soul ii soul
back to life (s.f.b.m. mix)
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Led by producer/vocalist/songwriter DJ Jazzie B, Soul II Soul was one of the most innovative dance/R&B outfits of the late '80s, creating a seductive, deep R&B that borrowed from Philly soul, disco, reggae, and '80s hip-hop. Originally featuring Jazzie B, producer/arranger Nellee Hooper and instrumentalist Philip Daddae Harvey, the musical collective came together in the late '80s. Two singles, "Fairplay" and "Feel Free", began to attract attention both in clubs and in the press. Featuring the vocals of Caron Wheeler, Soul II Soul's third single "Keep on Movin'", reached the U.K. Top Ten in March 1989. Released in the summer of 1989, "Back to Life" also featured Wheeler and became their first number 1 hit. Soul II Soul released their debut album, Club Classics, Vol. One, shortly afterward. Wheeler left the group before the recording of the group's second album, Vol. 2: 1990 — A New Decade. The album featured lead vocalists Victoria Wilson-James, Lamya, Marcia Lewis, and Kym Mazelle. It peaked at number one in the U.K. Throughout 1991-1996, the group featured new female vocalists including Melissa Bell, Charlotte Kelly, and Penny Ford. Since 2007, Soul II Soul has reunited with the lineup of Jazzie B and Caron Wheeler. Wheeler took a departure from the group after their reunion tour in 2010, with Charlotte taking her place as lead vocalist. In 2013, Charlotte left the group and Wheeler rejoined the group. In December 2016, Soul II Soul released their second live album "Origins", which features Wheeler and Jazzie B as the lineup. In 2017, Kelly rejoined the group and alternated lead vocals alongside Wheeler. In 2019, Nadine Caesar began touring with the group as a featured lead vocalist.
discogs
Soul II Soul is a two-time Grammy winning act that emerged at the end of the 1980s from London. The group initially attracted attention as a sound system, playing records at house and street parties (where their clothing style - dubbed "Funki Dred" - quickly made a splash, inspiring them to start a line of clothing). Founded by Jazzie B and featuring a changing roster of other musicians - notably Nellee Hooper, Simon Law, Phillip 'Daddae' Harvey and Caron Wheeler - Soul II Soul's experiments in music-making of their own resulted in the dub plate "Fairplay," which secured them a deal with Virgin Records. They had huge hits in 1989 with the singles "Keep on Movin'" and "Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)," both from their debut album Club Classics Vol. I. These songs (both featuring Wheeler on vocals) set the tone for early 90s mainstream dance music in the UK. Their follow-up album, Vol. II: 1990 - A New Decade, yielded the hits "Get a Life" and "A Dream's a Dream," the latter featuring operatic vocals by Victoria Wilson-James. While their U.S. following declined somewhat following its release, Soul II Soul continued to have hits in the UK, including 1992's #4 single, "Joy." Soul II Soul reached Volume 5 of their series for Virgin in 1995, then released 2 more albums for Island Records.
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