Marvin Gaye - Mercy Mercy Me (Rapson Edit)

I posted the phenomenal DJ Day Edit of What's Going On about a week ago. Since I recently bought the Rapson Edits 12" as well I thought I would make a post about it also since they go well together.

Mark Rapson, a well established UK based keyboard player/producer, has created three solid re-edits (Mercy Mercy Me, Grapevine, The Real Thing) from the original multi tracks of these classics. Grapevine and The Real Thing are nice, extended edits but Mercy Mercy Me is the one that really stands out. The edits are out and available on a 12" but act like you know since the record seems to be out of stock in quite a few stores.

Marvin Gaye has been remixed, covered etc. always but it's funny that these two edits (DJ Day Edit and Rapson Edit) came out almost simultaneously and they are so much alike. Both edits are respectful to the original but still succeed in adding that little extra to a classic song.

Marvin Gaye - Mercy Mercy Me (Rapson Edit) [320 kbps, DivShare]

~Goodbye~

Aunt Sue you were an amazing person who was greatly loved by so many. You left too soon and my heart breaks for you Uncle and to all my cousins. I have never seen a man love his wife as much as you did. I hope knowing she is in a better place gives you peace.

I love you Aunt Sue and thank you for all your kind words you have given me throughout my life. A simple letter when I was away for school and those special words of advise you gave me last summer I will have with me forever.

I now have another angel watching over me. I love you & will miss you. your niece

Hudson People - Trip To Your Mind

Trip To Your Mind is a great loft classic by Hudson People. The tune dates back to London's jazz-funk scene of the late 70's. The vinyl rip is from the 2nd UK pressing put out by Ensign while the OG was released by Hithouse, both in 1979. I first heard Trip To Your Mind on Kon & Amir's amazing mixtape The Cleaning. If you see the mixtape around, make sure to buy it, if you don't have it already.

Speaking of mixes...for some reason I've haven't been listening to the RBMA Radio though I've been told it features some great shows. For example I had slept on this great two hour radio mix by Kon & Amir. Well, I'm glad I found it eventually. Take a listen. Highly recommended.

Hudson People - Trip To Your Mind [320 kbps, direct link]

Big Daddy Kane - The Lover In You

After yesterday's post I remembered the last track of Prince Of Darkness. It's a nice skit with a great break from Don't Let Love Get You Down where Kane's long time DJ/producer Mister Cee grabs the mic.

Big Daddy Kane - DJs Get No Credit feat. Mister Cee [320 kbps, direct link]

While I'm at it, I might as well post another tune from Kane's 1991 LP Prince Of Darkness. The Lover In You was huge back in the day. It's smooth as silk and great for educational purposes. It was Big Daddy Kane and T-Ski Valley who taught me all I need to know about ladies.

Big Daddy Kane - The Lover In You [320 kbps, direct link]

Archie Bell & The Drells - Don't Let Love Get You Down

Archie Bell & The Drells started off as a funk band from Houston, Texas but made a rather quick transition to become one of the smoothest Philly soul groups of the 70's. I like Tighten Up and their other earlier raw funk stuff but nowadays I'm more into their smooth midtempo soul tunes cut for Philadelphia International Records. Don't Let Love Get You Down is the classic opening track of Where Will You Go When The Party's Over (1976). I figured it would be all over the blogosphere but it wasn't, so here you go.

Archie Bell & The Drells - Don't Let Love Get You Down [320 kbps, direct link]

Top 8 of 2008

Lists are always fun to make but many times I end up forgetting something obvious from the lists and it drives me crazy. We'll see what I forgot this time.

I didn't buy a lot of new releases last year but anyways I picked eight albums and eight singles that first came to my mind as the strongest ones released in 2008. Thanks for 2008. Hopefully 2009 will be even better.

Albums

1. Menahan Street Band - Make The Road By Walking

2. Raphael Saadiq - The Way I See It

3. Q-Tip - The Renaissance

4. Hercules And Love Affair - Hercules And Love Affair

5. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes

6. The Five Corners Quintet - Hot Corner

7. Erykah Badu - New Amerykah

8. El Michels Affair - Sounding Out The City (Digi-LP)

Singles

1. Menahan Street Band - Make The Road By Walking

2. DJ Mujava - Township Funk

3. Mayer Hawthorne & The County - Just Ain't Gonna Work Out

4. Marvin Gaye - What's Going On (DJ Day Edit)

5. Bounce Camp - Big Dancin

6. The Bladerunnners - Champ (Club Mix)

7. Estelle - Come Over (only the version without Sean Paul will do)

8. Erykah Bady - Honey (DJ Day Edit)

Since two great edits by DJ Day made their way to the list, I'll share his latest and greatest edit so far.

Marvin Gaye - What's Going On (DJ Day Edit) [320 kbps, DivShare]

The Fort Knox Five - Blowing Up The Barrio

A quick post before I head out to celebrate New Year's Eve. I'm hosting a small pre-party and I'll be playing some deep house/lounge stuff but what I would really love to do is to organize a big block party and play something like Blowing Up The Barrio. It's the first Fort Knox Five tune I heard back in early 2005 and I've been a fan ever since. The track is truly designed to rock the dancefloor at your neighborhood (barrio) bloc party. The beat is solid and the horns are hot. Just the way I like it.

Happy New Year! See you in 2009.

The Fort Knox Five - Blowing Up The Barrio [320 kbps, direct link]