S.W. presents Silky Soul

With Silky Soul I take you back to the late 80s/early 90s. House music was booming and became mainstream in Europe. In the USA on the other hand, house music was ignored on US radio and TV and remained undergound. In order to reach their fans a lot of mainstream artists had their songs remixed by well respected producers. For this mix I made a selection of tracks by (mostly) mainstream artists that got remixed into club-friendly house mixes by my favourite early 90s US/UK (and a few Italian) producers: The Steve “Silk” Hurley/E-Smoove/Maurice Joshua and Def Mix (Frankie Knuckles, David Morales, Satoshi Tomiie) production/remix teams, Shep Pettibone (Or as a friend used called him: Shep Spercieboon) Frankie Foncett, Arthur Baker, Masters At Work, Joey Negro, Roger Sanchez and more.

The selection: (plain version of the tracklist all the way down)
01. Inner City - Watcha Gonna Do With My Lovin' (Def Mix) 1989
The mix starts off with Inner City’s ‘Watcha Gonna Do With My Lovin’ (covering Stephanie Mills’ 1979 soul/disco hit), remixed by Frankie Knuckles and David Morales adding their ‘Def Mix’ sound to it.

02. Bianca - My Emotions (Shep Pettibone Dance Mix) 1989
‘My Emotions’ by Bianca is one of those tracks that slipped under the radar of many. Forget the original mixes, it’s Shep Pettibone that delivers a very good remix here. I first heard this track early 1990 on a Belgian radiostation, but I never managed to understand the (French) DJ so I had no clue what it was. Luckily I had partly recorded the song on tape and when I came across the tape again 10 years later, I managed to find out the artist and title.

03. Mantronix feat. Wondress - Take Your Time (Club/Dub) 1990
Mantronix is one of those producers that never feared to make a crossover to other genres. Although he is most known for his hip-hop/electro productions, ‘Take Your Time’ is a very nice house/soul/hip-hop crossover, released in between his albums ‘This Should Move Ya’ and ‘The Incredible Sound Machine’. No clue why this song was never featured on one of these albums.

04. Simply Red - Something's Got Me Started (Hurley's House Remix) 1991
There’s one thing I always appreciated about Simply Red: He has soul and was never scared to take steps towards dance music. I am not particularly fan of his voice but his compositons and productions often make up for it. If you haven’t heard Hurley’s remix of ‘Something got me started’ before, I’m sure you will have the feeling that you do. You will recognize Steve “Silk” Hurley’s signature-sound from the very start of the song. I heard Steve’s remix for the very first time on a French radiostation in ’91. I can’t recall whether it was on Maxximum or on one of the dance shows on Skyrock or NRG. Back in the day I was’t able to lay my hands on a copy of the Hurley remixes. I totally forgot about it until I came across a copy a few years back.

05. Nia Peeples - Kissing The Wind (Silky Soul Dub / Silky Soul Mix) 1991
Nia Peebles? Who the h*ll is Nia peebles? A quick search learns that she is both singer as well as an actress. Best known for here role in the television series Fame, and certainly not to forget Walker, Texas Ranger (lol) I think her career was mainly focussed on the US market and never left much of a impression in Europe. At least not for me. Steve ‘Silk’ Hurley did a very good remix job on her single ‘Kissing The Wind’ though. A Hurley remix as I want it to be. Love it!

06. Incognito - Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing (Frankie Foncett Mix / Underground Instrumental Mix) 1992
Ever since David Morales remixed ‘Always There’ to a world wide No. 1, Incognito/Talkin’ Loud made sure to have every single remixed. ‘Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing’ was treated with care by Frankie Foncett. Half way the track Frankie switches to a more dub mix kind of approach, playing around with the piano/organ and vocal samples. My favourite part of the song.

07. Wen-Lover - Groovy Love Theme (1991)
Wen-Lover remained an unknown side project of producer Arthur Baker. ‘Groovy Love Theme’ is the B side of ‘So groovy now’ and samples MFSB’s ‘K-Jee’. Has been a personal favourite for many years.

08. Janet Jackson - Escapade (Shep's Housecapade Mix) 1989
Janet Jackson’s ‘Escapade’ was the 3rd single of the album Rhythm Nation 1814, released in 1990. Shep Pettibone was asked to remix the song to make sure it would hit clubs as well. My favourite mix, the ‘Housecapade’ mix is featured on this mix.

09. DNA - Can You Handle It (Maurice's Classic Mix) 1992
DNA was the pseudonym taken by two British dance music producers Nick Batt and Neal Slateford, best known for issuing a remix of Suzanne Vega's "Tom's Diner" in 1990. EMI signed DNA in '92 resulting in the album 'Taste This'. 'Can you handle it' was the first single which was basically a remix of Sharon Redd's 1980 disco classic. Besides DNA, it also got the full Hurley/E-Smoove/Joshua treatment from which I chose Maurice Joshua's remix for this mix.

10. Arthur Baker and The Backbeat Disciples - Let There Be Love (David Morales Dee Love 12'' Mix / 7'' Mix) 1991
For 'Let There Be Love', Arthur Baker teamed up with David Morales and that 'new kid' on the block: Eric Kupper, who proved not only being good musician but a very good producer as well. With Leee John (Imagination), Tata Vega, Toney Lee on vocals Arthur produced a powerful garage house track of which the vocals have been sampled quite a lot by other artists.

11. D'Bora - Love Desire (Maurice's Luv Me Underground Mix) 1992
D'Bora was a widely recognized house music vocalist and is most known for her vocals on 'Keep On Pumpin' It Up' by Freestyle Orchestra. Yeah, those vocals. The accapella was sampled numberous of times and is probably in the top 10 of most sampled accapellas.
Featured on this mix is Maurice Joshua's deep interpretation of D'Bora's '92 single 'Love Desire'.

12. Basscut - I'm Not In Love (Satoshi Tomiie Dub Mix 1) 1991
Basscut consisted of Swiss-born but NYC-based producer Heinrich Zwahlen and vocalist and actress Elisa Burchett. They recorded an album for 10 Records from which 'I'm Not In Love' was released as single. No one other than Satoshi Tomiie -also part of the Def Mix crew- was asked to remix the song. It's the promo 12" with dub mixes I like most. I love the way Tomiie hints to Gypsy Woman by using the same Korg M1 organ sound (and playing nearly the same melody as well) as Basement Boys did for Crystal Waters No.1 hit.

13. Chic - Your Love (Nellee Hooper 12'' Mix) 1992
After 9 years of silence Chic returned with a new album 'Chic-ism' in 1992 and is still their last official album to date. 'Your Love' was the second single and featured remixes by Nellee Hooper and Frankie Knuckles. I always slighty preferred Hooper's remix as it is a bit more powerful than Knuckles version.

14. M.C.J. feat. Sima - Sexitivity (Club Remix) 1991
M.C.J. was an Italian project by Andrea Gemolotto and Massimino Lippoli. This is garage house the Italian way. Both the original mixes as well as the remixes all hit the spot. In my top 25 of most favourite italo house tracks ever.

15. Crystal Waters - Gypsy Woman (Joey Negro's Mindmix) 1992
Crystal Waters' 'Gypsy Woman' was remixed by Joey Negro in 1992 in favor of the Red Hot + Dance project. Joey's took a completely different approach to the original turning it into a sweet and deeper house track. Together with Morales' remix of Sabrina Johnston 'Peace' and George Michaels 'Too Funky' these are my favourite tracks of the Red Hot + Dance album.

16. Slam Slam feat. Dee C. Lee - Move (Dance All Night) (The If Mix) 1991
Slam Slam was a side project of Robert Howard aka Dr. Robert. Originally released in 1989 but not much happened until it got re-released in 1990 with David Morales and Tony Humphries remixes. The 'If Mix' can only be found on the 1991 (3rd) re-release.

17. Groovebusters - I Need It (Techno Philly Mix) 1992
Behind Groovebusters hides no one other than Dimitri From Paris and producer and (radio) DJ Bibi. I first heard 'I Need You' during my holidays in France in 1992. There was this daily show called 'Top Club' on Sud Radio. They played all the current club hits and I absolutley loved the show's playlist. Inspired by the UK/US garage sound on one hand and italo house on the other hand Dimitri & Bibi created a great house track sampling Tramaine's 1985 club hit 'Fall Down'. Released on the French Airplay records in 1992.

18. M. Doc - Whatever U Need (Silky Soul Dub) 1992
M-Doc is the nick of Marc Williams, a rap artist and producer from Chicago. M-Doc came in contact with Steve Silk Hurley in 1988 and is first heard in the Hurley's hip house track 'It's Percussion'. 'Whatever You Need' was produced by Hurley and Jamie Principle and remixed by Hurley/E-Smoove/Joshua. The dub mix I played is obviously one of the Hurley remixes.

19. D-Mob with Cathy Dennis - That's The Way Of The World (Essential Beat Mix) 1990
D Mob is a nick of British house music producer Dancin' Danny D. After the huge succes of 'We Call It Acieed' D Mob worked on the studio album 'A Little Bit Of This, A Little Bit Of That' which got released in 1989. Don't bother the album, just stick to the 5 singles that where taken from it. Those are the most interesting songs.
Back in the day I always listened to the weekly Dutch radioshow 'Dance Trax' (Check my 'Radio Broadcasts' section on soundcloud for an 1991 aircheck). When 'That's The Way Of The World' got played for the first time I fell in love with it right away. The drum programming, chord progression of the piano, Cathy's sweet voice, I just couldn't stop listening to it. I remember being frustrated about the fact not being able to buy it because I couldn't effort it. Luckily it was played again a week later and I managed to record it on tape. Have been listening to that tape for years until I found a copy in the late 90s, cheap as chips.

20. Danni'elle Gaha - Stuck In The Middle (Roger S. 39th St. Mix) 1992
'Stuck In The Middle' of Australian singer-songwriter Danni'elle Gaha was released by Epic Records in 1992. Despite the club success of the song it did not achieve a high chart placing. The 12" contains a nice set of remixes by Roger S., E-Smoove, Maurice Joshua and Filet O Gang, from which the Roger S. remixes are my favourite.

21. DSK - Do Ya (Joey Negro Above And Beyond Mix) 1992
'Do ya' was originally featured on DSK's debut album 'Work My Body Over'. When Steve Silk Hurley remixed 'What Would We Do' into the charts in 1991, the Italian label Bull & Butcher Recordings decided to re-release 'Do Ya' as well. This release contains remixes by Joey Negro, Joe T. Vannelli and Emilio Lanotte. Joey Negro's Above And Beyond Mix is featured on this mix.

22. Kym Sims - Take My Advice (Silky 70's Mix) 1992
It's hard to choose which Kym Sims single is my favourite: Too Blind To See It, Take My Advice or A Little Bit More. Kym's album was produced Hurley/E-Smoove/Joshua so you probably know what to expect by now. Take My Advice was the follow up to the anthem 'Too Blind To See It' and has more soulful feel to it.

23. Madonna - Deeper and Deeper (Shep's Classic 12'') 1992
In 1992 Madonna returned with the concept album 'Erotica' for which she primarily collaborated with producers Shep Pettibone and André Betts. Shep had remixed and co-produced several of her singles and Madonna wanted both 'due to their ability to remain plugged into the dance underground'
'Deeper And Deeper' was remixed by Shep Pettibone and David Morales from which I prefer Shep's original mix most.

24. C & C Music Factory - Just a Touch of Love (Everyday) (The C&C Garage mix) 1990
C & C Music Factory's 'Just A Touch Of Love' was the 4rd single from the debut album 'Gonna Make You Sweat'. Robert Clivillés wrote the song together with his cousin Ricky Crespo, who also participated on the album. I remember playing this song for weeks on my walkman while cycling to school and back. Great track though hard to mix as the track hardly contains a decent mixable part.

25. Clubland - Hold On (Tighter to love) (Hurley's House Mix) 1991
The driving forces behind Clubland were producer and label owner Jan Ekholm (Sweden) and song writer and musician Morgan King (UK). After the succes of 'Let's Get busy', produced by Dave Rawlings and Ronnie Herel from Quartz and remixed by Snap!, Elkholm and King approached rappers 2 In A Room and Stepz and singer Zemya Hamilton to work on a second album. The production of this album was done by David Morales, Eric Kupper and Hurley/E-smoove/Joshua, who also provided most of the remixes. Hold On (Tighter To Love) was the first single and remixed by Steve Silk Hurley.

26. Richenel - Fascination For Love (Garage Club Mix) 1992
Richenel is best known for his European hit 'Dance Around The World', released in 1986. In '92 he recorded a his third album Oasis. The first single 'Fascination For Love' was remixed by Martin Boer (1 of the 2 brothers) and TCM (Thimbles, Cowboy & Mr. Ladies). Their remix is featured on this mix.
France was the only country where 'Fascination For Love' was succesfull. Even in Holland it failed to hit the charts.

27. Little Louie Vega & Marc Anthony - Ride on the Rhythm (Kenlou Rhythm Mix) 1991
'Ride on the Rhythm' of Little Louie Vega & Marc Anthony was a collaboration between Kenny Dope Gonzalez, Louie Vega, Todd Terry and The Basement Boys. Is that a dream team or what? The vocals where performed by salsa artist Marc Anthony and raps by Doug Lazy. I fell in love with the piano line of Kenlou's Rhythm Mix from the very first moment I heard it. It was also the first track from which I used vocal samples for the very first (house) track I ever produced on the Commodore Amiga 500 I purchased late '91.

28. Soul II Soul - Move Me No Mountain (Dum Dum Dub) 1992
Joey Negro's 'Dum Dum Dub' is the only house remix of Soul II Soul's 'Move Me No Mountain', originally by Love Unlimited. Joey Delivers a beautiful deep houser here, leaving out nearly all of the vocals. A friend recorded it on a tape for me back in the day. He thought I would like it. Oh yeah, it was the track that moved Negro to my top priority producers list.

29. Martha Wash - Carry on (Masters at Work Dub Mix) 1992
Martha Wash' 'Carry On' was delivered with an amazing remix package. Both The Masters At Work and Todd Terry remixes are top notch! Terry later used samples of 'Carry On' on two tracks -Honey Free At Last (Respect To Martha Mix) and Clear Away The Past- as featured on the 'Unreleased Project Part 7' EP. Before I knew Terry's mixes MAW's Dub Mix was my favourite.

30. Carol Bailey - Understand Me (Free Your Mind) (Dreams Piano Remix) 1992
With Carol Bailey's - Understand Me we take a little trip down to to the DFC vaults in Italy. The Dreams Piano Remix can be found on the 12" with remixes (DFC 085) and has a slightly deeper feel to it compared to the original more soulful mixes. The original mix was featured on a DFC compilation cd called 'The Best Of Latinohouse', released by Stealth Records. I bought this cd back in '92 and it became one of my favourite Italian deep house compilations. If you like DFC's deep house approach and you're not a vinyl collector, make sure to get hold of one of the very last copies of the cd that are still avaible on Discogs.

31. Angélique Kidjo - Wé-Wé (Tribe Mix) 1992
Angélique Kidjo had two big hits in France. Wé-Wé in 1991 and Batonga in 1992. Wé-Wé was remixed for the US market and released in '92. From this release I selected John Robinson's Tribe Mix. Batonga, the follow up to Wé-Wé, came out in '92 and is word purchasing as well. The Jungle Club Mix is my favourite mix. The UK release of Batonga also contains the very good Apollo Mix of Wé-Wé. Definitely worth checking out.

32. DJ Lionetti - I've Got You (Tribal V.R.S. / Under Mix) 1992
Diago Lionetti a.k.a. DJ Lionetti was an Italian DJ/ producer who released a few interesting house records under various aliasses in the early 90s.
"I've Got You" is a nice (Italo) house track released on the Italian label Cut Records in 1992.

33. Musto & Bones - The Music Is Right (R & B Dub Mix) 1991
Tommy Musto & Frankie Bones delivering an excellent production here, engineered by Eddie Sancho (Eddie S.) and Jim "Bonzai" Caruso. Having (garage) house mixes on the A-Side and techno mixes on the B-Side Musto & Bones hoped to reached a wide range of DJ's (and public) with 'The Music Is Right'. My favourite mix is the piano driven R & B Dub Mix, which closes the nearly 2.5 hour long mix. I hope you enjoyed the selection!

Tracklist:
01. Inner City - Watcha Gonna Do With My Lovin' (Def Mix) -- Virgin (1989)
02. Bianca - My Emotions (Shep Pettibone Dance Mix) -- Warner Bros. (1989)
03. Mantronix feat. Wondress - Take Your Time (Club/Dub) -- Capitol (1990)
04. Simply Red - Something's Got Me Started (Hurley's House Remix) -- EastWest (1991)
05. Nia Peeples - Kissing The Wind (Silky Soul Dub / Silky Soul Mix) -- Charisma (1991)
06. Incognito - Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing (Frankie Foncett Mix / Underground Instrumental Mix) 1992
07. Wen-Lover - Groovy Love Theme -- RCA (1991)
08. Janet Jackson - Escapade (Shep's Housecapade Mix) -- A&M Records (1989)
09. DNA - Can You Handle It (Maurice's Classic Mix) -- EMI (1992)
10. Arthur Baker and The Backbeat Disciples - Let There Be Love (David Morales Dee Love 12'' Mix / 7'' Mix) -- RCA (1991)
11. D'Bora - Love Desire (Maurice's Luv Me Underground Mix) -- Smash Records (1992)
12. Basscut - I'm Not In Love (Satoshi Tomiie Dub Mix 1) -- 10 Records (1991)
13. Chic - Your Love (Nellee Hooper 12'' Mix) -- Warner Bros. (1992)
14. M.C.J. feat. Sima - Sexitivity (Club Remix) -- X-Energy (1991)
15. Crystal Waters - Gypsy Woman (Joey Negro's Mindmix) -- Epic (1992)
16. Slam Slam feat. Dee C. Lee - Move (Dance All Night) (The If Mix) -- MCA (1991)
17. Groovebusters - I Need It (Techno Philly Mix) -- Airplay (1992)
18. M. Doc - Whatever U Need (Silky Soul Dub) -- Smash Records (1992)
19. D-Mob with Cathy Dennis - That's The Way Of The World (Essential Beat Mix) -- FFRR (1990)
20. Danni'elle Gaha - Stuck In The Middle (Roger S. 39th St. Mix) -- Epic (1992)
21. DSK - Do Ya (Joey Negro Above And Beyond Mix) -- Bull & Butcher (1992)
22. Kym Sims - Take My Advice (Silky 70's Mix) -- EastWest (1992)
23. Madonna - Deeper and Deeper (Shep's Classic 12'') -- Maverick (1992)
24. C & C Music Factory - Just a Touch of Love (Everyday) (The C&C Garage mix) -- Columbia (1990)
25. Clubland - Hold On (Tighter to love) (Hurley's House Mix) -- Btech (1991)
26. Richenel - Fascination For Love (Garage Club Mix) -- Bounce Records (1992)
27. Little Louie Vega & Marc Anthony - Ride on the Rhythm (Kenlou Rhythm Mix) -- Atlantic (1991)
28. Soul II Soul - Move Me No Mountain (Dum Dum Dub) -- 10 Records (1992)
29. Martha Wash - Carry on (Masters at Work Dub Mix) -- RCA (1992)
30. Carol Bailey - Understand Me (Free Your Mind) (Dreams Piano Remix) -- DFC (1992)
31. Angélique Kidjo - Wé-Wé (Tribe Mix) -- Great Jones (1992)
32. DJ Lionetti - I've Got You (Tribal V.R.S. / Under Mix) -- CUT Records (1992)
33. Musto & Bones - The Music Is Right (R & B Dub Mix) -- RCA (1991)

Tracklist

1	Watcha Gonna Do With My Lovin' (Def Mix) Virgin (1989) by Inner City
2	My Emotions (Shep Pettibone Dance Mix) Warner Bros. (1989) by Bianca
3	Take Your Time (Club/Dub) Capitol (1990) by Mantronix feat. Wondress
4	Something's Got Me Started (Hurley's House Remix) EastWest (1991) by Simply Red
5	Kissing The Wind (Silky Soul Dub / Silky Soul Mix) Charisma (1991) by Nia Peeples
6	Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing (Frankie Foncett Mix / Underground Instrumental Mix) 1992 by Incognito
7	Groovy Love Theme RCA (1991) by Wen-Lover
8	Escapade (Shep's Housecapade Mix) A&M Records (1989) by Janet Jackson
9	Can You Handle It (Maurice's Classic Mix) EMI (1992) by DNA
10	Let There Be Love (David Morales Dee Love 12'' Mix / 7'' Mix) RCA (1991) by Arthur Baker and The Backbeat Disciples
11	Love Desire (Maurice's Luv Me Underground Mix) Smash Records (1992) by D'Bora
12	I'm Not In Love (Satoshi Tomiie Dub Mix 1) 10 Records (1991) by Basscut
13	Your Love (Nellee Hooper 12'' Mix) Warner Bros. (1992) by Chic
14	Sexitivity (Club Remix) XEnergy (1991) by M.C.J. feat. Sima
15	Gypsy Woman (Joey Negro's Mindmix) Epic (1992) by Crystal Waters
16	Move (Dance All Night) (The If Mix) MCA (1991) by Slam Slam feat. Dee C. Lee
17	I Need It (Techno Philly Mix) Airplay (1992) by Groovebusters
18	Whatever U Need (Silky Soul Dub) Smash Records (1992) by M. Doc
19	That's The Way Of The World (Essential Beat Mix) FFRR (1990) by D-Mob with Cathy Dennis
20	Stuck In The Middle (Roger S. 39th St. Mix) Epic (1992) by Danni'elle Gaha
21	Do Ya (Joey Negro Above And Beyond Mix) Bull & Butcher (1992) by DSK
22	Take My Advice (Silky 70's Mix) EastWest (1992) by Kym Sims
23	Deeper and Deeper (Shep's Classic 12'') Maverick (1992) by Madonna
24	Just a Touch of Love (Everyday) (The C&C Garage mix) Columbia (1990) by C & C Music Factory
25	Hold On (Tighter to love) (Hurley's House Mix) Btech (1991) by Clubland
26	Fascination For Love (Garage Club Mix) Bounce Records (1992) by Richenel
27	Ride on the Rhythm (Kenlou Rhythm Mix) Atlantic (1991) by Little Louie Vega & Marc Anthony
28	Move Me No Mountain (Dum Dum Dub) 10 Records (1992) by Soul II Soul
29	Carry on (Masters at Work Dub Mix) RCA (1992) by Martha Wash
30	Understand Me (Free Your Mind) (Dreams Piano Remix) DFC (1992) by Carol Bailey
31	WéWé (Tribe Mix) Great Jones (1992) by Angélique Kidjo
32	I've Got You (Tribal V.R.S. / Under Mix) CUT Records (1992) by DJ Lionetti
33	The Music Is Right (R & B Dub Mix) RCA (1991) by Musto & Bones