Tell me why?

Date: Thursday 25th February 2010
Found: Cancer Research Charity Shop, West Ealing, London
Price: £1

The Sindecut - Tell Me Why?
Virgin Records, 1990

A
1. Tell Me Why?

B
1. Tell Me Why? (LP Version)
2. Wisdom

Another one of those "I haven't got a clue what this is but I'm gonna buy it anyway" records that turns out to be pretty awesome. I had never heard of The Sindecut before but it turns out they were pretty big around the early 90s. A UK based hip hop and soul group of DJs, rappers and vocalists including MC Crazy Noddy, DJ Fingers, Louise Francis, Lyn E Lyn, Don't Ramp and Spikey Tee.

After a few listens to this song I was hooked, the rap ain't so good but it makes up for it with sweet vocals and a great bassline. Enjoy!

Airport '89

Date: Thursday 25th February 2010
Found: Families Relief Charity Shop, West Ealing, London
Price: £1

Classic early rave tune from the 80s here - actually thought to be one of the first - Wood Allen was also a pseudonym (of many) of Black Box! The club version here is the one everyone will remember with it's classic rave sounding synths all over the show, cut up vocal snippets and chugging bassline. The radio version, which I'm still in two minds about, eschews the rave synths for a rather sinister sounding piano. The bonus with this vinyl is the scratch samples on the second track of the B-Side, result!

Wood Allen - Airport '89
BCM Recordsl, 1989

A
1. Airport '89 (Club Mix)

B
1. Airport '89 (Radio Version)
2. Sound and Freq. Scratching

Bobby Bonus

Date: Thursday 25th February 2010

Found: Families Relief Charity Shop, West Ealing, London
Price: £1 each

Some poor soul was silly enough to give away a prize selection of Bobby Brown records and I am lucky enough to be the new (and rightful) owner of these gems:

Bobby Brown - My Prerogative
MCA Records, 1988

A
1. My Prerogative (Extended Mix)

B
1. Girl Next Door (Extended Version)
2. My Prerogative (Instrumental)

*

Bobby Brown - Don't Be Cruel

MCA Records, 1988

A

1. Don't Be Cruel (Extended Version)

B

1. Don't Be Cruel (Radio Edit)

2. Don't Be Cruel (Accapella)

*

Bobby Brown - Roni

MCA Records, 1989

A

1. Roni (Extended Version)

B

1. The 'Every Little Hit' Mix

- Every Little Step

- On Our Own

- Don't Be Cruel

- *My Prerogative

She Drives Me Crazy

Date: Thursday 25th February 2010
Found: PDSA Charity Shop, West Ealing, London
Price: 80p

FYC (Fine Young Cannibals) - She Drives Me Crazy
FFRR Records Ltd, 1988

A
1. She Drives Me Crazy (The Monie Love Remix)

B
1. Pull The Sucker Off
2. She Drives Me Crazy

When I picked this record up I didn't know that FYC = Fine Young Cannibals, I only saw "Monie Love Remix" and thought this could either be really awful or amazing. I was pleasantly surprised (and confused) when I played it and realised what it was. It's basically a mash-up of the fine Young Cannibals' She Drives Me Crazy and Monie Love's I'll Drive You Crazy which makes perfect sense as they were released the same year and have similar titles. It sounds like it could be a total cheesefest but it's not, it's done really well and to great effect.

I've posted the video with the 12" Mix as I couldn't find a video with the Monie Love remix, and anyway it's better than the original version. I have also put up the original version of I'll Drive You Crazy by Monie Love so maybe if you listen to both at the same time with your eyes closed your brain could do some really special maths.

R.E.S.P.E.C.T

Date: Thursday 25th February 2010
Found: Cancer Research Charity Shop, West Ealing, London
Price: £1

Adeva - Respect
Cooltempo, 1988

A
1. Respect (extended version)

B
1. Respect (Rough Mix)
2. Respect (Dub Version)

I was excited to come across this record in my local charity shop this afternoon after reading about it on the Legendary Children blog just last night, coincidence?
Adeva's strong, soulful vocals work wonderfully with this garage house version of the classic Respect, made famous by Aretha Franklin 20 years earlier in 1967.

Have a look below for the video where Adeva struts her stuff in a rather unusual take on Construction worker chic (complete with handcuffs... I'm guessing that if you don't show her the respect she deserves you could find yourself attached to a scaffold indefinitely!)

Extended Version:

Chanelle

Date: Thursday 25th February 2007
Found: Families Relief Charity Shop, West Ealing, London
Price: £1

Chanelle - One Man
Cooltempo, 1988

A
1. One Man (One Mix)

B
1. One Man (Dope Mix)
2. One Ma (Intense Mix)

I bought this record with very little to go on except for the fact that it was from the Cooltempo record label, had very similar artwork to the Adeva record in the next post and the words "Frankie" and "Knuckles" in very small writing on the label. My detective work paid off as this is not a bad record at all - having listened to it, I certainly think it has the potential to grow on me. It's a real feel good song with cheerful piano and gospel backing vocals.

Melting Pot

Date: Wednesday 17th February 2010
Found: Red Cross Charity Shop, Lewisham, London
Price: £1.50

Booker T & The M.G.'s - Melting Pot LP

Stax, 1971

A
1. Melting Pot

2. Back Home

3. Chicken Pox

4. Fuquawi

B
1. Kinda Easy Like

2. Hi Ride

3. L.A. Jazz Song

4. Sunny Monday

I was really chuffed with finding this original pressing in the Red Cross Shop last week. Fair enough the sleeve is a bit tatty (kinda expected for a 29 year old record!), but the vinyl is absolutely mint with barely any audible crackle. I picked up on it due to the title track 'Melting Pot' being an original Hip Hop break from the late 70s and me being a wannabe breaker when I was about 16 years old. Funk really doesn't get any better with it's organs, rolling bassline and incredible breakdown in the middle - proper 2am, tiny sweaty basement stuff. I did try to pick out some highlights, but the whole album is incredible, so below is the title track. I did want to post L.A. Jazz song, but can't find it on youtube, although you can hear it here if you have itunes.