Janet Jackson - Got 'Til It's Gone (UK CDS & UK Promo) - (1997)

Virgin ‎– 7243 8 94600 2 5, Virgin ‎– VSCDT 1666

Sometimes credited as simply Janet, and other times by her full name, I'm opting for the latter here.

The ninth and youngest child of the Jackson family, Janet became a pop icon following the release of her third and fourth studio albums Control (1986) and Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989). Her collaborations with record producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis incorporated elements of R&B, funk, disco, rap and industrial beats, which led to crossover success in popular music.

Janet's 1997 album The Velvet Rope was quite an introspective affair, where she grappled with her depression and demons. Pain makes for great music, however, and this saw some of her best material to date. This single being a great example of that.

Got 'Til It's Gone is really a showcase of beautiful sublime neo-soul style production from Mssrs Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and my man Q-Tip (from A Tribe Called Quest, as if you didn't know) dropping some kinda nice bars, giving us a monster of a cut and arguably my favourite from Miss Jackson.

Featuring samples from the Joni Mitchell recording Big Yellow Taxi. Brit singer Desree would later sue Janet for use of her song Feel So High, later editions would credit Desree.

So on this release you'll be wanting Got 'Til It's Gone (Album Version) for the full experience. Mad props to the Mellow Mix as well, which drops the beats and let's the beauty of the track come to the fore. Really nice with an almost quiet storm vibe.

UK CDS Tracklist 

1. Got 'Til It's Gone (Radio Edit)
2. Got 'Til It's Gone (Mellow Mix)
3. Got 'Til It's Gone (Nellee Hooper Master Mix)
4. Got 'Til It's Gone (Mellow Mix Edit)
5. Got 'Til It's Gone (Album Version)

========

Onto the promo, we have five versions of the regular mix, including an Instrumental for mixologists. Again, Got 'Til It's Gone (Album Version) remains the best version, but you have the option of a No Rap version, minus Tip's bars, or a no Q-Tip version, which is minus his bars and his other background vocals. It's interesting to hear it without him, but it doesn't feel right to me! 

Choose your weapon. As Mickey P would say "Your mileage may vary"...

UK cardboard Sleeve Promo Tracklist

1. Got 'Til It's Gone (Radio Edit)
2. Got 'Til It's Gone (No Q-Tip)
3. Got 'Til It's Gone (No Rap)
4. Got 'Til It's Gone (Instrumental)
5. Got 'Til It's Gone (Album Version)

Download: JJ-GTIG.7z | Filesize: 90.0MB

Deee-Lite - Groove Is In The Heart - (1990)

Elektra ‎– EKR 114CD, Elektra ‎– 7559-66613-2, Elektra ‎– EKR114CD

What an absolutely legendary cut this is from Deee-Lite.

We've talked about classics on here before and this one certainly fits that tag.

This song is built from samples which include a big ol' chunk of the drums from Vernon Burch's 'Get Up' (1979), a much smaller piece of Billy Preston's Stevie Wonder cover 'Uptight' (1966), that dope bassline from mister Herbie Hancock's 'Bring Down the Birds' (1966), multiple elements from Bel-Sha-Zaar, Tommy Genapopoluis and The Grecian Knights 'Introduction' (1969) (what a weird excersize track that one is) ...and I know I must have missed some.

Have a look at the credits on this bad-boy - 'Tip, Bootsy, Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley and engineer Bob Power. That's about as heavyweight a team as you're ever going to get.

Credits
Composer: Deee-Lite
Vocals: Q-Tip
Background Vocals: Bootsy Collins
Saxophone: Maceo Parker
Trombone: Fred Wesley
Arranger: Deee-Lite
Additional Arrangement, Engineering & Mixing: Mike Rogers
Assistant Engineers: Eddie Sancho, Derek Lategan
Additional Engineer: Bob Power

It's the Meeting Of The Minds Mix you'll be wanting. That's the full length version with additional vocals to provide extra flavour courtesy of Bootsy Collins and Q-Tip, and remains to this day the definitive version of this song.

It's an essential party jam and never fails to move people with its feelgood happy-happy-joy-joy vibes. I've always loved it!

Dig

The chills that you spill up my back 

Keep me filled with satisfaction when we're done

Satisfaction of what's to come

I couldn't ask for another

No, I couldn't ask for another

Your groove, I do deeply dig

No walls, only the bridge, my supper dish

My succotash wish

I couldn't ask for another

No, I couldn't ask for another

Groove is in the heart, Groove is in the heart

Groove is in the heart, Groove is in the heart

Watch out!

The depth of hula groove

Move us to the nth hoop

We're going through to, Horten hears a who

I couldn't ask for another

No, I couldn't ask for another

DJ Soul was on a roll

I been told he can't be sold

Not vicious or malicious

Just de-lovely and delicious

I couldn't ask for another

Someone's in this torso (yeah)

Hot! Gotta deal you wanna know (wanna know)

Dee-Liteful truly Dee-Liteful (liteful)

Makin' it doin' it 'specially at show (show)

Feeling kinda high like a Hendrix haze (haze)

Music makes motion moves like a maze (maze)

All inside of me (side)

Heart especially (yeah)

Help of the rhythm where I wanna be (c'mon)

Flowin' glowin' with electric eyes (ha)

You dip to the dive baby you'll realize (yeah)

Baby you'll see the funky side of me

Baby you'll see that rhythm is the key (hmm!)

Get get ready with it (with it)

Can't can't quit it (quit it)

Stomp on the street when I hear a funk beat (beat)

Playing Pied Piper

Follow what's true

Baby just sing about the groove (sing it)

Groove is in the heart

Tracklist

1. Deee-Lite With Bootsy & Q-Tip - Groove Is In The Heart (Meeting Of The Minds Mix)
2. Deee-Lite - Groove Is In The Heart (Peanut Butter Mix)
3. Deee-Lite - What Is Love? (Holographic Goatee Mix)
4. Deee-Lite - What Is Love? (Rainbow Beard Mix)

Download: DL-GIITH.7z | Filesize: 37.2MB

Mica Paris - South Of The River - (1990)

4th & Broadway BRCD 199

320 Re-Up - originally posted by Mickey P back in 5th July 2008!

This incredible release is one of my all time favourites from Mica. South Of The River from the Contribution album, remixed by the Blacksmith crew.

Pretty good stuff but then we have Where Are The Children, an absolute gem, soul music the way it's meant to be. The track is one of two tracks recorded at Ground Control, Santa Monica, written and produced by Patrick Moten & J.A. Greene for Golden Empire, the cherry on top comes courtesy of Gerald Albright supplying sax. This track has everything except Bobby Womack!

In contrast we have I Should've Known Better, written and produced by Mica & Omar. Omar plays all the instruments and it's kept sparse and simple but that does not detract from it's effectiveness in any way. Mica has room to breathe, space to perform and Omar's beats behind that dangerous bass line, this is a killer track. Enjoy!

Kym's Note: What a fantastic release! The title track South Of The River is one of her best (but she has so many classics), coming with two mixes by the mighty Blacksmith crew. Their Upso Mix comes correct with a (then) fresh new jack swing vibe. The Brixton Bass Mix has a more organic, typically Blacksmith vibe and just edges it out of the two for me. A great summer track.

Where Are The Children  is such a sublime piece of true soul, beautifully sung by or Mica. Seems to end too quickly though, just when you think it's gonna peak?

And then we have one of my all time favourite tracks I Should've Known Better - a flawless cut. Omar's bassline is DEVASTATING! (Please note though, this is the regular length version clocking in at 5:08 to be found most places this track pops up at. I will later post the I Never Felt Like This Before single which contains a version with an extra 31 seconds. Hey, when you love this song as much as I do that half a minute is almost orgasmic lol).

My suggestion is hit South Of The River (Brixton Bass Mix) and I Should've Known Better and hit them hard. Several times. Then check the other tracks as they're all great. What a serious release this one is.

Tracklist

1. South Of The River (Upso Mix)
2. South Of The River (Brixton Bass Mix)
3. Where Are The Children
4. I Should've Known Better

 Download: MP-SOTR.7z |  Filesize: 40.8MB

Fresh 4 (Children Of The Ghetto) Featuring Lizz.E - Wishing On A Star - (1989)

10 Records ‎– TENCD 287

Comprising Paul Southey (Suv), brothers J. Thompson (Flynn) and Kirk Thompson (Krust) and Judge, Fresh 4 had a massive underground hit with 1989's "Wishing On A Star", but their debut album went unreleased as a result of musical disagreements with their record company. What a shame!

Strangely, considering they were a band of producers, this track is listed as being produced by Smith & Mighty. Perhaps the fledgling crew were still learning their craft?

Flynn became one half of Flynn & Flora, whereas Suv and Krust would go on to become hugely influential within the drum & Bass scene, being pivotal figures alongside Roni Size within the Reprazent and Full Cycle Records crew. Big up the Bristol massive!

As a lady who loves her breakbeats this track really scratches my itch, combining James Brown's Funky Drummer with the Bobby Byrd Hot Pants (Bonus Beats) break as detailed elsewhere on here), along with some heavy compression, giving us a kick-ass framework for the song. It also uses the beautifully atmospheric Riding High by Faze-O, as sampled by EPMD and Ghostface Killah, as the main melody which is always a real treat to my ears.

Jump right into that 12" mix or the No JB Beats and ignore the edit. Smoke Filled Thoughts is simply the instrumental version, which is nice.

This is a legendary UK cut from way back when and absolutely essential.

Peace and luvizm xx

Tracklist

1. Wishing On A Star
2. Wishing On A Star (12" Mix)
3. Smoke Filled Thoughts
4. Wishing On A Star (No JB Beats)

Download: F4-WOAS.7z | Filesize: 41.3MB

Smith & Mighty - Walk On By - (1988)

Three Stripe Records SAM1114

Note: Originally posted by Mickey P 22/07/2008. I don't have this so I can't re-rip it but I still have his copy I DL'd back in the day, so here it is! Over to you, Mick. - Kym

Smith & Mighty's version of Bacharach & David's Walk On By came out amongst a variety of other versions of Walk On By. Due to its ba-a-ad bassline, spasmodic drum patterns and spacious production, this version sounds unique and quite different. So many people copied this simple sound that it is hard now to see Smith & Mighty as the originators, but they were among the first. Back in the day clubbers would happily hit the floor to this. Travelling on the flipside features the manual dexterity of DJ Linx and the vocal talent of Carlton and MC Kelz. A superb follow-up to Anyone, Smith & Mighty helped forge a distinctive UK sound and need to be remembered for that.

Tracklist

1. Walk On By 
2. Walk On By (Mellow Mix) 
3. Travelling 
4. Different Chapter

Download: S&M-WO.7z | Filesize: 25.5 MB

Smith & Mighty - Anyone - (1988)

Beatmaster Records BEAT M2 12

Note: Originally posted by Mickey P back on 22/07/2008. I can't re-rip the songs in 320  or re-scan the art as I don't have it, but I do have his original audio files. - Kymba

Smith & Mighty, consisting of Rob Smith, Ray Mighty and Pete Rose, were a production team from Bristol. The ‘Bristol Sound’ did not originate with the likes of Massive Attack and Portishead. While the Wild Bunch (a Bristol based collective) can claim credit for breaking the sound, it was Smith & Mighty that first created it. Back in the day they were on a par with acts such as Soul II Soul. Anyone was a massive smash that brought them to public attention. With Jackie Jackson on the vocals, they managed to push their formula forwards for public appreciation. 

They were also responsible for Wishing On A Star which was released under the name of the Fresh Four.

Tracklist

1. Anyone (Original Version)
2. Anyone (Rap Mix)
3. Anyone (Instrumental)

Download: S&M-A.7z | Filesize: 18.7 MB

Jazz FM - Nu Cool - (1998)

Jazz FM Records ‎– JAZZFMCD09

This is a brilliant release packed with fantastic songs. It was later re-released on the Hed Kandi label, which itself was purchased by Ministry Of Sound, I believe?

Highlights for me include Nuyorican Soul's Rotary Connection cover 'I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun', Camelle Hinds' sublime 'Saulsalito Calling', Jamiroquai 'Blow Your Mind', Urban Species 'Spiritual Love' (this is the better version of it, strangely missing from the single), Leena Conquest's 'Boundaries' as featured elsewhere here, Mother Earth 'Jesse' and the superb Curtis Mayfield cover 'The Other Side Of Town' by Julian Joseph featuring Sharon Musgrave, which gives the haunting original a more upbeat feel.

And by listing those I'm doing the others a disservice. There's not a bad track here so enjoy!

Tracklist CD1

1. Nuyorican Soul - I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun 5:16
2. Camelle Hinds - Saulsalito Calling 4:02
3. Jamiroquai - Blow Your Mind 8:34
4. Nite Flyte - Coast To Coast (Extended Club Mix) 7:07
5. Hit The Boom - Here Comes The Sun 5:25
6. Blacknuss Feat. Robyn, Joshua* & Abel - Roll With Me 5:11
7. Drizabone - The Last Time 5:30
8. Soundscape UK With Rita Campbell - I'll Be Around 4:03
9. S-Tone Inc. - Time 4:58
10. Down To The Bone - Staten Island Groove 7:02
11. The Quiet Boys Feat. Camelle Hinds - Everybody Loves The Sunshine  5:25
12. Freedom Or Not - In The City 5:29

Tracklist CD2

1. Erykah Badu - Next Lifetime 6:30
2. Urban Species - Spiritual Love 5:12
3. Morcheeba - Part Of The Process 4:26
4. Greg Frank - Live And Love 3:57
5. Leena Conquest - Boundaries (Radio Edit) 4:12
6. Dust - Donna 5:25
7. Ohm Guru - Never Be There 6:31
8. Vanessa Rubin - Gotta B Everything 5:45
9. Julian Joseph Feat. Sharon Musgrave - The Other Side Of Town 5:40
10. Mother Earth - Jesse 5:02
11. Folasade - Eyes On The Prize 4:45
12. Anthea - Don't Explain 3:59
13. Rad. - Elboy 5:05
14. Four 80 East - Table For Two 4:30

Download: JFM-NC.7z | Filesize: 285.5MB

Monica - Before You Walk Out Of My Life - (1996)

Arista Records / Rowdy Records - 74321 37404 2

320 Re-Up!! Originally posted 01/04/2012

Monica Denise Arnold (born October 24, 1980), professionally known as Monica, is an American R&B singer, songwriter, and occasional actress. Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Arnold was a member of Charles Thompson and the Majestics, a traveling 12-piece gospel choir prior to signing a solo recording contract with Arista Records in 1995, at the tender age of just 15.

In 1991, Monica was discovered by music producer Dallas Austin at the Center Stage auditorium in Atlanta performing Whitney Houston 1986’s Greatest Love of All. Amazed by her voice, Dallas offered her a record deal with his Arista Records-distributed label Rowdy Records and consulted rapper Queen Latifah to work as Monica’s first manager. Shortly afterwards Dallas and then staff producers 

Tim & Bob entered the studio with Monica to start writing and producing her debut Miss Thang which was eventually released in July 1995 and scored number thirty-six on the U.S. Billboard 200 and number seven on the Top R&B Albums chart. It was certified triple platinum by the RIAA for more than three million store-shipped copies and produced three top ten singles, including debut single Don’t Take It Personal (Just One Of Dem Days) and this track, Before You Walk Out Of My Life, both of which made Monica the youngest artist ever to have two consecutive chart-topping hits on the U.S. Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart. 

Miss Thang subsequently won Monica a Billboard Music Award and garnered her an American Music Award nomination in the Favorite Soul/R&B New Artist category.

Let's not muck around here - I just can't get past that awesome Pete Rock Remix. That was my feeling back in the day and I've not changed my mind since.

There's not a bad version on this CD, and there really isn't a lot to chose from between the remaining three mixes, but, trust me, head straight for the Pete Rock Remix. Why would you need anything else??


Kymba :)

Tracklist

1. Before You Walk Out Of My Life (Radio Edit)
2. Before You Walk Out Of My Life (Pete Rock Remix)
3. Before You Walk Out Of My Life (Tony Rich Remix)
4. Before You Walk Out Of My Life (Mike Dean Remix)

Download: M-BYWOOML.7z | Filesize: 41.7MB

Donnell Jones featuring Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes - U Know What's Up (CD1 & CD2) - (1999)

CD1 - LaFace Records ‎– 74321 72275 2 / CD2 - LaFace Records ‎– 74321 72276 2

Donell Quinn Jones (born May 22, 1973), better known simply as Donnell Jones, is an American singer, songwriter and record producer. Just for clarification purposes, this Donnell Jones is not the same person as 1970s funk/disco producer Donnell Jones.

Lisa Nicole Lopes (May 27, 1971 - April 25, 2002), better known by her stage name Left Eye, was an American singer, rapper, songwriter, and producer. Lopes was best known as one-third of the R&B girl group TLC, alongside Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas.

In 1999, just three short years before Lisa's untimely death, these two cats hooked up to make a chilled R&B classic.

I won't waste your time - CD2 is for the club/dance crowd and ain't for me. I'm including it here for sake of completion.

No, for my money, ignore that and go straight to disc 1 where you have the classic version in either a with or without rap flavour. Left Eye kicks one of (if not) the best verses I'd heard her spit up til that point so both versions work for me.

I miss ya, Lis!

Tracklist CD1

1. U Know What's Up (Album Version)
2. U Know What's Up (Album Version Featuring Left-Eye)

Tracklist CD2

1. U Know What's Up (Jeremy B Radio Edit)
2. U Know What's Up (Jeremy B Main Mix)
3. U Know What's Up (Jeremy B The Edge Dub)

Download: DJ-UKWU.7z | Filesize: 57.5MB

Nu Colours - Desire - (1996)

Polydor/Wildcard, LC0309

320 Re-up! Originally posted 06/04/2009, and yet another one that's incorrectly attributed to Mick. Sort it out, Blogspot!

Well, Nu Colours have been well and truly covered on The Soul Vendor more than once. Mick's already put up Power, and only the other day I put up What In The World/Greater Love; Greater Love being one of my all-time favourite songs.

So that gets me out of having to write anything about the UK's premier gospel outfit.

Onto this track, then.

It's a decent track, second only to Greater Love in their repertoire (in my humble opinion)... but there was only one reason why I bought this CD single, and that was the excellent Linslee's Extended Mix - re-listening now it still stands out as much the best version.

The Ethnic Boyz version isn't bad, but it lacks the power-funk of Linslee's mix. The house mixes are... not my cup of tea. They might be yours? The Gospel Truth According to Mindspell mix is pretty nice, and takes the tune back to a live, stripped-down, purely gospel vibe - it's probably the best mix after Linslee's.

Peace and luvizm,

Kymba :)

Tracklist

1. Desire (7")
2. Desire (Ethnic Boyz Main Mix)
3. Desire (Linslee Extended Mix)
4. Desire (Full Chorus London)
5. Desire (Mindspell Classic Club Experience)
6. Desire (The Gospel Truth According To Mindspell)

Download : NC-D.7z | File size: 71.4 MB