Shy FX & T-Power - Feelings - UK CDS - (2005)

Digital Soundboy Recording Co. ‎– SBOY001CDS

Before I start I just need to say how much I adore the art on this!

Anyway...

Maybe I am pushing the boundaries of what The Soul Vendor should be about with this and the previous cut, but at least I have the excuse of the Incognito Mix (just as I had the Venus Tribe excuse last time) which is as dope as you'd imagine, given their pedigree.

I grew up on Hip Hop, Soul and later Drum & Bass (in my raving days). Shy FX and T Power are both legendary in their own rights as producers on the D&B scene, but together they were spectacular! Check classics such as Shake Ur Body and this track, Feelings. They put out two fantastic albums and served up a bunch of wicked cuts for the raving crew.

This track is one that even non D&B fans will ask... 'What's that one song that goes "Yeah yeah yeah yeah" - I like that one!'. It even blew up to the degree that it surfaced above D&B only radio and was featured on many urban music stations.

And then there's the Incognito remix. Long term followers of this blog know that Incognito would be our house band, if that were possible. Here they bring a cool, summery downtempo vibe, and, amazingly for a track with a simple single vocal phrase, they work their magic and turn it into a full vocal affair.

Now, I won't judge you for not liking the original (even though you'd be wrong), as Drum & Bass isn't everyone's cup of tea, but if you talk smack about the Incognito version you can take your ass back outside. ;)

Discogs page

Tracklist

1. Feelings (Radio Edit)
2. Feelings
3. Feelings (Incognito Mix)

Download: SFX+TP-F.7z | Filesize: 35.4MB

Incognito Featuring Jocelyn Brown ‎– Always There (1991)

Talkin' Loud ‎– 868 359-2, Talkin' Loud ‎– TLKCD 10

Oh my god. What a classic track I've got for you today my Soulistas as birthday month rolls on!

Incognito were always something of a favourite of mine with their sunny blend of funky, jazzy, soul-infused dance music. Real good "up" music. Bluey was always all about the vibes and they put out some amazing stuff.

Teaming up this time with soul POWERHOUSE vocalist, the mighty mighty  Jocelyn Brown, to release an era defining track. No hyperbole meant, it is that great a tune. Jocelyn's particular brand of power-soul could knock down skyscrapers, I am quite sure. What a voice! Although this a cover of a classic Ronnie Laws track from 1975 they really made it their own.

So Bluey's Mix is on the CD and is as fabulous as you'd expect, having that trademark Incognito sound to it. However, a special note needs to be made on how David Morales finessed the track and made it shine so brightly. His work on remixing here cannot be overstated.

I don't need to say much more about this release. It speaks for itself (Oh, by the way, the backup track, Journey Into Sunlight, is incredibly nice as well).  

I'd pick between either the 12" Mix or Bluey's Mix, depending on my mood. You can't go wrong either way. 

I love this track!

Tracklist

1. Always There (Edit)
2. Always There (12" Mix)
3. Always There (Bluey's Mix)
4. Journey Into Sunlight

Download: I-AT.7z | Filesize: 42.8MB

Incognito - Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing - (1992)

Talkin Loud, TALKCD 21

Kym - 320 re-up of another of my older posts that has somehow been attributed to Mickey (again). Very weird. Original posted 08/04/2009 - where does that time go??

The sun is shining here in North London, so I thought I'd post something with a Summery vibe to match the weather outside.

What better, then, than a Talkin' Loud track? One that's a remake of a Stevie Wonder classic?

I'm a huge Stevie Wonder fan, I know most of his songs backwards, and can't get enough of his 70's period. That brother had the funk down to a T. 

Now, I would normally consider anyone daring to cover one of his songs as utter blasphemy, but Incognito did a brilliant job with this tune, and, dare I say it, improved it by making it a little more dance-friendly, with a more pronounced groove.

Just listening to it now takes me back to summers gone by where I had it on a playlist, along with various other acid jazz type tracks, playing loud during barbecue's with family and friends, the rosé wine flowing, the smell of cooking burgers and J* being passed round...

I better stop now, as I'll be boring you.

There's a Frankie Foncett mix, as well as another track, a remix of Colibri, which sounds, for all the world, like a latin-tinged Roy Ayers/George Benson collaboration. Really good stuff!

However, what you'll really want are the Edit and LP Versions (the LP Version being my personal pick). Essential summertime listening.

Enjoy the sun, y'all!

- Kymba :)

Tracklist

1. Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing (Edit)
2. Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing (LP Version)
3. Colibri (Remix)
4. Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing (Frankie Foncett Mix)

Download: I-DYWBAT.7z | File size: 46.7MB

* I don't nowdays, honest! My boyfriend at the time of writing this was a cop! lol

Mary J. Blige - Real Love (YD Remixes) 1992

MCA Records MCSTD 1721

Todays post comes courtesy of my main man Sasha:

"I have the 12" back home in Australia but have just found it on CD Single. It was released in the UK in 1992 and the mixes are definitely as good as I remembered. Check out Track 3 and Track 4 for some really special and soulful mixes.

p.s. I have also included some of the other Blacksmith remixes that were on a 1993 UK 12" of Real Love, that someone sent me - vinyl rip. Cheers, Sasha"

A quick summary then, Real Love came out on 25th August 1992, the second release lifted from her excellent début album, What's the 411? It boasts executive production by Sean 'Puffy' Combs and is written and produced by Mark C. Rooney and Mark Morales (again). The track is built on a drum sample from Audio Two's 1988 classic, Top Billin'. The Hip Hop Mix by Bad Boy Ent. features a sample of Betty Wright's 1972 single, Clean-Up Woman and the first appearance of The Notorious B.I.G., then going by the name Big E. Smalls. The vinyl has the Hip Hop Club mix which much the same but without the acappella intro.

Then they brought out the UK Remix 12" which added '2 Special Mixes By The Young Disciples' and suddenly we have something to talk about. This is The Soul Vendor blog, we aren't interested in simply Classic Soul & R&B that everybody has in their collection. We try to target the long forgotten obscure and unusual mixes that you can't find. I think this fits the bill. Femi Fem of The Young Disciples on the controls and incorporating the services of Mad Marco, Phil Linton, Incognito's Jean-Paul 'Bluey' Maunick on guitar and Omar Lye-Fook on keyboards. The Fresh 'N Funky Mix is my fav but The Talkin' Love Mix is just as good.

In the bonus collection you will find the 1993 MCA Records release on MCSX 1922. There were two 12"s with the same serial number (as with this 1992 12"). One featuredthe Phat Mix built on the Roy Ayers 'Love Will Bring Us Back Together' mentioned by Tosh. The other, absolute clincher here, featured the two Blacksmith mixes, the Brixton Flavour 12" and the Blacksmith's Summer Sound 12" both mixed by The Funk Mob with a rap by Sniper.

The Uptown 411 Remix featuring Biggie's rap and an introduction by Puffy, is the Hip Hop Mix with the intro changed. I'm not sure as to what release it is from?

• Album Version
• Hip Hop Mix
• The Fresh 'N Funky Mix
• The Talkin' Love Mix

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Real Love (Mixes).zip  Filesize: 59.25 MB

Incognito - Out Of The Storm 1996

Talkin' Loud Records TLCD 14

A good song by incognito with some great Def Mix remixes by David Morales who uses the full potential of the song on the Sleaze Mix with trademark piano & drums and some nice string arrangements. The Instrumental Mix is a great addition too. Carl Craig's 10 minute epic Planet E Mix however has left no trace of the song whatsoever but it has a great vibe about it with freestyle drums and a cool synth and heavy bassline, this is certainly more than just a remix. Turn on, tune in and chill out. Bluey's Club Mix is another fine jazzy dancer, as expected, that ties this selection up neatly.

• Morales Radio Edit
• Morales Sleaze Mix
• Morales Instrumental Mix
• C's Planet E Special Mix
• Bluey's Club Mix

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Out Of The Storm CDS.rar Filesize: 56.61 MB

Ray Simpson - Crazy Pictures 1991

Circa Records YRT 76

A "Native New Yorker" born and raised in the Bronx, sports fan Simpson is a proud husband and father living in New Jersey. As Valerie Simpson's younger brother, Ray Simpson first started as songwriter in early 70's before embarking on a solo career. He recorded Tiger Love for Warner Brothers in 1978 which was released with little success.

He is frequently employed as a background vocalist and can be found on Ashford & Simpson's Solid as well as albums by Will Downing, Diana Ross & Billy Joel. Simpson made another attempt to break through in 1991, releasing two singles. Crazy Pictures, co-penned by Bluey Maunick and produced by Michael Powell & Sir Gant, enjoyed limited success, Remixed by Frankie Knuckles and featuring additional keyboards by Satoshi Tomiie, the Classic Club Mix makes a fine noise, as does the R'n'B Extended Version. 1992's Out There, produced by Bluey Maunick, sadly disappeared without a trace.

In 1997 he joined Soul II Soul on their Time For Change album, singing lead vocal on four of the ten tracks. Pleasure Dome was released as a single and although Ray's voice has still failed to garner the recognition it deserves, the single scored well on the UK dancefloors in it's remix format.

• Classic Club Mix
• Classic Radio Version
• R n B Extended Version
• Classic Reprise

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Ray Simpson 91.rar Filesize: 44.07 MB