Mick has already written about the Brand New Heavies, so I'll skip all that and get straight into this particular release.
In short, I love the track. It's up there as one of the best joints the BNH's ever recorded in my opinion. It's effortlessly cool, and a beautiful summertime jam. N'Dea Davenport absolutely kills it with her relaxed and effortless vocal performance, and the boys provide a classy sunshine beat for her to flow over.
The single version(s) has some extra instrumentation and percussion compared to the album version, including some nice bongos, with the Extended version getting a sexy sax solo thrown into the mix as well. As is my penchant, the extended mix is my pick of the bunch.
The two backup tracks, Bang, and O-Fa-Fu, are cool too. Bang is very much a typical BNH instrumental. Peep it and you'll know what I mean. O-Fa-Fu sounds for all the world like an extended theme tune to a 70s Cop Show complete with throwback vibes and wahwah guitars - a wholly good thing in my book (have I ever mentioned how much I dig wahwah?).
All in all I think Stay This Way is one of BNH's all time classic joints, and an essential item in your summer playlists.
Tracklist
- Stay This Way
- Stay This Way (Extended)
- Bang
- O-Fa-Fu
One of there top tunes and normally got a good rinsing out by myself in the clubs when I was Djing and 'Got to give' as well.
ReplyDeleteWhere didja used to DJ, Frank? Got me curious now. :)
DeleteLondon.. mostly. Nothing major. Got most of my work through the record shop.
Deletethink this might be my fav BNH track. the Morales house mixes are good too. Haven't heard the single mix before, thanks!
ReplyDeleteAgreed about this being fave! I've not heard that Morales mixes that I recall? I had actually forgotten the single mixes of this were any different until I ripped it again recently for this blog. I've gone for so long just listening to the album I think I've half brainwashed myself!
DeleteDamn... I've just noticed this was set as "Electronic" in the MP3 genre tag. Should read "soul". Sorry folks, you'll have to correct that yourselves.
ReplyDeleteSlapped wrists Kymba, it may well be Electronica but it's Soul & Dance as far as I'm concerned. It's played with real people playing real instruments and it's made by people with soul in there passion.
ReplyDeleteBTW, I thought they got overly slick when N'dea jumped onboard. Still damned good though. ;-)
Oh, I agree! "Electronic" is what iTunes labelled it - not me.
DeleteI suppose that's what I get for being too lazy to enter the info myself!
Yeah, I know what you mean... they sorta stopped being a full on funk band and turned into a pop/soul sort of act.
I still love 'em, though!! :)
Amen to that! ;-)
ReplyDeleteThis was the track that caught my attention too, way back when. I was living in Chicago at the time and this song got me started. I snapped up every BNH 12 inch I could find. Lo & behold, years later I ended up living in Atlanta, Ga of all places. It's a much smaller city than Chicago but I've seen Peabo Bryson & Toni Braxton while driving around. Got to speak with Peabo after I cut him off violently in traffic. Mr. Bryson is a complete & total gentleman. Very cool.
ReplyDelete.
I still have great respect for the band despite some lackluster moves. I'm looking forward to this but for now, I still haven't seen N'Dea :)
Fab story there, John. I'm envious! I never bump into anyone famous here.
DeleteTotally agree about respecting the BNH's despite some not so good moves.
I cant download using Megaupload. Something about infringing US federal laws. Can someone shed light?
ReplyDeleteThis one on Mediafire and is still active on checking, hon.
DeleteMegaupload got shut down for wholesale piracy issues, I believe.
PS, sorry for lack of updates, folks. I needed a couple of months off! Mo' tunes soon! :)
I have the 6 minute Morales mix of this song (it was track 2 on a 'Maxi CD' EP released in the US by Delicious Vinyl). It is the best version I have ever heard - the arrangement is different with additional instrumentation including some lovely piano towards the end. When I saw them play a couple of years later they had adapted David Morales' arrangement for the live version (they had a horn section plus Max Beesley on keys and percussion). That was a brilliant night. There was a DJ in the foyer and I remember him playing 'Try My Love' by Lalomie Washburn - the place went wild!
ReplyDeleteJust checked the cover notes...track 2 remix by David Morales, engineered by John Poppo, keyboards by Eric Kupper and Terry Burrus, drums and percussion by David Morales
ReplyDelete