Cameo - Skin I'm In 1988

Club Records JABCD 77

Last week, Larry Blackmon strutted his stuff at the O2 Indigo. I had the opportunity to go but couldn't make it. Absolutely gutted. As a tribute to a fine group who have contributed far more than most to dancefloor history, The Soul Vendor proudly presents Cameo.

By 1980, Cameo already had a history as a 13 piece, funk and soul phenomenon. Albums such as Cameosis and Knights of the Sound Table were laid on a foundation of legend.

In the mid-80's Larry Blackmon and his crew were ready to move on. With Alligator Woman in 1982, the band stripped down to five main members. Blackmon moved the band in a new direction, giving them a cutting edge sound dominated by a drum machine and prominent bass line. He donned 'a red codpiece', added his trademark "Ooow!" into the mix and totally reinvented the group.

Cameo's 1983 release Style was one of the first to come from this new label and was the first disc to capitalize on Cameo's new sound. She's Strange came out in 1984 and its '12-inch mix' was a major smash in the clubs. 1985's Single Life was also a major club hit that saw some crossover success, especially in the UK.

Word Up! hit the airwaves in mid-1986, the resulting album turned Cameo into superstars. The follow-up tracks, Candy and Back and Forth, were also huge hits for the funk trio. By this time, the band were included in every mix or album compilation going. Les Adams remixed Word Up! to great effect and soon after the original Cameo Megamix made it's presence felt. The Cameo Megamix Two is an epic 10 mins of blistering anthems that doesn't sell you short.

Two years later, Cameo released Machismo to lukewarm response despite favourable review. It's a good song with a positive message and yet Skin I'm In sunk without a trace in the UK. It would appear Cameo's reign was over. Almost in reflection of this, Honey is a short reprise of Candy without a song as such. It simply echoes a song that once was.

• Skin I'm In
• Honey
• The Cameo Megamix Two

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Cameo.rar Filesize: 33.75 MB

10 x 12 - A Bad Album 1986

Portrait Records PRT 26920

This is for those of you that are not old enough to remember the 80's club scene. This is a sampler album that hit the spot in early 1986. Black Music has not always been mainstream. It used to be 'underground' or 'specialist' and became overly popular in certain eras. I guess Tamla Motown was probably the first Black Music become Pop Music. Disco also had a good go before the mainstream 'White' market stole it and milked it relentlessly causing, in the process, 'the death of Disco'.

Interestingly, that cull enabled the wonderful process that led to the advent of House & Garage. Allow me to digress a little more here. When I say House & Garage, I ain't talking about the shite we in the UK now refer to as House & Garage in the Noughties. That's actually Bassline & 90's 2 Step.

In the meantime, incredible things were happening on the underground Black Music scene. Rapping, Hip Hop, Electro, Breakdancing, Graffitti, Jazz Funk, Cherry (Jerry?) Curls, Extensions, Combats and Batty Riders? Behind it all though, was a slow heavy bass line that became known as 80's Groove. By 1986, Black Music was ready to take over the charts again.

Most of the tracks on this album are US releases from 1985 and most went on to become anthems. There was something for everybody on this and the only track I personally, didn't rate highly at the time is Lovebug Starski. My opinion hasn't changed much.

Portrait Records was a reasonably good Pop label, releasing some fair 12"s, Say Yeah by The Limit being a perfect example, but I have many of those featured on here and they didn't come out on Portrait except New York Eyes as I recall. I guess it was a CBS showcase then?

Living In America was a huge tune marking the return of 'The hardest working man in show business...' James Brown. He hadn't really been away as such cos every record company with his name in their catalogue was re-releasing it. In 1984 he teamed up with Afrika Bambaataa for Unity and his name was legend. His product was being cut up by every DJ in the world at this time. Even I used to try using the Sex Machine intro as a sample, especially the "1, 2, 3... " It was a phenomenon and hard to describe now without it sounding like an exaggeration. James Brown became an institution and Living In America was his way of saying...

I'm more than a legend, I'm alive!

'The Boss' was making his presence felt on the Top Twenty again.

Full Force were, for a short time, the name on everybody's lips. B-Fine, Shy Shy, Paul Anthony, Bowlegged Lou, 'Curt-T-T'& Baby Gerry came together in Brooklyn during 1984. By autumn of 1985 Alice (I Want You Just For Me) had been played to death everywhere whilst I Wonder (If I Take You Home) was last seasons 'most played'. Unfortunately, 1986 was the crest of the wave, Full Force overkill, they would never have another hit with their name on it.

Roy Ayers Hot was the reason I bought this album. Infectious rhythm, excellent vibraphone solo and James Mtume production. What more can you ask for.... Oh, I know, a showcase in a Michael Jackson video, thanks!

James 'Jimmy Jam' Harris III and Terry Lewis comprised the production team known as Flyte Tyme and they ruled in the 80's. Cherrelle was launched on Tabu Records and although her voice wasn't the best on the scene, she had something. Jam & Lewis was part of the something she had and just in case there was any doubt, they teamed her up with their new male talent, Alexander O'Neal. Saturday Love was a club hit of epic proportion. The inclusion of an accapella on the 12" ensured that it got mixed with all sorts on pirate radio. The version included here is the album cut which is cool because it's not on the 12". O'Neal's own offering is also included here, If You Were Here Tonight has gone on to become a slow jam stalwart, featuring on more Quiet Storm collections than you could shake a stick at. There's one more Jam & Lewis contribution in the shape of The Finest by The S.O.S. Band. I believe this is the 12" Long Version and is also an anthem.

Juicy contribute their finest moment on the dancefloor with Sugar Free (The Super Deo Dance Mix) although it does fade early. They were an Eumir Deodato project, hence the Super Deo title. Deodato was a 70's legend and moved into production in the 80's. There's nearly six minutes here and you don't feel like you are missing anything. A little knowledge can be bad for you?

Last on the list, but certainly not least, we have New York Eyes by Nicole featuring Timmy Thomas. Nicole had a succesion of releases mostly US, some with Clivilles & Cole but this is the only one she is truly memorable for. Timmy Thomas is something of a legend himself, he is also world reknowned for one song. In 1972 he released Why Can't We Live Together and it blew up worldwide. Here, he produces and duets superbly with Nicole and you can't but help wonder why they never had more product of this calibre?

• James Brown - Living In America
• Full Force - Alice
• Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam - I Wonder
• Lovebug Starski - House Rocker
• Roy Ayers - Hot
• Cherrelle - Saturday Love
• Juicy - Sugar Free
• Nicole - New York Eyes
• Alexander O'Neal - If You Were Here Tonight
• The S.O.S. Band - The Finest

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: A Bad Album.rar Filesize: 114.53 MB

Blacksmith - Get Back To Love 1989

ffrr Records FX 111

Karl Alexis Atkins & Hugh Atkins together with Peter Carlyle Trotman formed the foundation of Blacksmith. They are essentially a production team from South London. Blacksmith mixes were in demand and invariably came in pairs, Brixton Bass and Upso mixes. They had an edge in the late 80's, early 90's, in the fact that their production style covered both downbeat R&B headnodders, and uptempo dancefloor mixes without entering into house music territory.

Trotman can be found on quite a few things outside the Blacksmith field. He plays bass on, among others, Zero 7's 'Simple Things' album and has even sung vocals for East West Connection. Karl 'Blacksmith' Atkins is the main man though, I suspect? For a short time only, they tried their hand in the 'Artist' category, releasing (to my knowledge at the time) two singles, for which they went all 4x4 deciding to move Blacksmith into the 'Dance' arena.

Get Back To Love done quite well because it featured on ffrr's Silver On Black sampler album. The album contained a Radio Edit which clocked in at around four minutes. It sounded good, uplifting house with lots of vocals, but the fade left you wanting more and so I went seeking the twelve inch.

The exciting thing about this 12" was the Blaze Remixes. Blaze, to me, were the MAW of the late 80's. I had flipped over If You Should Need A Friend and went through the roof to Can't Win For Losing. Then they provided the remixes of Mica's Great Impersonation. I had great expectations for this 12" but I was blandly disappointed. The Blaze Club Mix has the vocals and keyboards higher in the mix and some fluttering percussion has been added with a bucketful of flange. The Blaze Dub doubles up, nay, triples the amount of flange and leaves the vocals in which is effective but then it adds further insult by fading out at five and a half minutes.

All in all, the Blaze mixes are no better than the original. Had this not been Blaze I would not have been so critical but Kevin Hedge & Josh Milan are producers of high calibre and I came to the conclusion that they were short of time or couldn't be bothered. For that reason my vote goes on the Blacksmith Mix every time.

They followed it up with Hold You Back in 1990 which I have a horrible feeling has gone missing but I will have a look later.

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Blacksmith.rar Filesize: 40.47 MB

Soul II Soul - Get A Life (1989)

Ten Records, TEN CD 284

“So there it is, work it out for yourself. Be subjective, be objective… be an asset to the collective…”

Wise words there, our Jazzie!

So, after dominating UK airplay, as well as a very impressive showing worldwide, most notably the States, with tracks such as Back To Life and the sublime Keep On Movin’, Soul II Soul found themselves in “difficult second album” territory. However, from the lead single, you wouldn’t know it.

Jazzie B really got his flow on and gave us a more hiphop Soul II Soul song than we’d previously seen. Okay, so he isn’t the most gifted rapper, but the dude has a great voice, rich in bass tones, and sounds fab on this track.

Get A Life isn’t their finest moment, but it’s still a tidy little number espousing the values of positivity, a real cornerstone of the Soul II Soul ethic, and, while I was typing this and re-listening to it, I was surprised how fresh it still sounds. In fact, I caught myself singing along to it a couple of times (got an odd look from a work colleague just now) which really shouldn't be allowed, as I can't sing! Still, it's a mark of how catchy the hook is.

However, the real gem on this mini CD Single (remember them? Whatever happened to them?) is the Teddy Riley remix of Keep On Movin’ – which is worth the admission price alone. I mean, c’mon, he’s put that wicked JB’s “The Grunt” screeching horns sample in there, as popularised by the mighty Public Enemy the year before. Beefed up drums and that “Riddim a full a culture y’aaaal” sample (that I can’t place right at this minute) also play their part in giving us a much more “street” version of Keep On Movin’, without detracting from it’s classy flava.

The mini CD Single is rounded off by a remixed version of Jazzie’s Groove, which is probably the best version I’ve heard of that particular track. Nice extra sax added to it, and cheeky use of a sample from Bob James’ brilliant “Nautilus”.

Anyway, enjoy!

-Kymba :)

• Get A Life 7" Version
• Get A Life (Club mix)
• Keep On movin' (Teddy Riley Remix)
• Jazzie's Groove (New Version)

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Get A Life (Single).zip File size: 21.6 MB

Sherrick - Let's Be Lovers Tonight 1987

WEA Records W9146T

Lamotte Smith, a.k.a. Sherrick, recorded his debut album 'Sherrick' (1987) with Warner Brothers. It was produced by Michael Stokes and gave us the first single release Just Call which hit the UK Top 30. This track is a Bobby Sandstrom along with Steve Barri who supplied the remix.

The Extended Dance Remix is certainly worthy of a place in your collection and the two tracks on the flip, Let's Be Lovers Tonight and Do You Baby, are from the album. Not much in the 12" department but if you haven't got Sherrick's album (which I haven't) then it's a nice addition.

Sherrick began putting together some new songs when he tragically died in January 1999. The new recordings are not yet released as his wife Lynne Conner-Smith (who is in posession of his most recent tapes) is wary of many record companies and their agenda's. It is supposedly being made available through Johnson Dynasty Inc. via their website but it doesn't seem very professional. I hope Mrs. Conner-Smith has the good sense to get some good backing after all, distrust is one thing but losing the opportunity altogether is foolish.

• Extended Dance Remix
• LP Version
• Do You Baby

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Sherrick.rar File size: 50.03 MB

Sherrick - Just Call 1987

Warner Brothers Records W 8380 (T)

• Just Call (Hot Line Mix)
• Just Call (Collect Call Mix)
• I'm Scared 'A You

Sherrick seemed to come from nowhere but he was overlooked by Benny Medina and Ray Singleton. It's only now that I realise Michael Stokes is the producer behind Sherrick, which is without a doubt, what got him on the hip list. He was actually given the chance to record solo by Berry Gordy's wife. Raynoma Gordy secured Sherrick the recording deal with Warner Brothers.

More importantly, these are M&M mixes which in the mid 80's got you a free pass to the turntable. Morales was a name in the 80's but this was John Morales and together with Sergio Munzibai, they remixed hit after hit. This team virtually wrote the blueprint for 80's Groove.

Just Call was the more sucessful of Sherrick's two single releases. The Hot Line Mix is short and to the point while the Collect Call Mix wanders everywhere but both are excellent mixes. I'm Scared 'A You never pushed my buttons I'm afraid. You see what I did there?

Sherrick recorded his self titled debut album and released two singles in the UK, Just Call and Let's Be Lovers Tonite, both of which were well recieved. He then vanished until the end of the 90's when he recorded material for a new album but tragically died (LA January 1999) before it was released. He was 42 and left a wife and three children.

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Sherrick.rar Filesize: 25.59 MB

Change - The Very Best In You 1982

London Records LONX 009

• The Very Best In You
• You're My Girl

Forever doomed to be known as the band that spawned Luther Vandross. Change are criminally ignored in general and on the odd occasion that they get airplay or media coverage it's always in Luther's shadow.

Young Italian, Jacques Fred Petrus was a mechanic before his love of Soul music took him to Paris as a DJ. Back in Milan, Italy he worked at several famous clubs before hooking up with song writer and producer, Mauro Malavasi. They produced several Italian successes in the late 70's but when Change hit the market in 1980 with their debut album The Glow of Love, Petrus and Malavasi could never have imagined what was to come.

The Glow Of Love featured some lead vocals by the then unknown Luther Vandross and the album became the #1 Disco album of that year and a million seller in the U.S. There were two other Italians besides Malavasi on this album, bassist Davide Romani and guitarist Paolo Gianolio. Romani, who wrote, arranged and conducted the entire album in conjunction with Gianolio. Luther Vandross, was actually hired to perform with Jocelyn Brown. The album also received 7 Grammy's.

The success of Searching and The Glow Of Love exposed Luther's voice to mainstream and eventually led to a successful solo career starting in 1981. They didn't have to look far to replace him because back-up singer James Robinson had a similar vocal style.

Change's third album, Sharing Your Love, featured The Very Best In You which was less disco from the group's usual sound. Personally, I think it is almost as good as Glow Of Love and I prefer it to Searching. A little Change would do you good!

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Change.rar Filesize: 16.5 MB

Regina Belle - Good Lovin' 1989

CBS Records Promo XPR 1452

It was the second Summer Of Love and the UK was reeling from a plethora of musical dance genres that sat side by side across the nations dancefloors. Many of those dancefloors were green and muddy. The wonderful thing about that Era was that good music was hard to define. If it lacked soulful vocals but had a squelchy 808, it could still be considered good because Acid House was in. Onto the manic dancefloors of the M25 London Orbital Rave scene came the songstress that is Regina Belle, an unlikely candidate if ever there was one.

Written by Carl Bourelly and produced & arranged by Narada Michael Walden. This was a special dance remix by Frankie Foncett but it ended up the only version people recognised. Of course, it ended up being used in a 1999 UK Garage tune called The Way by F.U.N. (Future Underground Nation) and Regina was forgotten.

I might add, this is far from Regina Belle's best work, neither is it Frankie Foncett's but it's a classic track that should be heard. The album that it's taken from, Stay With Me, is a very worthy addition to the collection. Produced 40/40 by Narada Michael Walden & Nick Martinelli alongside two Barry Eastmond tracks, it had the unenviable task of following her 1987 debut, All By Myself. All the superstar producers money could buy managed to pull it out of the dark but it was still left in the shadows.

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Regina Belle.rar Filesize: 19.04 MB

Street Sounds Edition 7 1983

Street Sounds STSND 007

Another great release on the Street Sounds label. Michael Jackson's Billie Jean was phenomenal at the time and Lydia Murdock grabbed a whole heap of limelight with Superstar with a few surprises, first it ripped off Billie Jean's groove, secondly it was an 'answer back' song and finally it consists of a female rap. Extraordinary at the time but oh so dated now. Instant Funk & Billy Griffin were popular here but for me it was all about side one. Dayton's Sound Of Music, Tom Browne and The Jones Girls in particular but Curtis and Lillo also high on the list.

• Dayton - Sound Of Music
• Curtis Hairston - I Want You
• Tom Browne - Brighter Tomorrow
• The Jones Girls - Knockin'
• Lillo Thomas - I Love It
• Lydia Murdock - Superstar
• Second Image - Don't You
• Instant Funk - You'll Be Mine
• Billy Griffin - Respect
• Lew Kirton - Talk To Me

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Street Sounds.rar Filesize: 78.31 MB

Capitol Classics Volume 1 1988

Capitol Records EMS 1316

Massive respect to my man Boo for supplying the artwork for this gem! As we are unable to record the vinyl at its (French?) source, I have collected together the tracklist. Can you please confirm that I have used all the correct versions Boo?

The first two Capitol Classics releases were essential at the time, I never managed to get this release and had to wait to find the tracks I wanted on other compilations. The later releases were 'less essential' back in the day although they are all interesting for different reasons now.

In the case of this album, the tracks that were of interest at the time were likely to be A Taste Of Honey - Boogie Oogie Oogie, The BB&Q Band - On The Beat, The McCrary's - Love On A Summer Night (a Jazz Funk classic), Dayton - Sound Of Music and Mystic Merlin - Just Can't Give You Up.

Most of these are now easily found and no surprise but what about L.J. Reynolds - Key To The World (a Nortern Soul anthem?), Eddie Henderson - Prance On (a forgotten Jazz Funker) and the wonderful O'Bryan - Doin' Alright. These are great songs that have been left on the back shelf for too long, good to be reminded of them again. Gary Bartz - Music Is My Sanctuary is a fine tune that slipped through the cracks into obscurity, sounding much younger than it's 31 years of age. The pearl in the shell making this album essential for me though, Sheree Brown - It's A Pleasure, and it certainly is!

A great list of record shops on the rear makes good reading. It's like a list of my favourite lunch time visits throughout the 80's & 90's. Tooting, Balham, Brixton, Holborn, Chingford, Hackney, East Ham, Bow, Putney & Croydon. Good to see Mi Price listed as there were LWR (92.5) DJ's working there. Every one of them helped relieve me of large portions of my hard earnt wages. Several shops in the heart of London's Soho helped, some were record shops too! Steve's in Leicester Square deserves a mention, as does Reckless in Soho, Solar in Brixton underground and Beano's in Croydon Market.

Thanks Boo, a great post! ;-)

• L.J. Reynolds
• A Taste Of Honey
• BB&Q Band
• Eddie Henderson
• McCrarys
• Sheree Brown
• Dayton
• O'Bryan
• Mystic Merlin
• Gary Bartz

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Capitol Classics.rar Filesize: 92.43 MB

Street Sounds Edition 15 1985

Street Sounds STSND 15

The most memorable Street Sounds Edition for me. Not because of the choice of tracks but because of the climate at the time it was released. Aleem's awesome Get Loose was so overplayed by this time that I always skipped the track when playing this album. Packed full of goodies, as usual and the longevity on this selection is as good as the day it was released. Caprice, 100% still sounds fresh to my ears, as does Evelyn 'Champagne' King's, Your Personal Touch in it's short but efficient Dance Mix format. The beautiful ballad, Mated by David Grant & Jaki Graham is here in it's Extended Version but my favourite tracks are Mr DJ by The Concept, simple but effective, and the track I bought the album for, Princess, After The Love Has Gone the Chief Inspector Remix, which is based on the Wally Badarou classic, Chief Inspector, which was huge at the time.

• The Concept - Mr DJ
• Aleem - Get Loose
• Colonel Abrams - Music Is The Answer
• Brass Construction - Give & Take
• David Grant & Jaki Graham - Mated
• Princess - After The Love Has Gone
• Evelyn King - Personal Touch
• B.T. Express - Uptown Express
• Caprice - 100%
• Masquerade - One Nation

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Street Sounds Edition 15.rar Filesize: 110.98 MB

Walter Beasley - I'm So Happy 1987

Urban Records URBX 14 DJ

Another wonderful piece of jazz based Soul from the heart of the UK Rare Groove scene. Jump On It is a Lionel Job produced instrumental by saxophonist Walter Beasley. It sits nicely alongside 3 mixes of I'm So Happy, produced by Job & Beasley. Walter Beasley’s musical journey began in the early 1970s in his hometown of el Centro, California. When his aunt gave him his first Grover Washington, Jr. record at age nine. By his early teens, Beasley was playing saxophone in various bands around Southern California. One of the top five best-selling African-American saxophonists in the world since the late 90’s, Beasley has performed with contemporary jazz and R&B icons Brian McKnight, Gerald Albright, Ronnie Laws, Kirk Whalum, Bob James, Norman Brown, George Howard, Art Porter, Stephanie Mills, Vanessa Williams and Rachelle Ferrell.

Considered by most as “the heir to Grover Washington Jr.’s throne,” the Boston-based musician has been one of the ten highest selling saxmen in the world since 1998 while working as a full professor of music at The Berklee School of Music, where he began teaching in the mid-80s.

• I'm So Happy (12" Remix)
• I'm So Happy (Dub)
• I'm So Happy (7" Version)
• Jump On It

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Walter Beasley.rar Filesize: 30.64 MB

Pennye Ford - Dangerous 1985

Total Experience Records FT 49976

Penny (with or without an 'e') Ford's musical roots run deep, daughter of record exec. Gene Redd Sr. (King Records) and singer Carolyn Ford and sister of Sharon Redd ('Beat the Street'), She was exposed to a lot of music as a result of Dad's work with James Brown and Kool & the Gang. She got into music at five years old, when she started piano lessons and she eventually became an in-demand session vocalist. Ford can rightfully make claim to being "Ms. New Jill" before there was New Jack Swing. She signed with Total Experience Records, home of the Gap Band and can be heard on their hit single I Found My Baby. The New Jack sound owes a lot to the artists of Total Experience.

Ford debuted as a recording artist in her own right on the 1984 album Pennye, which yielded two R&B charters, Change Your Wicked Ways and the slammin' Dangerous (this 12" is a must for dance fans). With production by Jonah Ellis, Oliver Scott, Jimmy Hamilton and Maurice Hayes (Have Myself a Good Time), and Yarborough & Peoples (Don't Stop the Music) Pennye was loaded with sassy soulfulness and is a good precursor of the new jack sound. Remix duty is carried out by Lonnie Simmons, the legendary Total Experience producer that made the Gap Band a success.

Ed Hogan, All Music Guide

• Dangerous (Remix)
• Change Your Wicked Ways (Remix No. 1)

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Pennye Ford.rar Filesize: 40.86 MB

Lillo Thomas - I'm In Love 1987

Capitol Records 12 CL 450

Lillo Thomas was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. A highly successful athlete, he set a world record for the 200 metres at the age of 16. An accident in Brazil prevented him from appearing in the 1984 Olympics, for which he had already qualified. Choosing a completely different career in soul music, his session singing with Evelyn King, Kashif, Howard Johnson, James Ingram, George Benson and Melba Moore brought an opportunity of a solo deal at Capitol Records

Lillo's biggest solo success came in 1987 with his third album Lillo. This release, I'm In Love produced and written by Paul Laurence and Timmy Allen, reached the UK Top 60 and the follow up Sexy Girl hit the UK Top 25. The superb Longer Luv Mix is accompanied by the Luv Dub and another song from the Lillo album. A cover of the Otis Redding classic, I've Been Loving You To Long, which Lillo produced himself and handles competently, in an authentic style. More Lillo here and Sexy Girl later but this one was requested and available.

• I'm In Love (Longer Luv Mix)
• I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)
• I'm In Love (Luv Dub)

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Lillo Thomas - I'm In Love.rar Filesize: 31.98 MB