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The Brand New Heavies (Original UK Only release)

TBNH // 1990

This is the original UK Only release of "The Brank New Heavies".  Released 16th April 1990 on Acid Jazz Records and Delicious Vinyl

After signing with Acid Jazz, the band released "People Get Ready" as a vinyl single backed with "Gimme One Of Those". Their next release, in 1990, was the single "Dream Come True" featuring Jay Williamson, then known as Jay Ella Ruth, on vocals. The same year, the band released their self-titled debut on Acid Jazz Records in a largely instrumental version.

An expanded edition of this version of the album was released through BGP Records in 2007, featuring tracks previously included on “Original Flava”.

Reviews

Many of the artists who were part of Britain's soul scene of the late '80s/early '90s, including Soul II Soul, Lisa Stansfield, and Caron Wheeler, took a high-tech, neo-soul approach, combining '70s-influenced R&B and disco with elements of hip-hop. The equally impressive Brand New Heavies, however, used technology sparingly, stressed the use of real instruments, and were unapologetically retro and '70s-sounding through and through. Drawing on such influences as the Average White Band and Tower of Power, the Heavies triumph by sticking with the classic R&B approach they clearly love the most. The band has a jewel of a singer in N'Dea Davenport, who is characteristically expressive on "Dream Come True" and "Stay This Way." Real horns -- not synthesizers made to sound like horns -- enrich those gems as well as the sweaty vocal funk of "People Get Ready" and "Put the Funk Back in It" and the jazz-influenced instrumental "BNH." While this fine album enjoyed cult hit status, it was sadly ignored by American urban contemporary radio.

Alex Henderson

Andrew Levy - bass, keyboards, writer & producer

Simon Bartholomew - guitar, vocals

Jan Kincaid - drums, keyboard

Jay Ella Ruth - vocals

Tracklist
B.N.H
Gimme One of Those
Dream Come True
Put the Funk Back In It
People Get Ready
Ride In the Sky
Sphynx
Stay This Way
Shake Down