Guy - Do Me Right - UK CDS - (1991)

MCA Records ‎– MCSTD 1551, Uptown Records ‎– MCSTD 1551

A band that really needs no introduction around these parts, Guy are the combined talents of Teddy Riley alongside brothers Aaron and Damian Hall.

If you need to know anything about the boys then check out one of the other Guy posts.

The version on the album was great, drafting in MCA/Uptown Records mainstay Heavy D, cousin of Pete Rock, he was a nice counterpoint to Aaron's always on point vocals. Here Teddy & Co switch it up a little with a new hook "Been thru heartaches and pain..." and some interesting changes to the percussion. Heavy D returns to the track also with a fresh verse for the new mixes.

All good.

Predictably, my favourite here is The Extended Club Version.

Rest in peace, Heav xxx

Tracklist

1. Do Me Right (7" Edit)
2. Do Me Right (Extended Club Version)
3. Do Me Right (Piano Percapella)
4. Do Me Right (Remixed Radio Edit)

Download: G-DMR.7z | Filesize: 42.0MB

Guy - D-O-G Me Out (Remixes) - US CD Maxi - (1991)

MCA Records/Uptown Records MCADS 54151

Re-up - Orignally posted by me on 24/04/2012.

I make no secret of the fact I Love Teddy Riley and Guy.

Formed in Harlem back in 1988 By Riley and close friend Timmy Gatling, and joined shortly thereafter by Charlie Wilson sound-a-like lead vocalist Aaron "Nasty Man" Hall, Guy's first, self-titled album was a huge hit state-side and went triple platinum. The line-up would change shortly after when Gatling left and dancer Damian "Crazy Legs" Hall filled in the gap.

When they dropped their second album, The Future, in 1990 it flipped my head it was so good. There were a rash of killer singles released including "Her", "Do Me Right", "Teddy's Jam 2", "Wanna Get With You", "Let's Chill", "D.O.G. Me Out" and "Let's Stay Together" among others. (I'll be posting some of these over the next few weeks.)

Back in the day I had a VHS tape of some of Guy's videos which came out on the back of The Future's success. The video for D.O.G Me Out was a version of the track that wasn't on the album or even any of the the CD Singles that got released in the UK. It had the funk cranked way up to eleven, had a slammin' beat and featured Aqil "A+" Davidson from Wreckx-n-Effect dropping a dope verse - anyway, after a lot of searching in vain on my part (these were the days before the internet) I managed to track it down when it finally got released UK side on Mastercuts New Jack Swing Vol.3.

It's superior in every way to all the other mixes (even though I love the original), and was, of course, the Single Edit with Rap, which is a shortened version of the Wreckx-n-Effect Rap mix, contained here along with an Instrumental. Also on the single is a slightly different edit of the album track (Single Edit), an extended version of the album track in the Canine Club Mix, as well as the Dogapella, which might come in useful for your own mixes. There's also a "Dub" Mix by Mike Nice.

All in all, it's a really nice release, and a little reminder of just how dope Teddy & Guy were in their prime. Not that we should need it!

Note: I think the track should actually be named D.O.G Me Out rather than D-O-G Me Out, but I've gone with what's on the CD single. Plus using full stops/periods can mess up windows file extensions. 

Tracklist

1. D-O-G Me Out (Single Edit)
2. D-O-G Me Out (Single Edit With Rap)
3. D-O-G Me Out (Canine Club Version)
4. D-O-G Me Out (Wreckx-n-Effect Rap)
5. D-O-G Me Out (Dogapella)
6. D-O-G Me Out (Wrecks N Effectsrumental)
7. D-O-G Me Out (Mike Nice Dub Mix)

Download: G-DMO-R.7z | Filesize: 87.6MB

Guy - I Wanna Get With U - Europe CD Maxi - (1990)

MCA Records ‎– 9031-72997-2

Released the year before The Future album dropped, this gave an indication of how far Guy and Teddy Riley had come as a Producer in such a short space of time. These boys were hungry, and they were taking no prisoners.

Sadly, a dark sequence of events including former manager Gene Griffin allegedly embezzling much of the group's earnings, an ill fated tour supporting New Edition where Guy upstaged the headline act a few dates into the tour, with deadly consequences that saw one of New Edition's production managers shoot and kill Anthony Bee - a member of Guy's security detail; saw both Aaron Hall step back from main vocal duties as well as Guy disbanding well before their time.

All that grim stuff aside, Guy put out some of the best R&B of the era, not least of which was the uber funky I Wanna Get With U, with Teddy taking on most of the vocal duties (but Aaron supplying an amazing bridge section and other background duties like the call and response with TR), it stands today as a great example of a band who, at the time, were top of the world.

And that bassline! Oh my days! :)

I'm not sure which is the best mix for me. The 12" or Club Version will both see you in good hands. Either way, this was one of my favourite tracks on the album.

Enjoy!

Tracklist

1. I wanna Get With U (12" Version)
2. I wanna Get With U (7" Version)
3. I wanna Get With U (Club Version)

Download: G-IWGWU.7z | Filesize: 45.1MB

Guy - Her (Original Mixes) - UK CDS - (1991)

MCA Records ‎– MCSTD 1575

Guy (this line-up comprising Teddy Riley and brothers Aaron Hall and Damian Hall) dropped an absolute monster in the shape of 1990's The Future, their second album. It was such a seminal drop that a good half of the 16 album tracks got single releases.

Sadly, it also marked the beginning of the end of the band; Aaron Hall was already in the process of leaving, with Teddy Riley taking over vocal duties for many of the tracks.

It didn't change the fact that what we got was a straight 10/10 album that had a lasting impact on the music scene. 

Although Teddy would go on to score huge hits with the excellent Blackstreet, Guy will always have a special place in my heart.

There was a CD of House mixes of this track. I have this and can post it if anyone is interested (and probably will do for sake of completion at some stage), but I thought these original versions are more suitable for this place. Hit me up in the comments.

You'll be wanting the Original Mix taken from the album rather than the Edit, but there isn't anything amazing/new in relation to Her on this release. Also included is the Canine Club 12" Version of D.O.G. Me Out, which is brilliant, even though I do prefer the other remix.

Tracklist

1. Her (The Original Edit)
2. D.O.G. Me Out (12" Canine Club Version)
3. Her (The Original Mix)

Download: G-H.7z | Filesize: 29.2MB

New York Undercover 4-Track EP (1996)

MCA Records ‎– MCSTD 48002

This is a great EP containing a selection of tracks, some R&B and some more Hip Hop in nature.

The thing kicks off with an at-the-time unforeseen Guy reunion in Tell Me What You Like, which predated their third LP. I was hyped to have the boys back as they had split acrimoniously a few years prior, with Teddy Riley forming BlackStreet in the wake of the fallout. Anyway, this is a seriously dope track and required listening for any Guy or New Jack Swing fan like me.

Next up is the Little Shawn track Dom Perignon and it is FIRE (no pun intended, sample spotters). Sampling Kool & The Gang's dope Too Hot track and Biggie Smalls aka The Notorious BIG from his break-out Party & Bullshit (I love that track) this one's a killer cut and was also great for the dancefloor. That Kool & The Gang loop always sounds so dope - so smooth and just begging for some nice flows, which Shawn capably provides. 

(Speaking of, our very own DJ Filthy Rich served up a phatt blend of Dom Perignon and Party & bullshit which you can (and should) check out here. Thanks, Rich.)

Monifah is up next with an almost classic joint that never quite hit the heights of some of her contemporaries. I Miss You is nice enough and made a big enough splash at the time but she faded into relative obscurity. Please correct me if I am wrong. Still, Easy Moe Bee provides a dope remix here and is well worth having.

The Lost Boyz track is kinda nice for my Hip Hop heads. Mr Cheeks is always dope! A real head nodder. Parental advisory though lol

All in all it is a wicked slice of mid nineties R&B/Hip Hop - in fact, I'd forgotten just how good this was. A nice snapshot of a time when music seemed so much better.

Tracklist

1. Guy - Tell Me What You Like
2. Little Shawn - Dom Perignon
3. Monifah - I Miss You (Da Street Mix)
4. The Lost Boyz - Jeeps, Lex Coups, Bimaz And Benz (Sparks Meets Dawg Mix)

Download: NYUEP.7z | Filesize: 36.7MB

Junior Giscombe - Step Off (1990)

MCA Records - DMCAT 1432

 

Re-up in 320 + Blacksmith mixes promo!!

Brit-Soul legend Junior Giscombe (he of Mama Used To Say fame) came back in fine style with this dance-floor smasher back in 1990.

Despite featuring D Mob's Dancin' Danny D on production and Nuff Juice on the rap (a combo that worked to great effect on D Mob's Put Your Hands Together), Step Off seems largely forgotten (I can't even find a video on Youtube for it), but still sounds great to me.

The 7" version is dope, with its Hip-Hop breakbeat, stabs, and early nineties trademark piano chords. Dancin' Danny D's Slammin' & Jammin' Mix is essentially an extended version and is my favourite of the bunch. The oddity here is The Boogie Pella, which strips out the vocals & melodics and turns it into something of a breakbeat led monster. Really good if you're into that sort of thing (like me).

Junior's story is tragic, having to put his career on hold while he looked after his lovely wife and, later, daughter, who both suffered with multiple sclerosis. I hate that disease. Both ended losing their fight against MS, and the devastated Mr Giscombe is left without his beloved ones or what was a hugely promising career. 

He has since joined the British Collective, a band consisting of some serious heavyweight dons of UK soul such as Don-e, Junior, LeeeJohn, Noel McKoy, Omar and released a seriously wicked album called The Renaissance, with hopefully many more to come. I urge you to support the boys and pick up a copy.

I've also now added the promo 12" featuring a suite of Blacksmith remixes of this that I hadn't heard at the time until I picked up a copy a couple of years back. As you're probably sick of hearing from me by now, Blacksmith are favourites of mine, and the pick of this bunch is probably the Brixton Bass Mix, which features re-sung vocals from Junior and trademark Blacksmith funky production. The UPSO single version is also pretty good to my ears, but sounds more dated.

As happy as I am to have these mixes, and as dirty as I feel for saying this,  I think I still prefer the Dancin' Danny D's Slammin' & Jammin' Mix on the regular release.

Enjoy!

Original CDS Tracklist

1. Step Off (7" Version) 
2. Step Off (Dancin' Danny D's Slammin' & Jammin' Mix) 
3. The Boogie Pella 

Blacksmith Mixes Promo 12"

1. Step Off (Brixton Bass)
2. Step Off (Radio Edit)
3. Step Off (Dub Mix)
4. Step Off (Club Version)
5. Step Off (UPSO Groove)
6. Step Off (UPSO Single Version)
7. Step Off (Timmy's Beats)

Download: JG-SO.7z | Size: 107.8MB

Teddy Riley Featuring Tammy Lucas – Is It Good To You (1992) (UK & US CD Singles)

SOUL Records, MCA Records – MCSTD 1611

This is another pre-existing Soul Vendor post that I am updating with 320kbps rips goodness. I'm also making this a double post with both the UK CD Single and the US promo releases. Don't say I'm never nice to you. ;)

Anyway...

The soundtrack album for seminal Hip-Hop movie Juice was overflowing with dope tracks from various artists like EPMD, Naughty By Nature, Big Daddy Kane and others. It really is up there with the greatest urban soundtrack albums. Leading the way in terms of single releases were Aaron Hall's superb Don't Be Afraid as posted previously, alongside this monstrous cut.

Is It Good To You is a reworking of a tune of the same name that TR produced for the late great Heavy D a year before. That song featured the bassline from Junior Giscombe's 'Mamma Used To Say', and, coupled with Heav's quality rhymes, made it a song of some note. Forward on a year and Teddy hooked up with long term collaborator, the honey voiced Tammy Lucas to rework the song into a fully fledged New Jack Swing masterpiece.

It's a real shame Tammy Lucas never blew up in her own right. I always loved her voice; she sounded damn near angelic, sung with real style, and stole the show whether guesting on the brilliant 1nce Again by A Tribe Called Quest, or Blackstreet's Tonight's The Night (both of which I will be adding to this site in the coming weeks). Frank/Windowlicker mentions in the older post's comments section reading an interview with her where she mentions that, as a plus sized woman, the record company didn't know how to market her, and so she went into writing rather than being an artist herself. What a superficial world we live in; hypocritical, too, with Heavy D's larger size being perfectly acceptable.

This release, then, is a nice reminder of a wonderful soul singer who never quite got her due.

There are six tracks on the UK single, most of them sound almost identical barring one or two slight differences in the arrangement, so I will let you judge which is the best. However, the Acapella might be of interest for you mixologists. For me, much like Aaron Hall's Don't Be Afraid, it's the album version featured on the Juice OST, conspicuous by its absence, which is best, so I've included it as a bonus track. 

UK CD Single tracklist

1. Is It Good To You (On The Radio Mix)
2. Is It Good To You (Acapella) 
3. Is It Good To You (Hip Hop Mix) 
4. Is It Good To You (In The Clubs Mix) 
5. Is It Good To You (Lucasade Mix) 
6. Is It Good To You (Instrumental)

Download link below.

 

And here is the US release for sake of completion, which contains Percapella and Bonus Beats versions not available on the UK disc. I don't have the actual CD to hand at the moment to scan the artwork, so cover and CD courtesy of Discogs. :)

If you appreciate this post, or have great memories of it then please leave some love in the comments section. This track deserves it.

Peace and love x

US promo CD tracklist 

1. Is It Good To You (7" Mix) 
2. Is It Good To You (12" Mix) 
3. Is It Good To You (Hip Hop Mix) 
4. Is It Good To You (Instrumental) 
5. Is It Good To You (Percapella) 

Download: TRTK-IIGTY.7z Filesize: 149.8MB