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

Shy FX & T Power - Shake Ur Body - UK CDS - (2002)

Positiva ‎– CDTIV 171, Positiva ‎– 7243 5 50693 0 6

I love it when my underground music blows up into the mainstream and enjoys some well deserved success - and here is a great example of just that that.

Shy FX and T Power are both legendary in their own rights as producers on the Drum & Bass scene, but together they were spectacular! They dropped classics such as this track and later, Feelings, which is to follow. They put out two fantastic albums and served up a bunch of wicked cuts for the raving crew.

Featuring the fabulous vocals of the hugely talented Dianne Joseph (Truce, Venus Tribe), and a nice latin inspired groove, they knocked this one out of the park.

I always lean more into the full length versions rather than radio edits, so I'd say jump right into the Original Mix.

However, if you're not feeling Drum & Bass, there is a UK Garage mix courtesy of Sunship (AKA Ceri  Evans from The Brand New Heavies), and, even better, The DJ Dodge produced Venus Tribe Mix (Di also supplied the sublime vocals for the Venus Tribe project), bringing you some tasty R&B vibes.

Tracklist

1. Shake Ur Body (Radio Edit)
2. Shake Ur Body (Original Mix)
3. Shake Ur Body (Sunship Vocal Mix)
4. Shake Ur Body (Venus Tribe Mix)

Discogs page

Download: SFXTP-SUB.7z | Filesize: 38.2MB

Darkman - Yabba Dabba Doo Reloaded - (1994)

Wildcard Records, Polydor ‎– 851 131-2

For sake of completion here are the Yabba Dabba Doo remixes, big up the one like the DJ Pugwash for the shout on the original post.

My mix of choice is still to this day the Femi Fem (of the Young Disciples) produced Party Like That Mix, but the remixes are all pretty strong. Pugs was bigging up the Mutiny remix, which is probably the best out of these newer mixes, and my junglist leanings have me appreciating the M-Beat version.

- Kym :)

Tracklist

1. Yabba Dabba Doo (La Smoov 7")
2. Yabba Dabba Doo (Original 7")
3. Yabba Dabba Doo (Party Like That Mix)
4. Yabba Dabba Doo (Mutiny One Time For Your Mind Mix)
5. Yabba Dabba Doo (M-Beat Jungle Mix)

Download: D-YDD.7z | File size: 50.5MB

Darkman - Yabba Dabba Doo - (1994)

Wildcard Records, CARDD6 855781-2

320 reup! Looks like this is another of my old posts being attributed to Mickey. Really odd - Fix up, blogger! - Kym

Here's a total banger!

Wildcard were another label on a roll in the early nineties. They'd signed China Black after their massive indie success on the Reggae charts with the still brilliant Searching (available for download elsewhere on TSV - I'll also post up a rip of the original indie release which had different mixes), and helped propel it into the pop charts. They also had Nu Colours, another up and coming urban act, and then they signed Darkman, who would go on to score the biggest UK Hip Hop chart position to date with the infectious Yabba Dabba Doo.

This track absolutely dominated airplay in the UK in the summer of '94. It was massive both on radio and in the clubs. it would blow up again the following year as well when it was remixed and rereleased (I'll post the re-release at a later date for sake of completion). However, the finest version of it for me was always the Party Like That Mix, available on both releases.

The Ghetto Lab mix is interesting for the more gangsta take on the lyrics, the 7" Mix is thoroughly decent, as is the bonus track What's not Yours, but, as stated above, it's the anthemic Party Like That Mix all the way for this girl.

Some trivia - Yabba Dabba Doo was produced by Darkman AND a guy called Micky P (I'm pretty sure he was the same Micky P who used to be on KISS FM back in the day, when it was actually good) - no relation to our Soul Vending founder.  Also,  there was additional production by the Young Disciples' very own Femi Fem. Cool, huh?

- Kymba :)

Tracklist

1. Yabba Dabba Doo (7" Mix)
2. Yabba Dabba Doo (Party Like That Mix)
3. What's Not Yours (Power Lab Censored Mix)
4. Yabba Dabba Doo (Ghetto Lab Mix)

Download: D-YDD.7z | File size: 40.4MB

Darkman - Who's The Darkman (1994)

Wildcard Records, CARDD8 853489-2

320 re-up!

Today's prime cut I'm serving up is Darkman's follow-on single to Yabba Dabba Doo, which you can find elsewhere on this site - "earth gyrl" had posted in the comments section she'd like to see this one posted, so, this one's for you, Gyrl.

Who's The Darkman was a nice follow-up single, but didn't make as huge a splash as Yabba Dabba did. However, it's still a great sounding funky track (despite the kinda loose rapping style at times), and will sound dope played at volume from your car speakers - please tell me I'm not the only one who's been caning Soul Vendor in my car?? I've got an iPod playlist chock full of beautiful urban goodness from here - but I digress.

I like both mixes of this track, and find it hard to pick between them. I think the Shine Mix just edges it, but it kinda depends on my mood. Wicked isn't a bad song, but you'll really be wanting the title track.

If I recall correctly, there were no more releases from Worldwide, the album that accompanied this and Yabba Dabba, but don't quote me on that. Regardless, the two posted here are HEAVY!

Take care, lovely people.

- Kymba :)

Tracklist:

1. Who's The Darkman? (Power Lab 7")
2. Who's The Darkman? (Shine Mix)
3. Wicked (Ghetto Lab Mix)
4. Wicked (Power Lab Mix)

Download: D-WTD.7z | File size: 38.8MB

Vivienne McKone - Sing 1992

FFR Records FX 183

• Sing (Remix)
• Sing
• Self Control (Straight Back Mix)
• Fly

An excellent E.P. from Vivienne McKone, produced by Stewart Levine and a couple of remixes from Simon Law. Law, known for his smooth, soulful remixes at a time when everybody else was banging the beats and making cheesey dance mixes, loses his stride here on Sing (Remix), producing a good pop song along the lines of a Gabrielle single.

Move swiftly along and sample the original Sing, far superior and as cool as you like. Flipping over, Simon Law redeems himself with the superb Straight Back Mix of Self Control, funky back beat and a dangerous vibe lead up to some philly strings and handclaps a la Forget Me Nots, nice tune. Finally, Vivienne's previous release Fly does exactly what it says on the label, soaring beautifully through soul heaven. A great release.

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Viv McKone.rar Filesize: 29.61 MB

Funky Poets - Born In The Ghetto 1993

Epic Records 660352 2

An obscure release that slipped under the radar in 1993. This has a convincing vocal with a gorgeous chorus and production credits including a certain Kenny 'Dope' Gonzales and Dave Darlington from the MAW studio team.

All good mixes in their own way, 1987 World DMC mix champion CJ Mackintosh stays true on the contemporary tip while Absolute (Andy Watkins & Paul Wilson) turn out another soulful gem. For the clever buggers amongst you, the Ballad version should mix well as an acappella?

• Radio Version
• Absolute Remix
• CJ Vocal
• Ballad

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Funky Poets 1993.rar Filesize: 31.33 MB