Mint Condition - Let Me Be The One - UK CDS - (1997)

Polydor ‎– 571713-2

Mint Condition hail from Minneapolis, Minnesota. At the time of writing this they are 8 albums deep and can list things like supporting the man, the legend Prince among their many accomplishments. The have also been nominated for four Grammy and Soul Train Awards.

These boys ain't playin'!!

Let Me Be The One is arguably my favourite cut of theirs. It's an on the DL joint heavy on the groove with a bubbling undercurrent of sensuality and exactly the kinda neo soul vibes that I like. However, it was when it got the remix treatment that it truly elevated for me.

So, the Album versions are fabulous, but it's the Ummah versions you should check for. Track two is much my favourite of them. It's the Ummah Mix featuring Q-Tip. Sublime production from who I assume is J Dilla, lends a blunted, low key sexy vibe to things and the track is all the better for it.

My only critique is that it's an edit and not a full ength version

Tracklist

1. Let Me Be The One (Album Edit)
2. Let Me Be The One (Ummah Radio Remix featuring Q-Tip)
3. Let Me Be The One (Ummah Remix Instrumental Q-Tip Version)
4. Let Me Be The One (Ummah Radio Remix featuring Phife)
5. Let Me Be The One (Ummah Remix Instrumental Phife Version)
6. Let Me Be The One (Silk's Radio Remix)
7. Let Me Be The One (Album Version)

Discogs page

Download: MC-LMBTO.7z | Filesize: 71.2MB

Keith Sweat - I Want Her (UK '97 Mixes) - UK CDS - (1997)

Elektra ‎– E3887CD, Elektra ‎– 7559-63887-2

Originally released in September 1987 and produced by Keith Sweat and Teddy Riley. This anthem was a real highpoint and defining moment for New Jack Swing.

This rerelease and suite of remixes was released on the decade anniversary and actually bought some new and interesting vibes to the table.

First up we have The Young Disciples' Femi Fem doing his thing. It sticks mostly  to the vibe of the original but has some nice new instrumentation. There are three flavours with a radio mix, full length and instrumental to pick from. Really nice!

Funky DL comes next, bringing a 90s Hip Hop tinged feeling to things. This mix is probably my favourite of the new versions. I love the bounce and it feels incredibly summery. I keep wanting to bop around to it so it must have a certain X-factor to it.

There are two versions from the Dubaholics next, a full vocal and a dub, and actually, although I'm normally dismissive of four-to-the-floor remixes of tracks that I love, these are pretty damn good, and would certainly have their place in the club. These are not some half-assed house remixes - they actually work. Booty shakin' and nice (even if they are my least favourite versions on this disc).

Lastly, there is the Teddy Riley original. An impeccable, timeless and legendary classic. Do I really have to say anything about such an awesome piece of New Jack Swing & R&B history?

All in all, it's a really tight release to mark the tenth year anniversary of a classic. None of the new mixes let the original down and it still has the original full length version as well. Result!

Tracklist

1. I Want Her (Femi Fem's '97 Radio Mix)
2. I Want Her (Femi Fem's Master Mix)
3. I Want Her (Femi Fem's Instrumental)
4. I Want Her (Funky DL Remix)
5. I Want Her (Dubaholics Vocal Dub Mix)
6. I Want Her (Dubaholics Deep Club Dubb)
7. I Want Her (Album Version)

Download: KS-IWH-97.7z | Filesize: 81.1MB

Nuyorican Soul featuring Jocelyn Brown - It's Alright, I Feel It! - (1997)

Talkin' Loud/PolygramRecords, TLCD 22

Originally posted 06/03/2009 by me. I'm re-upping it with new artwork scans and 320 rips. Kym  B xx

This is a killer track from the M.A.W. boys that I had to add to The Soul Vendor. It's brilliant in every aspect, and I know Mickey the bossman is also a long-time fan of the Masters At Work duo, "Lil" Louie Vega and Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez.

Here we find them with the lead single off their Nuyorican Soul album, featuring R&B power-vocalist Jocelyn Brown on lead vocals, live drums recorded and then sampled & chopped, a great piano riff, and enough energy contained within the song to surely move even the most adamant of non-dancers.

There are not enough superlatives for this track. It's pretty much perfect - which, of course, is a cross to bear for those who had to remix it. Lucky, then, we have two heavyweights in the shape of Armand Van Helden, who gives us a darkly dubtastic House-cum-Garage remix in the shape of his Live from Da Darkside of the Moon remix, and Roni Size, at the height of his powers back then in '97, and right on the back of his New Forms success, giving us a brilliantly reconstructed Drum & Bass version, which contains all the character of the original, but re-encodes it in a Drum & Bass styley. He must've worked his ass off to reconcile the extreme BPM difference between the original and his version, but it pays dividends.

For me, the pick of the tracks is the M.A.W. Remix, which is essentially just an extended version. I also really love what Roni Size has done on his Drum & Bass version.

- Kymba :)

Tracklist

1. It's Alright, I Feel It! (Edit)
2. It's Alright, I Feel It! (M.A.W. Remix)
3. It's Alright, I Feel It! (Live from Da Darkside of the Moon)
4. It's Alright, I Feel It! (Roni Size Remix)

Download: NS-IAIFI.7z | File size: 81.7 MB

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

Chico DeBarge - Iggin' Me (Europe) - (1997)

Universal Music ‎– UND 56130

So at lunchtime I posted the UK CDS but I also have the Europe version here with minor differences in the track listing. 

It's still the fantastic and sexy-ass track which I (and, I hope, we) love, so take your pick.

There's a Radio Edit alongside the excellent Album Version, which is the track to go for on this CD. Following that is a mini sampler for the album - a track made up of snippets from five of the tracks. After that there follows an Instrumental that I discussed on the previous post as well as a TV Track, which I can't differentiate from the Instrumental?

Anyway, if you already DL'd the UK CDS you needn't bother with this one unless you really want the TV Track for some reason.

Regardless, it's a damn good song and either (or both) singles belong in any self respecting Neo Soul fan's collection.

Tracklist

1. Iggin' Me (Radio Edit)
2. Iggin' Me (Album Version)
3. Snippets From The Upcoming Album Long Time No See
4. Iggin' Me (Instrumental)
5. Iggin' Me (T.V. Track)

Download: CD-IM-E.7z | Filesize: 51.9MB

Chico DeBarge - Iggin' Me (UK) - (1997)

Universal Records ‎– UND 56170

This track, man. This track! My god, this is some next level sexy shit. For gods sake please don't play this back to back with Maxwell's Til The Cops Come Knocking. I can't be held responsible for what might happen! ;)

Chico dropped this delicious joint back in 1997 off the back of his Long Time No See album, a disc just dripping in Marvin Gaye vibes. Hell, there's even a Trouble Man cover on it so it isn't a coincidence.

This track, however, not so much. This is Chico doing his thing and being the baddest member of the DeBarge family that we all know and love. The beat sounds more akin to D'Angelo of that era than anything else, but certainly isn't derivative.

The Instrumental is a great addition to this CD and really showcases the musicianship involved. 

Hear those slinky, sensual keys being played? That's Chico's older brother El DeBarge, yes the silky voiced lead singer on DeBarge's Rhythm Of The Night. I love El and his playing here is sublime. Chico wasn't part of the group DeBarge, however. What a talented family. 

 

Tracklist

1. Iggin' Me (Radio Edit)
2. Iggin' Me (Album Version)
3. Iggin' Me (Clean Album Version)
4. Iggin' Me (Instrumental)

Download: CD-IM-UK.7z | Filesize: 40.6MB

Lynden David Hall - Do I Qualify? (CD1 & CD2) - (1997)

Cooltempo ‎– 7243 8 85075 2 3, Cooltempo ‎– CDCOOL331, Cooltempo ‎– 8850752

Kym says: It was Lynden's birthday last week and I should have posted this back then so I'm a week late. Sorry Lynden!

Mick originally posted up CD2 back in the day so I am adding both that and CD1 in 320.

Highlight of Disc 1 for me are the Def Squad remixes, in particular the Def Squad No.2 Remix. Erick Sermon is the Daddy!

Back over to Mickey...

CD1 Tracklist

1. Do I Qualify? (Album Mix)
2. Do I Qualify? (K Gee Remix)
3. Do I Qualify? (Darc Extended Mix)
4. Do I Qualify? (Def Squad Remix - No. 2 Remix)
5. Do I Qualify? (Darc Midnight Remix)
6. Do I Qualify? (Def Squad Remix - No. 1 Remix)

Mick says: Another piece from the 'LDH collection', this is CD2 (EMI Records 7243 8 85245 2) from the UK release of Do I Qualify? supplied once again by Alifunk. Top Man!

The prize on this particular release is the exclusive Untouchables Remix of Sexy Cinderella featuring Rha Goddess. We also get the DARC Extended Remix of Do I Qualify? in glorious digital and, as if that wasn't enough, this includes The Jimmy Lee Story which includes girl-on-girl action. OK, sorry, I'm a sad bugger?

CD2 Tracklist

1. Do I Qualify? (Album Mix)
2. Do I Qualify? (Darc Extended Mix)
3. Sexy Cinderella (Untouchables Remix)
4. The Jimmy Lee Story

Download : LDH-DIQ.7z | Filesize: 104MB

Soul II Soul ‎– Represent (1997)

Island Records, CID668/572087-2

Wow, this CD has an awful cover! No offence, skin-head man... you could be a lovely guy in real life I guess. Luckily the contents are all that and a fat bag o' chips!

So this is another great track from UK heavyweights Soul II Soul, this time featuring the excellent Paul Johnson, who had already made waves on the UK soul scene with the Dodge produced If We Lose Our Way, a track I never managed to get hold of outside of a compilation CD, but would dearly love. *hint hint*

Represent was a fine tune on a very good album. It's chilled and cool, typifying the sound of Soul II Soul, and this version gets two airings here with the Album and Radio Mix.

I actually err on the side of the remixes here though, preferring the more hiphop tinged Full Crew Mix  which turns it into a true banga which I love, and, for the dancefloors, the breakbeat-tastic and oh-so-funky Katt Mix which is in a UK Garage styley.

Having said that, the album/radio versions are really nice, plus there's a Soul Inside mix from our boy Dodge, and you know that man never disappoints.

This is a very rare instance though where I prefer another remix over a Dodge one. That might be the sign of the end times.

Big up Full Crew!

- Kym x

Tracklist

1. Represent (Album mix)
2. Represent (Radio Edit)
3. Represent (Katt Mix)
4. Represent (Soul Inside Reworked Rep Mix)
5. Represent (Full Crew Mix)

Download: SIIS-R.7z | Filesize: 58MB

Lynden David Hall ‎– Sexy Cinderella (1997)

Cooltempo ‎– CDCOOL 328

Mickey has already posted the remix CD here ages ago (supplied by AliFunk) and re-upped in 320 by yours truly. 

However, this is the original release which I prefer, barring the seriosuly dope Perfect Love Song with Black Twang. You need to go get that one, peeps.

The original Neo Soul album flavour does it for me. I don't need any other version. This also contains three variants on the Cosmack mix which is nice enough, better than the C&J versions, but I've already nailed my colours to this mast. Original all the way.

I still get very sad whenever I think about our lost soul man. I've said before on here we are far poorer in the UK for never getting to hear what other music he had inside him.

I miss you, Lynden. xxx

Tracklist

1. Sexy Cinderella (Radio Edit)
2. Sexy Cinderella (Album Version)
3. Sexy Cinderella (Cosmack Radio Edit)
4. Sexy Cinderella (Cosmack 12" Mix)
5. Sexy Cinderella (Cosmack Instrumental)

Download: LDH-SC.7z | Filesize: 49.7MB