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In honor of the 20th Anniversary of Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite, the artist's game-changing debut album, a special 2LP collection will be released. Pressed on Metallic Gold 12" 150gram vinyl, this LP package comes with an 8-page booklet that includes rare images from the original album and single photo shoots.

The booklet also includes a very special pair of revelatory new essays: 1) an appreciation of Maxwell and his music by noted R&B scholar, music/culture critic, journalist and filmmaker Nelson George; and 2) a behind-the-scenes reminiscence on the making of Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite penned by music industry veteran Mitchell Cohen, who, as Senior Vice President of A&R at Columbia Records, signed Maxwell to the label and helped shepherd the music from raw concept to full realization.

• Vinyl (October 28, 2016)
• Original Release Date: October 28, 2016
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Sony Legacy
• Run Time: 57 minutes

jesus christ, i remember it like yesterday, how i bought this album the day it was released

20 years went by just like that this album is still just as fine as back then, it's classic

IstenSzek said:

jesus christ, i remember it like yesterday, how i bought this album the day it was released

20 years went by just like that this album is still just as fine as back then, it's classic

I was on a slow warm-up to the then-new neo-soul movement. I got in line with Maxwell around 1997 or 1998, by the time Unplugged came out. My ex and I used to always end up making love when unplugged was on.

Urban Hang Suite truly has no bad song on it. It's a concept album, and it's clearly laid out. It's cliché to say, but it's really a journey from "The Urban Theme" to "The Suite Theme".

I also loved the interploitation of the S.O.S. Band "No One's Gonna Love You" for a remix of "Ascension". I once mixed both songs together and made a huge mashup. I cannot find that file, but I might tackle it again.

kookooman73 said:

Totally disappointing without any bonus tracks. Missed opportunity!

You're missing the forest for the trees.

Sometimes it's just about the album as is, and celebrating that. Not every reissue needs a bunch of shit at the end. Do we even know if there are extra tracks out there? Are they completed? It's unlikely he'd go back and finished a demo or something for the sake of an anniversary release.

It is a bit slick.

Frank Ocean is the new one.

Another missed opportunity especially in the wake of a new flopped album would have been to remaster/reissue on CD with a 2nd disc of special versions, remixes, etc...Maxwell just can't get it rite anymore and almost decades between less than mediocre albums hasn't done him any favors either.

TrivialPursuit said:

kookooman73 said:

Totally disappointing without any bonus tracks. Missed opportunity!

You're missing the forest for the trees.

Sometimes it's just about the album as is, and celebrating that. Not every reissue needs a bunch of shit at the end. Do we even know if there are extra tracks out there? Are they completed? It's unlikely he'd go back and finished a demo or something for the sake of an anniversary release.

Of course there are demos he didnt do all these songs in one take.

As well, Acension Remix, Somethin Somethin (Mellowsmoothe), Lockin U Up In Love 4 Days and added to it would have been a completeists nod as they are not easy to come by. I don't buy just rehashing a album out with no extras.

paisleypark4 said:

Of course there are demos he didnt do all these songs in one take.

As well, Acension Remix, Somethin Somethin (Mellowsmoothe), Lockin U Up In Love 4 Days and added to it would have been a completeists nod as they are not easy to come by. I don't buy just rehashing a album out with no extras.

Granted. What I'd enjoy is the full unplugged show cleaned up and put out. Every version I've seen or heard has been edited in some fashion.

TrivialPursuit said:

paisleypark4 said:

Of course there are demos he didnt do all these songs in one take.

As well, Acension Remix, Somethin Somethin (Mellowsmoothe), Lockin U Up In Love 4 Days and added to it would have been a completeists nod as they are not easy to come by. I don't buy just rehashing a album out with no extras.

Granted. What I'd enjoy is the full unplugged show cleaned up and put out. Every version I've seen or heard has been edited in some fashion.

paisleypark4 said:

TrivialPursuit said:

You're missing the forest for the trees.

Sometimes it's just about the album as is, and celebrating that. Not every reissue needs a bunch of shit at the end. Do we even know if there are extra tracks out there? Are they completed? It's unlikely he'd go back and finished a demo or something for the sake of an anniversary release.

Of course there are demos he didnt do all these songs in one take.

As well, Acension Remix, Somethin Somethin (Mellowsmoothe), Lockin U Up In Love 4 Days and added to it would have been a completeists nod as they are not easy to come by. I don't buy just rehashing a album out with no extras.

I prefer my vinyl re-releases without extras. Just keep it the straight album like it's supposed to be. Save all the bonus tracks for the deluxe CD.

They should have released an anniversary edition.

THE ALBUM
1. The Urban Theme
2. Welcome
3. Sumthin' Sumthin'
4. Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)
5. Dancewitme
6. ... Til The Cops Come Knockin'
7. Whenever Wherever Whatever
8. Lonely's The Only Company (I & II)
9. Reunion
10. Suitelady (The Proposal Jam)
11. The Suite Theme

THE B-SIDES
12. Lock You Up In Love Fa Days
13. Seguranca
14. Encore (Live)
15. ... Til The Cops Come Knockin' (Live)

THE ALTERNATE VERSIONS
16. No One's Gonna Love You So Don't Ever Wonder The Tribute
17. Somethin' Somethin' The Mantra
18. Mellomoothe
19. ... Til The Cops Come Knockin' The Opus PT1
20. ... Til The Cops Come Knockin' The Opus PT2
21. Whenever Wherever Whatever Espanol
22. The Urban Theme (Unfaded)

THE EDITS
23. Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder) (Cut)
24. No One's Gonna Love You So Don't Ever Wonder The Tribute (Cut)
25. Somethin' Somethin' (Cut)
26. Mellosmoothe (Cut)
27. ... Til The Cops Come Knockin' (Cut)
28. Suitelady (The Proposal Jam) (Cut)

THE INSTRUMENTALS
29. Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder) (Unsung)
30. No One's Gonna Love You So Don't Ever Wonder The Tribute (Unsung)
31. Lock You Up N' Love Fa Days (Unsung)
32. Somethin' Somethin' (Unsung)
33. Somethin' Somethin' The Mantra (Unsung)
34. ... Til The Cops Come Knockin' (Unsung)
35. Whenever Wherever Whatever (Unsung)
36. Suitelady (The Proposal Jam) (Unsung)
37. No One's Gonna Love You So Don't Ever Wonder The Tribute (Unsung - Edit)
38. Dub Ever Wonder (Ascension)

sexton said:

I prefer my vinyl re-releases without extras. Just keep it the straight album like it's supposed to be. Save all the bonus tracks for the deluxe CD.

I feel ya on that 100%.

bluegangsta said:

They should have released an anniversary edition.

THE ALBUM
1. The Urban Theme
2. Welcome
3. Sumthin' Sumthin'
4. Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)
5. Dancewitme
6. ... Til The Cops Come Knockin'
7. Whenever Wherever Whatever
8. Lonely's The Only Company (I & II)
9. Reunion
10. Suitelady (The Proposal Jam)
11. The Suite Theme

THE B-SIDES
12. Lock You Up In Love Fa Days
13. Seguranca
14. Encore (Live)
15. ... Til The Cops Come Knockin' (Live)

THE ALTERNATE VERSIONS
16. No One's Gonna Love You So Don't Ever Wonder The Tribute
17. Somethin' Somethin' The Mantra
18. Mellomoothe
19. ... Til The Cops Come Knockin' The Opus PT1
20. ... Til The Cops Come Knockin' The Opus PT2
21. Whenever Wherever Whatever Espanol
22. The Urban Theme (Unfaded)

THE EDITS
23. Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder) (Cut)
24. No One's Gonna Love You So Don't Ever Wonder The Tribute (Cut)
25. Somethin' Somethin' (Cut)
26. Mellosmoothe (Cut)
27. ... Til The Cops Come Knockin' (Cut)
28. Suitelady (The Proposal Jam) (Cut)

THE INSTRUMENTALS
29. Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder) (Unsung)
30. No One's Gonna Love You So Don't Ever Wonder The Tribute (Unsung)
31. Lock You Up N' Love Fa Days (Unsung)
32. Somethin' Somethin' (Unsung)
33. Somethin' Somethin' The Mantra (Unsung)
34. ... Til The Cops Come Knockin' (Unsung)
35. Whenever Wherever Whatever (Unsung)
36. Suitelady (The Proposal Jam) (Unsung)
37. No One's Gonna Love You So Don't Ever Wonder The Tribute (Unsung - Edit)
38. Dub Ever Wonder (Ascension)

no body wants all that you doing WAYYYYY too much

bluegangsta said:

They should have released an anniversary edition.

THE ALBUM
1. The Urban Theme
[snip]

On a deluxe CD edition, I'd have gone for something like that.

getxxxx said:

no body wants all that you doing WAYYYYY too much

I do? And I know plenty of people that would as well. It's just simply a collection of everything that was released on singles back in the 90s.

Cool news. I saw it mentioned on Maxwell´s Facebook page.

Urban Hang Suite is one of my favorite albums of all time and , in my opinion, one of THE most cohesive albums of all time soundwise and as far as concept and storyline go.

The look of it, the album cover design, the font, the videos, the way it flows, the lyrics...it´s a timeless masterpiece that only gets better with time instead of sounding dated.

I absolutely LOVE that album and bought it the very first week it was released.

The Ascension maxi was superb and it was cool of him to pay his respect to the SOS Band on the CD cover, and it is still my favorite Maxwell album even though Embrya comes very close.

.

Maxwell once said in an interview that the whole storyline of that album was based on true events, and I think that´s where the passion behind the songs comes from. It is one of the most heartfelt albums of all time, in a way comparable to Marvin Gaye´s Here My Dear, though more upbeat and more positive.

Too bad they won´t release this on CD. I love vinyl but a CD is much more practical to play and rip.

KoolEaze said:

Maxwell once said in an interview that the whole storyline of that album was based on true events, and I think that´s where the passion behind the songs comes from.

He's said that it's most about a girl he loved when he was working as a busboy.

getxxxx said:

bluegangsta said:

They should have released an anniversary edition.

THE ALBUM
1. The Urban Theme
2. Welcome
3. Sumthin' Sumthin'
4. Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)
5. Dancewitme
6. ... Til The Cops Come Knockin'
7. Whenever Wherever Whatever
8. Lonely's The Only Company (I & II)
9. Reunion
10. Suitelady (The Proposal Jam)
11. The Suite Theme

THE B-SIDES
12. Lock You Up In Love Fa Days
13. Seguranca
14. Encore (Live)
15. ... Til The Cops Come Knockin' (Live)

THE ALTERNATE VERSIONS
16. No One's Gonna Love You So Don't Ever Wonder The Tribute
17. Somethin' Somethin' The Mantra
18. Mellomoothe
19. ... Til The Cops Come Knockin' The Opus PT1
20. ... Til The Cops Come Knockin' The Opus PT2
21. Whenever Wherever Whatever Espanol
22. The Urban Theme (Unfaded)

THE EDITS
23. Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder) (Cut)
24. No One's Gonna Love You So Don't Ever Wonder The Tribute (Cut)
25. Somethin' Somethin' (Cut)
26. Mellosmoothe (Cut)
27. ... Til The Cops Come Knockin' (Cut)
28. Suitelady (The Proposal Jam) (Cut)

THE INSTRUMENTALS
29. Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder) (Unsung)
30. No One's Gonna Love You So Don't Ever Wonder The Tribute (Unsung)
31. Lock You Up N' Love Fa Days (Unsung)
32. Somethin' Somethin' (Unsung)
33. Somethin' Somethin' The Mantra (Unsung)
34. ... Til The Cops Come Knockin' (Unsung)
35. Whenever Wherever Whatever (Unsung)
36. Suitelady (The Proposal Jam) (Unsung)
37. No One's Gonna Love You So Don't Ever Wonder The Tribute (Unsung - Edit)
38. Dub Ever Wonder (Ascension)

no body wants all that you doing WAYYYYY too much

Andre Cymonde did it why not

I was in college and Til The Cops Come Knockin' was my go to song for........YOU KNOW:)

Heard it once and was thoroughly underwhelmed. All style, no substance.

paisleypark4 said:

getxxxx said:

no body wants all that you doing WAYYYYY too much

Andre Cymonde did it why not

André Cymone did it on CD. Keep the vinyl releases tracklist the same as the originals please.

sexton said:

paisleypark4 said:

Andre Cymonde did it why not

André Cymone did it on CD. Keep the vinyl releases tracklist the same as the originals please.

That's all I'm sayin'. Andre put a few extra tracks on. He did sprawl out 4 disks worth of outtakes and remixes. Ol' boy didn't release that much to begin with.

TrivialPursuit said:

sexton said:

André Cymone did it on CD. Keep the vinyl releases tracklist the same as the originals please.

That's all I'm sayin'. Andre put a few extra tracks on. He did sprawl out 4 disks worth of outtakes and remixes. Ol' boy didn't release that much to begin with.

The expanded 2CD edition of A.C. did include everything but the kitchen sink though: https://www.discogs.com/A...se/4309443

sexton said:

TrivialPursuit said:

That's all I'm sayin'. Andre put a few extra tracks on. He did sprawl out 4 disks worth of outtakes and remixes. Ol' boy didn't release that much to begin with.

The expanded 2CD edition of A.C. did include everything but the kitchen sink though: https://www.discogs.com/A...se/4309443

Thanks I will be on the lookout for this