late 80s/early 90s uk streetsoul (bass and breakbeats and r&b vocals)

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

(hero)

That Part II was a massive underground hit

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

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

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

Nice Street Soul mix
https://soundcloud.com/the-trilogy-tapes/duster-valentine-uk-street-soul-mix/comment-869641822

Sylvia Tella's Spell album is nice if you like lovers

Different version of YOU LOSE AGAIN
https://youtu.be/mv69mPbSUvI

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... Where's the vid explaining his actions? Can you send a link please?

NickB posted a link right under his video :)

Thanks, missed it...it's from 2007!

Harlem Gem....another UK group

https://youtu.be/MiTnZ0Qdh_0
https://youtu.be/sMh4WbrNuRY

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

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

This would be a really good theme for a Bob Stanley compilation

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

xp someone needs to do one! surely gonna happen soon

that Massonix one costs a whole 90p on the cogs right now btw

wow..forgot about that massonix tune with the Barry White sample

@wuhan..this is the mix that used to get rinsed
https://youtu.be/5JKqQ8tLqJQ

https://youtu.be/kTCEiZrUpt0

https://youtu.be/c2BBtwnfySQ

https://youtu.be/2VtP9twT7ZY

https://youtu.be/qDZM4xXy17I

https://youtu.be/Ap9FcQ6tg8U

https://youtu.be/oTSV6k6Ye18

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

@beastcrawl. Thanks for the tip.. Will do from now on.

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

@nick b
Yeah agree about LOTW. Never heard that'Are you free...' time before.. Nice one

Tune

Mica Paris - I wanna hold on to you
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWSGPKwCMC4

Mica paris - should've known better
My fave of hers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaA7kt5DLLE

The Project - Don't Be So Cruel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYX37n0MGxo

Julianne - Visions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sMCVnT0eoQ&t=76s

Nazlyn Your Love My Way
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d7KprN5Nds

Lorraine Cato - How Can You Tell Me It's Over?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcSkUa_VAfw

Eternity - I Belong To You
One of those white labels I picked up by chance and was glad for it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9x_zOhZ0p0

HISTORY FEAT Q TEE AFRICA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYU6AZ1tN5c

EN TO END - Money Talks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPxWZxT-Veo

D'Swing - Love Times Love
Anything I saw on the heaven Records label I saw back in the dy got snatched up
https://youtu.be/30nhML0QRN4

I love that History one! She ended up as the voice on the UK Eurovision entry at one point

D'Swing Featuring Diane Charlemagne
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urW9g6qy1sI

D'SWING - IF I KNEW (Humper Bumper Mix)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTgDHA1eNd0

Sovereign - I Luv U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRvH-kydx_Q

GEMS FOR JEM TIME FOR LOVE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5cSEhg-Wi8

GEMS FOR JEM EVEN WHEN YOU'RE GONE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbCkF1Mhym8

Dark Knights Feat. Mary Pearce ‎– 2 Be A Friend
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUV8eYxYmHQ

MARY PEARCE STILL IN LOVE WITH YOU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaLU8O1RvcU

Mary Pearce - Legacy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-y-agTtbnAE

Mary Pearce - Over
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8K9OzVqEEo

Pretty much everything Mary did back then was firing!

Mary Pearce - Love Away
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-d5WPanSzdg

@boxed joy..ha forgot about that!

ahh yes more goodies! know and love those mary pearce ones already, 'love away' is just gorgeous

Yeah, Mary Pearce had some serious tunes back then and love away was one of the best. That whole album was a killer tbh.

Got this 12" given to me by a friend..big up Lee B..I missed it first time round
Doctor Woos Soul In Paradise
https://youtu.be/ECAJsonLV_U

Doctor Woos Soul In Paradise
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECAJsonLV_U

Another undercover one
Diane Gray - It's Closer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qppcrAAo5qI

Ruby Turner - It's Gonna Be Alright
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCmLrb0ufmI

Maxeen The Last Time
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5kgKR69ZDc