Don-E - Fakin' The Funk - UKCDS - (1995)

4th & Broadway BRCD 290

320 RE-UP! Originally posted by Mickey P 13/07/2008

Mick says: After the hype, the success and the mistake, Don-E slipped away to produce his sophomore set. His return was greeted with a lot less fuss, many people have likely not heard of Changing Seasons, the album was certainly nowhere near as successful as Unbreakable. 

This was, I believe, the first single released before the album was released (but don't quote me) and Dodge from Dodge City Productions was called in for remix duty. The Soul Inside Mix gives a different slant to what is already a fair track but it don't raise it to essential. 

It is still a release worth having though and a promise of better to come.

Kymba says: I personally think Don-E gets better with age and his Try This album is near flawless. 

Back on track, this a wicked release. every track is good but Dodge's Soul Inside mix is the pick for me. There were also a set of "Crooklyn Dodge" mixes that I haven't got and would love to hear, if anyone out there has them?

Tracklist

1. Fakin' The Funk (Album Edit)
2. Fakin' The Funk (Soul Inside Mix)
3. Fakin' The Funk (Fakin' It Mix)
4. Tonight 

Discogs page 

Download: D-E-FTF.7z | Filesize: 46.2MB

Seanie T - S.O.S. - UK 12" - (2001)

Ill Flava Records – HGST001

Sean Theobalds aka Seanie T (also going by the name of Amedis), is a UK Hip Hop/Ragga emcee from South East London. He is also founder and head of Dark Horizon Rekordz, a UK hip hop label.

He was also in The Blacknificent Seven, a UK Hip Hop group featuring Estelle, Rodney P, Roots Manuva, Karl Hinds and more, but they only seemed active 2005 throuogh 2006.

S.O.S. (standing for Same Ol' Sean) is a straight banga produced by Amedis and Taipanic aka Tony Rotten from Black Twang, and features some nice backing vocals on the chorus courtesy of Blak Twang himself, Roots Manuva, Big Ted and our very own Karl Hinds.

Unfortunately never released on CD, this 12 is backed with a track called the Formidable, and there is an instrumental of both cuts, which may please you mixologists. Sadly there is no acapella, though.

Apologies for the audio quality, I'm not best placed to rip from vinyl any more. If anyone has a better rip they'd like to contribute I'd be happy to replace! (I also no longer work at the place with the A3 scanner so had to list the images from Discogs lol).

Enjoy this UKHH gem.

Tracklist

1. S.O.S. (Radio Edit) (Featuring Big Ted, Blak Twang, Karl Hinds, Roots Manuva)
2. S.O.S. (Instrumental)
3. The Formidable
4. The Formidable (Instrumental)

Discogs page

Download: ST-SOS.7z | Filesize: 42.6MB

Don-E - Love Makes The World Go Round - UK CDS - (1992)

4th & Broadway 12 BRW 242

320 Re-up! Originally posted by Mick on 16/06/2008.

I LOVE Don-E, and I view him as one of the UK's finest artists. This one is a classic and better still would follow. While you're checking this, make sure to buy all the British Collective stuff you can get your hands on. They are comprised of Don-e, Junior, Leee John, Noel McKoy, Omar and Special Guests such as Carl McKintosh and other classic UK soul voices.

Here's Micky's original write-up (and yes, Don-E is from Brixton).

Kym x

Don-E came out of South London if I remember rightly, can anybody confirm that. A multi talented young lad with a good understanding of what was happening at the time. This debut release had a huge impact on the soul & dance scene with Don-E being proclaimed as both a genius and a Stevie Wonder sound-alike. Oh well, can't please them all but I'd take that as a compliment anyway?

Personally, I think the London Mix is blinding and Mystery is a cool track too. Grab the album if you can, there are some damn good tracks on it.

 

Tracklist

1. Love Makes The World Go Round (Radio Mix)
2. Love Makes The World Go Round (Extended Club Mix)
3. Love Makes The World Go Round (London Mix)
4. Mystery

Discogs page

Download D-E-LMTWGR.7z| Filesize: 43.7MB

Eric B & Rakim - Paid In Full (Promo) - Re-Up - (1987)

4th & Broadway 12 BRX 78

Re-Up!: Originally posted by Mick on 12/04/2012.
I reconstructed this from three 320 sources so it's not strictly a vinyl rip. - Kymba

In 1987 when Eric B & Rakim could do no wrong, Coldcut was called upon to remix Paid In Full. Seven Minutes Of Madness turned out to be the most popular mix that year, from the dance-floor point of view at least. It was, quite deservedly, played to death! Eric B was not a happy man though, even though it must have doubled, if not quadrupled the sales of his album. He hated that remix, suggesting that Ofra Haza's Hebrew vocal sample from "Im Nin'Alu" could have been saying "Fuck You" for all we knew. The thing that probably irked him most was that he had no say about the remix and its release.

The real shame was that nobody else got a look in. This promo 12" (handed out at the DMC Convention if I remember rightly) is a remix created by South London's own Derek Boland. Boland had been a DJ on the pirate stations (LWR 92.5) for sometime where he created his own remixes for his show.


This remix of Paid In Full uses a nice sample from John 'Cougar' Mellancamp's - Jack & Diane and a chunk of Chuck Brown's - We Need Some Money. That's Rock Music and Go-Go in this Hip-Hop mix. It's a great version and it deserved more airplay. 

Try it, you'll like it.

Tracklist

• Paid In Full (Derek B's Urban Respray)
• Paid In Full (Album Mix)
• Eric B Is On The Cut 

Download: EB&R-PIF-P.7z | Filesize: 27.7MB

Kicking Back With Taxman ‎– Devotion (1990)

10 Records ‎– TENCD 297

Kicking Back's debut single in 1989 was Keep On Trying, which was followed up with this track featuring Taxman doing his raggamuffin thing as per their third (and final) release, the classy Everything which you can check out here.

It's hard to find info about this band but it seems it was producer John Crossley and vocalist Patcee Francis, with both having writing credits. They only released three singles, and I really like all that I've heard from them.

Devotion, much like Everything, is a great reggae/soul hybrid tune. It's sung beautifully and I dig it as much today as I did back in '91. It might have been nice if they'd seen fit to have a version without the ragga vocals of Taxman as the singing really is that nice but it ain't a deal breaker for me.

Both mixes are cool but the 7" version is the classic take on it for me, and is the version I'd recommend. The third track All I Want (Club Mix) is terribly dated and not really to my tastes. It has some rave/old skool ardcore elements but doesn't commit to that fully enough to interest my ears. 

Still, the title track is wicked.

Tracklist

1. Devotion (7" Mix)
2. Devotion (The-Motive Mix)
3. All I Want (Club Mix)

Download : KB-D.7z | Filesize: 33.5MB

Kicking Back - Everything (1990)

Ten Records TENCD 307

Kym says: This is an old 2008 post by Mick. I have it on CDS so I'm re-upping in 320 with fresh artword scans. I adore both Everything and Devotion. Both tracks are wicked. I'll be uploading Kicking Back's two other CD Singles soon as well. Over to Mick x

Featuring Taxman, Kicking Back debuted in 1990 with the single Devotion. It was quickly followed up with this release, Everything, both of which failed to make much of an impact. The only other recording I'm aware of is All I Want, which features on the flipside of the Devotion single.

Everything is a jaunty little soulful tune built on a reggae foundation. Taxman raps in a reggae style (which doesn't appeal to me personally) but the song is soulful, the melody catchy and the female vocal is gorgeous. It's worth a listen guys, it's just a shame nobody done a tax-deductable mix?

Tracklist

1. Everything (Original 7")
2. Everything (Kickin' Mix)
3. Devotion

Download : KB-E.7z | Filesize: 32.3MB

Raw Stylus - Pushing Against The Flow (1996)

Wired Recordings WIRED 224

Kymba says: Re-upped this magnificent CDS in 320! Over to you, Micky...

Raw Stylus was 'Class-A Sound System Soul'. Ron Aslan and Jules Brookes, released white label vinyl records into the funky London club scene which bloomed post Soul II Soul in the early 90's. The best known Raw Stylus track this side of the pond, would be Pushing Against The Flow which was originally spread about on white label, as early as 1992. At that time Debbie Ffrench was on vocal duty. When the band travelled to the US, to record with Gary Katz, Donna Gardier had replaced her. I assume the 1995 versions have retained the Ffrench vocal.

Pushing... was a big underground tune and eventually became the title track of the album. Giles Petersen named it his track of the year and Paul Weller (Jam, Style Council) claimed it 'should have been a No.1 record' in The Face. Other early singles were: Bright Lights, Big cities (White Label), Many Ways (Mo' Wax) & Use Me (Acid Jazz).

A plethora of very healthy mixes to suit almost any occasion, bloody aggravating isn't it. Dave Lee, in his Joey Negro alter-ego. turns out another disco house happy clapper in a very Jamiroquai sort of style. Alvin Speight slows things down to a swagger for a soulful funk, gate that snare baby. Yes Tosh, the Frankie Foncett Funk 12" is a superb R'n'B grind with a gangsta lean, I love the dialogue on the intro. A funky groove but ruff with what sounds like a goose punctuating every line? Personally, I still favour the Raw Stylus mixes, the Original White Label just taking the prize. The Raw Stylus Dark Mix is, without doubt, a killa groove! Sliding in with an accapella intro, it drops with a noise that sounds like a jet about to take off just prior to the baddest bass line knocks the cobwebs outta your woofers. You know when you been tango'ed! ;-)

Kymba says: I'm just updating the DL link to a 320, and I couldn't resist adding my own two cents to the above considering how much I love this track. The Frankie Foncett mixes are hot, and Mickey's "Goose" is a distorted lo-fi horn stab - it's basically a sampling, or recreation, of Craig Mack's Flava In Your Ear. That's my third favourite mix. Second fave is the very badass indeed Raw Stylus Dark Mix, but nothing beats the Original White Label Version for both Micky me - and that includes every single track on the remixes CD of this which I will be posting on here very soon.

PS - The Joey Negro versions are pretty good if house is your thang. You've gotta love that cheeky recreation of Diana Ross's anthem Love Hangover bassline too!

Overall, this is a great CDS - the original is flawless and the remixes are on point. What a sublime release.

Tracklist

1. 7" Edit
2. Raw Stylus Dark Mix
3. Original White Label
4. Joey Negro Extended Mix
5. Alvin Speights Main 12" Mix
6. Fronkie Foncett Funk 12"

Download: RS-PATF.7z| Filesize: 80.2 MB

Big Daddy Kane - Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now (1989)

Cold Chillin' ‎– W 2635T

Here's a quick and dirty post of an utterly brilliant 12".

Apologies upfront as this is a vinyl rip, and while my rip is great, I no longer have access to to the large scanner I used to use, so I've had to borrow an image from Discogs.

The audio rip itself is particularly good. It's a 320kbp rip of a treasured slice of wax. Being a bit OCD I used to tape record my 12" records as soon as I bought them, and then leave the 12" alone, meaning there are very few pops and crackles. It sounds almost like a CD rip.

Anyway, about this tune. The original is okay, but far from Kane's greatest track. However, the two Brixton Bass remixes here (track 1 'Brixton Bass Mix; and track 3 'UPSO Mix' are phenomenal and really elevate it. 

The pick of the bunch is the titular Brixton Bass mix, with it's sweet and slick production. This mix transformed it into a smooth summer jam you can bump in your whip to this day and it sounds pretty damn fresh still, and, aside from Kane mentioning the year on a couple of occasions, has aged like a fine wine. I absolutely adore this track!

In addition to the quality of the main remix, the UPSO Mix is really good, too. Yeah, it may not be quite as amazing, but the tougher sounding UPSO Mix is still way better than the original and flexes its muscles with a lovely reverse JBs/The Grunt loop, and will satisfy the street crowd.

All in all, this is a pretty essential release, especially if, like me, you adore Big Daddy Kane.

Tracklist

1. Ain't No stoppng Us Now (Brixton Bass Mix)
2. Ain't No stoppng Us Now (LP Version)
3. Ain't No stoppng Us Now (UPSO Mix)

Download: BDK-ANSUN.7z | Filesize: 31.3MB

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

James Ingram - It's Real 1989

WEA Records W2975CD

James Ingram is from Akron, Ohio. Like the family group Ingram, he is also a self-taught musician who plays piano, guitar, bass, drums and keyboards, as well as having an excellent voice. Additionally, he is a producer and songwriter. He began his career in the '70s as part of the band Revelation Funk and gained his reputation in the Los Angeles area as a session vocalist. His surname and six degrees of seperation seem to be the only connection with Ingram the group?

Having made the grade with his performance on Quincey Jones album and his duet with Michael McDonald on Yah Mo B There, Ingram put his voice on all the best recordings but his own solo work didn't seem to get the same recognition. In 1989, for his third album, the production skills of Gene Griffin were used, with remixes by Teddy Riley, It's Real, the album title track was very much the sound of now. Despite the Swingbeat label, it still sounds pretty fresh. I like the comments from the producers.... (Teddy Riley & Gene Griffin, I guess?)

"Who we working with?"

"It's James man"

"Brown?"

"Nah man, James Ingram."

Yeah, New Jack Swing, some of it was damn good!

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: James Ingram - Its Real CDS.rar
Size: 20.86 MB

Raw Stylus - Change (1996)

M&G Recordings WIRED 228

Raw Stylus kicked off in London, a funk/soul/jazz outfit featuring Donna Gardier, Jules Brookes and Ron Aslan. Dominic 'Ski' Oakenfull was also in the band for a time. after leaving K-Creative. Donna Gardier replaced Deborah French who left in 1993. Originally, Raw Stylus released white label vinyl records into the London club scene in the early 90's. 1992's Pushing Against the Flow was a popular underground song and later became the title track of their album. Other singles from the same period were Bright Lights, Big Cities (White Label), Many Ways (Mo' Wax) and Use Me (Acid Jazz).

The album was recorded Stateside with Steely Dan producer Gary Katz and an array of musical talent including cameos from Donald Fagen, Bernard Purdie and the cream of New York and London Acid Jazz. The group toured as a nine piece until they split at the end of 1999. Head for Paul Waller's Mix and then search for the album.
Raw Stylus

• Radio Edit
• Album Version
• Joey Negro Vocal
• Paul Waller East Coast Mix
• Bone Krusher Mix

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Raw Stylus Change.ZIP
Filesize: 41.38 MB

Raw Stylus - Believe In Me (1995)

Wired Recordings WIRED 220

Raw Stylus recorded an album in the US on Geffen Records who insisted that Steely Dan producer Gary Katz got involved. The music became more live orientated and they turned out a great, timeless but not particularly commercial album. It is filled with musical talent like Bernard Purdie, Donald Fagen, Randy Brecker as well as many cool players from the 90's London and New York Acid Jazz scenes. This US Billboard No.1 single, Believe In Me came off that album. They were signed to Geffen in the US who were busy promoting Beck and Wu-Tang Clan and didn't really take much notice of them.

The Album Version is still my favourite but check out the Antonio Fargasm Mix, eight minutes of R'n'B grind, waaaay cool! For the house heads, E-Smoove on the Essence Mix and Eric Kupper on the 12" Groove but none of them equal the Album Version. I'd be very interested in hearing the Kupper Old Skool & Vision Lorimer remixes if anyone has them?

• Radio Edit
• Essence Mix
• 12" Grrove
• Flava Mix
• Antonio Fargasm Mix
• Lion's Roar Mix
• Album Version

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Raw Stylus Believe.rar Filesize: 54.94 MB

Adé - Reach Out Your Love 1993

Profile Records PROFCD 402

A promo CD release that got a blinding review from Steve Hobbs in Blues & Soul magazine. His word was gospel as far as I was concerned and therefore, I was very pleased to find a copy. No packaging at all though so I've found some art which seems to suggest that it got an official release.

Engineered by Mike Bigwood at Eden Studios, this is Reach Out Your Love, written by A. Adefolalu (my money's on the artist) and performed by Adé, a man gifted with a voice that most can only wish for. It's criminal to find that he's only recorded a few songs of his own and none of them have recieved any exposure at all. Even more surprising is the news that he is probably more widely known for his vocal contribution on a couple of Shut Up & Dance album tracks?

A couple of good versions on here but forget the house mixes, the R&B 'Touch Da Soul' Mix is the only one you need really. The Adécapella is a joy to hear though?

• Radio Edit
• Jeckyls Joyful Mix
• Adécapella
• Marvellous Mix
• R&B "Touch-Da-Soul" Mix

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: PROFCD 402.rar ize: 31.23MB