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

Mary J. Blige - Real Love (YD Remixes) 1992

MCA Records MCSTD 1721

Todays post comes courtesy of my main man Sasha:

"I have the 12" back home in Australia but have just found it on CD Single. It was released in the UK in 1992 and the mixes are definitely as good as I remembered. Check out Track 3 and Track 4 for some really special and soulful mixes.

p.s. I have also included some of the other Blacksmith remixes that were on a 1993 UK 12" of Real Love, that someone sent me - vinyl rip. Cheers, Sasha"

A quick summary then, Real Love came out on 25th August 1992, the second release lifted from her excellent début album, What's the 411? It boasts executive production by Sean 'Puffy' Combs and is written and produced by Mark C. Rooney and Mark Morales (again). The track is built on a drum sample from Audio Two's 1988 classic, Top Billin'. The Hip Hop Mix by Bad Boy Ent. features a sample of Betty Wright's 1972 single, Clean-Up Woman and the first appearance of The Notorious B.I.G., then going by the name Big E. Smalls. The vinyl has the Hip Hop Club mix which much the same but without the acappella intro.

Then they brought out the UK Remix 12" which added '2 Special Mixes By The Young Disciples' and suddenly we have something to talk about. This is The Soul Vendor blog, we aren't interested in simply Classic Soul & R&B that everybody has in their collection. We try to target the long forgotten obscure and unusual mixes that you can't find. I think this fits the bill. Femi Fem of The Young Disciples on the controls and incorporating the services of Mad Marco, Phil Linton, Incognito's Jean-Paul 'Bluey' Maunick on guitar and Omar Lye-Fook on keyboards. The Fresh 'N Funky Mix is my fav but The Talkin' Love Mix is just as good.

In the bonus collection you will find the 1993 MCA Records release on MCSX 1922. There were two 12"s with the same serial number (as with this 1992 12"). One featuredthe Phat Mix built on the Roy Ayers 'Love Will Bring Us Back Together' mentioned by Tosh. The other, absolute clincher here, featured the two Blacksmith mixes, the Brixton Flavour 12" and the Blacksmith's Summer Sound 12" both mixed by The Funk Mob with a rap by Sniper.

The Uptown 411 Remix featuring Biggie's rap and an introduction by Puffy, is the Hip Hop Mix with the intro changed. I'm not sure as to what release it is from?

• Album Version
• Hip Hop Mix
• The Fresh 'N Funky Mix
• The Talkin' Love Mix

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Mary J Blige.rar Filesize: 59.25 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

Blacksmith - Fight For The Right 1998

Records

Blacksmith are a very important part of the UK 90's Soul scene. As a prominent production team they also created quality product as an artist. I shall get around to posting, probably, their most well known release, Get Back To Love in the very near future but in the meantime, Alifunk has provided this excellent promo 12", of a track that I have never heard of until now. José Manuel, I leave a space for some words from you, where did you find this release?

Thank you Mickey for posting this 12". I'm not really sure where I bought this one, I think it was in London, but maybe 2nd hand here in Spain. I was very into US New Jack Swing in the late 80's but my taste changed to UK Soul when the 90's started. I discovered the infectious and elegant beats and smooth voices. For me personally, it was the incredible work of remixers like Ruffland, 2B3, Dodge, Full Crew, C&J, Ignorants, Lynsley and of course Blacksmith.

Thanks José for sharing this great tune, it makes me wonder what the full release may have included. At five and a half minutes, that is one hell of a Radio Edit?

• Radio Edit
• Instrumental

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Blacksmith.rar Filesize: 26.81 MB

Caron Wheeler - Livin' In The Light 1990

RCA Records PT 43940

Caron Wheeler came to fame by writing and singing the two biggest hits for Soul II Soul (Keep on Movin and Back to Life). Prior to SIIS she had sung backing vocals for Elvis Costello in 1983, Howard Jones in 1985, Erasure in 1988 and sang on records by Madness and Dexy's Midnight Runners, among others..

After her success with Soul II Soul, Wheeler embarked on a solo career, and released two albums: UK Blak (1990) and Beach of the War Goddess (1993). Her biggest solo success single is Livin' In The Light from her first solo album, which reached the Top 20 in the UK Singles Chart. Other singles include Blue (Is The Colour Of Pain) & I Adore You. Wheeler's only other solo Top 40 hit single was the title track from UK Blak. She also featured with Soul II Soul on the soundtrack to the Angela Bassett movie, How Stella Got Her Groove Back in 1998.

• Brixton Bass Mix
• Meewonjammin'
• The Original Story
• 7"

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Caron - Light.rar Filesize: 38.63 MB

Don-E - Rhythm Of Life 1995

Island Records BRCD 328

After the abysmal Craz-e in 1993 (even Blacksmith couldn't save that one?) I almost gave up on Don-E but along came Fakin' The Funk and he was back on track. From the funking good album Changing Seasons, this is Rhythm Of Life and you don't need to look further than the Mellow Madness Mix. It's Blacksmith back on track too. Special Request is a beautiful slice of summer soul. For those that have heard the album, this is the song used in the Introlude track.

• Rhythm Of Life (Edit)
• Rhythm Of Life (Mellow Madness Mix)
• Rhythm Of Life (Harmony Party Mix)
• Special Request

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Don E - ROL.rar Filesize: 29.19 MB

Caron Wheeler - Blue (Is The Colour Of Pain) 1990

RCA Records PT 44536

This was always my favourite Caron Wheeler moment, the Aqua Mix being my weapon of choice. Livin' In The Light was a great song but this has Stanley Turrentine playing sax on it. It's a fine piece of music people, produced by Mark Brydon and remixed by Ron Fair & John Gass. The Blak & Blue Mix is a bit too bumpy for me but hey, each to their own. Opinions are welcome, feel free to pass one.

This Is Mine is just a let down, produced by Blacksmith I expected great things. I was sadly disappointed. Lots of sax there too (Stanley again, I'm not sure. The credits are ambiguous) but its a mess, am I missing something?

• Blue (Blak & Blue Mix)
• This Is Mine (Remix)
• Blue (Perfect Shade Of Aqua Mix)

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Caron Wheeler.rar Filesize: 40.33 MB

Tony! Toni! Toné! - Oakland Stroke 1990

Polydor Records WINGX 7

This celebration of the Tonies roots has been remixed by the UK's mighty Blacksmith (Karl Atkins & Pete Trotman) who, despite having been party to some of black musics finest moments, are something of an enigma.

On this release they use their 'Brixton Bass' persona to create a compulsive dance mix with a bubbling bassline, soaring synth strings and a nice spinback, while the 'Upso Mix' drops a nice R'n'B grind.

• Brixton Bass Mix
• Upso Mix
• Brixton Bass Dub
• Upso Dub

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Tony Toni Tone - Oakland Stroke.rar Filesize: MB