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Soul 2 Soul (November 2004 @ Club Phoenix London) |
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Led by producer/vocalist/songwriter Jazzie B., Soul II Soul
were 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. The group
had a residency at the Africa Centre in London's Covent Garden, which
led to a record contract with 10, a subsidiary of Virgin. Two singles, "Fairplay" and "Feel
Free," began to attract attention both in clubs and in the press. Wheeler left the group before the recording of the group's
second album, Vol. II: 1990 - A New Decade. The album debuted at
number one
in the U.K., yet it caught the group in a holding pattern. Hooper soon
left the collective, leaving Jazzie B. to soldier on alone. Hooper
went on to work with several of the most influential and popular acts
of the early '90s, including Massive Attack (Blue Lines), Björk
(Debut and Post), Madonna (Bedtime Stories), and U2 ("Hold Me,
Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me"). In 1992, Soul II Soul released
Vol. III: Just Right, to both lukewarm reviews and sales. After the
compilation Vol. IV: The Classic Singles, the group's next studio album,
Vol. V: Believe, appeared in 1995. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music
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