Mica Paris - My One Temptation - UK Mini CDS - (1988)

4th & Broadway ‎– BRCDP 85

Mica Paris (born Michelle Wallen on 27 April 1969 in South London) is an English soul singer, radio, television celeb, occasional actress and author who has featured here on The Soul Vendor many times - and this post continues that trend.

My One Temptation was Mica's debut track, and what an assured, cool debut it was, setting the tone for a career that's lasted over three decades now. A bona fide classic in every way, and still sounds great.

The Radio Mix is the classic best known version, but the Club Mix followed by Lee's Fave Bits are well worth your time if you like the original.

Rock together is a nice track but the title track is the one.

Enjoy!

Tracklist

1. My One Temptation (Club Mix)
2. My One Temptation (Radio Mix)
3. My One Temptation (Lee's Fave Bits)
4. Rock Together

Discogs page

Download: MP-MOT.7z | Filesize: 39.7MB

Eric B & Rakim - Paid In Full (Promo) - Re-Up - (1987)

4th & Broadway 12 BRX 78

Re-Up!: Originally posted by Mick on 12/04/2012.
I reconstructed this from three 320 sources so it's not strictly a vinyl rip. - Kymba

In 1987 when Eric B & Rakim could do no wrong, Coldcut was called upon to remix Paid In Full. Seven Minutes Of Madness turned out to be the most popular mix that year, from the dance-floor point of view at least. It was, quite deservedly, played to death! Eric B was not a happy man though, even though it must have doubled, if not quadrupled the sales of his album. He hated that remix, suggesting that Ofra Haza's Hebrew vocal sample from "Im Nin'Alu" could have been saying "Fuck You" for all we knew. The thing that probably irked him most was that he had no say about the remix and its release.

The real shame was that nobody else got a look in. This promo 12" (handed out at the DMC Convention if I remember rightly) is a remix created by South London's own Derek Boland. Boland had been a DJ on the pirate stations (LWR 92.5) for sometime where he created his own remixes for his show.


This remix of Paid In Full uses a nice sample from John 'Cougar' Mellancamp's - Jack & Diane and a chunk of Chuck Brown's - We Need Some Money. That's Rock Music and Go-Go in this Hip-Hop mix. It's a great version and it deserved more airplay. 

Try it, you'll like it.

Tracklist

• Paid In Full (Derek B's Urban Respray)
• Paid In Full (Album Mix)
• Eric B Is On The Cut 

Download: EB&R-PIF-P.7z | Filesize: 27.7MB

Loose Ends - Hangin' On A String (Frankie Knuckles Remix) - (1992)

10 Records ‎– TENCD 406, 10 Records ‎– 665 357

Firstly, allow me to say that I have nothing against Mr Knuckles, in fact, I think he's one of the best house producers out there. 

Having got that out of the way, now allow me to put out the fact that I find the notion of remixing this track absolute heresy and I am only putting it up for sake of completion. 

It is interesting hearing most of the percussive elements stripped back and leaving the instrumentation in greater clarity, and you do tend to notice stuff in there that never jumped out before, but those four-to-the-floor vibes just do not work for me.

The All Night Mix (Courtesy of Twilight Firm) is more interesting to my ears as the beat is more my thing, as is the scratching, but it is still not a patch on the original.

I guess that is the story of this release for me. The brilliance of the original hangs over and outshines it.

Peace & luvizm x

Tracklist

1. Hangin' On A String (Frankie Knuckles Radio Edit)
2. Hangin' On A String (Frankie Knuckles Club Mix)
3. Hangin' On A String (Original 12'' Mix)
4. Hangin' On A String (The All Night Mix)
5. Hangin' On A String (Frankie Knuckles Classic Club Reprise)

Download: LE-HOAS-R.7z | Filesize: 64.5MB

Loose Ends ‎– Hangin' On A String (Contemplating) - (1985/1988)

Virgin ‎– CDT 39

Loose Ends formed in London in 1980, initially comprising vocalist and guitarist Carl McIntosh, vocalist Jane Eugene, and keyboard player, writer and founder Steve Nichol. The latter two left the group in 1989 due to poor progression and since their departure the newer Loose Ends sound has gained higher chart positions globally and a wider fan base in the R&B genre through Carl McIntosh's production skills.

Hangin' On A String (Contemplating) is one of the UK's biggest ever soul tunes. It's a seminal, I'd even say Legendary cut and is hugely influential to this day, it knocked down the transatlantic doors and set the scene for the crossover success of UK acts like Soul II Soul in subsequent years.

Although this was released first on vinyl in 1985, peaking at #13 on the UK Singles Chart and #1 in the US R&B Singles Charts, that was before the time of the CD, and it was reissued on this (then) cutting edge digital format in 1988.

The Extended Dance Mix is a classic and just over 6 minutes of perfection. Jump right in!

Away from the obvious brilliance of the classic title joint, A Little Spice is a really catchy, latin-infused dance number and is well worth checking out if you're unfamiliar with it. Dial 999 is similarly catchy, and indicative of the 80's soul incarnation of Loose Ends' sound. There are some chords in the bridge that remind me of Saturday Love by Alex O'Neil and Cherelle. Let me know if you agree.

Tracklist

1. Hangin' On A String (Contemplating) (Extended Dance Mix)
2. A Little Spice
3. Dial 999 (12" Extended Mix)

Download: LE-HOAS.7z | Filesize: 39.0MB

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

McKoy - Family - (1994)

RighTrack Records CD TUM 8

Originally posted 23/07/2008

1990-92 was busy time for Noel McKoy. At the same time as he fronted the acid jazz cult band The James Taylor Quartet, he also had some success with Snowboy (doing a cover of Leroy Hudson's Lucky Fellow and Leo's Sunship's Give Me The Sunshine) and his family as McKoy. 

The album 'Full Circle - Within A Spiritual Social Soul' was released in 1993 (If you like this then you need a copy) and that prompted a re-release of the highly rated but underexposed Family.

The Original Version is a beautiful slice of soul but this release called in Ray Hayden of Opaz Studios. Hayden, knowing a good song when he hears one, done the right thing and left it virtually as it was but in true Opaz style, he gives it a great big helping of schmoove. You can't fault this guy, he's a master. Walter Turbitt turns out a short but sweet Live Band Mix which is a joy to hear. Personally, I'm not keen on the Gussie P. Reggae Mix but different strokes and all that?

Tracklist

1. Family (Ray Hayden's Extended Mix)
2. Family (Original Version)
3. Family (Gussie P. Reggae Mix)
4. Family (Live Band Mix)

Download: M-F.7z | Filesize: 39.0MB

'For those who know Soul is what you feel not what you hear.'

Noel McKoy

Diana Brown & Barrie K. Sharpe - Eating Me Alive 1993

ffrr Records FCD 190

I wanted to post Blind Faith for Zenn but I'm fairly sure that I loaned it out and never got it back, many years ago. I know I don't have Love Or Nothing but while I was looking for something else I came across this CDS. I have to say, I couldn't remember it until I gave it a spin. Check the credits for the list of players.

The Undisputed Mix is the commercial take. It has more hooks than a fishing tackle box, you'll be hard taxed trying to get it out of your head. Part 2 is the instrumental version and the Groundbeat House Ensemble doesn't really do it for me. Diana Brown doesn't sound right over a commercial house groove. The Original Version has it all going on, yeah baby, this is more like it but why bother when you have the Funky, Funky Super Heavy Groundbeat Mix to hand. Holy Cow, listen to that funky-arsed guitar drop. Seven and a half minutes of boombastic funk, this mix Rocks like a MF!

• Undisputed Mix Part 1
• Funky Funky Super Heavy Groundbeat Mix
• Groundbeat House Ensemble
• Original Groundbeat
• Undisputed Mix Part 2

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Diana Brown - Eating Me.rar Filesize: 40.24 MB

Diana Brown & Barrie K. Sharpe - Sun Worshippers 1990

ffrr Records FCD 144

One for the Groundbeat lovers, Sun Worshippers is basically Masterplan part 2 so you'll probably like it but it aggravates. I find myself shouting out "Can You Dig That." without thinking. Produced and written in conjunction with Tim Lever & Mike Percy, better known as One World Productions, with a shout out to Acid Jazz poet/rapper, Rob Galliano, for inspiration. It makes a change from Masterplan in the playlist though, without sounding lame too. Hardly essential but certainly worth having in the collection.

Do That Funky Thing is straight out of the James Brown school of funk. I wouldn't be surprised to hear that they got sued but having said that, it's a great little number. Four and a half minutes of groovy 60's soul. Written (well, the lyrics are...) and produced by Di & Baz for Brothers International.

• Sun Worshippers (Positive Thinking) 7-Inch
• Sun Worshippers (Positive Thinking) Part 1
• Sun Worshippers (Positive Thinking) Part 2
• Do That Funky Thing

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: DB & BKS.rar Filesize: 27.58 MB

Street Sounds Edition 7 1983

Street Sounds STSND 007

Another great release on the Street Sounds label. Michael Jackson's Billie Jean was phenomenal at the time and Lydia Murdock grabbed a whole heap of limelight with Superstar with a few surprises, first it ripped off Billie Jean's groove, secondly it was an 'answer back' song and finally it consists of a female rap. Extraordinary at the time but oh so dated now. Instant Funk & Billy Griffin were popular here but for me it was all about side one. Dayton's Sound Of Music, Tom Browne and The Jones Girls in particular but Curtis and Lillo also high on the list.

• Dayton - Sound Of Music
• Curtis Hairston - I Want You
• Tom Browne - Brighter Tomorrow
• The Jones Girls - Knockin'
• Lillo Thomas - I Love It
• Lydia Murdock - Superstar
• Second Image - Don't You
• Instant Funk - You'll Be Mine
• Billy Griffin - Respect
• Lew Kirton - Talk To Me

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Street Sounds.rar Filesize: 78.31 MB

Street Sounds Edition 15 1985

Street Sounds STSND 15

The most memorable Street Sounds Edition for me. Not because of the choice of tracks but because of the climate at the time it was released. Aleem's awesome Get Loose was so overplayed by this time that I always skipped the track when playing this album. Packed full of goodies, as usual and the longevity on this selection is as good as the day it was released. Caprice, 100% still sounds fresh to my ears, as does Evelyn 'Champagne' King's, Your Personal Touch in it's short but efficient Dance Mix format. The beautiful ballad, Mated by David Grant & Jaki Graham is here in it's Extended Version but my favourite tracks are Mr DJ by The Concept, simple but effective, and the track I bought the album for, Princess, After The Love Has Gone the Chief Inspector Remix, which is based on the Wally Badarou classic, Chief Inspector, which was huge at the time.

• The Concept - Mr DJ
• Aleem - Get Loose
• Colonel Abrams - Music Is The Answer
• Brass Construction - Give & Take
• David Grant & Jaki Graham - Mated
• Princess - After The Love Has Gone
• Evelyn King - Personal Touch
• B.T. Express - Uptown Express
• Caprice - 100%
• Masquerade - One Nation

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Street Sounds Edition 15.rar Filesize: 110.98 MB

Pennye Ford - Dangerous 1985

Total Experience Records FT 49976

Penny (with or without an 'e') Ford's musical roots run deep, daughter of record exec. Gene Redd Sr. (King Records) and singer Carolyn Ford and sister of Sharon Redd ('Beat the Street'), She was exposed to a lot of music as a result of Dad's work with James Brown and Kool & the Gang. She got into music at five years old, when she started piano lessons and she eventually became an in-demand session vocalist. Ford can rightfully make claim to being "Ms. New Jill" before there was New Jack Swing. She signed with Total Experience Records, home of the Gap Band and can be heard on their hit single I Found My Baby. The New Jack sound owes a lot to the artists of Total Experience.

Ford debuted as a recording artist in her own right on the 1984 album Pennye, which yielded two R&B charters, Change Your Wicked Ways and the slammin' Dangerous (this 12" is a must for dance fans). With production by Jonah Ellis, Oliver Scott, Jimmy Hamilton and Maurice Hayes (Have Myself a Good Time), and Yarborough & Peoples (Don't Stop the Music) Pennye was loaded with sassy soulfulness and is a good precursor of the new jack sound. Remix duty is carried out by Lonnie Simmons, the legendary Total Experience producer that made the Gap Band a success.

Ed Hogan, All Music Guide

• Dangerous (Remix)
• Change Your Wicked Ways (Remix No. 1)

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Pennye Ford.rar Filesize: 40.86 MB

Frankie Knuckles - It's Hard Sometimes 1991

Virgin Records VUSCD 52

Produced by Frankie Knuckles & John Poppo. Written and performed by Frankie along with Danny Madden & Satoshi Tomiie and featuring the wonderful vocal talent of Shelton Becton. It's Hard Sometimes, if I remember correctly, was the introduction to Frankie Knuckles forthcoming album, Beyond The Mix, and boy, did it get a fond welcome. I personally thought it was his best for awhile, until he released Rain Falls.

The beauty of the David Morales Classic Club Mix is in the speed. Slow and soulful with a painfully slow but irresistible House groove. It also features the most gorgeous piano solo, probably played bt Satoshi Tomiie although Eric Kupper, Terry Burrus & Peter 'Ski' Schwartz are also credited but not 'who done what'? The Alternate 12" Mix is more what you would expect, riding on a mid tempo groove but leaving out the piano. I have no idea why it fades with only a minute left. It seems totally pointless but doesn't spoil the listening experience much. If you like to mix with long overlaps then you'll want the 8:02, no fade, version.

• D.M. Classic Radio
• D.M. Classic Club Mix
• Alternate 12" Mix (Fade)

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Hard Sometimes CDS.rar Filesize: 26.56 MB

Frankie Knuckles - Rain Falls 1991

Virgin Records VUSCD 60

Frankie Knuckles other productions from this period seem to get much more attention but Rain Falls is one of his best for me. Taken from the album Beyond The Mix, this is a classic that got lost in the shadows cast by it's siblings. It features vocals by Lisa Michaelis and music by Satoshi Tomiie and the cherry on top is backing vocals provided by Danny Madden (on the Morales Mix) and Moisture. This is more than just another Def Mix Classic.

As the 90's settled in so the record companies urged and manipulated the market to encourage the record buying public to become the CD buying public. If we ignore the vinyl sycophants and look at it logically, it was a good idea. Unfortunately there were many downsides, one of which was the time restrictions to qualify for pop chart inclusion. This led to the major labels insisting that radio edits be included and leaving out the full length versions? In this instance I was deprived of some great mixes including David Morales awesome 10 minute epic, the Soakin' Wet Mix. If anybody has it, I would love a copy. In their place, we are provided with Workout featuring the vocal talents of Roberta Gilliam. Ms. Gilliam sang a slow groove classic back in the 80's called All I Want Is My Baby and she has a fine voice. You would imagine that the combination of a House Music Legend and a Voice from the heavens would result in the stuff that anthems are made of but.... not this time?

• Rain Falls (Wet Radio Mix)
• Rain Falls (Frankie's Original Version)
• Workout (1992 Vocal Mix)
• Workout (Eric Kupper Vocal Mix)

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Rain Falls CDS.rar Filesize: 32.55MB

Beggar & Co. - (Somebody) Help Me Out 1981

Ensign Records ENYT 201

It was in 1981 when Jazz Funk Group Light Of the World (originally including Jean Paul 'Bluey' Maunick) left the stage of Hammersmith Apollo and returned as Beggar and Co. They went on to some success with top ten hits like (Somebody) Help Me Out and Mule Chant No. 2 with help from Spandau Ballet. The members, Breeze McKrieth, Kenny Wellington and David Baptiste, (formerly the horn section of Light Of the World) Gee Bello and Nat Augustin. This track can be found on their album Monument but on this release it is edited and remixed by Barry Blue.

• (Somebody) Help Me Out
• Rising Sun

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Beggar & Co .rar Filesize: 19.49 MB

Street Sounds Edition 14 1985

Street Sounds STSND 14

Another iconic release from the Street Sounds stable. Packed full of goodies, as usual, although some of the big tracks are not so cool now, Five Star - Love Take Over, Ready For The World - Oh Sheila and pretend the Three Degrees - The Heaven I Need (it's not a bad track!) is not a Stock, Aitken & Waterman production. Starpoint - What You Been Missin' and Tramaine - Fall Down (Spirit Of Love) are good songs but for me Frankie Kelly - Ain't That The Truth, Collage - Romeo Where's Juliet, Gardenia - Chiquita Linda and Jeff Tyzik - Sweet Surrender still sound more than just good and Bernard Wright - Who Do You Love simply rules. What a tune, now that's the cherry, that's what it's all about!

• Ready For The World
• The Three Degrees
• Frankie Kelly
• Bernard Wright
• Jeff Tyzik
• Starpoint
• Five Star
• Collage
• Tramaine
• Gardenia

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Street Sounds Edition 14.rar Filesize: 103.38 MB