DJ Grizz- Stevie Wonder Mix

Back with a Soul Superstar this morning... Mr Steveland Morris or Stevie Wonder to his friends. From the early 60's as a Motown prodigy up to the present day Mr Wonder has given us an endless stream of acclaimed music. My Stevie Top Ten of Grizz favourites mainly concentrates on his sublime 70's period where LPs like Talking Book, Innervisions and Songs in the Key of Life were must haves for any serious music aficionado.

My selection of classics start with the funky synth monster Too High, there's the massive I Wish, includes sublime cuts like As and Bird of Beauty, a early 80's ode to funkiness in Do I Do, and ends on the oft covered Creepin'... plus many more Stevie slices of genius to add to your Summer soundtrack!

Keep sharing the Soul Love mixtapers.

Grizz- The Soul Mixtape Blog

Too High

I wish
As if you read my mind
Until you come back to me
As
Dont you worry bout a thing
Bird of beauty ft Minnie Ripperton
Do i do
Golden Lady
Creepin

DJ Grizz- Smokey Robinson Mix

Todays mix is a tribute to one of the great voices of Soul, the man who almost invented 'Quiet Storm'... Smokey Robinson! A career that started in the 50's with hits in the 60's 70's and 80's both with the Miracles and as a solo singer/songwriter but also as a founder of Motown records... you know you are a musical icon when you can be instantly identified by just your first name- here's my 'Smokey' mix!

As always it a very personal choice from a large back catalogue but we start with an all time 60's classic- Tears of a Clown, there's a laid back anthem in Cruising, a favourite of mine in Family Song, the iconic Tracks of my Tears, and ends on the Mellow Soul blueprint for all Mellow Soul Grooves in Quiet Storm... plus more!

Back before long with more good stuff!

Grizz- The Soul Mixtape Blog

Tears of a clown

Satisfaction
Cruising
Wanna know my mind
Ever had a dream
Family song
Ooh baby baby
Tracks of my tears
Quiet Storm

DJ Grizz- Phyllis Hyman Mix

A tribute to the late great Phyllis Hyman now. A lady with a powerful voice and a string of club and ballad hits throughout the late 70's and 80's. She was first 'discovered' by Soul-Jazz great Norman Connors in the mid 70's before going onto great solo success on both the Buddha and then Arista labels. Here's a selection of her best!

We start with the Rare Groove/Blues party favourite in Don't Tell Me Tell Her, we've 2 Soul Club monsters in Tonight You and Me & You Know How To Love Me (an early formation dance fave!), there's the big hit Under Your Spell and we end on a great Bacharach penned piece of Soul in A Love Too Good To Last.

The other blog boys are back in town soon and I'm back in a week!

Grizz- The Soul Mixtape

Dont tell me tell her

Tonight you and me
You know how to love me
I aint asking
Hold me
Under Your Spell
the Sunshine in my life
If you ever change your mind
The love too good to last

DJ Grizz- Chaka Khan Mix

Todays mix is an appreciation of one of the 70's and 80's great Soul and Funk icons- its Ms Yvette Stevens.... better known as Chaka Khan. A large back catalogue of nuggets and hits to choose from not to mention a cameo in the Blues Brothers film what's not to love about Ms Khan. Either as part of the great 70's Soul/Funk band Rufus or later as a solo singer here's my favourites!

We start with a Rufus funk-soul monster in Do You Love What You Feel, there's the disco tinged Clouds, a great jazz interpretation in A Night In Tunisia, the wicked Stay, and we end on a live version of Sweet Thing to show off that powerful voice... plus more (indeed I could easily have done a 2 parter to cover all my faves!)

Enjoy fellow Mixtapers!

Grizz- The Soul Mixtape Blog

Do you love what you feel

Clouds
A night in Tunisia
Eye to eye
I'm every woman
Packed my bags
Stay
Tell me something good
Sweet Thing (live)

DJ Grizz- George Benson Mix

Another tribute mix today and its one of the great Jazz- Soul guitarists and vocalists of the 70's and 80's ... Mr George 'Bad' Benson. From his beginnings as a child guitar prodigy to his 60's Jazz recordings through to making some of the great Jazz-Funk and Soul LPs of the 70's and 80's he is still active today!

My favourites include On Broadway from the live Weekend in LA LP, You Can Do It - a collaboration with Nuyorcian Soul from just a few years ago, some great 80's Soul in Love X Love, The World is A Ghetto from the all time great 'In Flight' LP, a Benson anthem in Breezin', and ends on his sublime version of the LTD nugget Love Ballad... plus more George to enjoy.

Catch you real soon.

Grizz- The Soul Mixtape Blog

On Broadway

Gonna love you more
You can do it
Inside Love
Love X Love
Give me the night
The World is a ghetto
Breezin’
Love Ballad

DJ Grizz- Luther Vandross Mix

Following on from my recent Change mix here's a little something from the Change vocalist that became a Soul superstar in his own right- Luther Vandross. The man with the velvet voice began as a backing singer for artists like Chaka Khan, Diana Ross and David Bowie to name a few, before having huge success with his debut LP - Never Too Much... and the rest is history!

Here's my personal selection of Luther faves including a live version of Never Too Much (he was renown for his live shows and I caught him once in London during the late 80's), there's Til' My Baby Comes Home, a fantastic version of Stevie Wonders Creepin', includes She Loves Me Back and ends on the powerful Still In Love... plus more magic to relive.

Catch you soon

Grizz- The Soul Mixtape Blog

Never too much (live)

Til my baby comes home

Its good for the Soul

Follow my love

Since i lost my baby

Creepin

Dont wanna be a fool

She loves me back

Still in love

DJ Grizz- Al Green Mix

The Reverend Al Green, one of sweetest voices in Soul is the subject of todays mix. The biggest act on Willie Mitchells Memphis 'Hi Records' label with its distinctive sound Al started recording in the late 60's and was still putting out quality Soul music as late as 2008! Heres some of Al's music that speak to me the most!

We start with the 1972 masterpiece Love and Happiness, next up an Al 'souled out' version of the Beatles, there's Keep on Pushing Love from 1995 and still every bit as good as his early recordings, we've the sublime dreamy Stay With Me By The Sea, and it ends one of the greats in I'm Still In Love With You... plus much more Al magic to relive!

Back soon mixtapers!

Grizz- The Soul Mixtape Blog

Love and happiness

i wanna hold your hand

Keep on pushing love

Judy

Look what you done for me

Funny how time slips away

Stay with me by the sea

Feels like summer

Dream

I’m still in love with you

DJ Grizz- The Jacksons Mix

Not much to say that hasn't been said about this group over the years. Jermaine, Tito, Marlon, Michael, Randy and Jackie- The Jacksons. From making music in the 60's as massive hit makers for Motown as the Jackson 5 through the 70's and 80's big LP's and dance floor favourites on Epic Records (a subsidiary of Philly International). The line up chopped and changed but the quality was always high.

A selection of my personal picks and likes include Give it Up from the 1980 Triumph LP, the originally unreleased Stevie Wonder penned version of Buttercup (a hit for Carl Anderson), the 1st version of Never Can Say Goodbye in their Jackson 5 guise, the Gamble and Huff penned hit Show You The Way To Go, and ends with a favourite of mine in Blues Away which was only ever released as a B-side.... plus more Jackson goodies to relive!

I'm back on the Rare Groove and Soul crate diggin' next week... see you then.

Grizz- The Soul Mixtape Blog

Give it up

Enjoy yourself
Heartbreak hotel
Buttercup
Never can say goodbye
Label me love
Show you the way to go
Everybody
That's what you get for being polite
Blues away

#TheSoulMixtape Remembers Prince 1977-87

So the grim reaper keeps himself busy this year. Not only taking Prince from us, but as of this morning Billy Paul too.

You will hear and read so much about Prince that all I can do is say that he provided the Soundtrack to my teenage years. I went to numerous concerts. I searched out bootlegs of The Black Album. bought every 12" for the non-LP tracks on the B sides.....you get the point.

For me, 77-87, up until The Sign of the Times LP, were the years I was most obsessed. And so Ive focused on them just for the memories. Ive tried to stay away from "The Best of" route with some lesser known tracks, but I hope you enjoy.

Nuwaveradio have a raft of shows paying tribute to the man himself, so if you like this, tune in at nuwaveradio.net for more.

#RIPPrince

DJ Grizz- Earth Wind & Fire Mix

After Fridays news of the sad passing of Maurice White, there was only ever going to be one mix to put up this morning... Earth Wind & Fire. Maurice was the vocalist, bandleader and producer of one of the greatest Soul bands of our time not to mention a prolific songwriter in his own right. Trying to pick a selection of their work to fit into just over 30 odd minutes was a hard ask but here are some of my favorites.

We start with a track from one of the defining Soul LP's of the 70's- 1979's 'I Am', theres the wicked dancer And Love Goes On from the 1980 LP 'Faces', EWF put some funk into the Beatles- Got To Get You Into My Life, renowned for their live shows I had to include the live version of Sun Goddess, of course there is Fantasy, and we end with a fitting tribute in Thats The Way Of The World.

Grizz- The Soul Mixtape Blog
1- In the stone
2- Getaway
3- And love goes on
4- Got to get you into my life
5- Sun goddess (live)
6-  Fantasy
7- Wanna be with you
8- Keep you head up in the sky
9- That’s the way of the world

Earth Wind & Fire Mix by Grizz Soul on Mixcloud

SoulNRnB's Wonderful - Written by Stevie

The term "Musical Genius" gets banded about quite often nowadays, but if Steveland Morris never wrote another song, hes done enough to earn that title.

Id be foolish to think that anybody frequenting this blog hasn't heard (or owns) his solo work, so here is a collection of some of the songs he has written for others. Its by no means definitive, just a collection of some of my favorites.

With the likes of Smokey Robinson, Labelle, Quincy Jones and Roberta Flack to name a few, I hope you enjoy this as much as I did selecting it.

Grizz back at the weekend, dont forget to check out some exclusive mixes of mine on nuwaveradio.net, see you next week!

SoulNRnB's Wonderful - Written by Stevie by Soulnrnb on Mixcloud

DJ Grizz- The Isley Brothers

Todays treat is a retrospective of one of the longest serving bands in Soul music (or any music come to that) The Isley Brothers. Starting in the mid 50's right up until recent years the group and its members have been putting out some quality music! This is a somewhat personal choice of my favourites, mainly from their 70's catalogue, so apologies if i missed yours.

We start with the original of the often covered Work To Do, then there is their version of the Bob Dylan hit Lay Lady Lay, theres a track familier to all sample devotees in Footsteps In The Dark, theres some fine examples of the craft of ballad making including Living For The Love Of You and At The Best You Are Love (again known for its 90's 'RnB' cover) and we end on a groove from 1972 in Lay Away.

Back next week for some Niceness!

Grizz- The Soul Mixtape Blog
 1- Work to do
2- Lay lady lay
3- Footsteps in the dark
4- If you were there
5- Make me say it again girl
6- Living for the love of you
7- At your best you are love
8- Love put me in the corner
9- Lay away

The Isley Brothers Mix by Grizz Soul on Mixcloud

The Soul Mixtape's THE ARTISTS mixes Part Two

The second part of my Artist's mixes catch up's features some big talents from the 70's till the present day. I'll be returning to the Upfront sounds with our regular Street Sounds mixes next week, and Grizz will be back at the weekend, but stay tuned for some brand new Artists mixes in the near future.

In the meantime.......

The Soul Mixtape Presents - The Artists - The Jacksons by Soulnrnb on Mixcloud

The Soul Mixtape Presents - The Artists - Omar by Soulnrnb on Mixcloud

The Soul Mixtape Presents - The Artists - Miles Bonny by Soulnrnb on Mixcloud

The Soul Mixtape Presents - The Artists - Howard Hewett by Soulnrnb on Mixcloud

The Soul Mixtape Presents - The Artists - Blaze by Soulnrnb on Mixcloud

The Soul Mixtape's THE ARTISTS mixes Part One

Part One of my retrospective on the Artists mixes I did a while back. I intend to start these up again, but am going to repost the ones that we've already had over the next 2 weeks as they were unavailable online.

So, take your pick below, and check out some great featured Artist mixes.

The Soul Mixtape Presents - The Artists - Betty Wright by Soulnrnb on Mixcloud

The Soul Mixtape Presents - The Artists - Brian McKnight by Soulnrnb on Mixcloud

The Soul Mixtape Presents - The Artists - Fertile Ground by Soulnrnb on Mixcloud

The Soul Mixtape Presents - The Artists - Rockie Robbins by Soulnrnb on Mixcloud

The Soul Mixtape Presents - The Artists - The System by Soulnrnb on Mixcloud

Grizz back with you at the weekend!!!

DJ Grizz- Gil Scott Heron Mix

Time for an artist mix and what an artist- the late great Gil Scott Heron. A song writer, singer, poet, activist and more, this somewhat troubled soul brought us some of the best soul-jazz with a message you could get until his battles caught up with him at age 62.

We start with a jazz funk dancer in Race Track in France, there's his funky tribute to Billie Holiday and John Coltrane, a live take on the anthem The Bottle, there's a collaboration with Brian Jackson on Show Bizness from the Secrets LP, and we finish off with 2 wind down tracks in A Lovely Day and the sublime Your Daddy Loves You from the seminal Winter in America LP plus more 3 Heron classics.

Mr S up soon and will catch you in a week with more soul n grooves from the rare side!

Grizz

http://www50.zippyshare.com/v/83654057/file.html


Race Track in France
When you are who you are
Lady Day and John Coltrane
Free Will
The Bottle (Live)
Hello Sunday hello road
Show Bizness
A lovely day
Your daddy loves you

 
 

DJ Grizz- Nancy Wilson Mix

This Sunday sees a mix dedicated to a lady whose huge talent straddles various black music genres as well as many decades. With her work appreciated by Jazz-funk, Soul/Rare Groove and straight ahead Jazz fans alike heres my homage to the great singer Nancy Wilson.

We start a jazz funk favourite in Now, there's the sampled I'm In Love, includes her versions of If I Ever Lose This Heaven and Go away Little Boy, there's a rare groove goodie in I'm Gonna Let Ya, and ends with the jazz-soul classic Sunshine.

Catch you next weekend with some Soul Niceness again and Mr S's not far away!

Grizz
http://www25.zippyshare.com/v/62434074/file.html
Now
Changes
I’m in love
If I ever lose this heaven
Go away little boy
My Love
Hurt so good
I’m gonna let ya
Sunshine

DJ Grizz- The 'Maze' Mix

 

My 1st mix of 2014 so thought I'd better make it a classy one and they don't come any classier than Frankie Beverly and Maze.

 

They started life in the 60's as the Butlers before becoming Raw Soul then Maze. Another one of those groups who are responsible for more 70's & 80's soul and quiet storm anthems than I can do justice to on one mix. The ten features rare groove/weekender classics like Joy and Pain, Back in Stride & Before I Let Go together with mellow groove gems like Happy Feelin's and Lady of Magic plus more timeless nuggets. These guys are still gigging (I saw them about 20 years ago in Brentwood, Essex!) so catch them if you can.

 

Mr S up real soon and i'll catch you next week.

 

Grizz 

http://www73.zippyshare.com/v/73388262/file.html
Joy and Pain
Golden time of day
Happy Feelings
Lady of Magic
Call on me
Travelin Man
Family
You
Back in stride
Before I let go

DJ Grizz- Herbie Hancock Mix

This mornings contribution is from Jazz Funk maestro Herbie Hancock. From his roots on Blue Note records and with Miles Davis in the 60's throughout the synth led Jazz Funk filled 70's and 80's he was adept at the straight ahead jazz as well as the SoulJazz/ Jazz Funk featured in this mix. Indeed many many years ago, as a teenage fledgling collector, his 1979 'Best of' LP was one of my 1st purchases after I was allocated a space on the 'LP' shelf next my dads rock collection (above the family 'music system'!).

The mix begins with club fave Saturday Night (a regular on the Greg Edwards playlist I recall), a jazz funk drumming lesson on Just Around The Corner, includes I Thought it Was You (an up-tempo alternate take), Chameleon, Stars in Your Eyes and more classics than you can shake a stick at!  

Back in rare groove 'Niceness' territory next week... up next Mr S!

Grizz
http://www46.zippyshare.com/v/7038287/file.html

Saturday Night
Just around the corner
I thought it was you
Hang up on your hang ups
Chameleon
You bet your love
Stars in your eyes
Give it all your heart
Making love
Sunlight

DJ Grizz- George Duke Mix

Morning Mixtapers! Now I was planning to feature George Duke in a future artist mix but due to his recent sad passing I thought it right to post a selection of the great mans work. Equally adept at producing wicked fast jazz tracks and sublime jazz-funk anthems he was one of the greats in his field and part of that late 70's and early 80's golden era for the music.

Here's 10 of my favourites from the big fella! Includes jazz-funk nuggets like I Want You For Myself and I Just Want to Love You- with long time collaborator Stanley Clarke, the jazz funk summer anthem of all anthems- Brazilian Love Affair, a more recent favourite with I Wanna Know from 2005 and topped off with the cherry that is Morning Sun plus 5 more great, great tunes.

Catch you in a week!

Grizz
http://www35.zippyshare.com/v/98721786/file.html

I want you for myself
I just want to love you
Look what you find
Brazilian love affair
Every little step I take
I wanna know
Sunrise
Omi
Funkin for the thrill
Morning sun


  

DJ Grizz - Slave Mix

Time for an artist mix from a band that features a lot on this blog -the sublime Ohio funksters Slave. Slaves tracks formed a large part of my soundtrack growing up in the late 70's and early 80's with one of their mixtapes never far from my 'ghetto blaster' (try taking one of them on the Central Line!) or car tape player. I even saw them live as an 18 year old at Hammersmith in 1984 (if my memory serve me right) and they had bass lines to kill!!!

10 tunes including Slide, Party Lights, Are you Ready For Love, Wait For Me, and a funk 'ballad' in Starting Over. Seeing as I left out monsters like Snapshot, Dreamin' and Just a Touch theres even plenty of room for a part 2!

Back in a week with more Soul Niceness- Mr S up soon!

Grizz

http://www17.zippyshare.com/v/16195094/file.html


Slide
You & me
Love me
Party Lights
Feel my love
Steppin’ out
The way you love is heaven
Are you ready for love
Wait for me
Starting Over