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

Vanessa Simon - Family Madness - (1992)

Kongo Dance ‎– KDCD 4

As requested by JayBilla on the Martine Girault Revival post.

We've established how well loved Omar is on The Soul Vendor previously. Multiple times, probably! He was well and truly in the zone in the nineties and could do no wrong, as evidenced on his production work on this album. Out of the 9 tracks here, three were produced by Wayne Lawes, with Omar handling all the others.

Although I don't know much about her, I do know that Vanessa is the sister of Drum & Bass's DJ Kane.

Family Madness is an album steeped in the rootsy Acid Jazz/funk vibes of that era and still stands up today. Vanessa Simon's vocals are absolutely on point - sometimes funky, sometimes moody, always classy. There is an organic feel to it, as you'd expect from an Omar joint, that's really pleasant on the ear. 

I won't bang on about the individual tracks. I'll leave that for you. What i will say it is a remarkably consistent album without anything in the way of filler.

Wanna let me know which ones you like most in the comments?

Tracklist

1. Family Madness
2. Don't You Ever
3. The Life You Lead
4. It's Only Good For A While
5. To Be With You Only
6. Pack Your Bags
7. Revelation
8. Know What You Want
9. Simple To See

Download: VS-FM.7z | Filesize: 86.2MB

Various - Talkin Loud Two (1993)

Talkin' Loud ‎– 516 061-2

This one's going out to JayBilla, and to the rest of the MIA Soul Vendor crew who have yet to return.

I used to love the trend that we enjoyed in the 90s of labels releasing "sampler" compilation albums. It was a great way to get hold of some phatt tunes at a reasonable price. In my other life as a hiphop and Drum & Bass fan, Rawkus Records and Moving Shadow used to do a wicked line in the things.

I digress though. Talkin Loud's second compilation album is a belter with highlights including Galliano's Prince Of Peace, All I have In Me and Move On from the seminal Young Disciples, MC Solaar dropping some dope French hiphop in Qui Seme Le Vent Recolte Le Tempo, Omar's two joints, Incognito's fab Stevie Wonder Cover Don't You Worry Bout A Thing (as posted elsewhere on here) and the always brilliant Take Me Now by Tammy Payne. And that's just my faves. The others ain't exactly filler.

What this all adds up to is a strong release from a fantastic label highlighting their trademark blend of bohemian/urban/hippy/soul/acid jazz.

I'd actually forgotten what a great album this was. What are YOUR highlights?

Tracklist

1. Urban Species - Hide And Seek (4:35) 
2. Galliano - Hungry Like A Baby (5:12) 
3. Incognito - Colibri (5:39) 
4. Omar - You've Got To Move (5:14) 
5. The K-Creative - Back To The Real World (7:18) 
6. Young Disciples - All I Have In Me (6:06) 
7. Marxman - Theme From Marxman (4:24) 
8. MC Solaar - Qui Seme Le Vent Recolte Le Tempo (4:00) 
9. Perception - Serious Love (5:36) 
10. Bryan Powell - I Commit (3:22) 
11. Tammy Payne - Take Me Now (5:35) 
12. Young Disciples - Move On (3:27) 
13. Omar - Music (5:37) 
14. Galliano - Prince Of Peace (3:59) 
15. Incognito - Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing (5:12) 

PS - I have an alternative version of this CD with a slightly tweaked tracklisting. 3 songs are different. Track 12 is 'Apparently Nothin'' rather than 'Move On', Track 13 is 'There's Nothing Like This' instead of 'Music', and 15 is 'Always There' and not 'Don't You Worry Bout A Thing'. If there's any interest I can always put that up as well. Let me know.

Download: TL2.7z | Filesize: 177MB

Omar - Keep Steppin' (1994)

RCA Records 74321233672

So, the 12" of this was posted previously by Mick, but this is a new 320kbp rip of the two CD singles, with freshly scanned artwork, so I figured I'd put up a new post.

I love the positive lyrics in this track. Check them out:

Keep Steppin’
O. Lye-Fook/D. Frank

When you’re walking talking steady you're ready,
To be dealing with your own inhibitions,
If I told you so you’d never believe me,
That you yourself must make those crucial decisions

It’s never too late, To do what you want,
Things can go right, You’ve got to be strong

Don’t be bullied in your own little corner,
Weigh up your principles with dignity and honour,
We all have our own ways of moving,
Sometimes the other people can’t see that we’re grooving

Repeat chorus

Keep on steppin' heads up up don’t worry,
You get yours i get mine to the next story,
Pick up the pace blackness in your face,
So much flava with my very own taste,
Giving it all ’cause it’s all that i'm giving,
Now who can stop me from my choice of living,
Politics hurts in a life that costs,
Concrete is down and my advice is step off

Give me something that makes it worth me living,
Want some mountain air ’cause i don’t care, For this pollution I am breathing,
Gonna let go of this excess baggage i am carrying,
I'm gonna reach so high it feels like i am truly truly flying

Repeat chorus

I ain’t so old to learn something new,
Too blind to see, Too deaf to hear,
Too dumb to understand the truth,
When will we all learn,
So we can all use, The wisdom for a greater meaning

Co-produced by Omar and David Frank for Muso Music Inc.

Omar .. vocals, keyboards
Dave Frank .. Keyboards, programming
Concrete .. rap

Mick said: "A collection of mixes on this '94 CD Single from RCA. The original release is backed up by the Uptight Remix by Rodney Hunter (Moreaus) & Demon Flowers (Werner Geier of Kruder & Dorfmeister). It features additional vocals from Leena Conquest (Boundaries).

Next up comes from Gang Starr's DJ Premier and features Uptown (Dope On Plastic). Last but not least, we have two mixes from London's Ghetto Lab featuring Darkman with his own inimitable rap style. The last mix is an Acapella featuring Darkman. No unreleased tracks though, which is a shame but then what do you want for £3."

Kymba says: CD1 is a suite of mixes. As a big fan of Gang Starr and DJ Premier, it's no secret that I love his mix. The main melody is sampled and cut up from Bob James' Touchdown, sample spotters.  The Ghetto Lab Mix is a typical Darkman affair and pretty dope. The Ghettapella will be of use to you mixologists, too.

However, for me, it is the Uptight Remix (featuring Leena Conquest blessing us with some sultry backing vocals) that towers above the other versions. It's funkier, punchier and really brings that funk out of Omar's original vocal recording. The fact that there's a Skull Snaps/New Day breakbeat in there helps. Man, I love that break! This is the mix I bought the CD for back in the day.

CD2 has the LP version of Keep Steppin', backed up with Omar's biggest cut, There's Nothing Like this and topped off with a beautiful duet with Carleen Anderson of The Young Disciples.

This 2 disc set is a great release, so get it while it's fresh!

Tracklist CD1

1. Keep Steppin' 
2. Keep Steppin' (Uptight Remix featuring Leena Conquest) 
3. Keep Steppin' (DJ Premier Mix featuring Uptown) 
4. Keep Steppin' (Ghetto Lab Mix featuring Darkman) 
5. Keep Steppin' (Ghettapella featuring Darkman) 

Tracklist CD2

1. Keep Steppin' 
2. There's Nothing Like This 
3. Who Chooses The Seasons (Duet featuring Carleen Anderson) 

Download here: O-KS.7z | Filesize: 78.3 MB

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 - Say Nothin' (1997) - CD1 & CD2

RCA/BMG 74321 50286 2

Back in 1997 our friend Omar came back in fine style with a track, Say Nothin', that plain blew me away, despite the album not really being his best work.

Sure, we could probably debate all night what this guy's finest hour was (for some, it would obviously be There's Nothing Like This, for me, it could well be Saturday or Keep Steppin' (Uptight Remix), and our boy Nitro argues there's too damn many finest moments to pick from - I'm inclined to agree), but whatever, this song surely has to be up there with the best of them.

Featuring another hero of mine: Russell Tyrone Jones aka Ol' Dirty Bastard aka ODB aka Dirt Dog aka Osiris aka Big Baby Jesus(!) aka Ason aka Dirt McGirt, this tune had a funky '80s throwback feel to it which appealed to me hugely.

For me, it's all about the Original Mix, which still sounds every bit as fresh as it did 12 years ago, although the Structure Rize Remix has re-recorded vocals and a cheeky interpolation of Gwen McCrae's "All This Love That I'm Giving" to make it a remix of note. I bet you can't listen to that chorus without a big grin spreading across your face. Probably my second favourite version after the Original.

The Rae & Christian Remix is pretty groovy, too - as are the Nightmares on Wax, Opaz and Scratch Professor Mixes. All in all, there's not a bad version of the track. Odd really, on most CD singles there's usually at least one remix that makes you think "why on Earth did they bother?" - Or is that just me?

So, here it is, in all its dual CD Single glory. CD2 link after the jump.

• Say Nothin' (Original Mix)
• Say Nothin' (Structure Rize Remix)
• Say Nothin' (Rae & Christian Remix)
• Say Nothin' (Opax Remix)
• Say Nothin' (Nightmares On Wax Remix)
• Say Nothin' (Scratch Professor and Omar's Dark Mix)

The Download Link is here: Say Nothin' (Disc 1).zip | Filesize: 45.56MB

---

RCA/BMG 74321 50287 2

CD2 contains the Original Mix again, as well as a Radio Edit which has no ODB!! Booohoooo! However, this ODB-less version does show off the lovely bridge section our perenially inebriated hiphoppa otherwise drowns out.

Sip N' Taste is fairly standard Omar fare, meaning by anyone else's standards it's excellent. Typical Omar type keyboards on this one. Give it a listen and you'll hear what I mean. Good tune.

Oh Baby is a very sexy track featuring some really well sung backing vocals from an uncredited female singer, possibly Sylvia Bennett Smith, as she's listed as a co-writer. I really like this track, it's slinky and sexy, and sounds way too good to be a backup track/B-side. In fact, for me, it's the pick of the tracks on Disc 2. Whadda you think?

• Say Nothin' (original mix)
• Say Nothin' (Radio Edit)
• Sip N' Taste
• Oh Baby

The Download Link is here: Say Nothin' (Disc 2).zip | Filesize: 26.02MB

Enjoy!

- Kymba

Omar - Golden Brown 1997

RCA Records 74321 52542 2

In 1997 Omar released his new album, This Is Not A Love Song. Before it's release, he released a single from the album which surprised many. A cover of a Punk Rock ballad, an Ode to Heroin, a Heart FM classic?

In retrospect, it was a move of pure genius. Golden Brown, by The Stranglers, is a song that millions of normal everyday people feel comfortable with (many don't even realise it's about drugs) and therefore it might get the multi talented, under appreciated, genius that is Omar some kudos. It didn't of course, but it did give us this CD single release.

This release is all about Wherever, which is also from the album but on the album it is not remixed by the Blacksmith team though. The Blacksmith Full R&B Rub is eight minutes of pure class, leaving the, otherwise good, Blacksmith Hip Hop Mix in the shade.

The Brass Tooth "Well Constructed" Mix is a fine example of just how good a 4x4 remix can be. It plays a little fast for Omar but Croydon's Neville Smith who would put out the excellent Celebrate Life on Well Built Records the following year, has done a great job. This mix puts the song on the dance floor whilst retaining the soulful body of the song and giving it an uplifting gospel element.

• Golden Brown
• Wherever (Blacksmith Full R&B Rub)
• Wherever (Blacksmith Hip Hop Mix)
• Wherever (Brass Tooth "Well Constructed" Mix)

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Omar.rar Filesize: 35.89 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

Misty Oldland - Got Me A Feeling 1993

XPCD 316

Produced, written and music by the talented Michele Oldland with additional production by Maxton 'Gig' Beesley Jnr. & Jeremy Meehan (Max Beesley's High Vibes) Jo Dworniak (I-Level) & Glen Nightingale (Jamiroquai, Gap Band, etc.).

Also featured are the uncredited vocals of Omar Lye Fook of 'There's Nothing Like This' fame and doesn't it show. The floaty, atmospheric, jazzy vibe and Misty's vocals, all kind of sensuous in a somewhat, ethereal way.

How bloody silly of me to peel the contact label off the back.
Where did she go, where's the album?

• 7" Version
• 12" Version: Misty's Magic Mix

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: XPCD 316.rar Size: 14.48 MB