Virgin Ubiquity Remixed (2004)

Product Summary Label: Caroline Distribution UPC: 00730003904820 Release Date: 2/7/2006 Buy.com Sku: 202148440 Item#: M2SES5 Format:  CD Song Listing Disc 1 Song Title Sample 1. Holiday - (Kenny Dope Main Mix) ~ Roy Ayers 2. Funk In the Hole - (Nicolay Mix) ~ Roy Ayers 3. Third Time - (Vikter Duplaix Mix, Vikter Duplaix remix) ~ Roy Ayers 4. What's the T? - (Kings Of Soul Feelin Soul Mix, Kings Of Soul remix) ~ Roy Ayers 5. Sugar - (Joey Negro Mix) ~ Roy Ayers 6. Kwajilori - (King Britt Scuba Mix) ~ Roy Ayers 7. Searching - (Yoruba Suite Mix) ~ Roy Ayers 8. Liquid Love - (Liquid Love Latin Mix, Aloe Blacc (E. Nathaniel Dawkins, III) remix) ~ Roy Ayers 9. I Am Your Mind Part II - (Mr. V Sole Channel Mix, Mr. V remix) ~ Roy Ayers 10. Third Time - (Jeremy Newall remix, Jeremy's AllNew Late Night Slide) ~ Roy Ayers 11. Touch Of Class - (Matthew 'Odd Smell' Herbert remix) ~ Roy Ayers Disc 2 Song Title Sample 1. Mystic Voyage - (DJ Marky & XRS Mix) ~ Roy Ayers 2. Brand New Feeling - (Phil Asher Main Mix, Phil Asher remix) ~ Roy Ayers 3. I Am Your Mind Part II - (Pepe Bradock remix) ~ Roy Ayers 4. Tarzan (Osunlade Yoruba Soul Mix) ~ Roy Ayers 5. Funk In the Hole - (Platinum Pied Pipers Mix) ~ Roy Ayers 6. Kwajilori - (Sir Piers Mix) ~ Roy Ayers 7. Touch Of Class - (Sean P Classic Touch Mix, Sean P. remix) ~ Roy Ayers 8. Mystic Voyage - (Jeremy & Simbad's Crosstown Mix, Jeremy Newall/Simbad remix) ~ Roy Ayers 9. Tarzan - (Ame Mix) ~ Roy Ayers 10. Holiday - (DJ Spinna Mix, DJ Spinna remix) ~ Roy Ayers 11. I Am Your Mind Part II - (Basement Jaxx Classic Mix, Basement Jaxx remix) ~ Roy Ayers   Album Notes and Credits Notes & Personnel Info Personnel: Roy Ayers (vocals, electric piano, keyboards, vibraphone); William Allen (vocals, bass); Carla Vaughn, Merry Clayton, Sylvia Cox, Edwin Birdsong (vocals); Justo Almario (tenor saxophone); John Mosley (trumpet); Philip Woo (piano, keyboards); Bobby Lyle, Harry Whitaker (piano); Chuck Anthony (guitar); Nathaniel Phillips, Peter Brown (bass); Dennis Davis, Bernard Purdie, Steve Cobb, Bruce Carter (drums); Chano O'Ferral (congas). Compilation producers: Roy Ayers, Peter Adarkwah, Sarah Williams, Eddie Bezalel. Recorded between 1976 & 1981. Includes liner notes by Roy Ayers, Carl Clay, Edwin Birdsong. Personnel: Roy Ayers (vibraphone); Ivana Santilli (vocals, grand piano); Vanessa Freeman (vocals); Chuck Treece (guitar); Tim Motzer (Spanish guitar); Troy Simms (saxophone); Alix Alvarez (Fender Rhodes piano); DJ Spinna (synthesizer); Selan Lerner (ARP synthesizer, keyboard bass); Toni Economides (programming). Audio Mixers: DJ Spinna; Andreas Schorpp; King Britt; Steven Barkan; Toni Economides; Vikter Duplaix. Audio Remixers: Sean P; DJ Spinna; Jeremy Newall; E. Nathaniel Dawkins III; King Britt; Vikter Duplaix; Phil Asher. Recording information: Kay Recording Studios; The Hut, Philly; The I'lle, Puerto Rico. The inevitable companion to any sort of soul-jazz or jazz-funk reissue campaign since at least the mid-'90s, the remix album is almost always a disappointment. Fans of the artist under reconstruction get annoyed because the DJs and producers take precedence over the original recordings, and fans of the DJs and producers usually aren't that impressed by these boring old guys' records that their favorite hip remix guy is working with. Virgin Ubiquity: Remixed, the two-disc capper to the two-year rarities reissue project of the same name, carries on that proud tradition of being equally unsatisfying for both Roy Ayers fans and contemporary dance music fans. Most effective are the mixes that do little to mess with the original tracks, merely boosting or replacing the rhythm tracks to increase their dancefloor utility: "Liquid Love (Latin Mix)," which is basically an Ayers vibraphone solo set next to an Afro-Cuban scraper and a reverb-heavy bassline, is the best of the bunch. The worst, conversely, are those which chop the original recordings into such tiny samples and loops that any sense of Ayers' personality and inimitable sense of groove is gone. Sadly, too much of Virgin Ubiquity: Remixed is just that kind of pleasant but anonymous club music. ~ Stewart Mason Given that Roy Ayers really never left the spotlight, it would be inappropriate to call any sort of rediscovery or renaissance of his music a comeback. However, the resurgence of interest in the jazz musician's expansive and innovative catalog has prompted ears both new and old to give Ayers his long overdue credit as a soul-jazz pioneer. This two-disc set features remixes from BBE's excellent Virgin Ubiquity, Vol. 2: Unreleased Recordings 1976-1981, and brings a veritable A-list who's who of soul/electronic/downtempo remixers to the plate. House gurus Kenny Dope and Osunlade offer up heavy sessions of tasteful grooves without overshadowing the genius of the original tracks. King Britt also contributes a strong reinterpretation of "Kwajilori," while DJ Spinna and the Platinum Pied Pipers focus their remixes more toward the downtempo/hip-hop crowd. At two discs in length, normally a project of this size could be trimmed to a single disc for an excellent release. But there's something for everyone here, regardless of your subgenre affiliation. At least it's not remixing the classics in a feeble attempt to update an artist's catalog, and that in itself is a breath of fresh air. ~ Rob Theakston That an item like this -- 13 completely unreleased recordings from Roy Ayers' vintage Polydor period (1976-'81) -- even exists is a strange and wonderful thing. That it is merely the first volley in a slew of issues is a kind of pop culture miracle. BBE has compiled 134 absolutely fantastic tracks form the Ayers vault. Keep in mind that, though none of these sides ever appeared on an album (the version of "Mystic Voyage" here is an alternate), it's not because they were in any way substandard. Ayers merely documented everything he wrote from the period and recorded, mixed, and mastered it all, whether or not it ever made it to LP. Here, Ayers and friends -- who include bassist and longtime collaborator William Allen, and three different lead vocalists in Merry Clayton, Carla Vaughn, and Sylvia Cox -- work out funk, mellow soul, and smooth jazz grooves that are as fine as anything he issued during this prolific period. The music is daring, accessible, saturated in dancefloor rhythms and the kind of lush, spot-on production that has become Ayers' trademark. While there are a pair of tracks that have been issued as 12" A-sides by BBE, the label does a great job of keeping the selections fresh for those punters seeking not to spend their hard-earned dollars on compilations that overlap. Standouts include "Mystery of Love," and "I Really Love You" with Clayton, "Sugar" with Vaughn, the funky vibes-drenched instrumental "Green and Gold," with Bobby Lyle playing tough counterpoint to Ayers on electric piano, the alternate "Mystic Voyage," and the amazing "I Just Wanna Give It Up," and "I Am Your Mind," with the dirtiest bassline on the package. This is necessary for all Ayers fans. For Ayers collectors, this is the Holy Grail, but stay tuned, there's more coming. ~ Thom Jurek The inevitable companion to any sort of soul-jazz or jazz-funk reissue campaign since at least the mid-'90s, the remix album is almost always a disappointment. Fans of the artist under reconstruction get annoyed because the DJs and producers take precedence over the original recordings, and fans of the DJs and producers usually aren't that impressed by these boring old guys' records that their favorite hip remix guy is working with. Virgin Ubiquity: Remixed, the two-disc capper to the two-year rarities reissue project of the same name, carries on that proud tradition of being equally unsatisfying for both Roy Ayers fans and contemporary dance music fans. Most effective are the mixes that do little to mess with the original tracks, merely boosting or replacing the rhythm tracks to increase their dancefloor utility: "Liquid Love (Latin Mix)," which is basically an Ayers vibraphone solo set next to an Afro-Cuban scraper and a reverb-heavy bassline, is the best of the bunch. The worst, conversely, are those which chop the original recordings into such tiny samples and loops that any sense of Ayers' personality and inimitable sense of groove is gone. Sadly, too much of Virgin Ubiquity: Remixed is just that kind of pleasant but anonymous club music. ~ Stewart Mason Given that Roy Ayers really never left the spotlight, it would be inappropriate to call any sort of rediscovery or renaissance of his music a comeback. However, the resurgence of interest in the jazz musician's expansive and innovative catalog has prompted ears both new and old to give Ayers his long overdue credit as a soul-jazz pioneer. This two-disc set features remixes from BBE's excellent Virgin Ubiquity, Vol. 2: Unreleased Recordings 1976-1981, and brings a veritable A-list who's who of soul/electronic/downtempo remixers to the plate. House gurus Kenny Dope and Osunlade offer up heavy sessions of tasteful grooves without overshadowing the genius of the original tracks. King Britt also contributes a strong reinterpretation of "Kwajilori," while DJ Spinna and the Platinum Pied Pipers focus their remixes more toward the downtempo/hip-hop crowd. At two discs in length, normally a project of this size could be trimmed to a single disc for an excellent release. But there's something for everyone here, regardless of your subgenre affiliation. At least it's not remixing the classics in a feeble attempt to update an artist's catalog, and that in itself is a breath of fresh air. ~ Engineer: King Britt Musical Guests Justo Almario Merry Clayton Bobby Lyle Bernard Purdie   Compilation Appearances Vol. 1-Jazzmatazz Day In The Life Vol. 1-In The Mix Vol. 4-Classic Soul Hits Brighter Day Funk Box Baadasssss Cinema Embrace The Beat Generation Old School Vol 8 Gilles Peterson Worldwide Exclusives / Variou (Bonus Tracks) Presents Yoruba Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Official Soundtrack (Explicit Version) Old School Jams 5 Best Smooth Jazz Ever Midnight Soul Galactic Soul Renaissance Presents Pacha Ibiza 2 Mastercuts Breaks (box) Mastercuts Soul (box) Very Best Of Smooth Jazz Remixes 2002 - 2005 Home Grown Guide To Understanding V1(Explicit Version) Home Grown Guide To Understanding V1(Explicit Version) MASTERCUTS BAR GROOVES Express Yourself:soul In The 20th Cen Cielo: Paradizo (Dig) Mastercuts Jazz Cafe Soul Jams Twelve Inches Of Pleasure V2 Tba Clubmixed:collection Eardrum Eardrum(Explicit Version) Maiden Voyage Verve Remixed 4 Verve Unmixed 4 Mastercuts Legends:roy Ayers Funkadel Future Boogie Confiote De Bits/remix Collection 718 Sessions   Associated Artists and Works Kuti, Fela Coffy ~ Original Soundtrack Original Soundtrack Original Soundtrack Original Soundtrack Original Soundtrack   Technical Info Release Date : 01/27/2006 Original Release Date : 2004 Catalog ID : 0048 Label : Rapster Records Number of Discs : 2 Runtime : 156m : 15s Studio/Live : Studio Mono/Stereo : Stereo SPAR Code : n/a UPC : 00730003904820   Professional Reviews Q (2/04, p.112) - 3 stars out of 5 - "The disco-pinned 'Baby Doll' and soulful 'Brand New Feeling' stand out, but the mystery is why these tracks weren't released three decades ago. Mojo (Publisher) (2/04, p.111) - 4 stars out of 5 - "Splendid!"    Related Videos Randy Jackson: Randy Jack...