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The original version of this groundbreaking bit of funky soul – the first British recording of the Brand New Heavies album, heard here with original vocals by Jay Ella Ruth – who was replaced on the record for the more famous US recording! Ruth's got a jazzier style than N'Dea Davenport, the singer better known with the group – and her work on the set is in keeping more with the rare groove/jazz funk underground from which the group emerged – sweetly singing in a classic 70s style that works perfectly with the combo's excellent instrumentation! The album's all massive all the way through – and cuts include "Dream Come True", "Stay This Way", "Ride in the Sky", and "Gimme One of Those". LP, Vinyl record album

An album that came out early in the career of the Brand New Heavies, and one that brings together a whole host of tracks from the early years of the group – rare material that never made it on their albums, and which resonates strongly with the wickedly sharp vibe of their first album! There's plenty of classic jazz funk modes going on here, from the group who helped bring the mode back into favor at the start of the 80s – and the set features vocals on a few tracks from different singers – including Jay Ella Ruth, Linda Muriel, and Jan Kincaid – who expand the sound past the usual N'Dea Davenport groove. Tracks include "Never Stop" (unreleased version), "Country Funkin", "Reality", "Rest Of Me", "Day At The Seaside", "Dream Come True" (1988 version), and "Mother's Tongue". Great stuff, with loads of killer cuts! LP, Vinyl record album

A monumental piece of funk – and a record that came into the world at a time when it seemed like just about everyone had forgotten how to play real funky music! This set's the US version of the first album by London scenesters The Brand New Heavies – and although it came out in the states 2 years after the UK set, it's essentially the same record – just featuring new vocals by singer N'Dea Davenport in place of the original vocalist Jay Ella Ruth. Davenport's vocals transported the group from indie acid jazz obscurity into the US soul charts in a way that nobody ever expected – and the resulting album is a stone classic that's filled with excellent cuts like "Ride In The Sky", "Never Stop", "Dream Come True", and "Stay This Way". Great stuff all around – and one of the few classic soul albums of its generation! CD

A classic bit of London funky guitar from Ronny Jordan – the heir apparent to Grant Green and Ivan Boogaloo Joe Jones – and one of the best new players of his generation! The set takes the older funky guitar styles of the 60s soul jazz generation, and fuses it with a 90s nujazz approach – to come up with some tight groovers that have a surprisingly classic feel, yet which also sparkle with the fresher sounds of the time – some of the hip rhythms that were bubbling around in London during the Talking Loud and early Acid Jazz years. Titles include a great remake of "So What", the jazz/hip hop classic "Get To Grips", and the cuts "Cool & Funky", "Summer Smile", "Show Me", "Nite Spice", and "After Hours". (Jazz, Neo Soul) CD