through the wonder of Youtube and its recommendations algorithm this is all I seem to ever listen to these days. Everybody knows Soul II Soul and Massive Attack but it was this recent reissue of Bovel's "Check 4 U" that really switched me on to this stuff:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qyi2pqXDp30
there's a whole ocean out there of stuff like this: thick house basslines, slowed-down breakbeat grooves, unpolished soul divas with the sweetness of lovers rock reggae. Some of it is cheap and easy to find through the usual channels, some of it seems rare and prohibitively expensive. It's the story of Smith & Mighty and The Wild Bunch, but also all the anonymous and forgotten 12" singles and overpriced Discogs compilations that were bigger in Manchester than in London. This stuff was being released when I was barely a toddler so I have no sense of it as a "scene" or how it figured in club culture but I know that I like a lot of it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhETbyU8wo0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzsrBaRoiL8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgPkq1780vo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWqp3C0hFg0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppKK42zKRo0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVfenMeCTR0
thinking of it as a reaction to US r&b, not so much an imitation but a distinctly British take on styles, and seemingly undergoing a resurgence if you're reading the same articles and listening to the same radio shows as I am
so, this is a thread to post your own recommendations and so forth
― boxedjoy, Monday, 15 October 2018 21:49 (two years ago) link
garden of life is GOAT
― brimstead, Monday, 15 October 2018 21:54 (two years ago) link
Hard to find 12"s in this genre have been getting reissued a lot lately, which is likely where the chatter / airplay is coming from. Be With records maybe?
― brotherlovesdub, Monday, 15 October 2018 22:36 (two years ago) link
This has a big overlap with what was labeled ‘acid jazz’, no?
― Siegbran, Monday, 15 October 2018 23:28 (two years ago) link
Yeah, does Jhelisa count? Friendly Pressure sounds like these songs to me. https://youtu.be/YAMtlnvJeo4
― brotherlovesdub, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 02:14 (two years ago) link
Deluxe - I've got a feelinghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHBPpDfojg0
― Tib, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 02:20 (two years ago) link
I love this sound. Check:
Alison Williams - I Need Your Lovin'
Fresh Four - Wishing on a Star
The Chimes - 1-2-3 (UK Raw Mix) / Heaven / I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
Beats International - Dub Be Good To Me (Smith & Mighty Remix)
Diana Brown & Barrie K Sharpe – Blind Faith (Brixton Bass Mix)
There's also a lot of stuff that feels like it fits even though it's not from the UK, such as The Family Stand's "Ghetto Heaven" (which also and appropriately got an amazing remix from Soul II Soul).
― Tim F, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 02:45 (two years ago) link
i like this stuff too
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUpP_a8vAjA
― the late great, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 03:47 (two years ago) link
i guess i know more about the acid jazzier end of the spectrum, which tends toward a more polished sound
i'd never heard that bovel track, it is pretty incredible and i'd love to hear more stripped down tracks like that
― the late great, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 03:49 (two years ago) link
Innocence - Natural thing?
― Tib, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 04:51 (two years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHSPzry7cH8Fresh 4 feat. Lizz-E • Wishing On A Star
― breastcrawl, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 07:11 (two years ago) link
Smith & Mighty DJ Kicks is U&K
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UCIxA2qpKg
― Neil S, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 07:27 (two years ago) link
Ah, Tim F already mentioned the Fresh 4 track. (Alyson Williams was/is a US singer, btw)Love the Bô’vel track, don’t remember ever having heard it before. Is there an actual Dennis Bovell connection or is the name a homage to “Silly Games”/UK lovers rock?
― breastcrawl, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 07:35 (two years ago) link
Yeah I should have specified with the Williams that I meant the extended version produced by Soul II Soul.
― Tim F, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 08:23 (two years ago) link
I manage to seperate this stuff from acid jazz in my mind purely by how this stuff uses minimalism and bottom-end - to me, acid jazz is radio-friendly and home-listening whereas this is much more club-functioning. There is a lot of crossover and I can imagine this stuff was played alongside acid jazz and post-disco 80s boogie but there's a distinct sonic framework to this stuff that excites me more.
I have no idea about who Bovel is or where the name comes from, I'm not sure I even want or need to, really
― boxedjoy, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 11:49 (two years ago) link
Loafs of good recs here though! I didnt know S&M had done a DJ Kicks.
In terms of US stuff that fits I have a huge soft spot for Chante Moore's "Love's Taken Over"
https://youtu.be/wH39-zajFtE
― boxedjoy, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 11:51 (two years ago) link
A lot of this stuff, other than the obvious, seems to have been written out of history a bit, perhaps because there was so much else going on at the time, so this is a real blind spot for me. Looking forward to digging through this thread.
― Matt DC, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 11:51 (two years ago) link
People quickly realized the instrumentals were better than the vocals and Trip Hop got the fame.
― brotherlovesdub, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 15:31 (two years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DG8BVCCjTOw
Jill Francis - Make Love To Me (Gangster Mix)
― Herb Achelors (NickB), Tuesday, 16 October 2018 15:45 (two years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1-GrHZSCbo
Irini – 24/7 Love
― Herb Achelors (NickB), Tuesday, 16 October 2018 16:00 (two years ago) link
Love that Jill Francis!
People quickly realized the instrumentals were better than the vocals and Trip Hop got the fame
This is probably true except for me the vocals are what take a lot of this stuff from enjoyable to excellent.
― boxedjoy, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 16:04 (two years ago) link
https://www.discogs.com/Various-Choice-FMs-UK-Pressure-Vol-1/master/359554
This compilation I snagged for cheap recently is good, has both of NickB's selections, but everything on it has been edited down from a full-length mix.
― boxedjoy, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 16:06 (two years ago) link
oh i didn't know about that comp, looks like a good launchpad for further investigations
― Herb Achelors (NickB), Tuesday, 16 October 2018 16:15 (two years ago) link
i knew about the bovel cos they've been hammering it on nts
― Herb Achelors (NickB), Tuesday, 16 October 2018 16:17 (two years ago) link
sorry that the sound on that irini YT is so fucked, it's a good one though
― Herb Achelors (NickB), Tuesday, 16 October 2018 16:18 (two years ago) link
maybe a precursor for this sort of thing is mantronix's productions for joyce sims?
― Herb Achelors (NickB), Tuesday, 16 October 2018 16:20 (two years ago) link
that stuff was 1987-ish i think
― Herb Achelors (NickB), Tuesday, 16 October 2018 16:22 (two years ago) link
or Sly & Robbie producing Gwen Guthrie with Seventh Heaven, which came up in a mix I was listening to earlier, would be another good precursor
― Neil S, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 16:42 (two years ago) link
just an excuse to post that fantastic track really
― Neil S, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 16:43 (two years ago) link
ok lol turns out the one i posted is american too
― the late great, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 19:29 (two years ago) link
I would be remiss in not mentioning Carlton's album 'The Call Is Strong' from 1990, produced by Smith & Mighty, which I consider the overlooked pinnacle of this sound. One of my great music tragedies is losing my copy of this.
Also "Any Love", the early Massive Attack single with Carlton on vocals and S&M on co-production, fits in this thread in a way their subsequent work doesn't.
― Tim F, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 20:15 (two years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDZM4xXy17I
Rosaline Joyce - I Will Never Be Your Lover
― Herb Achelors (NickB), Tuesday, 16 October 2018 20:20 (two years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcQTOQIlKHY
Fresh Cut ft Ann Cain - Don't Rush (Remix)
― Herb Achelors (NickB), Tuesday, 16 October 2018 21:04 (two years ago) link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=25&v=yiWghyFnasU
FM Inc. Call Me Anytime .. Dub is good too
― mmmm, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 21:14 (two years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCngWcH0GAg
Joanna Law / Soul 2 Soul connection
― mmmm, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 21:17 (two years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzftzlfi36U
― mmmm, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 21:18 (two years ago) link
... meant to post another Sarah Winton but the whole LP is top notch
― mmmm, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 21:19 (two years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rh2tFYgiIuU
Dazzle - Dazzle You. (Haul & Pull Up mix) 1989
― Herb Achelors (NickB), Tuesday, 16 October 2018 21:36 (two years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPMyV7SOgxk
Fifth Of Heaven - Just A Little More
― Herb Achelors (NickB), Tuesday, 16 October 2018 21:41 (two years ago) link
https://youtu.be/KaA7kt5DLLE
― mmmm, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 21:48 (two years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zGXKBRT1gk
Carla Thomas - Things Ya Make Me Do (Summer Remix) (1994)
― Herb Achelors (NickB), Tuesday, 16 October 2018 21:49 (two years ago) link
big tune:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVBTrudXcs8
Rick Clarke - Perfect Lady
― Herb Achelors (NickB), Wednesday, 17 October 2018 05:44 (two years ago) link
don't think the importance of these guys can be overstated...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdKdnCSeJwQLoose Ends - Slow Down
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5rqP8QTAbULoose Ends - Don't Be A Fool
― Herb Achelors (NickB), Wednesday, 17 October 2018 11:48 (two years ago) link
^ when I saw this thread Loose Ends came to mind immediately but I couldn't remember any of their songs so wasn't sure if I was on the right track
I've got a Fresh Four 12", not mentioned yet it's this one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIF7HFEYYXY
(nearly, the 12" I've got is the Smith & Mighty remix, not the version in the youtube)
― Colonel Poo, Wednesday, 17 October 2018 11:58 (two years ago) link
Diane Charlemagne should get a mention. Cool Down Zone – Lonely Hearts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgIZJnMSjqY
― mmmm, Wednesday, 17 October 2018 12:01 (two years ago) link
when I saw this thread Loose Ends came to mind immediately but I couldn't remember any of their songs so wasn't sure if I was on the right track
Hanging On A String is the obvious one and that exact same drum pattern appears in about half the clips i posted above tbh
― Herb Achelors (NickB), Wednesday, 17 October 2018 12:10 (two years ago) link
thanks for posting these Herb. I started buying UK Soul 12's and comps from 1992 onwards so missed some of the earlier ones. Occaisional trips to Unity and Blackmarket records armed with lists from Blues and Soul magazines and scraps from Kiss FM.
― mmmm, Wednesday, 17 October 2018 12:11 (two years ago) link
Bygraves - Do the Right Thing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Lwt1qzypBQ
― mmmm, Wednesday, 17 October 2018 12:13 (two years ago) link
When I first saw this thread the first thing that came to mind was Sweet Harmony by Liquid, but the more I listen to these the more I feel like it marks the end of this subgengre, so not what you're looking for at all. Is that right?
― mfktz (Camaraderie at Arms Length), Wednesday, 17 October 2018 12:18 (two years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo4B8uo55nU
Everis - Love Has Arrived
― Herb Achelors (NickB), Wednesday, 17 October 2018 12:31 (two 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 (ten months 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 (ten months 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 (ten months ago) link
@boxed joy..ha forgot about that!
― MrEnergizer, Sunday, 15 March 2020 17:52 (ten months 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 (ten months ago) link
Yeah, Mary Pearce had some serious tunes back then and love away was one of the best. That whole album was a killer tbh.
― MrEnergizer, Sunday, 29 March 2020 23:48 (nine months ago) link
Got this 12" given to me by a friend..big up Lee B..I missed it first time roundDoctor Woos Soul In Paradisehttps://youtu.be/ECAJsonLV_U
― MrEnergizer, Sunday, 29 March 2020 23:50 (nine months ago) link
Doctor Woos Soul In Paradisehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECAJsonLV_U
Another undercover oneDiane Gray - It's Closerhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qppcrAAo5qI
― MrEnergizer, Sunday, 29 March 2020 23:51 (nine months ago) link
Ruby Turner - It's Gonna Be Alright https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCmLrb0ufmI
― MrEnergizer, Sunday, 29 March 2020 23:53 (nine months ago) link
Maxeen The Last Timehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5kgKR69ZDc
― MrEnergizer, Sunday, 29 March 2020 23:56 (nine months ago) link
sindecut slow downhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SySWkOLKvdc
― MrEnergizer, Sunday, 29 March 2020 23:57 (nine months ago) link
Reason Featuring Leanne Golding - Tryhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0wyMrdQOn4
Reason Feat Leanne Golding Heartache https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVnQrDBZ2kw
― MrEnergizer, Sunday, 29 March 2020 23:59 (nine months ago) link
One of those decade defining tunes for me, got rinsed on LUV NRGMK featuring Alana - Love Changes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNSC8XhyJb0
― MrEnergizer, Monday, 30 March 2020 00:01 (nine months ago) link
A bit after the Street soul time but Manchester artist and brought it back to the streets when everything was about R&BDiane Marsh - Private Partyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzQ1oRIpzUU
― MrEnergizer, Monday, 30 March 2020 00:03 (nine months ago) link
MASSIVE!!!Anna Mwale - Get Freehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1MNAE3Q_E8
― MrEnergizer, Monday, 30 March 2020 00:04 (nine months ago) link
Took me years to hunt this one down..only ever heard Broadway play this tune. Not sure if this was originally a dubplate mix for Animal from BW..Claudia Patrice - Forever https://youtu.be/b-CoGVw54es
― MrEnergizer, Monday, 30 March 2020 00:07 (nine months ago) link
Carla Thomas - Things Ya Make Me Do https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-nZ0fGK8Gk
― MrEnergizer, Monday, 30 March 2020 00:17 (nine months ago) link
One of my favesGwen Guthrie - Eyes (You Never Really Cared) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbAb6Ub4KD8
― MrEnergizer, Monday, 30 March 2020 00:19 (nine months ago) link
Rose Windross - Living Life Your Own WayNice Jazzy tune that BW used to feature
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8diLkNcOgE
― MrEnergizer, Sunday, 5 April 2020 03:41 (nine months ago) link
U Touch - Don't Let Love Get You Downhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGYtbkgyjd4
Dream Frequency - Love, Peace And Harmonyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jv8Bd9_8LI
― MrEnergizer, Sunday, 5 April 2020 03:42 (nine months ago) link
Higher Ground Somebodyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKmQnw9v7C4
― MrEnergizer, Sunday, 5 April 2020 03:54 (nine months ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogMf9GYHgFI
― Bstep, Sunday, 5 April 2020 04:26 (nine months ago) link
Classic @Bstep. One of the best bands to ever come out of Manchester. My mates wife used to sing with them, then Diane took over and they got successful.
― MrEnergizer, Tuesday, 14 April 2020 14:38 (nine months ago) link
https://www.residentadvisor.net/features/3733
Toyin Agbetu interview! Those stories about getting his baseball bat are excellent.
― boxedjoy, Friday, 28 August 2020 07:18 (four months ago) link
https://youtu.be/cWqp3C0hFg0
Re-issue coming on Isle Of Jura for this one, ideal
― boxedjoy, Monday, 14 September 2020 21:11 (four months ago) link
^ oh shit that's great news!
― kites aren't fun (NickB), Wednesday, 23 September 2020 11:45 (three months ago) link
finally found a copy of this out in the wild yesterday, best pound I've spent in ages! had the singles for a while but they never really convinced. album is a different beast though, phenomenal stuff
― kites aren't fun (NickB), Wednesday, 23 September 2020 11:48 (three months ago) link
Great interview Boxedjoy..one of the originators
― MrEnergizer, Tuesday, 6 October 2020 21:04 (three months ago) link
Yeah that Carlton album was a classic...took me years to get a copy! Everis had a big album about that time too
― MrEnergizer, Tuesday, 6 October 2020 21:08 (three months ago) link
Shades Of Black – Make U Mine (Nemesis Remix)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1hifWVab48
― MrEnergizer, Tuesday, 6 October 2020 21:10 (three months ago) link
Tracy Jones - Promise Me, Foreverhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBuBYTgWh-E
― MrEnergizer, Tuesday, 6 October 2020 21:11 (three months ago) link
Stirling McLean - Midnight Love https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Zjwavc-P4I
― MrEnergizer, Tuesday, 6 October 2020 21:12 (three months ago) link
Trichelle - Midnight loverhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enMc6Oqwyxo
― MrEnergizer, Tuesday, 6 October 2020 21:13 (three months ago) link
Azizi - Midnight Loverhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEiezuJdVM4
― MrEnergizer, Tuesday, 6 October 2020 21:14 (three months ago) link
https://www.mrbongo.com/blogs/news/digging-deeper-an-interview-with-heels-souls-recordings
this interview with Heels & Souls on the re-issue of Special Touch "Garden Of Life" (!) comes with a really good streetsoul mix too
― boxedjoy, Friday, 30 October 2020 17:06 (two months ago) link
well, would you just look at that :D
picked up the special touch reissue last week, great stuff - meant to bump the thread!
― kites aren't fun (NickB), Friday, 30 October 2020 19:03 (two months ago) link
Numero Group have made a playlist...
Lover’s Walk: The Numero Guide to UK Street SoulThe convergence of reggae basslines, the shuffled drum machine rhythms of New Jack Swing, & a concretely British approach to lyrics centered on love. Walk with us through the intersections of Street Soul.https://t.co/CDuMDwp3MC pic.twitter.com/s8UMx4JWFQ— numerogroup (@numerogroup) January 12, 2021
― kites aren't fun (NickB), Tuesday, 12 January 2021 16:07 (four days ago) link
In the meantime, Bassline's 'You've Gone' is just about to get reissued by Isle of Jura:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CJShyWNgkGL/
― kites aren't fun (NickB), Tuesday, 12 January 2021 16:12 (four days ago) link
i'm sure it's already been posted on here, but huge tune:
― kites aren't fun (NickB), Tuesday, 12 January 2021 16:16 (four days ago) link
^ guy who produced that (Tony Henry) was also one of the brains behind 52nd Street
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUmx-zqoB4U
― kites aren't fun (NickB), Tuesday, 12 January 2021 16:21 (four days ago) link
^ incredible video btw
― kites aren't fun (NickB), Tuesday, 12 January 2021 16:23 (four days ago) link
thanks for the playlist!
― boxedjoy, Tuesday, 12 January 2021 16:33 (four days ago) link
just spotted they're reissuing Ashaye's "Dreaming", excellent, BIG UP ALL THE CHAMPAGNE CREW
― boxedjoy, Wednesday, 13 January 2021 11:10 (three days ago) link
Holy shit! Jungle mix? Link plz!
― kites aren't fun (NickB), Wednesday, 13 January 2021 11:13 (three days ago) link
http://numerogroup.com/products/ashaye-dreaming
― boxedjoy, Wednesday, 13 January 2021 11:24 (three days ago) link
TRACK LIST
AshayDreaming (Jungle Mix)AshayDreaming (Original Mix)
sweet jesus, yesssssss! :D
― kites aren't fun (NickB), Wednesday, 13 January 2021 11:28 (three days ago) link
I would not be surprised if there's someone lurking here from Numero Group picking up on your enthusiasm for this one!
― boxedjoy, Wednesday, 13 January 2021 11:31 (three days ago) link
this thread's still on the first page of results for "uk streetsoul" on google! but that record is also right up there in the "most wanted" street soul releases on discogs:
https://www.discogs.com/search/?sort=want%2Cdesc&style_exact=UK+Street+Soul
― kites aren't fun (NickB), Wednesday, 13 January 2021 11:36 (three days ago) link