Raw Stylus - Change (1996)

M&G Recordings WIRED 228

Raw Stylus kicked off in London, a funk/soul/jazz outfit featuring Donna Gardier, Jules Brookes and Ron Aslan. Dominic 'Ski' Oakenfull was also in the band for a time. after leaving K-Creative. Donna Gardier replaced Deborah French who left in 1993. Originally, Raw Stylus released white label vinyl records into the London club scene in the early 90's. 1992's Pushing Against the Flow was a popular underground song and later became the title track of their album. Other singles from the same period were Bright Lights, Big Cities (White Label), Many Ways (Mo' Wax) and Use Me (Acid Jazz).

The album was recorded Stateside with Steely Dan producer Gary Katz and an array of musical talent including cameos from Donald Fagen, Bernard Purdie and the cream of New York and London Acid Jazz. The group toured as a nine piece until they split at the end of 1999. Head for Paul Waller's Mix and then search for the album.
Raw Stylus

• Radio Edit
• Album Version
• Joey Negro Vocal
• Paul Waller East Coast Mix
• Bone Krusher Mix

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Raw Stylus Change.ZIP
Filesize: 41.38 MB

Raw Stylus - Believe In Me (1995)

Wired Recordings WIRED 220

Raw Stylus recorded an album in the US on Geffen Records who insisted that Steely Dan producer Gary Katz got involved. The music became more live orientated and they turned out a great, timeless but not particularly commercial album. It is filled with musical talent like Bernard Purdie, Donald Fagen, Randy Brecker as well as many cool players from the 90's London and New York Acid Jazz scenes. This US Billboard No.1 single, Believe In Me came off that album. They were signed to Geffen in the US who were busy promoting Beck and Wu-Tang Clan and didn't really take much notice of them.

The Album Version is still my favourite but check out the Antonio Fargasm Mix, eight minutes of R'n'B grind, waaaay cool! For the house heads, E-Smoove on the Essence Mix and Eric Kupper on the 12" Groove but none of them equal the Album Version. I'd be very interested in hearing the Kupper Old Skool & Vision Lorimer remixes if anyone has them?

• Radio Edit
• Essence Mix
• 12" Grrove
• Flava Mix
• Antonio Fargasm Mix
• Lion's Roar Mix
• Album Version

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Raw Stylus Believe.rar Filesize: 54.94 MB

Maxwell - Til The Cops Come Knockin' (Uncut) - (1996)

Columbia Records 663179 5

Maxwell crept onto the scene in his own classic laid back manner. Looking like a retro 70's throwback, he unleashed the mighty Maxwell's Hang Suite album from whence the title track is taken, and in the coolest ever way, became an overnight legend. Anybody that likes soulful music knows about Maxwell.

The concept album kicked off with an intro track. An instrumental funky ass jam that (brought to my mind, Marvin Gaye) clocked in under three minutes. I wanted more, it was an excellent piece of mood music. The album features track after track of Quiet Storm boots knockin' joints, none of which disappoint, most of which deserve much praise but... I love that instrumental jam!

Imagine how happy I was when this CDS came out then. The Urban Theme (Unfaded), four minutes and fifty seconds of urban bliss. Yes, that is vinyl fizz you can hear and yes, this is a CD rip. I tol' you, the guy is a 70's throwback and his music reflects that, oh so well. Enjoy!

• ...Til The Cops Come Knockin' (Uncut)
• ...Til The Cops Come Knockin' (Unsung)
• The Urban Theme (Unfaded)

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Maxwell CDS.rar Filesize: 24.96 MB

Blacknuss - It Should Have Been You (1995)

Sidestep Records SSRCD4

When you think of Soul Music, Sweden isn't the first country that comes to mind, even now two decades after The Scadinavian Invasion. Martin Jonsson and Conny C. Lindström started the Stockholm Jazz Club 'Fasching' and together with (producer, composer and artist) Christian Falk (Make It Right) formed the rhythm section core of the club house-band. When they took Blacknuss to record, they took the club regulars. Mattias Torell (Eagle-Eye Cherry), Malando Gassama, Desmond Foster, David Nyström, Pierre Swärd, Esbjörn Svensson, Goran Kajfes and Per “Ruskträsk” Johansson. To top that, they invited great vocalists such as Titiyo (After The Rain & Flowers, related to Neneh Cherry), Robyn (Show Me Love, not the new one) , Jennifer Brown, Lisa Nilsson, Stephen Simmonds, ADL, SwingFly, Dilba, Viktoria Tolstoy and André De Lang.

Check out their albums; Made in Sweden, Blacknuss Allstars & Blacknuss 3. Ever changing, Blacknuss give the artists and musicians free reign and the collective have moved from jazz oriented dance music to modern r’n’b making all stops in between. Covers of Last Night A DJ Saved My Life, Rising To The Top and It Should Have Been You have been mixed with their own material and sound. They're one of Swedens best live bands, and they have won Swedish Grammis for Best Modern Dance. Blacknuss, The Soul Of Sweden.

Here, It Should Have Been You is remixed superbly by Cutfather & Joe, Absolute (my fav) and K'n'M but personally, I wouldn't bother inflicting the last two mixes upon your sensitive ears unless you have a yen for ravey house music?

• Cutfather & Joe Radio Edit
• K'n'M Mix
• Absolute Remix
• Metamorphosis Mix
• Finest Dub Groove

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Blacknuss.rar Filesize: 38.91 MB

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