Joanna Law - First Time Ever 1990

City Beat Records CBE 1252

Another gem engineered by Lee Hamblin. This cover of The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, written by E. MacColl and originally sung by Roberta Flack back in 1972. Produced and mixed by Simon 'The Funky Ginger' Law down at The Fallout Shelter in February 1990.

This song is all about the beautiful voice of Ms. Joanna Law, the voice behind many a hit. Simon A. Law, her brother I believe but cannot confirm, is also playing piano with the mighty James 'JTQ' Taylor on Hammond Organ and Ross Anderson on Bass. It includes the Acappella used on the legendary Coldcut - Journeys By DJ mix back in '95. My money goes on the superb Bumpy Mix, lay back, kick it and enjoy the ride. Just under 8 minutes of gently rolling groove with an angel singing on it.

• First Time Ever (Mellow Groove)
• First Time Ever (Bumpy Mix)
• First Time Ever (Acapella)

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: First Time Ever 12_.rar Filesize: 27.13 MB

Lewis Taylor - Whoever 1996

Island Records PY 940

Lewis Taylor began musical life playing in The Edgar Broughton Band, an unlikely apprenticeship when you listen to his self titled debut, if you enjoy this, buy that. Coming over like a modern day Marvin; he has Gaye's passionate, creamy inflections down pat yet this is so much more. Taylor's prowess as a multi-instrumentalist and a highly eclectic musical sensibility also echoes the Beach Boys, Joe Meek, prog rock and psychedelia. Whoever is as wonderful a slice of soul as you are likely to hear. The other three tracks were not released on any of his albums, to my knowledge but give an interesting insight into his diversity. Listen in wonder to the psychadelic Pie In Electric Sky and marvel at how it becomes the wonderful soulful gem If I Lay Down With You. Waves is classic soul and then Trip So Heavy comes on like Marvin on LSD.... Taylor suffered commercially because programmers didn't understand where he was coming from. Stop trying to figure it out and just enjoy, every track is a gem!

BTW, the cover was designed to look ruff like that, it's in good condition, honest?

• Whoever
• Pie In Electric Sky/If I Lay Down With You
• Waves
• Trip So Heavy

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Lewis Taylor.rar Filesize: 25.05 MB

"Thanks Frank!"

The James Taylor Quartet - Love Will Keep Us Together 1996

Acid Jazz Records JAZID 112 CD

Featuring Alison Limerick on vocals. Alison is a London girl, who started out as a backing vocalist in the 80s. She is best known for her 90s club anthems, her most successful being Where Love Lives, which was originally a massive club success in 1991. After her appearance on this track, Where Love Lives was remixed and made the top ten smash in 1996.

• Ian Green Radio Mix
• Full Length Album Mix
• Mean Streets Mix
• Love Ballad

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: JTQ Love.rar Filesize: 28.91 MB

JTQ with Noel McKoy - Love The Life 1993

Big Life Records BLRD 93

The James Taylor Quartet are a British four-piece jazz funk band that were formed by Hammond organ player James Taylor. The core line-up includes Nigel Price (guitar), Gary Crockett (bass) and Neil Robinson (drums). Their is also a horn section, The Alive & Kicking Horns, comprising John Willmott (tenor sax/flute) and Nick Smart (trumpet) and a vocalist Yvonne Yanney (not featured on this release). Often referred to as simply JTQ, the group are affiliated to a collective of, mainly, London based UK musicians and groups, members of which, guest on each others recordings.

On this release, Noel McKoy of the group McKoy (backing vocals), is the featured guest vocalist on the track Love The Life, a classic uptempo paean to the joys of life originally included on the 1990 Do Your Own Thing album. The 12" Revisited mix is, I believe, the 1993 remix by Chris Jones & James Taylor but the original 12" came out in 1990 with Morales mixes. Alongside are two JTQ instrumental tracks, the quirky but funky Breakout from the 1993 Get Organised album and the excellent soulful jazzy, Higher World which as far as I know is only available here.

• Love The Life (Revisited Edit)
• Higher World
• Love The Life (12" Revisited)
• Breakout

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: JTQ - Life.rar Filesize: 27.13 MB

Rose Windross - Living Life Your Own Way 1991

Acid Jazz jazid 37t

Here's another forgotten gem from the Acid Jazz label. Barrie K. Sharpe again on the B side production with an epic eight minute Groundbeat opus. The A side is the real gem though. Rose Windross of Soul II Soul fame, writing credit on both tracks and producing Living Life Your Own Way. No sign of Jazzie B & co but check the flipside credits and there you will find James Taylor on keyboards alongside Barrie with his congas. It's all good people.

• Living Life Your Own Way (Extended Version)
• Love In The Making (Groundbeat Mix Extended Version)

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Rose Windross.rar Filesize: 30.89 MB