Naughty By Nature - OPP (Remixes) - UK CDS - (1991)

Big Life ‎– BLR D74

Back in 1986 three talented young guys (Treach (Anthony Criss), Vin Rock (Vincent Brown), and DJ Kay Gee (born Keir Lamont Gist)) from New Jersey got together as The New Style, and released an album called the Independent Leaders.

Soon after, a certain Queen Latifah took them under her wing, and they went on to achieve meteoric success under the name of Naughty By Nature.

As a group they were fire, and for a while, I had Treach figured as one of the best ever to do it.

OPP is a Hip-Hop anthem of gargantuan proportions. It's really difficult not to understate how massive or ubiquitous this track was back in the early nineties. The fact that the boys would follow it up with a series of anthems (Ghetto Bastard/Everything's Gonna Be Alright, Uptown Anthem, Hip Hop Hooray and more) is a testament to how skilled the boys were with creating catchy, dance floor friendly Hip Hop whilst retaining their rugged East Coast credentials.

Back to OPP, it has great pedigree; taking it's main hook from ABC by The Jackson 5 (1970), the oh-so-dope drums from Melvin Bliss's Synthetic Substitution (1973), as well as elements from Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick's La Di Da Di from 1985.

Featured on here is the original and two other mixes.

I don't think Other People's Productions Remix is as good as the original, but the Fairplay Mix (sampling the Soul II Soul track of the same name) is well worth having in your collection. Both of these were by Funkie Junkie & Skin Up.

Uptown Anthem, featured on the Juice OST was a standout track among many great songs, and alongside OPP, makes this a great release.

Tracklist

1. O.P.P. (Vocal Edit)
2. Uptown Anthem (Video Mix)
3. O.P.P. (Other People's Productions Remix)
4. O.P.P. (Fairplay Remix)

Discogs page

Download: NBN-OPP-R.7z | Filesize: 38.4MB

Intelligent Hoodlum - Back To Reality (CJ Mackintosh Mixes) - (1990)

A&M Records, AMCD 598

Originally posted 09/04/2009. This was posted by me (Kym) but is attributed to Mickey P in the great Soul Vendor/Blogger cock-up haha.

Not so sunny here in North London today, but I thought I'd post another BBQ classic regardless. I'm not sure really how well you'll receive this one, as it's not soul as such, but a nice, chilled out slice of Hip-Hop, reminiscing about simpler times.

Intelligent Hoodlum (born Percy Chapman, although he would later switch to the moniker "Tragedy Khadafi") is an extremely eloquent rapper from Queens, New York. His first, self-titled album was a politically charged affair featuring the excellent Arrest the President, and a whirl of other contentious tracks. I loved it but it wasn't for everyone.

However, amongst the anger and social commentary on his debut there lurked a rather good party jam, the Soul II Soul sampling Back To Reality - no surprises for guessing what sample was used there, huh? ;)

On its release in the UK, Back To Reality was given a suite of remixes by one CJ Mackintosh. The pick of which for me is CJ's Drum And Bass Mix (no, it's not that kind of Drum & Bass), which cranked up the Soul II Soul elements, added nice piano chords, strings stabs, and made a great summer vibe kinda tune out of it. 

The Ragamuffin Mixis also pretty dope (love the strings), and has a different vibe. Worth checking and would be the one I'd recommend if the Drum And Bass Mix didn't exist.

The Raggamuffin Mix is also dope, Hope you dig this as much as I do. If you don't know it, give it a try and tell us whatcha think.

- Kymba :)

Tracklist

1. Back To Reality (Drum And Bass Mix)
2. Back To Reality (Back To Basics)
3. Back To Reality (Ragamuffin Version)
4. Back To Reality (Ragadub)

Download: IH-BTR.7z | Filesize: 43.8MB

Nomad Soul - Candy Mountain - (1991)

Island Records CID 505

I'm reupping this Mickey P post from 13/10/2008. I don't have the CDS so I'm having to put up the version I DL'd back in the day. Over to you, Mister P - Kymba x

Diane Charlemagne is one of those rare UK sparkling talents. Her voice has been described as a soulful, sensual, swooping energy to flow through an eclectic collection of music. Her songwriting claims an innocent beauty with her use of pseudonyms. Achieving stand-out in the musical genres of drum and bass, jazz, dance and pop cannot be claimed by many artists.

Diane has an exceptional flair for songwriting, and so it comes as no surprise the majority of the material she appears on has in fact been both arranged lyrically and melodically by herself. She writes carefully crafted lyrics and beautifully balanced melodies - often shaded by the twinkling stars of leading artists.

Her roots began in Manchester's Moss Side in the early 80s scene. Starting off in a battle of the bands scenario Diane soon became an associated member of legendary R'n'B group 52nd Street. Diane continued her early successes with the band to include Tell Me How It Feels (coming soon) which went on to tear up the US Billboard Charts reaching number 15.

The early nineties saw Diane working with Howie B and Dobie (Soul II Soul), Howie B & Dobie were offered a deal with Island Records. Along with Charlemagne they, allegedly, recorded an album as Nomad Soul. After only one single, Candy Mountain, Dobie apparently left because he wasn't happy with where things were heading.

I was also under the impression she was the vocalist with Cool Down Zone but she doesn't record it in her discography? Then came the monumental breakthrough of Inner City Life by Goldie.

The mid Nineties engaged Diane's voice with Urban Cookie Collective, releases include The Key, The Secret. Since then Charlemagne has progressed on the dance scene and moved into house and garage. Working and writing with artists such as K-Klass, Satoshi Tomiie, Mutiny UK, Santos and Judge Jules, prior to being invited to tour as a singer with Moby. Touring for over 3 years, Diane gained worldwide recognition.

Recent years have seen the soulful diva signed with Chrysalis Music and continuing to work with respected acts such as, collaborations with London Electricity, 2020Soundsystem and Prayer Box. Diane was part of The Gospel Choir performance of Cry Of Innocence - the opera in respect of the tragic death of 19 year old Stephen Lawrence.

OK, so this is a request and I found it in the crates. The SIIS boys get a little quirky on this oddball leftfielder. Using that guitar sample that I know so well but can't put a name too, this avoids a pigeonhole by standing firmly astride the Jazz & Soul division. Hard to choose between the Radio Mix and the Nellee Hooper Mix but both work well.

Tracklist

1. Candy Mountain (Radio Mix)
2. Candy Mountain (Nellee Hooper Mix)
3.  Candy Mountain (DJ Intellectual Mix)
4.  Candy Mountain (Bonus Beats)

Download: NS-CR.7z | Filesize: 24.5 MB

Soul II Soul ‎– Represent (1997)

Island Records, CID668/572087-2

Wow, this CD has an awful cover! No offence, skin-head man... you could be a lovely guy in real life I guess. Luckily the contents are all that and a fat bag o' chips!

So this is another great track from UK heavyweights Soul II Soul, this time featuring the excellent Paul Johnson, who had already made waves on the UK soul scene with the Dodge produced If We Lose Our Way, a track I never managed to get hold of outside of a compilation CD, but would dearly love. *hint hint*

Represent was a fine tune on a very good album. It's chilled and cool, typifying the sound of Soul II Soul, and this version gets two airings here with the Album and Radio Mix.

I actually err on the side of the remixes here though, preferring the more hiphop tinged Full Crew Mix  which turns it into a true banga which I love, and, for the dancefloors, the breakbeat-tastic and oh-so-funky Katt Mix which is in a UK Garage styley.

Having said that, the album/radio versions are really nice, plus there's a Soul Inside mix from our boy Dodge, and you know that man never disappoints.

This is a very rare instance though where I prefer another remix over a Dodge one. That might be the sign of the end times.

Big up Full Crew!

- Kym x

Tracklist

1. Represent (Album mix)
2. Represent (Radio Edit)
3. Represent (Katt Mix)
4. Represent (Soul Inside Reworked Rep Mix)
5. Represent (Full Crew Mix)

Download: SIIS-R.7z | Filesize: 58MB

Alyson Williams - I Need Your Lovin' - (1989)

Def Jam Recordings ‎– 655143 2

Mick posted the 12" back in the day, but I have the CDS in all its 320 glory right here.

I won't rewrite the whole thing as he posted a lot of great info in his review so go peep the link above for more info on Alyson. 

The only difference between the two releases is this one contains a 7" edit of I Need your Lovin', wheras the 12" featured another track Make You Mine Tonight. Criminal really that this CD single is missing that - would it have hurt to have had four tracks? Ah well, them's the breaks!

I loved this track back then in '89 and still do. Jazzie B and Nellee Hooper as Soul II Soul were absolutely on fire at the time and bring their trademark UK street soul vibe to the track, really improving on the original. Dare I say it's the definitive version?

A small gripe though - I could never work out why it wasn't called Soul II Soul Mix rather than the vague names we got. Weird.

Anyway, enjoy this wicked lil' sexy ass tune. 

See you next time, soulistas!

Tracklist

1. I Need Your Lovin' (7" Remix)
2. I Need Your Lovin' (Extended Remix)
3. My Love Is So Raw (Album Raw Mix)

Download: AW-INYL.7z | Filesize: 33.9MB

The Family Stand - Ghetto Heaven 1990

Atlantic Records A7997T

Formed by Peter Lord, Vernon Jeffrey Smith and Sandra St. Victor in the early 90s, the band released their debut album, Chain, from which the huge club hit, Ghetto Heaven, was taken. Built around the songwriting and production talents of Smith and Lord and the excellent vocals of St. Victor,

The Family Stand combined elements of rock, folk, soul, free jazz, hip hop, funk and hardcore gospel. More than the sum of their influences though, the group took on social issues with leftfield classics such as Plantation Radio and The Education Of Jamie.

I think it's fair to say that the production talents of Beresford Romeo and Nellee Hooper on The Remix, definitely made this an essential tune and gave The Family Stand the break they needed. The difference between this and The Original is rather dramatic, losing the rough edges that delivered the message but gaining a smooth dance floor edge. I think it showed admirable restraint by the marketing team, choosing not to use the extremely fashionable Soul II Soul name on the front cover. Jazzie B's name was just as well known, of course. The follow up, In Summer I Fall barely made an impact.

They then made the legendary Moon In Scorpio album and became the production team of the moment, working with Paula Abdul, Daryl Hall, Des'ree and Aftershock to name but a few, before going on hiatus in 1999.

• The Remix
• The Original
• The Dub

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: The Family Stand.rar Filesize: 31.9 MB