Erick Sermon featuring Marvin Gaye ‎– Music - (2001)

Polydor ‎– 497 622-2

I'm putting up two posts today, technically three, all with a certain theme, but you'll get what I mean by that with #2 later today. You're allowed to go a little nuts on your birthday, right? :D

As a huge fan of both Marvin Gaye and EPMD/Def Squad, I was delighted when Erick Sermon dropped the track "Music" in 2001 - even happier that it was a bona fide hit for both parties. 

The song was inspired when Erick Sermon heard an outtake of Gaye's 1982 album track, "Turn On Some Music" (titled "I've Got My Music" in its initial version), Sermon decided to mix the acappella vocals and make his own song with it.

This hip hop and soul duet featuring the two veteran performers was released as the leading song of the soundtrack to the Martin Lawrence & Danny DeVito comedy, "What's the Worst That Could Happen?" (which I've not seen to this day). 

The song became a runaway success in the US rising to #2 on Billboard's R&B chart and was #1 on the rap charts. It also registered at #21 pop giving Sermon his highest-charted single on the pop charts as a solo artist and giving Gaye his first posthumous hit in 10 years following 1991's single, "My Last Chance" also bringing Gaye his 41st top 40 pop hit. 

I can't find the data on what it did in the UK - not much probably, considering the awful mainstream consensus.

There was also a version that removed Erick Sermon's verses, leaving Marvin's vocals over the beat, although that ain't available here.

There's an F bomb on the Album version, so depending on whether you're okay with profanity or not, go with either the Album version or Radio Edit. The Instrumental should be of interest to some more DJ minded folks.

I wish it had the Marvin Gaye-centric mix on here as well for completion, but mostly I'm just happy to have the track. 

This is one brilliant release.

- Kymba x

Tracklist

1. Music (Album Version)
2. Music (Radio Edit)
3. Music (Instrumental)

Discogs page

Download: ES&MG-M.7z | Filesize: 25.4MB

Troop/Levert Featuring Queen Latifah ‎– For The Love Of Money / Living For The City (Medley) - US Promo CD Singles

Giant Records ‎– PRO-CD-4822

Kick the ballistics!

Keeping to our New Jack City theme and following on from the excellent Danny Madden - The Facts Of Life, we have another banger from the New Jack City soundtrack album, this time, two promo CD singles of Troop/Levert Featuring Queen Latifah ‎– For The Love Of Money / Living For The City (Medley).

Troop (an acronym for "Total Respect Of Other People") is an American R&B group from Pasadena, California. The group has had three number-one singles and ten top-ten singles on the Billboard R&B Singles chart, as well as five albums, which include three certified gold and one certified platinum album. 

LeVert was an American R&B vocal group from Cleveland, Ohio, United States.[1] Formed in 1983, LeVert was composed of Sean and Gerald Levert (sons of Eddie Levert, founder and lead singer of R&B/Soul vocal group O'Jays) and Marc Gordon. Levert would go on to release seven albums betweem 1985 and 1997. 

I'm really saddened to read that Gerald died of a heart attack due to an accidental overdose of prescription drugs in November 2006. And Sean Levert died in March 2008, while serving time in the Cuyahoga County Jail, for failing to pay child support.

Soul Vendor salutes you, boys. Thanks for allo the amazing music. Rest in peace xxx

You all know this track, it's dope, and New Jack City opens to it, with that fabulous overhead shot looking down on the city as we focus on Nino Brown dangling one of his victim's off a rooftop. It's later sang acapella when we get that shot of Troop singing by a burning trash can keeping warm in the harsh grip of Nino Brown's crack winter.

I'm sure the drums are sampled from Teddy Riley's remix of Jane Child's 'Don't Wanna Fall in Love', although can't be entirely sure.

As cool as these mixes are, I'm sure they'll only be of interest to mixologists for the various breakdowns. I think on balance I prefer the original album cut.

Tracklist

1. For The Love Of Money / Living For The City (Medley) (Downtown Mix)
2. For The Love Of Money / Living For The City (Medley) (Uptown Mix)
3. For The Love Of Money / Living For The City (Medley) (Extended 12" Mix)

Discogs page

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Giant Records ‎– PRO-CD-4936

Mo' mixes here and I still think I just about prefer the original version on the album.

The Money Mix is quite different but lacks the original's punch to my ear, and not just because they've cut out Latifah's raps. The City Mix is essentially The Money Mix again but with Queen Latifah added back. The Cash Money Mix sounds the same again but is an extended/12" version.

Nino Brown's Mix is similar but different. It might be my pick of the mixes on this disc and yet I still prefer the other disc and the original album version above all else.

Still, they're worth having, if only to hear different takes on a classic.

Tracklist

1. For The Love Of Money / Living For The City (Medley) (Money Mix)
2. For The Love Of Money / Living For The City (Medley) (City Mix) (With Rap)
3. For The Love Of Money / Living For The City (Medley) (Cash Money Mix)
4. For The Love Of Money / Living For The City (Medley) (Nino Brown's Mix)

Discogs page

Download: TL+QL-FTLOM.7z | Filesize: 80.8MB

Danny Madden ‎– The Facts Of Life - UKCDS - (1991)

Eternal ‎– YZ576CD, Eternal ‎– YZ 576 CD, Eternal ‎– 9031-74339-2

With huge thanks to Soul Vendor's very own StreetSoul who has very kindly upgraded our trusty lower bit rate 12" rip with a shiny new High quality version. Caring is sharing. Thank you, Street! :)

Please note that I didn't have access to the artwork, so I have used what's on Discogs and run it through an AI image upscaler, with a little Photoshop to finish it off. Not perfect but probably as good as we're gonna get given the circumstances!

Mickey P did a great write up when he posted the 12" so check the link below for his write up. 

Produced with style by Carl McIntosh from the always classy Loose Ends with Danny Madden, and featured on the New Jack City OST, The facts of Life sounds wicked to this day. It's an awesome song from an awesome soundtrack album to an awesome film. That album is packed with so many quality tracks it's a big testament to this one when I say it was one of the better cuts.

Personally, I am not so into the Dancin' Danny D mixes, and prefer the vibe of the original. The Touchdown Mix, however, is another matter entirely and is the highlight here if you already own the original.

Tracklist

1. The Facts Of Life (7")
2. The Facts Of Life (Touchdown Mix)
3. The Facts Of Life (Dancin' Danny D's Edit)
4. The Facts Of Life (Dancin' Danny D's Mix)

Discogs page | Our original 12" Rip 

Download: DM-FOLCDS.7z | Filesize: 39.9MB

Caron Wheeler - I Adore You - UKCDS - (1992)

Perspective Records ‎– PERD 7407

So Mickey posted the 12" back in September 2009 (are you feeling old yet? You soon will) but this came out in 1992 (I told you!) and featured on the Mo Money OST.

That's actually a really good album (and fun film) with many great tracks and might make a decent post on here one day!

Anyway, in my opinion, the LP Version is comfortably the best, and I agree with Mickey that most of the other mixes are a bit of a waste of time. If only we'd have gotten an acapella and instrumental for the mixologists. 

Out of the other versions, the Dance Hall Mix is easily the best but doesn't sound like Dancehall as I know it. In fact, this version grows on me the more I hear it.

Sadly, after that they kinda fall off a cliff. I think the Catch The Groove mix is probably the best of the remaining versions, but it's a distant third to the LP Version & Dance Hall mixes. 

No offence to Danny Tenaglia.

Over to you, Mick.

"OK, this is another fine Caron Wheeler moment that had me all excited. Built around a sample taken from the Burt Bacharach & Hal David penned 'Don't Make Me Over' performed by Sybil. during the second 'Summer Of Love'. It was featured in the movie Mo' Money' and boasted a Flyte Time production by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and a Remix and another three remixes from Danny Tenaglia.

It turned out to be a wasted opportunity. Six tracks on this 12" and nothing touches the original LP Version. The sound of 1989 is all over the remixes, even the Jam & Lewis Dance Hall Version echoes to the melody of Todd Terry. It's a shame (IMO) but also fortunate that the splendour of the original needs no assistance."

So here's the CD Single.

That's all. Peace & Luvizm to you all and stay safe out there!

Tracklist

1. I Adore You (LP Radio Mix)
2. I Adore You (Dance Hall Version)
3. I Adore You (Club House Mix)
4. I Adore You (Club House Edit)
5. I Adore You (Catch The Groove Mix)
6. I Adore You (LP Version)

Discogs page | Mickey P's original post

Download: CW-IAY.7z | Filesize: 68.5MB

Danny Madden - Facts Of Life - 12" (Re-Up) - (1990)

WEA Records YZ473T

ReUp: Originally posted by Mickey P back in 22nd May 2008.
If anyone has the CD single I'd sure appreciate a 320 rip as I don't own this one!
- Kymba

Danny Madden has worked with the Basement Boys on Ultra Naté's early work, and he was the background singer and vocal arranger on many of the Def Mix productions.

This track was produced by Danny and Carl McIntosh (Loose Ends) with some Dancin' Danny D remix activity. Is it soulful I hear you ask. Look at the cover, see how it pays homage to Marvin, with this kind of pedigree you don't need to ask, just check the acappella and stop worrying.

There was also an album 'These Are The Facts Of Life' but I never got to hear it. This track was featured in the Mario Van Peebles' movie "New Jack City". It's a beautiful thing people!

Tracklist

1. Dancin' Danny D's Accapella Intro Edit
2. Instrumental
3. Dancin' Danny D's 12" Mix
4. Accapella

Download: DM-FOL.7z | Filesize: 26.7 MB

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 - 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

SWV - Anything - (1994)

RCA Records 74321-21221-2

With their 1992 debut, It's About Time, SWV scored a string of Top Ten R&B hits that established them as one of the most popular urban R&B groups of the '90s. SWV (Sisters With Voices) is comprised of three school friends:

Cheryl "Coko" Gamble-Clemons
Tamara "Taj" Johnson-George
Leanne "Lelee" Lyons

All three learnt their skills through singing in church as children. A demo tape caught the attention of Teddy Riley (Guy), who had already helped establish the careers of Jodeci and Mary J. Blige. SWV's album went double platinum within its first year of release.

Anything was their contribution to the OST for the movie Above the Rim and became a Top Ten R&B hit in the spring of 1994. The Old Skool Mix features members of Wu Tang Clan.

• Old Skool Mix
• Album Mix
• Old Skool Party Mix
• Album Instrumental

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: SWV Anything.rar Filesize: 31.38 MB