Boogie Friday
Sticking with the same late 80s/early 90s London club scene that also produced Galliano (and The Young Disciples, Omar, The Brand New Heavies etc.) comes more Rare Groove-Acid Jazz fabulousness. "The Masterplan" probably defines that whole era more for me than any other record, this 1990 classic was a bit of an anthem back then and always got people moving and grooving and going "yeah yeah yeah." Just hearing that brilliant piano riff takes me back to clubs like Subterrania and The Good, The Bad & The Ugly and a time when I still had the hips to dance all night long.
In true British club music style Barrie K. Sharpe was a DJ and clothes designer (at The Duffer of St. George in Soho) before making records of his own. I don't know a lot about Diana Brown, she also made some records under the name Diana Brown & The Brothers and I think is still around today. I believe that James Taylor (not that one, the Acid Jazz organ player) and one of The Young Disciples play on this but don't quote me on that. Barrie and Diane made one album together called "The Black, The White, The Yellow And The Brown (And Don't Forget The Redman)" which isn't in print anymore. Luckily this crops up on several CDs so you shouldn't have much trouble finding it.
Sorry about the crackles at the start of this, the price of well-played vinyl I'm afraid. I do have this on CD (on the brilliant but sadly deleted "Back To Love" compilation) but it sounded way too fast for some reason. Maybe it's my turntable that's too slow but this sounds just right to me.
[Download]
The Masterplan - Diana Brown & Barrie K. Sharpe
12 Comments:
Barrie K Sharpe still has his own clothes shop called Sharpeye, and I see him round Covent Garden & Soho every now and then. I have the Brown & Sharpe album on CD and it's pretty good, although the spoken word interludes get a bit tiresome after a few listens.
Hi Matthew,
I had a feeling you'd know of Mr. Sharpe. I may have even met him myself at some point, I had a lot of friends in that trendy Soho designer/clubber/hairdresser circle.
Barrie also had a project called Children Of Judah with various session singers which was released as CD on 13th Tribe/Wall Of Sound. Single releases were To The Bone (Let's Get Stoned), Get Outta My Face, Colours/Come With The Rhythm, Think About It and Sayin' Nothing. Some of the 12"es had different names than Children Of Judah but all these songs appeared on the COJ CD.
Offtopic: Hi there, thanks not only for the great music posted here, but also for linking my blog. My stats say a lot of visitors are 'clicking-through'. Although I'm not sure that most of them find my postings (French music, sung by girls) of their liking.
Well I love French pop music and that's a damn fine blog you've got.
I also just discovered I still have a 12" of Diana Brown and the Brothers doing "Yes It's You" with two versions of "Hot Pants" on the b-side. Great sounding stuff which I can digitise if you're interested, Lee. I can't say I've heard of Diana Brown doing anything around here for some time, but I'd be fascinated to be proved wrong.
I have "Yes It's You" on the b-side of "The Masterplan" 12" but her doing 'Hot Pants' is a new one on me. I'm interested if you have the time and inclination.
Hope you're still checking these comments, Lee. Diana Brown's version of "Hot Pants" is available by clicking on this link
Thanks Matthew!
That's a really good version.
thanks for taking me back with this track. on my paper boy money i only had cash for the 7-inch
i really liked "the masterplan" a lot but i have to say that "yes it's you" was an amazing b-side that i played about as much as "the masterplan" itself.
Masterplan always was my favorite Brown/Sharpe song.
By the way, I have two 7" for sale (because now I have them on 12" as well), in case anyone is interested:
Sun Worshippers (Positive Thinking)/Do That Funky Thing
Love Or Nothing/Don't Cross The Tracks (Part 1)
Both are German pressings with a picture sleeve. Especially the B-sides are interesting funky jams, both not on the vinyl LP. Also the A-sides are slightly different versions than the LP tracks.
Please contact me here:
www.loukash.com/en/contact
Hi,
Just came across this post ,whilst looking for jpeg for my new website's discography section, and thought I'd better add to the thread
I played keyboards on yes it's you and Hot pants, and so it's nice to know these tunes are still being appreciated.
Barrie is still designing, and plays occasionally. I still see him from time to time. Not seen Diana in a while.
Andrew Levy from Brand new Heavies was the bass player on these tracks.
I remember the session quite well. We recorded the tracks in a studio in South London, under some arches if I recall correctly. Can't remember the name of the studio. Sessions werte quite quick. Des Parkes, who is now to be heard on digital radio- think it's Galaxy fm, was in the producers chair with RX Digital (or Ronnie Sanko ) who has gone on to work with Lemar.
For myself, recording these tracks were the first studio sessionsI ever did, and it gave me the bug. I am still doing music. These days I am a Songwriter and who has worked with artists ranging from Beverley Knight to Liberty X, and recently had my first number 1 album.
I am also part of a band- Mooli,and we are on the final stages of recording our debut album.
Hope some of this info helps a little bit.
All the best,
Ben
www.myspace.com/mooli. www,myspace.com/bencopland
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