soul II soul "club classics volume 1"

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i absolutely adored this record when i was 15. had it on a lovely gold vinyl long player and listened to it constantly. i don't remember why i stopped and when i sold it but i've been thinking about picking it up again.

so. has this record aged well? i don't think there's been a discussion of this record before anyway..

― the surface noise (electricsound), Monday, 27 October 2003 04:15 (nineteen years ago) link

I hated every Soul II Soul song when they came out, except for not-very-successful but very good comeback single "Love Enuff", but I've often thought about picking this one up sa well.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 27 October 2003 04:27 (nineteen years ago) link

"back to life" and "keep on moving" were THE soundtrack of my middle school years.

― the surface noise (electricsound), Monday, 27 October 2003 04:28 (nineteen years ago) link

i played it about 6 months ago and really liked it. except the long flutey one.

― gaz (gaz), Monday, 27 October 2003 04:29 (nineteen years ago) link

It's actually pretty good the whole way through - or at least it sounded so when I last played it. "Fairplay" is massively underrated.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Monday, 27 October 2003 04:30 (nineteen years ago) link

I think it was called Keep On Movin' in the U.S. And yes, it's absolutely terrific--I've got a tape in the car, & it's held up very nicely.

― Douglas (Douglas), Monday, 27 October 2003 04:43 (nineteen years ago) link

i had the "get a life" cassingle with a really nice instrumental or remix version on it... anyone want to help me out with this... i'm having trouble googling the alt. mix/tracklist.

― gygax! (gygax!), Monday, 27 October 2003 05:58 (nineteen years ago) link

It'a a brilliant album; timeless.

― scottjames23 (worrysome-man), Monday, 27 October 2003 12:16 (nineteen years ago) link

This album is quite easily one of the greatest things ever recorded.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 27 October 2003 14:11 (nineteen years ago) link

I lov(ed?) it, but loved the followup more more more

― cinniblount (James Blount), Monday, 27 October 2003 19:18 (nineteen years ago) link

i hated it then, i hate it now. it was always so sloooooow.
and so so boring ! their afrika centre nites were meant 2 b
the bollox weren't they ? anyway, dud all over for the record.

the fact that it was a london thing can't have helped.

― piscesboy, Monday, 27 October 2003 19:57 (nineteen years ago) link

It's fantastic. Never heard any of the follow-ups though.

― Sean (Sean), Monday, 27 October 2003 20:47 (nineteen years ago) link

two years pass...

I just remembered this a few weeks and listened for the first time in y-e-a-r-s.

Still brilliant, even though though the album was basically a one-off. I remember when the second album came out and somehow i knew just by the cover that i didn't want it. Amazing that they just sank like a stone (despite a few more albums).

― Mitya (mitya), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 18:05 (seventeen years ago) link

seven years pass...

Second album has a few high points - "Get a Life" in partic still holds up

― licorice oratorio (baaderonixx), Monday, 13 January 2014 12:59 (nine years ago) link

eight years pass...

Finally getting to the Caron Wheeler solo albums and UK Blak is really good! It's a bit inconsistent, but definitely hits the spot for more of that Soul II Soul vibe.

Far more interesting is that I discovered she was in a reggae group way back in the 70s! There is a Soul Jazz compilation and I'm honestly enjoying it even more. Here's the song the compilation takes its title from. Very vintage lovers rock. 1977.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7OdI_Bdax0

"I'm in Love With A Dreadlocks"

― Let's disco dance, Hammurabi! (Austin), Thursday, 5 May 2022 00:09 (nine months ago) link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oqrwqfPNNI

really love this one - Jam & Lewis take on 1992's "I Adore You"

― boxedjoy, Thursday, 5 May 2022 07:35 (nine months ago) link

eight months pass...

I didn't realize the "hit" version of "Back to Life" wasn't on this album. This compilation seems to be the best place to get it in terms of mastering and content though it wasn't issued in the U.S.:

https://www.discogs.com/master/79475-Soul-II-Soul-Volume-IV-The-Classic-Singles-88-93

Still enjoy the album though. (The compilation uses the single edit of "Keep On Movin'" and I prefer the longer album version.)

― birdistheword, Thursday, 19 January 2023 15:46 (two weeks ago) link

That Zepherin Saint remix of 'Back To Life' from 2020 is great

― nashwan, Thursday, 19 January 2023 16:18 (two weeks ago) link

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