of the best ever to do it.

OPP is a Hip-Hop anthem of gargantuan proportions. It's really difficult not to understate how massive or ubiquitous this track was back in the early nineties. The fact that the boys would follow it up with a series of anthems (Ghetto Bastard/Everything's Gonna Be Alright, Uptown Anthem, Hip Hop Hooray and more) is a testament to how skilled the boys were with creating catchy, dance floor friendly Hip Hop whilst retaining their rugged East Coast credentials.

Back to OPP, it has great pedigree; taking it's main hook from ABC by The Jackson 5 (1970), the oh-so-dope drums from Melvin Bliss's Synthetic Substitution (1973), as well as elements from Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick's La Di Da Di from 1985.

Featured on here is the original and two other mixes.

I don't think Other People's Productions Remix is as good as the original, but the Fairplay Mix (sampling the Soul II Soul track of the same name) is well worth having in your collection. Both of these were by Funkie Junkie & Skin Up.

Uptown Anthem, featured on the Juice OST was a standout track among many great songs, and alongside OPP, makes this a great release.

Tracklist

1. O.P.P. (Vocal Edit)
2. Uptown Anthem (Video Mix)
3. O.P.P. (Other People's Productions Remix)
4. O.P.P. (Fairplay Remix)

Discogs page

Download: NBN-OPP-R.7z | Filesize: 38.4MB

Troop/Levert Featuring Queen Latifah ‎– For The Love Of Money / Living For The City (Medley) - US Promo CD Singles

Giant Records ‎– PRO-CD-4822

Kick the ballistics!

Keeping to our New Jack City theme and following on from the excellent Danny Madden - The Facts Of Life, we have another banger from the New Jack City soundtrack album, this time, two promo CD singles of Troop/Levert Featuring Queen Latifah ‎– For The Love Of Money / Living For The City (Medley).

Troop (an acronym for "Total Respect Of Other People") is an American R&B group from Pasadena, California. The group has had three number-one singles and ten top-ten singles on the Billboard R&B Singles chart, as well as five albums, which include three certified gold and one certified platinum album. 

LeVert was an American R&B vocal group from Cleveland, Ohio, United States.[1] Formed in 1983, LeVert was composed of Sean and Gerald Levert (sons of Eddie Levert, founder and lead singer of R&B/Soul vocal group O'Jays) and Marc Gordon. Levert would go on to release seven albums betweem 1985 and 1997. 

I'm really saddened to read that Gerald died of a heart attack due to an accidental overdose of prescription drugs in November 2006. And Sean Levert died in March 2008, while serving time in the Cuyahoga County Jail, for failing to pay child support.

Soul Vendor salutes you, boys. Thanks for allo the amazing music. Rest in peace xxx

You all know this track, it's dope, and New Jack City opens to it, with that fabulous overhead shot looking down on the city as we focus on Nino Brown dangling one of his victim's off a rooftop. It's later sang acapella when we get that shot of Troop singing by a burning trash can keeping warm in the harsh grip of Nino Brown's crack winter.

I'm sure the drums are sampled from Teddy Riley's remix of Jane Child's 'Don't Wanna Fall in Love', although can't be entirely sure.

As cool as these mixes are, I'm sure they'll only be of interest to mixologists for the various breakdowns. I think on balance I prefer the original album cut.

Tracklist

1. For The Love Of Money / Living For The City (Medley) (Downtown Mix)
2. For The Love Of Money / Living For The City (Medley) (Uptown Mix)
3. For The Love Of Money / Living For The City (Medley) (Extended 12" Mix)

Discogs page

---------------------------------------

Giant Records ‎– PRO-CD-4936

Mo' mixes here and I still think I just about prefer the original version on the album.

The Money Mix is quite different but lacks the original's punch to my ear, and not just because they've cut out Latifah's raps. The City Mix is essentially The Money Mix again but with Queen Latifah added back. The Cash Money Mix sounds the same again but is an extended/12" version.

Nino Brown's Mix is similar but different. It might be my pick of the mixes on this disc and yet I still prefer the other disc and the original album version above all else.

Still, they're worth having, if only to hear different takes on a classic.

Tracklist

1. For The Love Of Money / Living For The City (Medley) (Money Mix)
2. For The Love Of Money / Living For The City (Medley) (City Mix) (With Rap)
3. For The Love Of Money / Living For The City (Medley) (Cash Money Mix)
4. For The Love Of Money / Living For The City (Medley) (Nino Brown's Mix)

Discogs page

Download: TL+QL-FTLOM.7z | Filesize: 80.8MB