So I'm listening to a Loose Ends bootleg...which got me thinking...who are the best British Soul artists...not to segregate them from American artist...but there's a unique flavor that I can't quite pinpoint...

Who are some of your favorites?

whenpigeonscry said:

1st of all... for this thread!!!

I think with British R&B/pop there tends to be more of a 'jazzy' sound if you will. Lots of horn. I think there is a truer r&b sound to what comes out of England than the U.S. at least in the last decade or so. Either way..it tends to be 1000% better than American R&B. IMFHO!

Shola Ama
Lisa Stansfield (the soul goddess herself )
Terence Trent D'Arby
The Pasadenas
Simply Red
SoulIISoul
Loose Ends
Five Star
Mica Paris
Yazz (a few of her songs)
Eternal

and dare I say Jamiroquai

Ms. Stansfield, for sure.

Chico1 said:

i love to see you get excited...

sosgemini said:

what does that mean?!?!?!

Chico1 said:

whenpigeonscry said:

I didn't know Loose Ends were British. Or maybe I just never payed attention when I was little. Where are they from? Are they still together? They are classic.

OK, for those that want a good compilation fo British Jazz/Funk/Soul/Disco of the late 70's/early 80's, I would suggest you get "British Hustle", from SoulJazz Records.

Chico1 said:

Trent D'Arby is from the USA. He hit first in England, but he's not British.

What about Cymande...are they British or direct from the West Indies...

love me some "Bra"

RipHer2Shreds said:

No!!! Are you serious? I never knew that. I've always read he was born and raised ( I guess) in England. Where is he from then?

whenpigeonscry said:

I've heard the name...just not sure if I've heard the songs.

Robert Palmer

Culture Club
George Michael
Brand New Heavies

Chico1 said:

He was born in New York City, grew up in different parts of the USA (including Florida), then moved to Germany, England, back to the USA, lived in Germany again and now is living in Italy

whenpigeonscry said:

Now you've got me humming this!

btw, thanks a lot for this post. For starters I love me some Loose Ends.

Second, I saw Soul II Soul's "Back to Life" video today. (I love everyone's hair in that video. )

But, why I'm really glad this thread came up is because I also saw an Elvis Costello video. The song was "Everyday I Write the Book." Anyways, I recognized one of his backup singers as a women in S2S. And standing right next to her was Caron Wheeler! I'm probably the only one who didn't know she sang b/u for Costello. (At least she does in this video.) I've never noticed her in the video before.

UptownDeb said:

Cymande was directly from the West Indies...
as was "Beginning of the end" who did Funky Nassau

British soul we got

Imagination
Omar
SoulIISoul
Sade Adu
The Foundations
Carolyn wheeler
N'dea davenport
Kicking back with the Taxman

How about ABC?

Junior

Not quite "Soul"....

Monie Love
Slick Rick

Serious said:

Thanks!

Chico1 said:

You're welcome

what about him----->

he's a cutie and i believe "7 days" was in medium rotation on BET...but he never quite caught on in the states...i'd take him over r kelly any day...oh...and i don't think anyone has mentioned...



(as u all can i see i like pasting images in every freakin' post)

i hear them occasionally on the smooth jazz station here in Chicago, but i haven't bought any of their CDs since that one...

whenpigeonscry said:

To be honest, Craig David never impressed me much. Some of my friends really liked him but it all sounds like oatmeal to me - there was absolutely nothing distinctive about his music or voice. If R. Kelly and the Backstreet Boys mated....

whenpigeonscry said:

I'm listening to Craig David right now. He needs to hurry up with a 3rd album. Love Craig David. I use to like Incognito some time back. I do like them but never realy followed much else after a couple albums.

Chico1 said:

What "more popular" artist would you compare him too...I haven't heard him in awhile, wondering whether I should "burn" him or "buy" him...

whenpigeonscry said:

This is an awesome thread!!!

I was just gonna mention Incognitio. Their stuff is wonderful!!!.

Here's another Orger in Chicago that doesn't come to Prince night.

I love Soul2Soul and Loose Ends.Always have,always will.Speaking of Craig David,I'm a 2Step/UK Garage freak!!Unfortunately,the genre did not catch on here in the states.In any event,I have mass respect for BritSoul music.

whenpigeonscry said:

Chico1 Said.....


I think with British R&B/pop there tends to be more of a 'jazzy' sound if you will. Lots of horn. I think there is a truer r&b sound to what comes out of England than the U.S. at least in the last decade or so. Either way..it tends to be 1000% better than American R&B. IMFHO!

Shola Ama
Lisa Stansfield (the soul goddess herself )
Terence Trent D'Arby
The Pasadenas
Simply Red
SoulIISoul
Loose Ends
Five Star
Mica Paris <-----
Yazz (a few of her songs)
Eternal

and dare I say Jamiroquai [/quote]
[Edited 1/30/05 18:17pm]
[Edited 1/30/05 18:17pm]

This man could sing a R&B tune just as easily as those he admired, I hope his soul is in the right place.

Robert Palmer...