Omar - For Pleasure (1994)

BMG ‎– 74321208532, RCA ‎– 74321208532

Listen, before I start the review proper I feel the need to preface it with the following: we're not in the business of posting up entire albums on the Soul Vendor. We're all about venerating certain artists and primarily posting dope CD Singles containing mixes that, criminally, would be otherwise lost to time.

However, this album is special and deserving of veneration. It's out of print and only available on the secondary market, often for silly money (I'm looking at you Amazon third party sellers). Please do all you can to support the artist if you dig his work. Omar is the very definition of "legendary" and is one of the rare UK soul artists who had a very palpable influence on the US artists, essentially creating "neo soul" before it was even a thing.

Omar released For Pleasure back in July 1994 to widespread acclaim. Known mainly for the super-smooth joint There's Nothing Like This and the fabulous Your Loss My Gain, this time around Omar dropped an absolute BOMB of an album in For Pleasure which had a lot more swagger about it. The production had a touch more of the hiphop about it, and the tracks, for my tastes, were of a higher standard.

The first track proper, I'm Still Standing, is as infectious as the flu, and a great way to kick things off. I love how Omar plays those keys - it really makes me regret dropping my piano lessons! Next up is Saturday, probably my favourite cut off the album. That Monstrous bassline had me at first listen. Keep Steppin' is dope with its positive lyrics, but I preferred the Uptight Remix on the CD Single. Other choice cuts would be Need You Bad, Confection, Making Sense Of It with its square synth bass lead and the title track For Pleasure, in which Omar sounds like he's channelling Stevie Wonder on those keys!

For Pleasure remains a gem in the crown of UK soul and, for me at least, a true seminal moment. I hope it brings you as many eargasms as it did me.

Tracklist

1. My Baby Says
2. I'm Still Standing
3. Saturday
4. Keep Steppin'
5. Magical Mystery Interlude
6. Outside
7. Little Boy
8. Need You Bad
9. Can't Get Nowhere
10. Confection
11. Magical Mystical Way
12. Making Sense Of It
13. For Pleasure

Download here: O-FP.7z | Filesize: 118MB

Omar - Outside/Saturday (1994)

RCA Records 74321213972

Omar is quite often overlooked in the history of soul, he's certainly one of the UK's most underrated artists. He virtually invented Street Soul and is an all-round writer/producer/musician/artist and yet he is remembered (just) as a one hit wonder for There's Nothing Like This. Time's are changing, after six albums (yes, six albums. The last one Sing released in 2006) and awards for 'Best Neo-Soul Act' and 'Outstanding Achievement Award' at the Urban Music Awards 2006, Omar is getting the recognition he deserves.

Back in 1994 he released the superb For Pleasure album and this single was lifted from it. Strange release, this one. The title track is Outside and it was specially remixed by the legendary Ray Hayden at Opaz Studios. Unfortunately, only the Radio Edit is on the CD?

Saturday is another track from the album and this has been remixed by Frankie Foncett. Foncett is not always good but the Gangster Club Ride is an interesting take on that urban ghetto vibe. For me though, this release is all about the Absolute Remix. Sublime, as always.

• Outside (Opaz Radio Edit)
• Saturday (Frankie Foncett's Gangster Club Ride)
• Saturday (Frankie Foncett's Club Part 1)
• Saturday (The Absolute Remix)

The Download Link is here: Omar - Saturday (CD Single).zip | Filesize: 30.1 MB

Omar - Outside 1994

RCA Records 74321213982

This was the one I was after, the Full Opaz Mix of Outside, none of that radio edit rubbish. The album version is also here for those that haven't got the For Pleasure LP (get it, you are missing out on a great soul album) and there are two unreleased tracks which to my knowledge are only available here. Give Or Take A Few is typical quirky Omar while One For The Road pushes toward a classic Omar ballad but this release is really all about Opaz.

• Outside (Full Opaz Mix)
• Outside (Original LP Mix)
• Give Or Take A Few
• One For The Road

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Omar - Outside (Opaz).rar Filesize: 26.5 MB

Omar - Your Loss My Gain 1992

Talkin' Loud TLKCD 22

The British soul icon, Omar developed his style at an early age. He plays trumpet, piano and drums and spent two years at music college in Manchester while his father was in a band and founded Kongo Records. There’s Nothing Like This, hit the streets in 1990 and has since become a summer soul classic.

• Your Loss My Gain
• Get To Know You Better
• Reality

No remixes here I'm afraid. Track 1 & 2 are from the album but Reality has not turned up anywhere else, to my knowledge?

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: TLKCD 22.rar Size: 15.53 MB