Silk - Hooked On You - (1995)

Elektra ‎– EKR212CD, Elektra ‎– 7559-66055-2

Discovered by Keith Sweat, Silk are an American R&B group, formed in 1989 in Atlanta, Georgia. They are best known for their 1993 hit single, "Freak Me", which reached number-one on the US Billboard Hot 100. They've had a string of other hits, but this one is my favourite.

There are a suite of remixes on here but the Original Extended Mix is by far the best to my ears. 

We start with DJ Clark Kent's mix, sampling Isaac Hayes' A Few More Kisses to Go, no doubt inspired by Redman's use of the sample.

Next up are the Trackmasters, and while I normally find them a little formulaic for my tastes, this is a surprisingly good mix.

The Chucklife mix is kinda boring to me so moving on quickly to The Trackmasters Hip Hop mix, which features Foxy Brown and Tyme dropping a bar each.

Which all brings us back to the highlight of this CD for me, the Original Extended Mix; simply perfect. I love those Ironside style sirens!

All in all, this was a really great value CD, packed with multiple versions. I'd have liked an acapella but I've lost count how often I say that!

Enjoy!

Tracklist

1. Hooked On You (Radio Edit)
2. Hooked On You (D.J. Clark Kent Remix Edit)
3. Hooked On You (Trackmasters Remix)
4. Hooked On You (Chucklife Remix)
5. Hooked On You (Trackmasters Hip-Hop Remix)
6. Hooked On You (Original Extended Mix)

Download: S-HOY.7z | Filesize: 62.4MB

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

Jhelisa - Friendly Pressure - (1995)

Dorado ‎– DOR040CD

Jhelisa (Anderson), cousin of Carleen Anderson (of Young Disciples fame), was born in Jackson, Mississippi. That gospel drenched soul background is clearly evident in her vocals, although I'd argue she sounds a little sensual and raunchy in her delivery for the churchgoers!

She embarked on her remarkable musical career in London circa 1990 as the vocalist for Soul Family Sensation (I Don't Even Know If I Should Call You Baby is posted elsewhere on here and I will be adding the CDS very soon). She gained a platinum disc for her vocal work with the Shamen on Forever People and, after putting out two wicked albums in Galactica Rush and Language Electric, and then working with some of the biggest names in the industry including James Brown, one of my favourite Hip Hop bands The Roots, Michael Franti (the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy and Spearhead), Bryan Ferry, Courtney Pine, Massive Attack, Chaka Khan, Roy Ayers, Nitin Sawhney, Sting and others.

Not only that, but she's been in films as well. Truly, a rare talent.

However, I digress. This track, Friendly Pressure, is an absolute stone cold classic. It's also another one featured on the obscenely brilliant Coldcut Journey By DJ album.

I've already mentioned her breathless, sultry vocals, and here she is backed up by some truly talented producers. There are seven(!) mixes on this disc, and none of them are sub-par. 

The picks for me are the Pluvio Mix, the Quiet Storm Mix and the two original versions. Pluvio is probably my fave, but it's a pretty close call.

Interesting note: The piano on the original and filter dub mixes are by the legend that is Mr Simon Law. Speaking of, watch out for the next post...

Peace & Luvizm xxx

Tracklist

1. Friendly Pressure (Radio Mix)
2. Friendly Pressure (Album Mix)
3. Friendly Pressure (The Enemy Release Mix)
4. Friendly Pressure (Pluvio Mix)
5. Friendly Pressure (Beautifully Bare Mix)
6. Friendly Pressure (Filter Dub Mix)
7. Friendly Pressure (Quiet Storm Mix)

Download: J-FP.7z | Filesize: 85.4MB

Aaron Hall featuring Redman - Curiosity - (1995)

MCA Records, MCADM-55143

320 re-up! This is yet another in a long string of my old posts that have somehow become attributed to Mickey P. - Kymba

Aaron Hall (born August 10, 1964), is an American soul singer and songwriter. He was the silky-voiced lead singer of uber-producer Teddy Riley's New Jack Swing trailblazers Guy. He also sounded more than a little like Charlie Wilson of the Gap Band - no bad thing at all.

Anyway, post-Guy, Aaron had a few solo hits like the superb Don't Be Afraid from the excellent Juice OST, and this track, Curiosity, taken from the Dangerous Minds OST - yes, that's the film that *THAT* Coolio song came from.

It's a nice, funky slice of street-soul, produced and writted by Mr. Dalvin of Jodeci and one Missy Elliott, but the Marley Marl Remix is the one you'll want. It's much, MUCH funkier, and features Redman, probably my favourite rapper, doing a couple of verses that again help lift it above the original.

There's also a nice instrumental for you mixologists out there - something I always look for in a release, although no acapella.

As a point of interest, I've just seen some Youtube vids called Aaron Hall's Dog Rehab with our man working out of LA, training and rehabilitating doggies. As an animal lover that makes me love Aaron even more.

- Kymba :)

Tracklist

1. Curiosity (Marley Marl Remix - Radio Version)
2. Curiosity (Misdemeanor)
3. Curiosity (LP Version)
4. Curiosity (Marley Marl Remix - Instrumental)

Download: AH-C.7z | File size: 38.8MB

Mica Paris - One - (1995)

Cooltempo Records, CDCOOL304

Originally posted in 2009 by me. Now re-upped in 320. This is another of those odd ones that is now being attributed to Mickey. Really weird, that. - Kymba

Following on from Mickey's The Chimes post, "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" which is a U2 cover version par excellence, I thought I'd do the same. We're all about the continuity here!

So take one pretentious rock/pop star's arguably finest moment. Get someone hugely talented, vocally, in to re-sing it and voila - instant magic! (Ah... but it was 'a good song' and Mica is probably the only singer who could've truly improved it? Mickey)

Yup, you're right, Mick. I'll take my slap on the wrists there - it is a classic song with truly beautiful lyrics, and I'm letting my dislike for Bono & Co colour my words, but listening to Mica Paris sing it is like hearing it the way it should be rather than just a mere cover.

Mica sings with effortless grace, and real passion. Her smokey vocals - I almost melt when she ups the emotion with the line "...did I disappoint you..." - over the slick, non intrusive beats, really are a match made in heaven. Having said that, Mica could ride over a Gun N Roses beat and make it sound wicked.

There's a suite of mixes, and I'll hazard a semi-educated guess and say that our Mickey would go for the lovely Perfecto mixes, but, for me, the Ethnic Boyz mix is the best (points awarded if you can tell me what song is sampled for the main loop), closely followed by the Original Mix. 

That's not to say the others are bad at all, though!

Tracklist

1. One (Perfecto 7" Edit)
2. One (Original Mix)
3. One (Perfecto Mix)
4. One (Ethnic Boyz Mix)
5. One (Perfecto Dub)

Download: MP-O.7z | Filesize: 58.9MB

Jamiroquai - Stillness In Time - CD1 & CD2 - (1995)

Sony Soho Square ‎– 662025 2, Orenda (2) ‎– 662025 2

Some classic era Jamiroquai for you, this time with one of the strongest cuts off their second LP, Return Of The Space Cowboy.

'Stillness In Time' is a track that starts slowly, almost formulaic. In fact, back in the day it took me a while to appreciate it with my minimal attention span. I preferred Space Cowboy (the single version) and Half The Man.  However, once this kicks in it sounds fantastic! I have to say the band are on point here, rocking a dope jazz-funk groove that they started moving away from on later albums. 

Out of either mix on this disc I tend to go for the Vinyl Version as I like the slightly extended nature of it, and once that groove starts, I don't like letting it go! The other tracks are two of the David Morales mix variants. Great for the dancefloor, and timeless house clasics in their own right, but I do prefer the funky flavours of the original single mix, not included.

CD1 Tracklist

1. Stillness In Time (Radio Edit)
2. Space Cowboy (Classic Radio)
3. Space Cowboy (Classic Dub)
4. Stillness In Time (Vinyl Version)

So CD2 is one of these mini greatest hits affairs that Jamiroquai love to do.

Stillness In Time (Vinyl Version), my favourite version of this track, gets another airing. Followed up with album tracks Emergency On Planet Earth (a fave of mine), Space Cowboy and Light Years. Pretty standard stuff really.

CD2 (Greatest Hits) Tracklist

1. Stillness In Time (Vinyl Version)
2. Emergency On Planet Earth
3. Space Cowboy
4. Light Years (Radio Edit)

Download: J-SIT1&2.7z | Filesize: 87.7MB