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

Mica Paris - South Of The River - (1990)

4th & Broadway BRCD 199

320 Re-Up - originally posted by Mickey P back in 5th July 2008!

This incredible release is one of my all time favourites from Mica. South Of The River from the Contribution album, remixed by the Blacksmith crew.

Pretty good stuff but then we have Where Are The Children, an absolute gem, soul music the way it's meant to be. The track is one of two tracks recorded at Ground Control, Santa Monica, written and produced by Patrick Moten & J.A. Greene for Golden Empire, the cherry on top comes courtesy of Gerald Albright supplying sax. This track has everything except Bobby Womack!

In contrast we have I Should've Known Better, written and produced by Mica & Omar. Omar plays all the instruments and it's kept sparse and simple but that does not detract from it's effectiveness in any way. Mica has room to breathe, space to perform and Omar's beats behind that dangerous bass line, this is a killer track. Enjoy!

Kym's Note: What a fantastic release! The title track South Of The River is one of her best (but she has so many classics), coming with two mixes by the mighty Blacksmith crew. Their Upso Mix comes correct with a (then) fresh new jack swing vibe. The Brixton Bass Mix has a more organic, typically Blacksmith vibe and just edges it out of the two for me. A great summer track.

Where Are The Children  is such a sublime piece of true soul, beautifully sung by or Mica. Seems to end too quickly though, just when you think it's gonna peak?

And then we have one of my all time favourite tracks I Should've Known Better - a flawless cut. Omar's bassline is DEVASTATING! (Please note though, this is the regular length version clocking in at 5:08 to be found most places this track pops up at. I will later post the I Never Felt Like This Before single which contains a version with an extra 31 seconds. Hey, when you love this song as much as I do that half a minute is almost orgasmic lol).

My suggestion is hit South Of The River (Brixton Bass Mix) and I Should've Known Better and hit them hard. Several times. Then check the other tracks as they're all great. What a serious release this one is.

Tracklist

1. South Of The River (Upso Mix)
2. South Of The River (Brixton Bass Mix)
3. Where Are The Children
4. I Should've Known Better

 Download: MP-SOTR.7z |  Filesize: 40.8MB

Mica Paris - One - (1995)

Cooltempo Records, CDCOOL304

Originally posted in 2009 by me. Now re-upped in 320. This is another of those odd ones that is now being attributed to Mickey. Really weird, that. - Kymba

Following on from Mickey's The Chimes post, "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" which is a U2 cover version par excellence, I thought I'd do the same. We're all about the continuity here!

So take one pretentious rock/pop star's arguably finest moment. Get someone hugely talented, vocally, in to re-sing it and voila - instant magic! (Ah... but it was 'a good song' and Mica is probably the only singer who could've truly improved it? Mickey)

Yup, you're right, Mick. I'll take my slap on the wrists there - it is a classic song with truly beautiful lyrics, and I'm letting my dislike for Bono & Co colour my words, but listening to Mica Paris sing it is like hearing it the way it should be rather than just a mere cover.

Mica sings with effortless grace, and real passion. Her smokey vocals - I almost melt when she ups the emotion with the line "...did I disappoint you..." - over the slick, non intrusive beats, really are a match made in heaven. Having said that, Mica could ride over a Gun N Roses beat and make it sound wicked.

There's a suite of mixes, and I'll hazard a semi-educated guess and say that our Mickey would go for the lovely Perfecto mixes, but, for me, the Ethnic Boyz mix is the best (points awarded if you can tell me what song is sampled for the main loop), closely followed by the Original Mix. 

That's not to say the others are bad at all, though!

Tracklist

1. One (Perfecto 7" Edit)
2. One (Original Mix)
3. One (Perfecto Mix)
4. One (Ethnic Boyz Mix)
5. One (Perfecto Dub)

Download: MP-O.7z | Filesize: 58.9MB

Mica Paris - Young Soul Rebels - (1991)

Big Life BLR D 57

320 Re-up!!

Mickey P says: A great song from Mica that was the theme from a UK movie of the same name. Not the best movie in the world but hey, thanks for the soundtrack? Along with Mica's B-sides, this was another gem that didn't make it onto an album?

Kymba says: Man, I love Mica's work. She can do no wrong for me. This release is a great example of that.

Ignore the Original Version - it does little for me and probably won't for you either. What you'll want is that wicked remix. The beat sounds very much like a recreation of (or inspired by at the very least) the Think Twice loop as was huge at the time and used on Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam's excellent 'Let The Beat Hit 'Em' (as posted elsewhere on here), and Main Source's sublime 'Looking At The Front Door'. It ain't the sample, but it sounds very close.

Have a listen and see what you think.

Tracklist

1. Young Soul Rebels (Remix Edit)
2. Young Soul Rebels (Original Version)
3. Young Soul Rebels (Remix)

Download: MP-YSR.7z | Filesize: 32.1MB

Mica Paris - Contribution - (1990)

4th & Broadway ‎– BRCD 188, Island Records ‎– 879 319-2

I've always loved Mica, and in the late 80s to early 90s she was banging out tune after wonderful tune. My One Temptation, the uber sexy Breathe Life Into Me, the breathtakingly beautiful I Should Have Known Better (one of the best basslines ever - thanks, Omar!), Young Soul Rebels... I could go on but you get the point.

Contribution is such a great tune. It's got the typical early 90s UK urban music scene vibes of equality and social consciousness which may come off as cheesey to some, but it is way better than the rank commercialism and overt hyper-sexualisation of today's music. And it's all held down with a very urban party vibe style beat. 

Hip Hop legend Rakim (we're not worthy!) makes an appearance, dropping some of his trademark ahead-of-his-time bars over the dope beats. There is also guitar work by a certain Mr Nile Rogers of Chic fame. Awesome!

I genuinely enjoy all the mixes and this is one rare occasion where I'm not gonna suggest one or two over the others (I know, right?). They're not too dissimilar but they all work.

Incidentally, the backup track Showers Of Love is produced by Phivos (Phill) Sebastiane better known as The Scientist! No, not the reggae dub specialist, but the UK's own electronic music Scientist who put out legendary breakbeat cuts such as The Excorcist and The Bee. as well as Champion Sound (under the name Kick Squad). Sadly, Showers of Love is the weakest joint on this CD, and shows none of Phil's psychedelic rave infused breakbeat madness.

Tracklist

1. Contribution (The Original Edit)
2. Contribution (Transistor Mix)
3. Contribution (The Revolution Remix)
4. Showers Of Love

Download: MP-C.7z | Filesize: 41.1MB

Mica Paris - Breathe Life Into Me - (1988)

Island Records ‎– BRCDP 115

Mica Paris (born Michelle Wallen on 27 April 1969 in South London) is an English soul singer, radio and television celeb, and occasional actress and author who is well documented on Soul Vendor - and will be featured several times more in the near future.

She dropped her debut joint 'So Good' in 1988, followed by the first single, the sublime My One Temptation. Breathe life Into Me followed this and made an instant impression on a very young me.

Mica's vocals are undeniably rooted in the gospel tradition, but she sings with a certain husky, raunchy edge, and can hit certain notes that almost pierce your soul, as I mentioned when I posted her track One back in the day (watch this space for a 320 re-up of that, btw).

Yeah, the production (by L'Equipe (Miles Waters, Peter Vale) with Engineering by Lee Hamblin) is relatively pop sounding, and doesn't have the proto Neo Soul and R&B vibes of her early 90s work that I loved her for so much... but DAMN if this ain't a sexy, seductive piece of work. It is undeniably tight and sexy, and Mica's sensual delivery give this a certain ooh-la-la that elevates it into something special. Easily my favourite joint from her debut album.

Turn the lights down, light up some candles, pour a glass of something naughty jump straight into that extended mix.

Bliss!

Note: Although the cover scan looks like it's a cassette, I can assure you that this is the CD single. It has a half sized inlay card to show off the picture disc.

Tracklist

1. Breathe Life Into Me (Radio Remix)
2. Breathe Life Into Me (Extended Remix)
3. In The City
4. Like Dreamers Do (Hello New York)

Download: MP-BLIM.7z | Filesize: 42.9MB

Mica Paris - If I Love U 2 Nite 1991

4th & Broadway 12 BRW 207

This was a superb release from the Parisienne, the best collection of songs on a Mica 12" since last year! Three different styles, all perfectly executed, great production and all on one twelve. I've bought albums with less content. A lot of albums, actually?

For those with not-so-good eyesight, I've enlarged the minute credits cos they are very important and also... interesting. Yes, I said interesting! I'm also summarising here cos they're bloody confusing?

Basically, If I Love U 2 Nite is the commercial tune, remixed by Nellee Hooper (Soul II Soul & Wild Bunch), produced by Camus Mare Celi, Andres Levin & Mica Paris and engineered by Howie Bernstein with beats by Dobi (both SIIS). It's interesting because no mention is made of the fact that it's written by TAFKAP himself, Prince..... but, the cover is respectfully purple!

I Wish I'd Never Met You is the real soul tune, produced by Patrick Moten and Joseph A. Greene for Golden Empire, mixed by Elliott Peters & Chris Fuhrman at Ground Control, Santa Monica. Engineered by Craig Burbidge & Anthony Jeffries at Aire, LA, strings arranged by Patrick Moten and Gene Page, sax by Gerald Albright courtesy of Atlantic. Mica duets with The Poet himself, Bobby Womack courtesy of CBS. Does she sound like his second violin... does she heck! The little lass holds her own and the pair sing up a storm. This track is heavenly, Mica was born to write and sing this track!

Stand Up (Extended Mix) is the serious dance floor tune, produced by Ultimatum for Gee Street and engineered by Tyrell.

The record label credits Prince inside of course, and it's interesting to note that Mica wrote the Bobby duet with Patrick Moten. My limited understanding of credits leads me to assume that she wrote the lyrics and Moten composed the music. She also wrote Stand Up with Rhallia Birch & Nick Hallam (Stereo MC's). Pretty cool for a South London lass, don't you think?

I wonder if you can still contact:

The Parisienne
P.O. Box 237,
Thornton Heath,
Surrey,
CR7 8SX,
UK

My old stompin' grounds back in the 80's ;-)

• If I Love U 2 Nite (Nellee's Club U 2 Nite Mix)
• If I Love U 2 Nite (Nellee's Club U 2 Nite Edit)
• I Wish I'd Never Met You (Duet with Bobby Womack)
• Stand Up

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Mica 1991.rar Filesize: 37.23 MB

Mica Paris - Stay 1998

Cooltempo Records 12COOLDJ 334

I have written much of Mica Paris elsewhere on this blog. Seek & ye shall find? Basically, I love her voice and believe her to be one of the worlds finest vocalists. For me, she was the standard by which all others were measured during the early 90's. With regard to her material, she lost her cutting edge during the mid 90's but her voice was still in fine fettle.

Written by Sylvester Stewart, Stay was a Sly & The Family Stone classic from their 1973 album Fresh. Originally entitled If You Want Me To Stay, I recall hearing it opening an episode of ER (sorry, I love it) a few years back and being surprised at how good it still sounds.

Mica covered the song on her 1998 Black Angel album, the Radio Edit of that version is on here. She works the vocals into her own groove, staying with the original song but making it her own and doing a fine job as expected. Of course, The Soul Vendor requires a little more to make the shelves look impressive and on this promo release we have Blacksmith back in the house again. The Brooklyn Funk Mix puts some bounce into the song giving it a whole new lease of life while the Blacksmith Club Rub takes us into head nodding territory but letting Mica's vocal smoulder. Summer Funk for the Bar-B-Que, you just know this is bad!

• Brooklyn Funk R'n'B Mix
• Radio Edit
• Blacksmith Club Rub

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Mica Paris.rar Filesize: 37.65 MB