Blacknuss - It Should Have Been You 1995

Sidestep Records SSRCD4

When you think of Soul Music, Sweden isn't the first country that comes to mind, even now two decades after The Scadinavian Invasion. Martin Jonsson and Conny C. Lindström started the Stockholm Jazz Club 'Fasching' and together with (producer, composer and artist) Christian Falk (Make It Right) formed the rhythm section core of the club house-band. When they took Blacknuss to record, they took the club regulars. Mattias Torell (Eagle-Eye Cherry), Malando Gassama, Desmond Foster, David Nyström, Pierre Swärd, Esbjörn Svensson, Goran Kajfes and Per “Ruskträsk” Johansson. To top that, they invited great vocalists such as Titiyo (After The Rain & Flowers, related to Neneh Cherry), Robyn (Show Me Love, not the new one) , Jennifer Brown, Lisa Nilsson, Stephen Simmonds, ADL, SwingFly, Dilba, Viktoria Tolstoy and André De Lang.

Check out their albums; Made in Sweden, Blacknuss Allstars & Blacknuss 3. Ever changing, Blacknuss give the artists and musicians free reign and the collective have moved from jazz oriented dance music to modern r’n’b making all stops in between. Covers of Last Night A DJ Saved My Life, Rising To The Top and It Should Have Been You have been mixed with their own material and sound. They're one of Swedens best live bands, and they have won Swedish Grammis for Best Modern Dance. Blacknuss, The Soul Of Sweden.

Here, It Should Have Been You is remixed superbly by Cutfather & Joe, Absolute (my fav) and K'n'M but personally, I wouldn't bother inflicting the last two mixes upon your sensitive ears unless you have a yen for ravey house music?

• Cutfather & Joe Radio Edit
• K'n'M Mix
• Absolute Remix
• Metamorphosis Mix
• Finest Dub Groove

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Blacknuss.rar Filesize: 38.91 MB

Act Of Faith - The Whole Thing 1992

One Vision EZY 1203

• The Whole Thing
• Doing It With Love
• Do It Right

This came out on a (black) white label promo, late 1982, with absolutely no info at all. The cat. no. is etched in the run out and The Whole Thing is credited on the Step 2 - Inside! compilation as being written by A. Campbell and published by Skratch Music for One Vision Productions. There were two albums, One Vision 1995 and Release Yourself 1997. If you like this then you'll like the albums, well worth investing in.

A. Campbell is Tony Campbell, who was originally signed to Talkin' Loud with the group Perception before forming Act Of Faith with Nicholas Demetriades. They were popular in London for about two years until the vocalist Gary Bardouille (check out Starting Over, a soulful house number) left and Campbell joined the Jazz funk combo Nite Flyte (I love Coast To Coast).

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Act Of Faith.rar Filesize: 16.67 MB

Sue Chaloner - Appreciation 1992

Pulse 8 Records 12LOSE 31 DJ

• Dr. Bob's Surgery Mix
• Instrumental
• Band Of Gypsies Sierra Mix
• Album Version

Produced and arranged by 3 Man Island with backing vocals by Wendell Morrison. I bought this on the strength of a Bob Jones remix, I was pleasantly surprised to find the album version was better. The Surgery Mix takes it to a faster floor but does little with the song, IMHO of course. Sue Chaloner must be older than she looks on the album cover because she used to be part of the duo, Spooky & Sue, back around 1975 doing songs like Swing On A Star and Catch A Falling Star. Took a long time to lose that image but she certainly improved.

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Sue Chaloner.rar Filesize: 40.45 MB

Arnie's Love - I'm Out Of Your Life 1983

Streetwave WAVEL 9

• I'm Out Of Your Life
• I'm Out Of Your Life (Instrumental)

Arnold Joseph a.k.a. Arnie's Love released I'm Out Of Your Life on Radar Records back in 1983 which went Top 10 in the US before Streetwave Records picked it up for a British release. Pure class, real music with mournful lyrics over a slow shuffle, strings, brass and even a harmonica solo. Produced and arranged by Eric Matthew (Sharon Redd and Betty Lavette). After a brief spell on Profile Records in 1986 Arnie disappeared which was a real shame. He is now recording Gospel music.

Sad act that I am, I noticed that the Instrumental is not the same format as the Vocal version. So what? Well, if you wanted to sing it karaoke style, it would make life difficult. Included in the rar file is my own lame attempt to reproduce the Karaoke Backing Track. The ending isn't quite right so you will have to improvise. I've transcribed the lyrics for those with a brave heart.

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Arnies Love.rar Filesize: 28.04 MB

I'm Out Of Your Life
by K. Gold & M. Denne

Sometimes Baby, It gets so hard
I sit and watch the rain that falls in my back yard
Sometimes Baby, It seems to me
Our situation ain't what it used to be
Everywhere, I'm hearing people talking 'bout you Baby
And they don't mention me

I figure I'm out of your life now girl
I'm so far out of touch
I figure I'm out of your life now girl
And it's hurting me so much

I remember, You used to care
You always worried about which dress to wear
(Didn't ya girl)
I remember, A different girl
Who made me feel I meant something in this world
Everyday, I find I'm living more without you Baby
You got no time for me

I figure I'm out of your life now girl
I'm so far out of touch
I figure I'm out of your life now girl
And it's hurting me so much (so much)

(Harmonica break)

Everywhere
I'm hearing people talking bout you Baby
And they don't mention me

I figure I'm out of your life now girl
I'm so far out of touch
I figure I'm out of your life now girl
And it's hurting me so much

(Break)

It's making me, it's making me sad, so sad
It's hurting me, it's hurting so bad

Everyday,
I find I'm living more without you Baby
You got no time for me

I figure I'm out of your life now girl
I'm so far out of touch, (so far out of touch)
I figure I'm out of your life now girl
And it's hurting me so much (so much)

I figure I'm out of your life now girl
I'm so far out of touch,
Ooh Baby
I figure I'm out of your life now girl
And it's hurting me so much,
Oooooh Babyyyy, girrrrllll

Don't leave me girl,
All alone
I'm so far out of touch
I'm so far out of touch

I don't see ya
You don't call me
We don't even talk anymore

Please don't leave me
Don't leave me all alone
I love you

Lance Ellington - Love Scared 1990

A&M Records AMY 585

The son of English bandleader Ray Ellington, Lance has been a successful session vocalist working with many of the big names, including Al Green, Johnny Gill and Tina Turner. Although his own 1990 album, Pleasure And Pain, didn't create waves on either side of the Atlantic, those in the know valued the 12" dancefloor mixes with good reason.

Treat Me Right was remixed by Def Mix Productions but it's predecessor remained in-house. In fact, Love Scared is the album track, referred to on the sticker as Love Scared Part I, the rest of this 12" comprises new recordings, untouched by Flyte Tyme and remixed by Lance himself. Going by the wordy title of, Love Scared Part II (Let's Talk It Over), this knocks spots off of Part I. Losing the sugarey 80's dance of the Steve Hodge production, this track features one seriously bad-ass bassline. The Original and the Mellow Version are both killer dancefloor tracks whilst the Piano Version is an off-kilter, leftfield jazz track.

• Love Scared
• Love Scared PT II (Let's Talk It Over)
• Love Scared PT II (Mellow Version)
• Love Scared PT II (Piano Version)

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Lance Ellington.rar Filesize: 37.29 MB

Nightcrawlers - Living Inside A Dream 1992

Lizard Records LIZARD 001

• First Round Remix
• Instrumental
• Bonus Beats

Nightcrawlers included John Reid, Hugh Brankin, Ross Campbell & Graham Wilson. As I recall, Reid was the driving force behind the original Nightcrawlers. He was Scottish, from Glasgow (I think?), not sure about the band though. I recall reading all this info in Blues & Soul mag in early 1992 and Steve Hobbs thought Living Inside A Dream was worthy so off I went to track it down. It's not what I expected and for awhile I wasn't sure whether it was good or just different. The chorus cleverly uses a sample of Luther Vandross' Never Too Much which I grew to enjoy.

Later that year Push The Feeling On was released on a Great Jones 12" with MK's Dub Of Doom on the flip. It was a House track that, after a few years working the dancefloors, would change Nightcrawlers forever.

Trivia: I've never seen another Lizard Records release.

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Nightcrawlers.rar Filesize: 18.91 MB

D-Breeze - When I'm With You 1992

White Label SOB-04

• When I'm With You (Club Mix)
• When I'm With You
• I'll Be There

No info on this at all other than it came out on a white label promo, probably Maranza Records in 1992. Some say electronica legend, Darrell Fitton (Bola & Jello) worked with D'Breeze but it's unlikely he worked on this. A soulful, falsetto led melody over an uptempo shuffle, in the same vein as Massivo. This one never got a release to my knowledge and I also suspect that it's rocking horse doo-doo.

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: D-Breeze.rar Filesize: 25.81 MB

Street Sounds Edition 1 1982

Street Sounds Records STSND 001


This was the moment that redefined the compilation album. Morgan Khan had worked in the UK record industry since the mid 70's. An Indian, born in Hong Kong, who grew up in London, Khan started the Streetwave record label in 1981 and within a year, Street Sounds was born Compiled from the hottest 12" imports of the day, these releases made the dance floor hits of the time available to the normal guy on the street. In the early 80's a 12" single was priced around £2 and you would pay over £4 for an import 12". The Street Sounds series offered usually 8 to 12 full-length 12" mixes for under a fiver. Understandably, the Street Sounds series was met with considerable enthusiasm and ran for over 6 years. They released 50 albums across the various series, Street Sounds and Electro being the most successful, reaching Edition 20 before restyling and losing the plot.

Strangely enough, the dodgey compilations that resulted from the advent of the House and Rave scene was not the cause of Street Sounds downfall. It was the labels magazine venture that caused them to go bust. It did mean that the label never got to suffer a slow lingering demise though. Respect to Morgan Khan!

On this debut release, Raw Silk & Peech Boys are both special mixes, Don't Make Me Wait is an exclusive 10 minute epic beginning with a long acappella that has been sampled to death. Northend's Tee's Happy is a remix and Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five are the hottest news of 1982.

• Raw Silk - Do It To The Music
• Grandmaster Flash - The Message
• Inner Life - Moment Of My Life
• Northend - Tee's Happy
• Greg Henderson - Dreamin'
• Dunn & Bruce Street - Shout For Joy
• Kadenza - Let's Stay Together
• Peech Boys - Don't Make Me Wait

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Streetsounds Edition 1.rar Size: 72.17 MB

Young MC - I Come Off 1990

Delicious Vinyl 613 053

Young MC is an American rapper known for his 1989 hit, Bust a Move, from his debut album Stone Cold Rhymin', which also featured Know How and I Come Off. The album won the second and last-ever Grammy Award for 'Best Rap Recording' at the 1990 Grammy Awards, during the golden age of hip hop. Young was born Marvin Young in South Wimbledon, London, England, and was raised in Queens, New York. He graduated in 1989 with a bachelor's degree in economics, which he received before Stone Cold Rhymin' completed production.

The Southern Comfort Mix is remixed by CJ Mackintosh and Dave Dorrell. Mackintosh is one of Britain's most prolific and successful remixers and as a DJ, few can match his supurb mixing abilities. A residency at the renowned Film Flam club, mixes for Serious records and then in 1987 CJ became the World DMC Mixing Champion. Mackintosh hooked up wilh Dave Dorell and joined his group Nasty Rox Inc. With Dorrell and two members of Colour Box, they created the seminal House track Pump Up The Volume by M|A|R|R|S.

The other mixes feature N'Dea Davenport supplying extra vocals for a chorus hook. Not long after this she joined the Brand New Heavies.

• Southern Comfort Mix
• 12" Version
• 7" Remix
• Instrumental

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Young MC.rar Filesize: 41.2 MB

A Special Motown Disco Album 1976

Motown Records STML 12059

Going way back to the mid 70's for todays post. This was the heart of the Disco era, Saturday Night Fever was being filmed and the Bee Gees would soon destroy any credibility the genre had but for now it was considered cool.

'Disco was a dance fad of the Seventies with a profound and unfortunate influence on popular music.'
The Penguin Encyclopedia of Popular Music 1989

Although disco was the most prominent form of popular music in the 1970s, it never got the credit it deserved. 1979's Disco Sucks revolution and in particular, Chicago's Disco Demolition Night all but destroyed the shallow, music industry gravytrain globally but it also permanantly scarred the term Disco. Thirty years later it's still a negative term and the reason I'm putting in so much info here.

Prior to 1975, Disco was not a recognised word. In New York, the underground club scene was spawning a new hybrid. A mixture of funk and soul with a particular sound developed into a new trend that would eventually take the world by storm. Songs like...

Zing Went the Strings of My Heart - The Trammps (Buddah, 1972)
Soul Makossa - Manu Dibango (Atlantic, 1973)
The Player - First Choice (74)

...played by DJ's such as Larry Levan at David Mancuso's Loft Nights, fed a dancefloor monster with a growing appetite.

Meanwhile, over in Detroit...

1971 saw the release of Motown Record's legendary Marvin Gaye release. What's Goin' On moved Motown music to a new level, changed their singles perspective to include albums and moved a whole generation. In June 1972, Motown announced that it was closing it's Detroit offices and moving it's headquarters to Los Angeles. While the move probably made sense , many Motown fans believe the company's heart and soul was lost when it abandoned Detroit. Motown slumped between 1972 - 1976 with only one Top 10 entry in 1975.

Back in New York...

In 1974 Tom Moulton was getting his first 10" acetate cut with nice deep grooves at Media Sound. Having run out of 7" blanks Tom got a 10" acetate and this 'accident' led to the DJ Only 12" promo. The 12" Single was the final ingredient to the breakthrough of what would become, the Disco Remix. The first official 12" release was in 1976. Salsoul Records released Ten Percent by Double Exposure, a three minute track turned into an eleven minute opus by Walter Gibbons, and the rest, as they say, is history.

In 1976, the fortunes of Motown rebounded with six releases reaching the Top 10. Three of them reached #1, including Love Hangover by Diana Ross and Love Machine by The Miracles. It's probably fair to say that Disco gave Motown a new lease of life. This album is clearly a collection of tracks Motown felt fit the bill. My favourites here are Diana Ross (Love Hangover is an Anthem!) & Eddie Kendricks but The Supremes & The Originals are also fair tunes, if somewhat dated. Thelma Houston is a fine artist but Don't Leave Me This Way has been tainted with Hi-Energy success?

OK, I admit it. I bought the album mainly for the glorious cover art by Helene Majera. Seems she lost her way after this album cover. ;-)

• Thelma Houston - Don't Leave Me This Way
• The Originals - Down To Love Town
• Dynamic Superiors - Stay Away
• Jermaine Jackson - Lets Be Young Tonight
• Diana Ross - Love Hangover
• Eddie Kendricks - Goin' Up In Smoke
• The Supremes - You're My Driving Wheel
• Tata Vega - Full Speed Ahead

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: A Special Motown Album.rar Filesize: 80.26 MB

D'Influence - Good Lover 1993

East West Records America A8439CD

The multi-talented D-Influence brought us many wonderful moments with their own unique style of music. Soulful Jazz would be a fair description but the music isn't twee enough to fit comfortably in that pigeonhole. D-Influence are Sarah Anne Webb (vocalist) Ed Baden-Powell (guitarist) Kwame Kwaten (keyboardist) and Steve Marston (drummer). Other than Webb, all members are skilled multi-instrumentalists, Baden-Powell regularly trading his strings for keys. The band were active prior to an 18 year old Webb joining in 1990 but that was when they became complete.

The (Wah) Classic was a breath of fresh air the first time I heard it, it's funky arsed bass, wicked beats and what sounds like an ADHD kid on the keyboard. The much hyped album did not disappoint, tracks like Good 4 We, Journey and the gospel-ish Sign (with a much too early fade) but most definitely For You I Sing This Song making it a must. It's the awesome Good Lover that opens the set, that was chosen for single release and the Le Jazz Mix here creates an interesting re-wrap of the Wow Original album track. Luvliness is a live recording that deserves a listen (shame it never got a studio production). I would advise anybody that enjoys this release to seek out the album. They have released three more since and are still active in production.

• Wow Original - Dance Energy Edit
• Wow Original Mix
• Le Jazz Mix
• Luvliness

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Good Lover EP.rar Filesize: 31.78 MB

Marva Hicks - I Got You Where I Want 1991

Polydor Records WINCD 11

Marva Hicks was one of the Eighties Ladies, committed on plastic back in '81. Cutting her teeth as a gospel singer in Petersburg, Virginia, she later worked in theatre as an actress in Washington, D.C. After the Eighties Ladies split, she recorded 'Looking Over My Shoulder' for Infinity Records which folded. Marva wound up singing in Lena Horne's Broadway show which was how she met Stevie Wonder in London. She toured with him and sang background vocals on his 'Characters' album.

She signed with Polydor in the late '80's and released her debut album 'Marva Hicks' in 1991. 'I Got You Where I Want' was the first single from the album. A lovely shuffling, SIIS style beat over strings, with the Extended Club Mix sporting a nice acappella intro and a funky drummer breakdown. A beautiful slice of early nineties street soul.

• Seven Inch Version
• Extended Club Version
• Instrumental

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Marva Hicks.rar Filesize: 20.68 MB

Howard Huntsberry - Sleepless Weekend 1988

MCA Records MCA-23856

Howard Stafford Huntsberry was the lead singer of the group Klique from '81 - '85 which included his sister Deborah Hunter and Isaac Suthers. He then went solo and produced two singles, one of which was Sleepless Weekend. Featuring exec. production from Louil Silas jnr. Steve Beltran involved in the remix and jazz session muso, Jeff Lorber on keys, this is a real 'Swing Yo Pants' New Jack bomb that never really got the exposure it deserved.

Howard is also a fair actor who starred as Jackie Wilson in the movie La Bamba. He obviously likes Jackie Wilson because he also performed Higher and Higher in Ghostbusters 2.

• Sleepless Weekend
• Sleepless Weekend (Radio Edit)
• Sleepless Weekend (Dub)

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Howard Huntsberry.rar Filesize: 37.18 MB

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

Xavier - Work That Sucker To Death 1982

Liberty Records 12UP 651

Xavier were an 8 piece group formed by Ernest 'Xavier' Smith (guitar/bass & vocals), Ayanna Little (vocals), Tim Williams (drums), Ralph Hunt Jnr (bass), Jeffrey Mitchell (guitar), Lyburn Downing (percussion), Emonie Branch and Chuck Hughes (vocals). Smith had played with The Coasters in the mid 60s as bass player prior to joining Wilson Pickett's Midnight Movers. He later worked with Isaac Hayes and the Temptations. In the late 70s he joined Shades Of Directions and turned them into Xavier and LUV (Life's Universal Vibration). The group joined Liberty Records, shortened their name and released this single. Produced and arranged by Rahni Harris (Six Million Steps 1978) this double A Sided single features the funky Work That Sucker To Death and the beautiful 80's Groove dancer Love Is On The One.

Taken from the album Point Of Pleasure, which narrowly missed the Top 100, Work That Sucker To Death featured Smith's old friend Bootsy Collins, and George Clinton (the credits only give special thanks George, no mention of him actually performing?) The record went into the R&B Top 10 and made the UK charts in 1982.

• Work That Sucker To Death
• Love Is On The One

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Xavier.rar Filesize: 23.97 MB