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 (six years ago)
garden of life is GOAT
― brimstead, Monday, 15 October 2018 21:54 (six years ago)
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 (six years ago)
This has a big overlap with what was labeled ‘acid jazz’, no?
― Siegbran, Monday, 15 October 2018 23:28 (six years ago)
Yeah, does Jhelisa count? Friendly Pressure sounds like these songs to me. https://youtu.be/YAMtlnvJeo4
― brotherlovesdub, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 02:14 (six years ago)
Deluxe - I've got a feelinghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHBPpDfojg0
― Tib, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 02:20 (six years ago)
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 (six years ago)
i like this stuff too
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUpP_a8vAjA
― the late great, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 03:47 (six years ago)
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 (six years ago)
Innocence - Natural thing?
― Tib, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 04:51 (six years ago)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHSPzry7cH8Fresh 4 feat. Lizz-E • Wishing On A Star
― breastcrawl, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 07:11 (six years ago)
Smith & Mighty DJ Kicks is U&K
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UCIxA2qpKg
― Neil S, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 07:27 (six years ago)
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 (six years ago)
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 (six years ago)
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 (six years ago)
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 (six years ago)
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 (six years ago)
People quickly realized the instrumentals were better than the vocals and Trip Hop got the fame.
― brotherlovesdub, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 15:31 (six years ago)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DG8BVCCjTOw
Jill Francis - Make Love To Me (Gangster Mix)
― Herb Achelors (NickB), Tuesday, 16 October 2018 15:45 (six years ago)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1-GrHZSCbo
Irini – 24/7 Love
― Herb Achelors (NickB), Tuesday, 16 October 2018 16:00 (six years ago)
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 (six years ago)
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 (six years ago)
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 (six years ago)
i knew about the bovel cos they've been hammering it on nts
― Herb Achelors (NickB), Tuesday, 16 October 2018 16:17 (six years ago)
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 (six years ago)
maybe a precursor for this sort of thing is mantronix's productions for joyce sims?
― Herb Achelors (NickB), Tuesday, 16 October 2018 16:20 (six years ago)
that stuff was 1987-ish i think
― Herb Achelors (NickB), Tuesday, 16 October 2018 16:22 (six years ago)
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 (six years ago)
just an excuse to post that fantastic track really
― Neil S, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 16:43 (six years ago)
ok lol turns out the one i posted is american too
― the late great, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 19:29 (six years ago)
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 (six years ago)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDZM4xXy17I
Rosaline Joyce - I Will Never Be Your Lover
― Herb Achelors (NickB), Tuesday, 16 October 2018 20:20 (six years ago)
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 (six years ago)
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 (six years ago)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCngWcH0GAg
Joanna Law / Soul 2 Soul connection
― mmmm, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 21:17 (six years ago)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzftzlfi36U
― mmmm, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 21:18 (six years ago)
... meant to post another Sarah Winton but the whole LP is top notch
― mmmm, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 21:19 (six years ago)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rh2tFYgiIuU
Dazzle - Dazzle You. (Haul & Pull Up mix) 1989
― Herb Achelors (NickB), Tuesday, 16 October 2018 21:36 (six years ago)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPMyV7SOgxk
Fifth Of Heaven - Just A Little More
― Herb Achelors (NickB), Tuesday, 16 October 2018 21:41 (six years ago)
https://youtu.be/KaA7kt5DLLE
― mmmm, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 21:48 (six years ago)
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 (six years ago)
big tune:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVBTrudXcs8
Rick Clarke - Perfect Lady
― Herb Achelors (NickB), Wednesday, 17 October 2018 05:44 (six years ago)
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 (six years ago)
^ 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 (six years ago)
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 (six years ago)
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 (six years ago)
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 (six years ago)
Bygraves - Do the Right Thing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Lwt1qzypBQ
― mmmm, Wednesday, 17 October 2018 12:13 (six years ago)
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 (six years ago)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo4B8uo55nU
Everis - Love Has Arrived
― Herb Achelors (NickB), Wednesday, 17 October 2018 12:31 (six years ago)
:)
― o shit the sheriff (NickB), Sunday, 6 March 2022 20:26 (three years ago)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJlJh6zWOs
^ Did this ever get posted here? Probably not, because it really isn't very street at all tbh, but it is an absolute jam. Classic late 80s wine bar vibe, should be on a million comps but i've never even been able to find a decent rip of it. what a song though
― o shit the sheriff (NickB), Sunday, 6 March 2022 23:43 (three years ago)
I love when NickB bumps this thread <3
― boxedjoy, Monday, 7 March 2022 13:30 (three years ago)
this bangs and is only buttons on the cogs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0_iA97Asps
Angels And Images – Hold Me Tight
― o shit the sheriff (NickB), Monday, 7 March 2022 22:09 (three years ago)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oi10mI0RTqc
Shades of Rhythm going streetsoul in 1988
― o shit the sheriff (NickB), Wednesday, 9 March 2022 23:01 (three years ago)
This is one of my best finds, but the video here seems pitched down a little compared to my 12"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWJZ87gzdVU
― .xlsm (P. Flick), Monday, 14 March 2022 20:17 (three years ago)
Or maybe this more boogie? Too early?
― .xlsm (P. Flick), Monday, 14 March 2022 20:18 (three years ago)
nice find, sounds a bit like 52nd Street
― o shit the sheriff (NickB), Monday, 14 March 2022 21:18 (three years ago)
tbh it was the similarity with 52nd st that led me to post that one, but playing much of the other videos here it's a little out of sync
Oddly, the b side is Lovers Rock and it seems from discogs that their earlier single is too
― .xlsm (P. Flick), Monday, 14 March 2022 21:58 (three years ago)
yeah was looking at their discogs, they do seem to be coming from a lovers/reggae background. producer was mark lusardi (linda's brother!) who worked on loads of reggae things and was also in jah wobble's band for a while. you can actually hear kind of a reggae bassline in the tune you posted, wonder if they tried it out as a straight reggae number first and then thought fuck it, lets get the synths in!
― o shit the sheriff (NickB), Monday, 14 March 2022 22:18 (three years ago)
If I ever start a cult our mission statement will be "fuck it, let's get the synths in"
― boxedjoy, Tuesday, 15 March 2022 09:57 (three years ago)
not exactly sure where to put this Mr. Ho track I’ve been obsessed with recently. The beat seems really streetsoul-y to me and it’s got reggae vocal samples so idkhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rg2repuHhOo
― brimstead, Wednesday, 3 August 2022 00:07 (two years ago)
it's such a good track. the beat is of course the soul ii soul beat aka the ashley's roachclip break.
― stirmonster, Wednesday, 3 August 2022 01:31 (two years ago)
Gold In The Shade reissue coming out on Heels & Souls: https://heelsandsouls.bandcamp.com/album/over-you-shining-through-hsrec004
― o shit the sheriff (NickB), Tuesday, 9 August 2022 17:12 (two years ago)
cheers for the heels and souls link — lot of other great stuff to look into there!
nothing to add, just another quick thank you for this thread. feel like i owe you guys money or something for all the jams. also lol "simple solution" is tagged with artist name J DILLA on spotify. even with my novice experience, that makes my inner librarian feel physical pain.
― ミ💙🅟 🅛 🅤 🅡 🅜 🅑💙彡 (Austin), Thursday, 11 August 2022 03:18 (two years ago)
Ashaye - Dreaming (Jungle Mix)― the creator has a mazda van (NickB), Friday, September 27, 2019 3:50 PM
― the creator has a mazda van (NickB), Friday, September 27, 2019 3:50 PM
according to my last.fm-first listen was 1 april 2022 11:33pm and have registered 62 plays total. probably one of my favorite song discoveries of the past several years.
thread delivers once again.
― ミ💙🅟 🅛 🅤 🅡 🅜 🅑💙彡 (Austin), Tuesday, 13 September 2022 04:38 (two years ago)
big up all the sunshine crew
― boxedjoy, Tuesday, 13 September 2022 06:39 (two years ago)
amazing song, no doubt about it
― o shit the sheriff (NickB), Tuesday, 13 September 2022 09:09 (two years ago)
hardly on the same level, but have been enjoying this one a lot, even though the bass sounds like pure mud:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAiqInbHmJI
Yolanda Warrington - Is This Love
― o shit the sheriff (NickB), Tuesday, 13 September 2022 09:10 (two years ago)
this is pure beauty:
https://deathisnot.bandcamp.com/album/all-bad-boy-all-good-girl-manchester-street-soul-soundtapes-1988-1996
― o shit the sheriff (NickB), Saturday, 14 January 2023 23:11 (two years ago)
this is fantastic. thank you. DINTE always hits
― adam, Saturday, 21 January 2023 18:00 (two years ago)
That label totally rules
― not too strange just bad audio (brimstead), Saturday, 21 January 2023 19:12 (two years ago)
flair's "chasin' the rain" getting a reissue via heels & souls:
https://www.phonicarecords.com/product/view/189158?mc_cid=987253cda0&mc_eid=f1ee688a08
― donna rouge, Monday, 3 July 2023 18:45 (one year ago)
fantastic news! absolute bliss tune
― NickB, Monday, 3 July 2023 19:55 (one year ago)
did i ever post this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LzotzSlNFkJulianne - I've Been There
(there is a remix with a breakbeat but it's a bit on the busy side imo)
― NickB, Monday, 3 July 2023 20:01 (one year ago)
New comp coming out on AOTN:
https://aotns.bandcamp.com/album/just-a-touch-pre-order
tracklist: Bovel - "Coming Back"Sam - "Life" (club mix)Marcelle Moncrieffe - "Take Me There"Kofi - "Step By Step"Pure Silk - "What You Do For Me"Jenny B - "Sexy Eyes"Sonja Ryshard - "Step Back"Cavalier - "Don't Touch"Purely Fizzycal - "Straight To The Top"Dennis Planter - "I Still Dream Of You"Taffy - "Passion"Weekend In Paris - "Hold Your Head Up"
― blazin' squab (NickB), Friday, 29 September 2023 17:16 (one year ago)
...which handily crosses off a whole bunch of things on my wantlist.
The Taffy one is great (and yes, it's *that* Taffy!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFiOrrjB68Q
― blazin' squab (NickB), Friday, 29 September 2023 17:26 (one year ago)
AOTN killing it as per
― boxedjoy, Saturday, 30 September 2023 07:16 (one year ago)
hi.💙
thank you to nick and bj and donna and everyone who posts in here. i lurk frequently and sometimes feel like a spongey poseur type for just taking all this wisdom and smiling to myself for hours on end. threads like this are a public service and we are indebted. this is me bowing down.
i wanted to make a post with some sidebar relevance to the main theme here. am sorry if this is not a good place for this post. please redirect if so.
lately, we've been digging into what i would relate as a kind of contemporary equivalent to the main topic of discussion here... kind of dub/step beats with r+b vocals. i am a novice when it comes to this stuff, but i wanted to share some examples of what i'm referring to (because i may not even be using these terms and labels correctly; again- novice). here's some big favorites recently—
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naB3CgNpGdIvon d+phephe — "show me" (2009 — i think?)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIRzAWk8nwAgeoim feat. marita — "reminissin'" (2008)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJPdQaX7Xswandreya triana — "a town called obsolete (mount kimbie remix)" (2010)
i stumbled onto these just by wandering around playlists and threads like this but i can't get enough lately. is there a compilation or something where i have more? please?
― "another slice of death, please." (Austin), Saturday, 25 November 2023 16:31 (one year ago)
Those are cool I like them! Do you know this one?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlw_edzvCS0Nat Home ft Ms Ray - Witching Hour
― blazin' squab (NickB), Saturday, 25 November 2023 18:17 (one year ago)
(bit more recent, bit more housey)
― blazin' squab (NickB), Saturday, 25 November 2023 18:21 (one year ago)
nope, don't know this! it's kind of... acid-y??!?! very cool stuff. thank you!
that andreya triana mount kimbie rmx is the prototype i'm looking for right now; lowkey wonky beats and pensive crooning. fuck yeah.
― "another slice of death, please." (Austin), Saturday, 25 November 2023 18:28 (one year ago)
smokin' hottt...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ButOd7iZQbISisters On The Groove - Weekend Love
― blazin' squab (NickB), Saturday, 3 February 2024 22:15 (one year ago)
quite a strong freestyle influence there, sweet tune
― blazin' squab (NickB), Saturday, 3 February 2024 22:18 (one year ago)
bit of pricey one though :(
― blazin' squab (NickB), Saturday, 3 February 2024 22:21 (one year ago)
Ruf Dug has taken the gig of being Roisin Murphy's 2024 EU tour DJ :/
― boxedjoy, Thursday, 8 February 2024 07:43 (one year ago)
yeah i saw that, very disappointing ruffy mate
― blazin' squab (NickB), Thursday, 8 February 2024 08:14 (one year ago)
Doesn’t surprise me. Is Ruff Dug on the street soul bandwagon now?
― mmmm, Thursday, 8 February 2024 09:38 (one year ago)
How have I never seen this thread before?!? I'm utterly unfamiliar with this genre but I'm completely obsessed with this era of pop music (been contemplating a thread dedicated to the hundreds of freestyle and freestyle-inspired songs churned out over this handful of years) and this is like a huge missing chunk that I didn't even realize was missing. Gonna need some time to properly digest.
― Great-Tasting Burger Perceptions (Old Lunch), Thursday, 8 February 2024 10:59 (one year ago)
hi sorry if lame newb question, but in terms of revival, do you guys know ms ray? some other things on streaming, but the wow is now ep from a few years back is pure money. highly recommended.
― interstellar anthropologist+music philosopher, (Austin), Saturday, 23 March 2024 05:39 (one year ago)
here's a highlight-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iibXbmYemGUms ray - "how they shine" (2020)
― interstellar anthropologist+music philosopher, (Austin), Saturday, 23 March 2024 05:44 (one year ago)
her most recent thing from last summer-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB2wS3rGR6cms ray - "broken heart still beats" (2023)
― interstellar anthropologist+music philosopher, (Austin), Saturday, 23 March 2024 05:58 (one year ago)
I only know her from the vocal she did on 'Witching Hour' which is upthread a few tunes ago. Hadn't thought there might be other stuff so thanks for that!
― Bernard Quidbins (NickB), Saturday, 23 March 2024 06:38 (one year ago)
https://firstwordrecords.bandcamp.com/album/love-purpose-volume-one
Looking forward to this!
What else is new in the world of streetsoul reissues?
― boxedjoy, Wednesday, 17 July 2024 06:34 (ten months ago)
not sure how i missed this one till now but daaamn:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCIv4xklZxoPinky – I Wanna Be The One
― Bernard Quidbins (NickB), Saturday, 17 August 2024 18:14 (nine months ago)
^ that's the dub mix btw, vocal version also great and also has the 303
― Bernard Quidbins (NickB), Saturday, 17 August 2024 18:15 (nine months ago)
only cost me two quid but that one's still relatively cheap atm
― Bernard Quidbins (NickB), Saturday, 17 August 2024 18:18 (nine months ago)
oof, the instrumental groove version is even sweeter...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BZKylPy8XM
― Bernard Quidbins (NickB), Saturday, 17 August 2024 18:23 (nine months ago)
Backatcha reissuing this one...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_RXgiQj65UU-Bert & Co. - Got To Make Sure
https://www.instagram.com/p/C-_EJ__gL-z/
― Bernard Quidbins (NickB), Thursday, 22 August 2024 20:48 (nine months ago)
https://www.juno.co.uk/products/the-way-u-make-me-feel-uk-vinyl/1081205-01/
new street soul compilation coming in May. What else is going on?
― boxedjoy, Sunday, 20 April 2025 18:37 (one month ago)