Showing posts with label 1996. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1996. Show all posts

Monday, 15 March 2021

Tammy Payne - In Deeper Life EP - 12" Re-Up - (1996)

Cup Of Tea Records COT 018


Re-Up: Originally posted 03/09/2008.
I do not own this EP but I did download from Mick back in the day.
Apologies it is not in 320! - Kym

In 1996 this EP, written by Tammy Payne & produced by Jim Barr*, was released on the obscure Bristol label, Cup Of Tea, serving Jazz oddities like Junkwaffel & Purple Penguin. I apologise for the sizzling bacon on some tracks but I'm not aware of this vinyl being available elsewhere.

It's not as accessible as Take Me Now and gives an idea how much of a difference the Loop Mix made to the original version. One for the Jazz Heads out there. I like it, left-field and out there but it's interesting and I'm feeling it.

*Jim Barr was bass player with Portishead (1993-1997) before becoming a producer and shortly after this EP, teaming up with Tammy Payne as Sissi on Cup Of Tea in the late 90's and more recently Jukes on Twisted Nerve.
  • A1 Reason
  • A2 Voices
  • A3 In Deeper Life
  • B1 This Is Where
  • B2 Voices (Seamus 'C' Horse Mix)
Download: TP-IDL.7z | Size: 23.7 MB



Monday, 9 September 2019

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

Arista Records / Rowdy Records - 74321 37404 2


Monica-Before-You-Walk-Out-Of-My-Life-Cover

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.

Monica-Before-You-Walk-Out-Of-My-Life-OFC

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 :)
Monica-Before-You-Walk-Out-Of-My-Life-CD
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

Monday, 2 September 2019

Nu Colours - Desire - (1996)

Polydor/Wildcard, LC0309


Nu-Colours-Desire-Cover

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.


Nu-Colours-Desire-OFC

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 :)

Nu-Colours-Desire-CD
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

Monday, 22 July 2019

M-Beat featuring Jamiroquai - Do U Know Where You're Coming From - (1996)

Renk Records, CDRENK63
M-Beat-feat-Jamiroquai-Do-U-Know-cover

320 Re-Up!

Back in 1996, seemingly from out of nowhere, a weird collaboration happened. M-Beat (a guy best known for the jungle track Incredible with General Levy) made a funky slice of Drum & Bass with perennial Acid jazz faves Jamiroquai.

M-Beat-feat-Jamiroquai-Do-U-Know-OFC

However, the results were most definitely not weird. Anything but, in fact. The combination of D&B tempo drums and 70’s funk permeating this track (you’ve got to love those wah-wah guitars) work very well indeed alongside Jay Kay's always catchy vocals, giving Jamiroquai one of their punchier, funkier moments.

This is proper future funk.

M-Beat-feat-Jamiroquai-Do-U-Know-IFC

There are several versions, with not a great deal to pick from between them, but I always err on the side of the Extended Mix, which kicks some serious bootie (and has more wah-wah's and vibes).

Essential stuff!

An edit of this track made its way onto certain editions of the Travelling Without Moving CD as an unheralded bonus track.

PS - Stop the press... I've added the vinyl only Jumping Jack Frost remix, which is highly chilled full D&B version. Well worth adding to your collection.

M-Beat-feat-Jamiroquai-Do-U-Know-CD

Tracklist
  1. Do You Know Where You're Coming From (Original Mix)
  2. Do You Know Where You're Coming From (Touch Of Horn Mix)
  3. Do You Know Where You're Coming From (Extended Mix)
  4. Do You Know Where You're Coming From (Full Horns Mix)
  5. Do You Know Where You're Coming From (Intelligent Groove Mix)
  6. Do You Know Where You're Coming From (Dextrous Remix)
  7. Do You Know Where You're Coming From (Jumping Jack Frost Remix)
Download: MB&J-DYKWYCF File size: 67.1 MB

Triviality: The tracklisting differs slightly between the back of the inlay card (displayed above, and which I've included in the .ZIP file), and the folded "lip" part of the inlay card. Have a look and see what I mean. I've gone with the ones listed above, but you might want to amend the track names if you feel I should have gone for the others.

Sunday, 16 June 2019

Lewis Taylor - Whoever (1996)

Island Records ‎– CID 647, Island Records ‎– 854 747-2


Lewis-Taylor-Whoever-cover


Note: Oops! Just realised I've duplicated an existing post! Oh well, never-mind. Original linked here. - Kym
Andrew Lewis Taylor (born 20 January 1966), better known as Lewis Taylor, is a British multi-instrumentalist musician, born and raised in Barnet, North London. Quite close to me!

He is perhaps the personification on the word underrated.


Prior to making some damn fine Neo Soul music, Lewis was involved in psychedelic rock, something that he brought elements from to his soul recordings. Lewis was such a true artist that it's heartbreaking knowing how little sales success he had outside of those discerning heads like us (I hear his live shows were another level of excellent but I never got to experience one myself). 


He had so much talent and could/should really have been huge. He did some really interesting shit that you didn't find on your typical soul album:  experimental and always innovative, willing to push the envelope in new and interesting ways. It leaves you marvelling at the musicianship involved.


He retired from music as Lewis Taylor in 2006 after 7(?) albums and mild success that belies the dopeness of his musical output, but has been involved with others since such as Finlay Quaye and Gnarles Barkley as musical director, which is pretty damn impressive in and of itself.



Lewis-Taylor-Whoever-OFC-OBC



Lewis-Taylor-Whoever-IBC

Whoever is a slinky Neo Soul track, perfect in every way - the slick production, the vocals and tight harmonising, everything. It screams quality and hooks you from the get-go with a killer, laidback groove that's sounds equally good in a club or in the car. 


It's an excellent track.


Special note needs to be made of the gorgeously schizophrenic track Pie In Electric Sky/If I Lay Down With You which starts as psychedelia (Pie In Electric Sky) and mutates into something almost Marvin Gaye-esque (If I Lay Down With You). I remember having a moment with this tune on headphones many years ago. Eargasmic - but then every track on this CD is a winner, despite Whoever being the stand-out. 



Lewis-Taylor-Whoever-CD

Tracklist
  1. Whoever
  2. Pie In Electric Sky / If I Lay Down With You
  3. Waves
  4. Trip So Heavy
Download: LT-W.7z | Filesize: ???MB

Wednesday, 1 May 2019

Mona Lisa - Can't Be Wasting My Time (Promo) - (1996)

Island Records ‎– 422-854 538-2
Mona-Lisa-Can-t-Be-Wasting-My-Time-Cover

Kimberly Leadbetter (born November 20, 1979), better known by her professional stage name Mona Lisa, is an American pop and R&B singer-songwriter, actress, model and record producer. She had a few singles, but this was by far her biggest joint and featured on the Don't Be A Menace... OST.


While I love this track I have always had a problem with it - specifically how it lists Butnaked Tim Dawg (and Mr Sex - great name) as the sole producers but it's basically an instrumental of KRS 1's MC's Act Like They Don't Know, produced by my boy DJ Premier. That's without even getting to the original sample used by Preemo (Clifford Brown's Yesterday's in case you're acting like you don't know (see what I did there?)).

Buttnaked Tim Dawg did a lot of that - borrowing heavily from whatever Hip Hop tune was big at the time and making an R&B track from it. See the Dawghouse Remix of Christopher Williams' dope Every Little Thing You Do on this site for further evidence where he once again stole from DJ Premier. I ain't aganst sampling, hell, the  music I love is built upon it, but credit where credit is due.

The production credits do not mention Premier or even Clifford Brown at all. Scandalous!

My production credit gripes aside, this is a great slice of forgotten mid 90s US R&B.


Mona-Lisa-Can-t-Be-Wasting-My-Time-OFC

Mona-Lisa-Can-t-Be-Wasting-My-Time-OBC

I only have the promo CD so don't have the extra mixes. This CD simply contains with and without rap versions, so take your pick as to what floats your boat. Having said that, the rap is by Mr Cheeks of the Lost Boyz so guess what I'm chosing? :D

Mona-Lisa-Can-t-Be-Wasting-My-Time-CD

Tracklist
  1. Can't Be Wasting My Time (One Dread One Ball Head Version) (With Rap)
  2. Can't Be Wasting My Time (One Dread One Ball Head Version) (Without Rap)
Download: ML-DBWMT.7z | Filesize: 19.9MB

Monday, 15 April 2019

New York Undercover 4-Track EP (1996)

MCA Records ‎– MCSTD 48002


New-York-Undercover-cover

This is a great EP containing a selection of tracks, some R&B and some more Hip Hop in nature.

The thing kicks off with an at-the-time unforeseen Guy reunion in Tell Me What You Like, which predated their third LP. I was hyped to have the boys back as they had split acrimoniously a few years prior, with Teddy Riley forming BlackStreet in the wake of the fallout. Anyway, this is a seriously dope track and required listening for any Guy or New Jack Swing fan like me.

Next up is the Little Shawn track Dom Perignon and it is FIRE (no pun intended, sample spotters). Sampling Kool & The Gang's dope Too Hot track and Biggie Smalls aka The Notorious BIG from his break-out Party & Bullshit (I love that track) this one's a killer cut and was also great for the dancefloor. That Kool & The Gang loop always sounds so dope - so smooth and just begging for some nice flows, which Shawn capably provides. 

(Speaking of, our very own DJ Filthy Rich served up a phatt blend of Dom Perignon and Party & bullshit which you can (and should) check out here. Thanks, Rich.)

Monifah is up next with an almost classic joint that never quite hit the heights of some of her contemporaries. I Miss You is nice enough and made a big enough splash at the time but she faded into relative obscurity. Please correct me if I am wrong. Still, Easy Moe Bee provides a dope remix here and is well worth having.

The Lost Boyz track is kinda nice for my Hip Hop heads. Mr Cheeks is always dope! A real head nodder. Parental advisory though lol


New-York-Undercover-OFC

All in all it is a wicked slice of mid nineties R&B/Hip Hop - in fact, I'd forgotten just how good this was. A nice snapshot of a time when music seemed so much better.


New-York-Undercover-CD
Tracklist
  1. Guy - Tell Me What You Like
  2. Little Shawn - Dom Perignon
  3. Monifah - I Miss You (Da Street Mix)
  4. The Lost Boyz - Jeeps, Lex Coups, Bimaz And Benz (Sparks Meets Dawg Mix)

Download: NYUEP.7z | Filesize: 36.7MB

Wednesday, 10 April 2019

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

Columbia ‎– COL 663179 2


Maxwell-Til-The-Cops-Come-Knockin-The-Opus-Cover

Tracks do not come any more sexy and sizzling than this beautifully crafted piece from brother Maxwell.

I won't wax lyrical too much as Mick has already been there and done that regarding the other cd single.


Maxwell-Til-The-Cops-Come-Knockin-The-Opus-OFC


Maxwell-Til-The-Cops-Come-Knockin-The-Opus-IFC


Maxwell-Til-The-Cops-Come-Knockin-The-Opus-stickers

And here is the Discogs entry.

Suffice to say I think it is a brilliant track off an equally brilliant album. Clock in with Part 3 Uncut for the best track, or, better still, play the entire CDS in a single sitting for maximum sensual overload.


Tracklist

  1. Til The Cops Come Knockin' PT.01
  2. Til The Cops Come Knockin' PT.02
  3. Til The Cops Come Knockin' PT.03 Uncut
  4. Lock You Up N' Love Fa Days PT.04
  5. Lock You Up N' Love Fa Days Unsung PT.05 
Maxwell-Til-The-Cops-Come-Knockin-The-Opus-CD

Download: M-TTCCKTO.7z| Filesize: 66.6MB

Saturday, 6 April 2019

Raw Stylus - Pushing Against The Flow (1996)

Wired Recordings WIRED 224


Raw-Stylus-Pushingfrontlarge


Kymba says: Re-upped this magnificent CDS in 320! Over to you, Micky...
Raw Stylus was 'Class-A Sound System Soul'. Ron Aslan and Jules Brookes, released white label vinyl records into the funky London club scene which bloomed post Soul II Soul in the early 90's. The best known Raw Stylus track this side of the pond, would be Pushing Against The Flow which was originally spread about on white label, as early as 1992. At that time Debbie Ffrench was on vocal duty. When the band travelled to the US, to record with Gary Katz, Donna Gardier had replaced her. I assume the 1995 versions have retained the Ffrench vocal.

Pushing... was a big underground tune and eventually became the title track of the album. Giles Petersen named it his track of the year and Paul Weller (Jam, Style Council) claimed it 'should have been a No.1 record' in The Face. Other early singles were: Bright Lights, Big cities (White Label), Many Ways (Mo' Wax) & Use Me (Acid Jazz).


Raw-Stylus-Pushingrearlarge


A plethora of very healthy mixes to suit almost any occasion, bloody aggravating isn't it. Dave Lee, in his Joey Negro alter-ego. turns out another disco house happy clapper in a very Jamiroquai sort of style. Alvin Speight slows things down to a swagger for a soulful funk, gate that snare baby. Yes Tosh, the Frankie Foncett Funk 12" is a superb R'n'B grind with a gangsta lean, I love the dialogue on the intro. A funky groove but ruff with what sounds like a goose punctuating every line? Personally, I still favour the Raw Stylus mixes, the Original White Label just taking the prize. The Raw Stylus Dark Mix is, without doubt, a killa groove! Sliding in with an accapella intro, it drops with a noise that sounds like a jet about to take off just prior to the baddest bass line knocks the cobwebs outta your woofers. You know when you been tango'ed! ;-)


Kymba says: I'm just updating the DL link to a 320, and I couldn't resist adding my own two cents to the above considering how much I love this track. The Frankie Foncett mixes are hot, and Mickey's "Goose" is a distorted lo-fi horn stab - it's basically a sampling, or recreation, of Craig Mack's Flava In Your Ear. That's my third favourite mix. Second fave is the very badass indeed Raw Stylus Dark Mix, but nothing beats the Original White Label Version for both Micky me - and that includes every single track on the remixes CD of this which I will be posting on here very soon.
PS - The Joey Negro versions are pretty good if house is your thang. You've gotta love that cheeky recreation of Diana Ross's anthem Love Hangover bassline too!
Overall, this is a great CDS - the original is flawless and the remixes are on point. What a sublime release.

Raw-Stylus-Pushing-CDlarge
Tracklist
  1. 7" Edit
  2. Raw Stylus Dark Mix
  3. Original White Label
  4. Joey Negro Extended Mix
  5. Alvin Speights Main 12" Mix
  6. Fronkie Foncett Funk 12"
Download: RS-PATF.7z| Filesize: 80.2 MB

Monday, 3 September 2018

D'Angelo - Cruisin' - (1996)

Cooltempo Records CDCOOL 316



Kym's note: Not my post originally, but I have the CDS so I'm re-upping in 320. 

I loved Smokey Robinson's original and while ordinarilly I'd consider a cover as blasphemy, D'Angelo absolutely bodies this track. Truly classy and a worthwhile cover.

Dedicated to DJ Filthy Rich who requested this for the Beatminerz Brown Sugar remix like years ago. Sorry Rich! Over to you, Mick...

---


D'Angelo's 1995 debut album Brown Sugar gave us this gem, along with the single Brown Sugar, revisited here by the Beatminerz to good effect. Not preferable over the original mixes but definately different. Prior to Brown Sugar's release, the nu soul movement was yet to be defined by a major release, being dominated by British artists such as Omar. D'Angelo ushered in a new sound, blending classic soul with R&B beats.

While the title song, Brown Sugar, is a thinly-veiled ode to marijuana, Cruisin' is a Smokey Robinson penned cover from his 1979 Tamla album Where There's Smoke, conventional in the classic sense. The Dallas Austin Remix enhances the Album Version for the RnB crew but the Wet Mix is pure class, a lil' piece of soul heaven.



Tracklist

  1. Cruisin' (Album Version) 
  2. Cruisin' (Dallas Austin Remix) 
  3. Cruisin' (Wet Mix) 
  4. Brown Sugar (Beatminerz Remix) 
Download: D-C.7z Filesize: 52.491MB



Cruisin' 
(W. Robinson & M. Tarplin)
Baby let's cruise, Away from here
Don't be confused, baby
The way is clear
And if you want it you got it forever
Oh, this is not a one night stand
Let the music take your mind
And just release and you will find

We're going to fly away
Glad you're going my way
I love it when we're cruisin together
Music was made for love
Cruisin' is made for love
I love it when we're cruisin' together

Baby, tonight belongs to us
Everything's right
Do what you must
And inch by inch we get closer and closer
Every little part of each other
Ooh, baby, baby
Let the music take your mind
Just release and you will find

We're going to fly away
Glad you're going my way
I love it when we're cruisin' together
Music was made for love
Cruisin' is made for love
I love you when we're cruisin' together
(repeat)

Baby let's cruise
Let's fly away
Let's glide
Ooh, Ooh, Let's open up and go inside
And if you want it you got it forever
I can stay there inside you and love you, baby
Let the music take your mind
Just release and you will find

We're going to fly away
Glad you're going my way
I love it when we're cruisin' together
Music was made for love
Cruisin' is made for love
I love you when we're cruisin' together
(repeat)

D'Angelo - Lady CD1 & CD2 (1996)

Cooltempo Records 7243 8 82914 2

Kym's note: This was my first ever contribution to this site back in the day, although the boss man did the post. It's now in full 320 for your audio pleasure. My D'Angelo CDs are in storage right now so I can't redo the artwork. I'll re scan them and add to these D'Angelo posts as soon as I am able but for now we're stuck with the images rescued from our old file hosting platform. Back over to Mick...


OK Family, major props to the lovely Kymba who has provided not only both parts of this 2 CD release but also, all of the artwork, scanned full size so all the dodgy small print can be read. Great work Honey, looking forward to the YD 12".

The Brown Sugar album finally got some recognition when Lady made the charts a year later in 1996. Although Cruisin' and Brown Sugar were superb releases, Lady was always lauded as a great album track, way before it's single release.

The first CD features a superb Live rendition which proves that D'Angelo is no studio creation. The musicians and backing are all top notch (assuming the band is live too, of course). Track 3 is subtitled Just Tha Beat Mix and features a rap from AZ. It is a straight up street mix. For a short while in the early 90's, this sparse production style was referred to as Drum & Bass, anyone else remember that?

The last track on this CD is what the fuss is about really, Carl McIntosh, no relation to CJ, provides his own remix of Cruisin' and a great job he makes of it. This would have been an essential track had the Wet Mix wasn't already perfect. It doesn't matter though because, what the Wet Mix does in the bedroom, this will do on the dancefloor. Try not to get arrested guys.





Tracklist
  1. Lady (CJ Mackintosh Radio Edit)
  2. Lady (Live Version)
  3. Lady (Just Tha Beat Mix)
  4. Cruisin' (Carl McIntosh Mix) 


Cooltempo Records 7243 8 82913 2 3




The second part of the single release features the full length CJ Mackintosh Mix but also has the Radio Edit which always annoys me. Why put the edit on both releases? For those who are unaware of the UK's ridiculous guidelines, a single release was only allowed to have a certain amount of minutes on it otherwise it would not be counted for chart inclusion. To further complicate matters the release was only allowed to be made in three (I think?) formats. This was a serious problem for awhile (pre-CD ghettoblasters) because, the emergence of CD Single made the format choice awkward. The 7", the 12", the Cassette Single & the CDS were all important for a few years. The missing format could affect sales and kill a release. By the mid 90's though, it was all a marketing ploy to enable the record companies to bleed the record buying public dry.

The Clean Street Version is remixed by DJ Premier and features a rap from AZ. Premier is not credited on the Just Tha Beat Mix which is strange because that's what this is, with a bit of extra production. I think maybe he laid a bit of extra atmosphere over it and they added him to the credits, his name pulled in extra sales. The mix works though, so who cares.

Track 3 is remixed by 2B3 who had a quirky style that was popular for a couple of years. Anybody know what happened to them? The Shake Dat Ass Mix works for me but it takes a bit of getting used to.




CD2 Tracklist
  1. Lady (CJ Mackintosh Radio Edit)
  2. Lady (Clean Street Version)
  3. Lady (2B3 Shake Dat Ass Mix)
  4. Lady (Album Version)
  5. Lady (CJ Mackintosh Mix)


Download: D-L.7z Filesize: 107.113MB
Lady

(Wiggins, Rapael, Archer & Michael)
You're my lady, You're my lady, You're my lady, You're my lady,
Don't think I don't see them looking at ya, All of them wishing they could have ya, And as a matter of fact, uh A bunch of them are itchin'for you to scratch'em, I'm tired of hiding what we feel, I'm trying to get with the real, And I'm-a gonna make it known', Cause I want them to know
[CHORUS]
You're my little baby, my darling baby, I swear you're the talk of the town, And everybody wants to know what's going down, Babe, I know they've seen us before, Maybe at the liquor store, or maybe at the health food stand, They don't know that I'm your man 
[CHORUS]
I can tell they're looking at us, I pick you up everyday from your job,
And every guy in the parking lot wants to rob me of my girl, And my heart and soul, and everybody wants to treat me so cold, But I know I love you and you love me, There's no other lover for you or me, You're my lady
[BRIDGE (AD LIB)]
You're my lady, My divine lady, You're my lady, Such a wonderful lady, I can tell they're looking at us.
A great post and maximum respect to Kymba for making it possible.

D'Angelo - Brown Sugar CD Single (1996)

1996, Cooltempo, CDCOOL 307


Special request!

Mick has already posted the 12" here but after a request the other day about six years ago(!) I thought I'd put up the CD single in 320kbps.

So there is little I can say that Mick hasn't already beaten me to. D'Angelo was the standard-bearer for the fledgling Neo Soul movement, whether willing or not.

Brown Sugar is one of, if not THE, best D'Angelo tune outside of the Voodoo album (Voodoo, how I love thee), a sublime cut with D'Angelo killing it on the vocals and smoky, sensual production courtesy of Ali Shaheed Muhammed of A Tribe Called Quest. Quite frankly, it's an amazing track.

The UK CD single then brings us an edited, Radio version, that is the original with 20 seconds shaved off. Stick with the album cut for a deeper experience, I say. 

However, the real highlights here are the Carl McIintosh (of Loose Ends fame) produced Dollar Bag Mix, and Dodge's Soul Inside MixAvid readers will be all too aware of how much I love Dodge, and that funky bassline he brings is tight as hell, but the smoothed out vibes of  Carl's mix can't be praised enough. Though not quite as classic as the original, I can't decide between either, they are the highlights of this CD single.

The album cut When We Get By also gets an airing which a brilliant cut, and, on a lesser album, could well have been a single in its own right.

- Kymba :)

Tracklist
  1. Brown Sugar (Radio Version) 
  2. Brown Sugar (Dollar Bag Mix) 
  3. Brown Sugar (Soul Inside 808 Mix) 
  4. When We Get By 
Download: D-BS.7z Filesize: 41.782MB


Sunday, 29 April 2012

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