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

Courtney Buchanan - R U Conscious 1993

Conscious Records MCSTD 1792

Courtney Buchanan gained critical acclaim with his single release Life With You in '92. His second single release 'R U Conscious - The Chapters' (CON 14) was licensed from Conscious Records by MCA a scored a minor hit in 1993.

The CD single release features the additional Hip Hop Edit and the Final Chapter (Instrumental). Buchanan was hot property in '93 and Soul II Soul's Daddae Harvey is involved on the remixes. His Soul Mix: The Final Chapter was always the one that got the drop back in the day. Listening now, I think the Album Version is the better mix.

In 1994 he dropped a stunning release called Heaven which I never got my hands on. It's supposedly taken from an album called 'Kingdom Come' but I've never come across either.

• Chapter One (Hip Hop Edit)
• Chapter One (Full Hip Hop Mix)
• Chapter Two (Ragga Mix)
• Chapter Three (Album Version)
• Chapter Four (Soul Mix)
• Final Chapter (Instrumental)

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Courtney Buchanan.rar Filesize: 41.52 MB

Soul II Soul - Just Right 1992

Ten Records TENDG 410

Jazzie B's voice was a driving force behind the early Soul II Soul sound. With his unique accent and smoky vocals he was able to incorporate a reggae influence reflecting the sound system roots, His unique brand of soft rap was very poetic that meshed well with the dance music but he also looked forward and strived to remain original.

"As soon as people think they have deciphered the entire Soul II Soul vibe, my goal is to add something unexpected,"
Jazzie B

Before the release of Volume III: Just Right in 1992, Nellee Hooper left the group to pursue a career as a producer. The third album reflected some other changes too, SIIS introduced the use of male vocalists for the first time, Kofi, and Richie Stephens share vocal duties with Caron Wheeler. This single features the title track from the album featuring UK soul legend Rick Clark on vocals. Jazzie B also takes the lead on Intelligence and on this release, works well with Gang Starr's Guru on the Jazzie II Guru Mix remixed by DJ Premier. The 9 am Mix, by the Funki Dreds, is a pretty cool 8 minute plus affair which starts of as a nice vocal bubbler then breaks down into an old school dub plate. Nice!

If It's Teaching That You Need
Then I Hope That You Can See
Time Is Not A Shadow
If You Can Stand The Test Of Time
Then I Hope That You Can Find
The Truth That You've Been Searching For
Make Everything Just Right

There Will Always Be A Fountain
As Big As A Mountain
Where The Flow Of Love Will Grow
Just To Capture All This Pleasure
As Much As You Can Measure
Will Take Something To Know

Make Everything Just Right
Make Everything Alright
Make Everything Just Right

Bridge Is Not A Shadow
Keep It Up
You Got To Keep It On
Keep It On The Ground
Move On Keep On Moving
Jazzie B Groove On
Jazzie

The Vibes Alive On Which We Thrive
Doctor Fish Is Our Favourite Dish
Which Rely On To Be Strong
Just To Carry On Doing What
We Do Best I Guess Just To Keep
Rick In Check And Make Sure You
Watch Every Step You Take
To Make Everything All Right
Like A Peaceful World In The Sunlight

Now If You Put Your Hands In Mine
We'll Stand The Test Of Time
And You Know Our Love Will Grow
Just Like The Hands Of Time
Our Love Will Always Shine
Shine On Through The Night
Just Right

• Just Right (Club Mix)
• Just Right (Jinx Mix)
• Intelligence (9 am)
• Intelligence (Jazzie II Guru Mix)

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: SIIS Just Right.rar Filesize: 35.89 MB

Soul II Soul - Pleasure Dome 1997

Island Records CID 669/572 089-2

It also includes a Dream Team Mix but they spelt it differently (red tape apparently). Of course, the UK Crew will probably be well aware that the UK Garage explosion was in full effect by this time. A year earlier, Booker T remixed SIIS's 1988 Keep On Movin' for the Garage dancefloor, to full effect and here they used tried and tested Booker T again, the current favs Karl 'Tuff Enuff' Brown & Matt 'Jam' Lamont and finally the latest talent, DJ Spoony, Mikee B & Timmi Magic of the Dreem Teem.

This number, written by Beresford 'Jazzie B' Romeo and engineered by Lee Hamblin, features the vocal talents of Ray (Crazy Pictures) Simpson and that alone makes it worth a listen. The Album Version is an excellent example of classic Soul II Soul but the dancefloor didn't want slow shuffle anymore so it went to waste.

Time to put on your disco shoes, if your pacemaker's up to the challenge. Booker T revs up the BPM and turns it into a full vocal soulful house stomper. Superbly done considering the pace versus the vocal delivery, I love it. Next up, Tuff Jam. This is typical of the era. Vocal sample repeating over their UVM beat which worked the floors across the country but there ain't no soul. Dreem Teem turn out a similar effort, nothing wrong here as long as your looking for Garage and not Soul. Lastly, the Booker T Dub which absolutely tore up the 4x4 Garage events everywhere. It still does coz ain't nobody making quality UK Garage anymore. This has a serious groove and still retains a bit of that soul too?

• Album Mix
• Radio Edit
• Booker T Mix
• Tuff Jam's UVM Mix
• Dream Team Mix II
• Booker T Dub

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: SIIS Pleasure Dome.rar Filesize: 52.48 MB

Soul II Soul - A Dreams A Dream 1990

Ten Records TENX300

"A Happy face a Thumping bass for a Lovin’ race." Soul II Soul appeared at the end of the 1980s from London. The group started out as a sound system, playing records at house and street parties. Known locally as the Funki Dreds, they opened a shop in Camden, North London that supplied, not only clothes, a whole Funki Dred culture.

Their sophomore set, Vol. II: 1990 - A New Decade, yielded the hits Get A Life and A Dream's A Dream, the latter featuring operatic vocals by Victoria Wilson-James but scored their lowest chart position since the group broke through in 1988. The B-side features the jazz saxophone of a up and coming Courtney Pine.

• A Dreams A Dream (A Night At The Opera Mix)
• A Dreams A Dream (Club Dub)
• Courtney Blows

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: SIIS Dreams.rar Filesize: 31.94 MB

Soul II Soul - Keep On Movin' 1989

Ten Records TENX 263

Soul II Soul's nucleus centered around Jazzie B (Beresford Romeo, founder, singer and vocal dialogue) Nellee Hooper (producer, mixer & arranger) and Philip 'Daddae' Harvey (instrumentalist).

Featuring an ever-changing collective Soul II Soul were one of the most successful soulful exports from the U.K. during the late Eighties and early Nineties. Originally, an umbrella for several of the operations of founder Jazzie B. including sound systems, gig's and the group itself. They also held a number of warehouse events, including, the Paddington Dome, London, where Jazzie B met Nellee Hooper and he became part of 'the family'.

Soul II Soul took up a residency at Covent Garden's Africa Centre before signing to Virgin Records' subsidiary Ten Records. Following the release of two singles, Fairplay (featuring Rose Windross) and Feel Free (featuring Do'reen a.k.a. Doreen Waddell), the band's profile grew with the aid of fashion T-shirts, two shops and Jazzie B's slot on the then pirate Kiss-FM radio station.

The third single Keep On Movin' featuring Caron Wheeler, reached number 5 in the U.K. charts and set the scene for further success. The follow-up, Back To Life (However Do You Want Me), also featuring Caron Wheeler, was their most successful and was taken from their debut album Club Classics Volume One.

Caron Wheeler pursued her own solo career, however, the groups integrity was maintained by their records success in the U.S. clubs. These songs set the tone for early 90s mainstream dance music in the UK. In October 2004 "Keep on Movin" appeared in popular videogame Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, playing on its R&B, Soul radio station CSR 103.9.

• Club Mix
• Big Beat Accapella
• Pianopella
• Instrumental

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: SIIS Movin.rar Filesize: 32.92 MB