Nuyorican Soul featuring Jocelyn Brown - It's Alright, I Feel It! - (1997)

Talkin' Loud/PolygramRecords, TLCD 22

Originally posted 06/03/2009 by me. I'm re-upping it with new artwork scans and 320 rips. Kym  B xx

This is a killer track from the M.A.W. boys that I had to add to The Soul Vendor. It's brilliant in every aspect, and I know Mickey the bossman is also a long-time fan of the Masters At Work duo, "Lil" Louie Vega and Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez.

Here we find them with the lead single off their Nuyorican Soul album, featuring R&B power-vocalist Jocelyn Brown on lead vocals, live drums recorded and then sampled & chopped, a great piano riff, and enough energy contained within the song to surely move even the most adamant of non-dancers.

There are not enough superlatives for this track. It's pretty much perfect - which, of course, is a cross to bear for those who had to remix it. Lucky, then, we have two heavyweights in the shape of Armand Van Helden, who gives us a darkly dubtastic House-cum-Garage remix in the shape of his Live from Da Darkside of the Moon remix, and Roni Size, at the height of his powers back then in '97, and right on the back of his New Forms success, giving us a brilliantly reconstructed Drum & Bass version, which contains all the character of the original, but re-encodes it in a Drum & Bass styley. He must've worked his ass off to reconcile the extreme BPM difference between the original and his version, but it pays dividends.

For me, the pick of the tracks is the M.A.W. Remix, which is essentially just an extended version. I also really love what Roni Size has done on his Drum & Bass version.

- Kymba :)

Tracklist

1. It's Alright, I Feel It! (Edit)
2. It's Alright, I Feel It! (M.A.W. Remix)
3. It's Alright, I Feel It! (Live from Da Darkside of the Moon)
4. It's Alright, I Feel It! (Roni Size Remix)

Download: NS-IAIFI.7z | File size: 81.7 MB

Jazz FM - Nu Cool - (1998)

Jazz FM Records ‎– JAZZFMCD09

This is a brilliant release packed with fantastic songs. It was later re-released on the Hed Kandi label, which itself was purchased by Ministry Of Sound, I believe?

Highlights for me include Nuyorican Soul's Rotary Connection cover 'I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun', Camelle Hinds' sublime 'Saulsalito Calling', Jamiroquai 'Blow Your Mind', Urban Species 'Spiritual Love' (this is the better version of it, strangely missing from the single), Leena Conquest's 'Boundaries' as featured elsewhere here, Mother Earth 'Jesse' and the superb Curtis Mayfield cover 'The Other Side Of Town' by Julian Joseph featuring Sharon Musgrave, which gives the haunting original a more upbeat feel.

And by listing those I'm doing the others a disservice. There's not a bad track here so enjoy!

Tracklist CD1

1. Nuyorican Soul - I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun 5:16
2. Camelle Hinds - Saulsalito Calling 4:02
3. Jamiroquai - Blow Your Mind 8:34
4. Nite Flyte - Coast To Coast (Extended Club Mix) 7:07
5. Hit The Boom - Here Comes The Sun 5:25
6. Blacknuss Feat. Robyn, Joshua* & Abel - Roll With Me 5:11
7. Drizabone - The Last Time 5:30
8. Soundscape UK With Rita Campbell - I'll Be Around 4:03
9. S-Tone Inc. - Time 4:58
10. Down To The Bone - Staten Island Groove 7:02
11. The Quiet Boys Feat. Camelle Hinds - Everybody Loves The Sunshine  5:25
12. Freedom Or Not - In The City 5:29

Tracklist CD2

1. Erykah Badu - Next Lifetime 6:30
2. Urban Species - Spiritual Love 5:12
3. Morcheeba - Part Of The Process 4:26
4. Greg Frank - Live And Love 3:57
5. Leena Conquest - Boundaries (Radio Edit) 4:12
6. Dust - Donna 5:25
7. Ohm Guru - Never Be There 6:31
8. Vanessa Rubin - Gotta B Everything 5:45
9. Julian Joseph Feat. Sharon Musgrave - The Other Side Of Town 5:40
10. Mother Earth - Jesse 5:02
11. Folasade - Eyes On The Prize 4:45
12. Anthea - Don't Explain 3:59
13. Rad. - Elboy 5:05
14. Four 80 East - Table For Two 4:30

Download: JFM-NC.7z | Filesize: 285.5MB