D’Angelo: Brown Sugar (Deluxe Edition)

The initial version of D'Angelo's debut album was released in 1995 through EMI Music, and to this day, still marks a landmark release for contemporary soul recordings that would follow it.

Much in the vein of Warner Bros' 4-disc expanded reissue of 'Purple Rain' last year, 'Brown Sugar' sees a similar 2-disc reissue featuring remixes, alternate versions, acappellas and instrumentals.  The remixes, which in honesty, have all previously seen the light of day mostly in the 1990s as single b-sides or 12" bonuses are compiled here for the first time making this the ultimate 'Brown Sugar' package 22 years after the album's original release date.

While many will no doubt be familiar with Def Squad's remix of 'Me & Those Dreamin Eyes of Mine' and DJ Premier's remix of 'Lady' (featuring AZ), the Incognito remix of 'Brown Sugar' marks a particularly nice inclusion as the Dodge remix.  The complete package marks an incredible revisit to a wonderful and much-revered piece of work.
 

D’Angelo: Brown Sugar (Deluxe Edition)

CD 1 (Remastered album with bonus tracks)

1. "Brown Sugar"
2. "Alright"
3. "Jonz In My Bonz"
4. "Me And Those Dreamin' Eyes Of Mine"
5. "Sh*t, Damn, Motherf*cker"
6. "Smooth"
7. "Cruisin’"
8. "When We Get By"
9. "Lady"
10. "Higher"

Bonus Tracks

11. "Brown Sugar"
12. "Me And Those Dreamin' Eyes Of Mine" A Cappella (released on promotional 12” single)
13. "Brown Sugar" Instrumental (released on 12” single)
14. "Lady" Just Tha Beat Mix Instrumental w/Chorus (Mixed by DJ Premier; released on CD Maxi-Single)
15. "Brown Sugar" Alternate Version (released on 12” single)

CD 2 (More Sugar)

1. "Brown Sugar" King Tech Remix feat. Kool G. Rap (released on 12” promotional single)
2. "Me And Those Dreamin’ Eyes Of Mine" Def Squad Remix feat. Redman (Remixed by Erick Sermon for Funk Lord Productions; released on 12” single)
3. "Cruisin’" Cut The Sax Remix (Remix by King Tech; Released on 12” single)
4. "Lady" Just Tha Beat Mix/featuring AZ (Remixed by DJ Premier for Works of Mart Productions, Inc.; released on CD Maxi-Single)
5. "Brown Sugar" Soul Inside 808 Mix (Mix by DJ Dodge; released on U.K. 12” single)
6. "Me And Those Dreamin’ Eyes Of Mine" Two Way Street Mix (Remixed by DJ Premier for Works of Mart Productions, Inc.; released on promotional 12” single)
7. "Cruisin’" Dallas Austin Remix (released on 12” single)
8. "Lady" 2B3 Shake Dat Ass Mix (Remix produced by Neville Thomas and Pule Pheto for 2B3 Productions; released on U.K. CD Maxi-Single)
9. "Brown Sugar" Incognito Molasses Remix (released on “She’s Always In My Hair” promotional 12” single)
10. "Me And Those Dreamin' Eyes Of Mine" Dreamy Remix (Remixed by Erick Sermon for Funk Lord Productions; released on promotional 12” single)
11. "Cruisin’" Wet Remix (released on CD single)
12. "Brown Sugar" Dollar Bag Mix (released on U.K. 12” single)
13. "Cruisin’" God Made Me Funky Remix (released on promotional 12” single)
14. "Brown Sugar" CJ Mackintosh Remix (Additional production and Remix by CJ Mackintosh; released on the various artists CD collection Nu Classic Soul)
15. "Lady" CJ Mackintosh Mix Radio Edit (Additional production and Remix by CJ Mackintosh; released on U.K. CD Maxi-Single)
16. "Cruisin'' Who's Fooling Who Mix (released on promotional 12” single)

'Soul of A Woman' by Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings

On 18th November 2016, after a lengthy battle with cancer, Sharon Jones passed away at 60 years of age.  Her untimely passing is still a scar for many of the Daptone faithful and for contemporary soul fans who recognised the indelible talent she was.

Born in 1956 in Augusta, Georgia, Jones only made her breakthrough into the music business in her 40s and since aligning with Daptone Records, released her debut album with The Dap-Kings in 2002. Six studio albums and a compilation followed establishing the band as leaders in the soul and funk revival.  The match-made-in-heaven union with The Dap-Kings will live in the hearts of fans everywhere, whether you're basking in the joys of their albums or whether you just cling to the memory of their live performances - if you were lucky enough to have seen them grace a stage which was a religious experience in itself.

As heartbreaking as it is to say, if 'Soul of A Woman' is in fact the final chapter in the Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings book, they've really bowed out with a fantastic swan song.  Jones sounds fantastic throughout - her voice is exquisite on the sweeter soul songs like 'Searching For A New Day' and 'When I Saw Your Face' and turned up to all the right notches for the playful 'Rumors' and the uptempo 'Matter of Time'.

Should anyone reading this have never actually purchased an album by Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings then I would certainly urge you to do so and 'Soul of A Woman' in its own way is a great place to start.

Blue-in-Green:RADIO paid tribute to the band by showcasing them with one of our 30minuteMixes which you can check out below... 

5 Songs About... Mr. Mo Records

This edition of our 5 Songs About... showcases some of the excellent remixes from Brooklyn-based independent label, Mr. Mo Records.  Headed up by founder Mo Serious (Mr. Mo), the label gift fans on the first and fifteenth of every month with exclusive, free-to-download, remixes from a wide array of artists including Erykah Badu, SZA, Lucy Pearl, The Pharcyde and many more.  Below is a pick of our top five, all of which have secured places on Blue-in-Green:RADIO's Nu-Skool Soul show and our Frequency Liberated playlists.

Special mention to all of the 2017 remixers, Mo Serious, Hexsagon, DJ Koa, DJ Vex and essab - all immeasurably skilled and talented producers who have contributed to an incredible series of remixes worthy of your attention.



http://www.mrmorecords.com/
https://mrmorecords.bandcamp.com/