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

Incognito - Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing - (1992)

Talkin Loud, TALKCD 21

The sun is shining here in North London, so I thought I'd post something with a Summery vibe to match the weather outside.

What better, then, than a Talkin Loud track? One that's a remake of a Stevie Wonder classic?

I'm a huge Stevie Wonder fan, I know most of his songs backwards, and can't get enough of his 70's period albums. That boy had the funk down to a T. I would normally consider anyone covering one of his songs as utter blasphemy, but Incognito did a brilliant job with this tune, and, dare I say it, made it a little more dance-friendly, with a more pronounced groove.

Just listening to it now takes me back to summers gone by where I had it on a playlist, along with various other acid jazz type tracks, playing loud during barbeque's with family and friends, the rosé wine flowing, the smell of cooking burgers and spliffs* being passed round...

I better stop now, as I'll be boring you.

There's a Frankie Foncett mix, as well as another track, a remix of Colibri, which sounds, for all the world, like a latin-tinged Roy Ayers/George Benson collaboration.

However, what you'll really want are the Edit and LP Versions (the LP Version being my personal pick). Essential summertime listening.

Enjoy the sun, y'all!

- Kymba :)

• Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing (Edit)
• Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing (LP Version)
• Colibri (Remix)
• Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing (Frankie Foncett Mix)

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing.zip File size: 27.8 MB

* can't do that now, my boyfriend's a cop and doesn't approve!

Incognito - Out Of The Storm 1996

Talkin' Loud Records TLCD 14

A good song by incognito with some great Def Mix remixes by David Morales who uses the full potential of the song on the Sleaze Mix with trademark piano & drums and some nice string arrangements. The Instrumental Mix is a great addition too. Carl Craig's 10 minute epic Planet E Mix however has left no trace of the song whatsoever but it has a great vibe about it with freestyle drums and a cool synth and heavy bassline, this is certainly more than just a remix. Turn on, tune in and chill out. Bluey's Club Mix is another fine jazzy dancer, as expected, that ties this selection up neatly.

• Morales Radio Edit
• Morales Sleaze Mix
• Morales Instrumental Mix
• C's Planet E Special Mix
• Bluey's Club Mix

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Out Of The Storm CDS.rar Filesize: 56.61 MB

Ray Simpson - Crazy Pictures 1991

Circa Records YRT 76

A "Native New Yorker" born and raised in the Bronx, sports fan Simpson is a proud husband and father living in New Jersey. As Valerie Simpson's younger brother, Ray Simpson first started as songwriter in early 70's before embarking on a solo career. He recorded Tiger Love for Warner Brothers in 1978 which was released with little success.

He is frequently employed as a background vocalist and can be found on Ashford & Simpson's Solid as well as albums by Will Downing, Diana Ross & Billy Joel. Simpson made another attempt to break through in 1991, releasing two singles. Crazy Pictures, co-penned by Bluey Maunick and produced by Michael Powell & Sir Gant, enjoyed limited success, Remixed by Frankie Knuckles and featuring additional keyboards by Satoshi Tomiie, the Classic Club Mix makes a fine noise, as does the R'n'B Extended Version. 1992's Out There, produced by Bluey Maunick, sadly disappeared without a trace.

In 1997 he joined Soul II Soul on their Time For Change album, singing lead vocal on four of the ten tracks. Pleasure Dome was released as a single and although Ray's voice has still failed to garner the recognition it deserves, the single scored well on the UK dancefloors in it's remix format.

• Classic Club Mix
• Classic Radio Version
• R n B Extended Version
• Classic Reprise

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Ray Simpson 91.rar Filesize: 44.07 MB

K Collective - Never Stop 1990

Ritmo Recordings Ltd. 12 RIT2

If it sounds familiar then you probably like the Brand New Heavies. Yes, it is their track but then the K Collective are Jan Kincaid & Andrew Levy with a little production help from Incognito's 'Bluey' Maunick.

When the Heavies debut came out on Eddie Piller's Acid Jazz label, the few vocal tracks were dealt with by Jan Kincaid (drums and keyboard) or guest vocalist Jay Ella Ruth. This track didn't make it onto the album and due to some label complications they were unable to release it as BNH. Two years later it would turn up on the re-vamped debut, sung by N'dea Davenport.

• Never Stop
• Never Stop (Special Mix)

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: K-Collective.rar Filesize: 24.07 MB