Soul II Soul - Keep on Movin'

Forever a classic!

The first time I ever heard Soul II Soul, I was on vacation in New York and the track "Keep On Movin' " played on the radio. As I was heading back home to North Carolina, I was afraid I would never hear the song again. Back then, it wasn't uncommon for certain songs to only get regional airplay. I arrived back home and began my search for this song. No one had any idea of who or what I was talking about. Three months later, the track began to get airplay on the local stations. I was so relieved and began my delve into the history and vibe of this fabulous group. In short, Soul II Soul was not only a great band, the name represented a series of party nights organized by Jazzie B! The group was only a small part of a much bigger sound system. Their British invasion in full swing, Soul II Soul's success rested on the strength of Caron Wheeler's vocals and their mix of afropean soul. Til this day DJs can drop tracks such as "Back To Life" and "Keep On Movin' " and still excite the crowd!

Caron Wheeler eventually left the group and embarked on her solo career. Soul II Soul went through a series of personnel changes and their later albums fell short of critical acclaim but die hard fans continued to support them. Jazzie B currently plays as one of London's most sought after DJs! Much respect to the Soul II Soul Soundsytem!

DJ COA July 30, 2008

READ THIS BEFORE YOU BUY

Do NOT buy this version - buy "Club Classics, Vol. 1 - 10th Anniversary Edition" instead. That version is the 1999 remaster of the British edition of this CD. It has all the tracks on this CD (including the original CD version and the single version of "Back to Life"), plus bonus tracks and improved sound.

Now, once you do your search and find the 10th Anniversary edition, you should absolutely buy this CD. This was one of the best releases of 1989. It almost singlehandly brought back 1970's-influenced soul music and contains some of the best house music of 1989.

It is a very warm-sounding album, with a rich sonic texture. What the hell does that mean? These aren't just some pre-programmed pop ditties; Jazzy B. and Nellie Hooper put some thought and effort into this one. They also got screwed out of the 1989 Best New Artist Grammy (the winner? none other than those musical revoluntaries, Milli Vanilli - who were not the best, new or even artists).

I'm not going to go into the individual tracks, other than to say that if you like "Back to Life" and "Keep On Moving" you are going to like this CD. A hits compilation won't do Soul II Soul justice. Buy this CD and listen to the entire album instead. November 29, 2006

Adam - Davenport Iowa Past.... Present+ Dubuque Iowa

I have listened to Keep on moving on my Grand Theft Auto San Andreas Video Game. I like it very much. It is very peaceful like most late 80's early nineties pop. i like everykind of movie, videogame, and music. This music is the kind of music you would listen to on a summer trip. i am 16 years old. it is june 25 2006 June 25, 2006

Soul II Soul - An influential Black UK Music Group

Soul II Soul are one of the most influential music groups in history. When tracks such as "Fairplay", "Keep On Movin" and the massive UK No. 1 "Back to Life" hit the charts in the late 1980s, black music groups across the UK suddenly switched to producing harmonious vocals over hip hop beats. "Another Soul II Soul rip off" was a popular quote when music magazines reviewed such releases.
Originally a sound system, famous for their party's at "Africa Centre" and the Fridge Nightclub in London, the group was a loose collective of singers and instrumentalists, based around founder Beresford Romeo AKA "Jazzie B". This release was originally named "Club Classics Volume I" - and not "Keep On Movin" as per the re-issue.
"A Happy Face, A Thumping Bass...for a Loving Race" was Soul II Souls motto - which the "funki dreds" certainly embodied. "Back to Life", the groups highest charting single ever, is here in a capella form only. Well, the track starts of a capella. Three minutes in, and Caron Wheelers vocals are laced with one of the grittiest hip hop beats ever produced (the beat was later sampled by a slew of American hip hop artists including The Goats, LL Cool J, Mobb Deep, Yo Yo, Ice Cube and Ghetto Boys ) before the track melds into "Jazzies Groove" - in which Jazzie speaks the "story" of Soul II Soul over a funky bassline and chorus horn stabs. Soul II Soul enjoyed considerable - if but brief - success stateside, when "Back to Life" hit the Billboard RnB charts. Jazzie B appeared to present an award at the American Music Awards in 1990.
This album's production sounds as fresh as it did upon its initial release and its fusion of diva vocals and hip hop rhythms would resonate with most modern RnB, funk and soul fans. November 4, 2005

Miss this one -

I love "Back to Life" and "Keep on Movin'." I purchased the cassette back in June of 1989. As the years went on, I misplaced my cassette. Today, these songs are really popular and I hear them several times a month on my local radio station, but I am so thankful for the opportunity to purchase this one again, especially the CD. Thank you Amazon!! April 9, 2005

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