It's odd - you can be on Discogs and some of this stuff is easily available for small change and then there's some stuff that's triple figures for a twelve-inch single. There's compilations from when this stuff was "fresh" but in my experience they're always mastered very quietly and there's always at least one ropey sax solo waiting to spoil the mood.
― boxedjoy, Wednesday, 12 February 2020 11:25 (four years ago) link
I'm guessing this mix might be a decent dive in?
https://thevinylfactory.com/features/vf-mix-147-street-soul-by-ruffy-and-randy/
― Matt DC, Wednesday, 12 February 2020 11:29 (four years ago) link
https://www.discogs.com/DJ-Milo-The-Wild-Bunch-Story-Of-A-Sound-System/release/123867
This mix uses live crowd noise from Soul II Soul doing a set at New Year in the late 80s and sets out where this stuff is coming from - 80s vocal post-disco and r&b, the birth of house and hip-hop - but it's kinda a different thing.
― boxedjoy, Wednesday, 12 February 2020 11:33 (four years ago) link
Oh yeah I've got that one, way more hip-hop than I was expecting but it's terrific nonetheless.
― Matt DC, Wednesday, 12 February 2020 11:34 (four years ago) link
My impression is that this stuff was aligned more with Soul II Soul and Smith & Mighty than, say, Massive Attack. But I wasn't clubbing in the late 80s on account of only just having been born so I can only base that on comments on Youtubes and how the music actually sounds
― boxedjoy, Wednesday, 12 February 2020 11:50 (four years ago) link
I don't know a lot about this stuff, whether they were broadly playing the same records or whether it was way more localised than that.
good question - i think a lot of it was very localised around parties/clubs/radio stations/labels so whether they were playing the manchester stuff in london or not is interesting. i definitely see way more of the london stuff around when i'm looking for records (mostly on the south coast) so i don't think the distribution side of things was particularly brilliant. guessing there are major parallels with a scene like grime in it's early days
― ymo sumac (NickB), Wednesday, 12 February 2020 13:33 (four years ago) link
its
a bit more toyin agbetu from his later period:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0qWkRrABXQ
https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2007/apr/03/features11.g2
― ymo sumac (NickB), Wednesday, 12 February 2020 13:35 (four years ago) link
(hero)
That Part II was a massive underground hit
― MrEnergizer, Friday, 14 February 2020 22:32 (four years ago) link
Soul II Soul were the first to play what's now called streetsoul in London and in Manchester you had a sound called Soul Control..it was mainly underground clubs, blues, parties, pirate stations that played the music. Very few street soul big tunes made the charts or if they did we probably played a different mix.A lot of the UK tunes came through older regae or sound system heads and so had that reggae vibe with deep basslines dodgy vocals and bad production but just worked and sounded raw. Some of the smoother stuff came from the US although usually the B sides or different mixes were played
― MrEnergizer, Friday, 14 February 2020 22:36 (four years ago) link
Also how wild is it that you can pick up a compilation of Brazilian street soul fairly easily yet none of the major archival labels have managed to put together one based on the Manchester sound?I think cos it wasn't what you could call a 'Manchester' sound. It was played in the underground circuit in most of the Black communities but Manchester and the North seemed to push it more at the time.I've made some compilations here if anyones interested.
https://streetsoulmusic.blogspot.com/2020/01/street-soul-compilation-1.html
― MrEnergizer, Friday, 14 February 2020 22:41 (four years ago) link
Wow! Look like Toyins lost the plot a bit!
If any of you guys are near Manchester then check out King Bee Records in Chorlton..you can get a lot of Street Soul 12"s for 2.50 -5 quid...or you could last time I was in there. The best place for Street Soul in MCR
― MrEnergizer, Friday, 14 February 2020 22:48 (four years ago) link
Nice Street Soul mixhttps://soundcloud.com/the-trilogy-tapes/duster-valentine-uk-street-soul-mix/comment-869641822
― MrEnergizer, Saturday, 15 February 2020 00:07 (four years ago) link
Sylvia Tella's Spell album is nice if you like lovers
― MrEnergizer, Saturday, 15 February 2020 00:08 (four years ago) link
Different version of YOU LOSE AGAINhttps://youtu.be/mv69mPbSUvI
― MrEnergizer, Saturday, 15 February 2020 00:11 (four years ago) link
That video of Agbetu and his explanation of how his actions came about makes me adore him even more. Imagine having a hand in so many amazing singles and then being able to just walk away from that into a career in activism. Most people would be lucky to accomplish half of what he has in either field never mind both!
― boxedjoy, Saturday, 15 February 2020 09:21 (four years ago) link
@boxedjoy... Where's the vid explaining his actions? Can you send a link please?
― MrEnergizer, Saturday, 15 February 2020 20:25 (four years ago) link
NickB posted a link right under his video :)
― boxedjoy, Sunday, 16 February 2020 10:03 (four years ago) link
Thanks, missed it...it's from 2007!
― MrEnergizer, Sunday, 16 February 2020 21:30 (four years ago) link
Harlem Gem....another UK group
https://youtu.be/MiTnZ0Qdh_0https://youtu.be/sMh4WbrNuRY
― MrEnergizer, Sunday, 16 February 2020 21:33 (four years ago) link
Toyin is still very much the activist, currently very much involved in the campaign for justice for the victims of Grenfell. Not sure he posts much about music these days, but here's his twitter: https://twitter.com/LigaliOrg
― ymo sumac (NickB), Sunday, 16 February 2020 22:56 (four years ago) link
Harlem Gem are fantastic, just magic music. Was kind of amazed to find out they were from Huddersfield. Would love to see a comp of their stuff, prices for the records seem to have gone a bit daft since 'More Than You Can Wish' was included on the Beautiful Swimmers comp last year.
Thanks for the playlist link btw MrE! Will check that out in a bit
― ymo sumac (NickB), Sunday, 16 February 2020 23:03 (four years ago) link
This would be a really good theme for a Bob Stanley compilation
― Wuhan!! Got You All in Check (Camaraderie at Arms Length), Sunday, 16 February 2020 23:04 (four years ago) link
Annoyingly the vocal version of this one isn't on Youtube but this is kind of interesting:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGqsY2LBUak
Massonix - Just A Little Bit More (1990)
Massonix were Graham Massey's side project outside of 808 State. Vocals on the record are by Denise Johnson who was previously in A Certain Ratio (was she Donald Johnson's sister?) and then ofc Fifth Of Heaven
― ymo sumac (NickB), Sunday, 16 February 2020 23:10 (four years ago) link
xp someone needs to do one! surely gonna happen soon
― ymo sumac (NickB), Sunday, 16 February 2020 23:11 (four years ago) link
that Massonix one costs a whole 90p on the cogs right now btw
― ymo sumac (NickB), Sunday, 16 February 2020 23:15 (four years ago) link
wow..forgot about that massonix tune with the Barry White sample
― MrEnergizer, Monday, 17 February 2020 00:08 (four years ago) link
@wuhan..this is the mix that used to get rinsedhttps://youtu.be/5JKqQ8tLqJQ
https://youtu.be/kTCEiZrUpt0
― MrEnergizer, Friday, 21 February 2020 22:32 (four years ago) link
https://youtu.be/c2BBtwnfySQ
https://youtu.be/2VtP9twT7ZY
https://youtu.be/qDZM4xXy17I
https://youtu.be/Ap9FcQ6tg8U
https://youtu.be/oTSV6k6Ye18
― MrEnergizer, Friday, 21 February 2020 22:36 (four years ago) link
Thank you for posting all this great stuff, but please be aware that if and when these YT links get broken there’s nothing to go on if you don’t also provide the track info in your post, which would be a shame. #threadiquette
― breastcrawl, Saturday, 22 February 2020 00:44 (four years ago) link
@beastcrawl. Thanks for the tip.. Will do from now on.
― MrEnergizer, Saturday, 22 February 2020 13:14 (four years ago) link
That Flair tune is really one of the best things, I love that one!
Rick Clarke is always good, an actual great singer but also an incredible band - think it's basically Light Of The World playing on a lot of his tunes? Love their guitar player, always sliding in with the slinkiest little fills
I have that September record. The one I really want of theirs is 'Are You Free Tonight?' which is more of a straight up boogie cut from 84
― ymo sumac (NickB), Sunday, 23 February 2020 08:48 (four years ago) link
@nick bYeah agree about LOTW. Never heard that'Are you free...' time before.. Nice one
― MrEnergizer, Tuesday, 3 March 2020 00:52 (four years ago) link
Tune
― MrEnergizer, Tuesday, 3 March 2020 00:53 (four years ago) link
Mica Paris - I wanna hold on to youhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWSGPKwCMC4
― MrEnergizer, Sunday, 15 March 2020 17:22 (four years ago) link
Mica paris - should've known better My fave of hershttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaA7kt5DLLE
― MrEnergizer, Sunday, 15 March 2020 17:23 (four years ago) link
The Project - Don't Be So Cruelhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYX37n0MGxo
― MrEnergizer, Sunday, 15 March 2020 17:26 (four years ago) link
Julianne - Visionshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sMCVnT0eoQ&t=76s
Nazlyn Your Love My Wayhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d7KprN5Nds
― MrEnergizer, Sunday, 15 March 2020 17:27 (four years ago) link
Lorraine Cato - How Can You Tell Me It's Over?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcSkUa_VAfw
― MrEnergizer, Sunday, 15 March 2020 17:29 (four years ago) link
Eternity - I Belong To YouOne of those white labels I picked up by chance and was glad for it.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9x_zOhZ0p0
― MrEnergizer, Sunday, 15 March 2020 17:30 (four years ago) link
HISTORY FEAT Q TEE AFRICAhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYU6AZ1tN5c
― MrEnergizer, Sunday, 15 March 2020 17:31 (four years ago) link
EN TO END - Money Talkshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPxWZxT-Veo
D'Swing - Love Times LoveAnything I saw on the heaven Records label I saw back in the dy got snatched uphttps://youtu.be/30nhML0QRN4
― MrEnergizer, Sunday, 15 March 2020 17:34 (four years ago) link
I love that History one! She ended up as the voice on the UK Eurovision entry at one point
― boxedjoy, Sunday, 15 March 2020 17:46 (four years ago) link
D'Swing Featuring Diane Charlemagnehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urW9g6qy1sI
D'SWING - IF I KNEW (Humper Bumper Mix)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTgDHA1eNd0
Sovereign - I Luv Uhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRvH-kydx_Q
GEMS FOR JEM TIME FOR LOVEhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5cSEhg-Wi8
GEMS FOR JEM EVEN WHEN YOU'RE GONEhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbCkF1Mhym8
Dark Knights Feat. Mary Pearce – 2 Be A Friendhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUV8eYxYmHQ
MARY PEARCE STILL IN LOVE WITH YOUhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaLU8O1RvcU
Mary Pearce - Legacyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-y-agTtbnAE
― MrEnergizer, Sunday, 15 March 2020 17:49 (four years ago) link
Mary Pearce - Overhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8K9OzVqEEo
Pretty much everything Mary did back then was firing!
Mary Pearce - Love Awayhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-d5WPanSzdg
― MrEnergizer, Sunday, 15 March 2020 17:51 (four years ago) link
@boxed joy..ha forgot about that!
― MrEnergizer, Sunday, 15 March 2020 17:52 (four years ago) link
ahh yes more goodies! know and love those mary pearce ones already, 'love away' is just gorgeous
― ymo sumac (NickB), Sunday, 15 March 2020 17:54 (four years ago) link