Fierce II Bonus 12" 1988

Cooltempo Records FCTLP-5

I got some more great 12"'s coming very soon but today, here's a quickie. This promo 12" came with the compilation, Fierce II, (the sequel to Fierce, of course) which contained all the hottest dance tracks. It sports a nice, unnecessary remix of I Know You Got Soul.

The Derek On Eric Remix, is created by South London's Derek B, who was a DJ on LWR 92.5 (my favourite local pirate) and also became a rap artist, releasing a reasonably credible album. Derek Boland produced a few remixes a couple of which you'll find on this blog.

This remix uses an interpolation of Stevie Wonder - Superstition but it's not a straight sample. Lots of classic 'Battlewax' samples thrown in (I think he used the same vinyl as Coldcut on Paid In Full) and it works.

Personally, I thought Tyka Nelson sucked. The chorus ain't too bad but by the time you've reached it.... you don't really give a damn?

• Eric B & Rakim - I Know You Got Soul (The Derek On Eric Remix)
• Tyka Nelson - This Girl's Gonna Fall In Love

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Fierce II.rar Filesize: 21.16 MB

Adé - Reach Out Your Love 1993

Profile Records PROFCD 402

A promo CD release that got a blinding review from Steve Hobbs in Blues & Soul magazine. His word was gospel as far as I was concerned and therefore, I was very pleased to find a copy. No packaging at all though so I've found some art which seems to suggest that it got an official release.

Engineered by Mike Bigwood at Eden Studios, this is Reach Out Your Love, written by A. Adefolalu (my money's on the artist) and performed by Adé, a man gifted with a voice that most can only wish for. It's criminal to find that he's only recorded a few songs of his own and none of them have recieved any exposure at all. Even more surprising is the news that he is probably more widely known for his vocal contribution on a couple of Shut Up & Dance album tracks?

A couple of good versions on here but forget the house mixes, the R&B 'Touch Da Soul' Mix is the only one you need really. The Adécapella is a joy to hear though?

• Radio Edit
• Jeckyls Joyful Mix
• Adécapella
• Marvellous Mix
• R&B "Touch-Da-Soul" Mix

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: PROFCD 402.rar ize: 31.23MB

Atmosfear - Invasion EP 1981

Elite Music DAZZ 8

The Invasion EP features a female vocal (uncredited) on an uncredited track.

The B-Side is cut into three tracks and although tracks 2 & 3 are joined together, track 2 seems to be a different track. A damn fine track, mind!
(Any info appreciated?)

• Invasion
• Alternative II
• Interplay
• Starburst (Reach Out To The Stars)

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: DAZZ 8 Invasion EP 1981.rar Size: 43.43 MB

Atmosfear - Motivation/Extract 1980

Elite Music DAZZ 2

Brand new Jazz Funk for 1980, hot on the heels of their success with Dancing In Outer Space, Atmosfear begin to release their work on the Elite Records label. DAZZ 1 is an Elite release for Dancing In Outer Space (originally on MCA) and DAZZ 2 is a double header....

Sure, it's not a great deal different from ...Space but that's no heartbreak?

• Motivation
• Extract

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: DAZZ 2 Motivation 1980.rar Size: 23.69 MB

Lisa Stansfield - What Did I Do To You? EP 1990

Arista Records 613 168

A totally unnecessary but likable, David Morales remix for the Rochdale Lass but the great thing about this release was the 3 cracking, brand new Stansfield/Devaney/Morris tracks which, to my knowledge, never turned up anywhere else?

My favourite, A2 My Apple Heart... choon!

• What Did I Do To You? (Morales Mix)
• My Apple Heart
• Lay Me Down
• Something's Happenin'

The download link is: Download
Filename: What Did I Do To You_.rar Size: 25.38 MB

Corky Hale - Harp Beat 1986

Affinity Records AFF 150

Corky Hale is probably the greatest jazz harpist ever and is, apparently, considered by many jazz greats to be one of the finest musicians in Hollywood. She plays piano, harp & flute, considering herself a pianist. She played piano backing for Billie Holiday a couple of years before her demise. This album also features Randy Brecker in the brass line-up.

If I'm honest I'll say that much of this album borders on lift muzak territory but, simply for the novelty of hearing jazz played on a harp, it's a must. Her rendition of 'Roof Garden' makes it worth having IMHO.

• Nothing Higher
• Paradise
• Roof Garden
• So Much In Love
• Up In Smoke
• I'm The One
• Yesterdays
• The Best Thing

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Corky Hale - Harpbeat.rar Filesize: 65.57 MB

Be Be & Ce Ce Winans - Celebrate New Life 1989

Capitol Records 12 CL 551

This track from their Heaven album is remixed by Clivilles & Cole of C&C Music Factory fame. I liked a lot of their music and many of their remixes but, personally speaking, I think this one sucks.

However, the third track is an extended mix, by Jeff Balding, of the album title track. Heaven is one of my all time favourite soul tracks and this mix is simply more of the most gorgeous harmonies and sublime refrains.

You can't teach this, it's God-Given. The Heavenly Mix: It does exactly what it says on the can!

• Celebrate New Life (Celebration Mix)
• Celebrate New Life Milkyway Beats)
• Heaven (Heavenly Mix)

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Winans - Celebrate New Life 12_.rar Filesize: 21.38 MB

Double Dee & Steinski: The History Of Hip Hop

RP101A

Double Dee and Steinski

• Lesson 1: 'The Payoff Mix'

It's 1983, Tommy Boy Records have just held a remix contest to promote G.L.O.B.E. & Whiz Kid's "Play That Beat (Mr. DJ) and the winner has just been announced. It's unanimous: Steve "Steinski" Stein & Douglas "Double Dee" DiFranco's "Lesson One: The Payoff Mix.

It gets played everywhere on American radio but never gets commercially released. These guys can't afford the clearance on any samples, let alone the bucket load that they've used here.

It's all done with a trailer load of vinyl and a light touch on the pause button of a double tape deck. Loads of kids try and copy the feat.

Two more Lessons soon followed:

• 'Lesson Two: The James Brown Mix'

• 'Lesson Three: The History of Hip-Hop'

Together, these Lessons became history and a new genre was born.

quote monkeyfunk.net
Steve Stein was working with a large advertising agency in the early 80's. Between briefs, he and fellow music-nut Doug DiFranco (Double Dee), spent many hours languishing around legendary NY hiphop club the Roxy, and buckling the counters of every record store with vast hauls.

When Tommy Boy launched an open-door remix contest in 1983, to promote G.L.O.B.E & Whizz Kid's "Play that Beat (Mr.DJ)", Stein & DiFranco hunkered down over a weekend, armed with little else but the song, a turntable, an eight track deck...and a fuck-off record collection, and an already huge, gleaned and lifted library of quotes, out-takes and samples.

The result, "Lessons 1 : The Payoff Mix" won the prize, and cut-ups were born. The record went crazy on the radio, and to this day has inspired kids to start plugging their parents VCR's into a tape deck to lift choice dialogue and soundgrabs. Brainfreeze ? Ninjatune ? Skratch Piklz ? The Lessons series, and Steve's subsequent work including "The Motorcade Sped On", "it's Up To You" and the Nothing to Fear" mix continue to cast a long shadow...

White Label Bootleg 1985

All three mixes were collected together and pressed on a bootleg 12".

Lesson 3 was the A-Side and my white label features the serial number...

RP101A MT

...etched into the run out. (RP101B MT on the flip, of course)

quote fuelfriends
The famed Lessons, which were produced in '83-'85 by Double Dee & Steinski - the first records made entirely from other records. Their innovative purpose was to be fodder for the turntables, a collection of sounds to scratch into others. Self-confessed record junkie Steve Stein (aka Steinski) says he remembers thinking when he first heard these sounds: "There is nothing in this music that I don't want to hear. This is music that I've been waiting all my life to hear . . . and I didn't know it." That's a quote that could just as easily be applied to the birth of the rock 'n' roll, but here the same sentiment is cropping up 20-30 years later in the birth of turntablism and hip hop culture."

Steinski & Mass Media*
"The Motorcade Sped On"
Steve Stein created this cut-up of Kennedy assassination coverage. His label, Tommy Boy, was unable to officially release it because CBS refused to grant clearance for the use of Walter Cronkite’s voice. It was released as a freebie 7" single in the UK 1987.

The download link is here: Download
Filename: A History Of Hip Hop.rar Filesize: 28.04 MB

Watergates - Never Gonna Give You Up 1992

Bump 'N' Hustle Music BUMP 12

This wonderful piece of soulful dance arrived in 1992. I read about it, as with most of my purchases, in Blues & Soul magazine (hey Marcus, would you believe it, they are mostly all gone!) where Steve Hobbs gave it the thumbs up.

Julian Jonah behind the project and Janette Sewell on vocals convinced me it was a must. Never seen it since and I've never heard anybody else play it. It's trés, trés good, try it, you'll like it.

Club Mix
Instrumental

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Watergates - Never Gonna Give Yo..rar Filesize: 23.27 MB

Watergates - Don't Go Walking Out That Door 1991

Bump 'N' Hustle Music BUMP 18CD

A superb release from Julian Jonah featuring the voice of Janette Sewell. I already posted the excellent Never Gonna Give You Up but this is also good.

It's all about the Real Deal!

• Radio Edit
• Real Deal Mix
• Instrumental
• Magic House Dub
• Original Demo Mix

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Watergates - Dont Go Walking.rar Filesize: 33.06 MB

Angie Giles - Submerge 1992

Arista Records 12 IS 513

You want this one! Check the credits, Perfecto and Driza Bone on remix duties and they are soulful mixes. Driza Bone walk it for me but check out Sleeper too. If you like beautiful soulful music that makes you feel all dreamy and warm, download, turn up the volume and press play.

• Submerge: Driza Bone Remix
• Submerge: Driza Bone Radio Edit
• Submerge: The Perfecto Remix
• Sleeper

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Angie Giles.rar Filesize: 29.97 MB

(ET) Eddie Townes - Best Friends 1985

Total Experience TED1-2631

The 1980's was an exciting time for the Soul & Dance fraternity. I remember the Real Soul (Northern Soul) fans complaining about this new music, how it was killing real music. Rap and Electro, good grief, that wasn't music at all. Me, I loved it all. The defining factor is whether it's different. Many songs have worked simply because they've been adventurous rather than because they are good songs. Anyway, I digress?

1985, great time, lots going on. DMC Mix Championships and Pirate Radio in particular. Lots of groove coming through my ghettoblaster speakers, LWR tearing up South London. Through the mash-up, this pulsing bassline and an infectious oriental sounding hook. A crazy-arsed club mix (by Tear Drop) the just broke all the rules.

"I-yuh, just wanna be something girl..."

The melancholy vocal took up residence in that part of my head that cannot be ignored and the search began. ET had arrived!

• Best Friends (CraZy MiXx)
• Best Friends (Super Mix)

(The Super Radio Mix is has aged wonderfully)
The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: 1985 Best Friends.rar Filesize: 38.16 MB