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Inspired! Blood, Soul, Sweat & Cheers - Harmless Album For The Olympics

Inspired! Blood, Soul, Sweat & Cheers - Harmless Album For The Olympics magazine cover

We are about to witness the biggest sporting event of this century where an estimated 17,000 athletes, 20,000 journalists, 63,000 personnel and 500,000 spectators will all descend into London town in late July to witness the greatest athletic event of all time - the London 2012 Olympic Games.

A mind-boggling 4 billion plus people are expected to watch the various events on TV alone! Damn. And this is right on Harmless's own doorstep too! Opportunities like this don't pop up that regularly - the last time in London was in 1948 and Harmless wasn't around back then unfortunately.

So we had to do SOMETHING for the occasion but what....?

Bingo! What about an album which picks some of the greatest records about running, jumping, winning, losing, elation, heartbreak, inspiration and aspiration that have ever been ever made.......?

Then we'd be talking ay!

Even better, what if we heavily promoted the album to a world media which is always thirsty for great topical angles? Most of these guys would probably never even hear these records under normal circumstances in their entire lifetimes! So this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get some incredible music in front of the international media at the perfect time. How could we say no?

The opportunity of attempting to reach such a huge worldwide audience for such an iconic event that just happens to be on one's doorstep is obviously pretty enticing to those of us who are still in the business of selling music. So it was really a no-brainer.

Opportunist? For sure! Harmless WANT as many people as possible to listen to this album. It's probably the greatest sports compilation ever made for those with impeccable taste. Hand selected with love no less.

We trawled through the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's and 00's to dig out the gems and went through the usual licensing hell to present them here against a deadline that was set in stone and boy, was it worth it!

As with most Harmless releases we give a little bit of history about the songs in question and cheekily add a new section called 'programming opportunity' which suggests the circumstances where the song may work best. CD1 concentrates on some of the most brilliant inspirational and aspirational output from the late 1960's to early 1970's and CD2 covers the late 70's to the late 00's. This package spans the eras. Throughout the journey we take in numerous 60's RnB, Northern Soul, Modern Soul, Crossover Soul, Philly Soul, Funky Soul, Deep Soul and just all-time great Soulful gems from right across the last 5 decades. Numerous tracks have been widely unavailable until now, some are on legitimate release for the first time ever and most of 'em are in demand somewhere in the world right now. It's quite a journey so strap yourself in and enjoy the ride.

No one can accuse us of not getting in the spirit of things eh?

HURTXCD121 "Inspired! Blood, Soul, Sweat & Cheers" - Released 23/07/2012

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Amazon Link

http://www.amazon.co...pd_rhf_se_p_t_1

CD1: Inspirational 60's & 70's Northern Soul & RnB

1. The MVP's - Turning My Heartbeat Up

2. N.F. Porter - Keep On Keeping On

3. The Steve Karmen Big Band - Breakaway

4. The Tempos - Countdown (Here I Come)

5. Curtis Mayfield - Move On Up

6. Archie Bell & The Drells - There's Gonna Be A Showdown

7. Roscoe Shelton - Running For My Life

8. Linda Jones - You Can't Take It

9. Dean Parrish - Determination

10. Willie Mitchell - The Champion

11. Lee Dorsey - Ride Your Pony

12. Tami Lynn - I'm Gonna Run Away From You

13. Billy Butler - Right Track

14. Major Lance - Ain't No Soul (Left In These Old Shoes)

15. Johnny Johnson & The Bandwagon - Sweet Inspiration

16. The Exciters - Reaching For The Best

17. Alice Clark - You Hit Me (Right Where It Hurt Me)

18. The Mike Post Coalition - Afternoon Of The Rhino

19. The Just Brothers - Sliced Tomatoes

20. Betty Moorer - Speed Up

21. Bill Moss - Sock It To 'Em Soul Brother

22. Jimmy 'Soul' Clark - I'll Be Your Champion (I'll Be Your Winner)

23. Gene McDaniels - Walk With A Winner

24. Chairmen Of The Board - I'm On My Way To A Better Place

CD2: Inspirational 70's, 80's, 90's and 00's Soul, Dance & RnB

1. LTG Exchange - Keep On Trying

2. Betty Swann - When The Game Is Played On You

3. Sly & The Family Stone - Runnin' Away

4. Sandra Wright - I Come Running Back

5. The Controllers - Somebody's Gotta Win, Somebody's Gotta Lose

6. The Spinners - Games People Play

7. New York City - Quick Fast In A Hurry

8. Joe Simon - Step By Step

9. The Intruders - (Win Place Or Show) She's A Winner

10. Michael Valvano's Contours - I'm A Winner

11. Larry Wedgeworth & Clique - No More Games

12. Average White Band - Let's Go Round Again

13. GQ - Standing Ovation

14. Kleeer - Keep Your Body Workin'

15. Aretha Franklin - Jump To It

16. Mousse T - Brother On The Run

17. The Heavy - How You Like Me Now

18. Des'ree - You Gotta Be

We're promoting the album heavily to Radio & TV over the next 4 weeks, so who know? With a bit of luck we may hear some decent tunes for a change!

Ian D :D




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.... and what of the Soul Food burger van and the T-shirts, any more info on that? :D :D :D

Steve

LOL, my stuff is in the best possible taste. :thumbup:

Remember, just one synch deal from all this could make a heap of difference for the artists, writers or label owners. The real reason for doing this was to try and offer some different music to programmers everywhere as they'll probably all be looking for olympic or games related stuff to play over the next 7 weeks touch wood.....

Ian D :D

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LOL, my stuff is in the best possible taste. :thumbup:

Remember, just one synch deal from all this could make a heap of difference for the artists, writers or label owners. The real reason for doing this was to try and offer some different music to programmers everywhere as they'll probably all be looking for olympic or games related stuff to play over the next 7 weeks touch wood.....

Ian D :D

I like your thinking Ian regarding offering alternatives to the inevitable corporate soundtrack, however I would bet the likes of 'Simply the Best', 'Search for the Hero inside of you' by Foghorn Leghorn (Heather Small), 'the only way is up' (Yazz version) etc etc, will be the TV and radio backdrop to the Games.

Jordi

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Cecil Washington surely Ian??

or "Up and Over" - Jay Traynor for the pole vaulting. :yes: In fact Ian, you should have opened it up on here for suggestions before you compiled it.

Jordi

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Off topic but about athletics. Look out for the Norwegian High jumper Tonje Angelsen. She is stunning.

Steve ,arent you a bit old to be having a crush :P

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I like your thinking Ian regarding offering alternatives to the inevitable corporate soundtrack, however I would bet the likes of 'Simply the Best', 'Search for the Hero inside of you' by Foghorn Leghorn (Heather Small), 'the only way is up' (Yazz version) etc etc, will be the TV and radio backdrop to the Games.

Jordi

That's why I did the album Jordi. A lot of music researchers tend to go for the obvious via key word searches etc, so I thought I'd give 'em a hand with some stuff which doesn't turn up on the databases or Guiness Book Of Records......

Ian D :D

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or "Up and Over" - Jay Traynor for the pole vaulting. :yes: In fact Ian, you should have opened it up on here for suggestions before you compiled it.

Jordi

Well, there's one I missed for a start! Too busy looking for running, jumping, winning, losing, etc, etc. I had a pretty long list but had to lose several of the more obvious ones due to licensing issues and not much time etc, etc....

Any more suggestions before I start seriously kicking myself......... :lol:

Ian D :D

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Well, there's one I missed for a start! Too busy looking for running, jumping, winning, losing, etc, etc. I had a pretty long list but had to lose several of the more obvious ones due to licensing issues and not much time etc, etc....

Any more suggestions before I start seriously kicking myself......... :lol:

Ian D :D

Marvin Smith?
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Marvin Smith?

We used it recently on Sean Hampsey's "They Call It Crossover" Backbeats release but actually it would have been perfect for someone pulling out of a race with an injury. Good call.......I could have probably fitted that in.......

Ian D :D

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Dells - Run for Cover :D

Intruders - win , place or Show :thumbsup:

Intruders is on there Swifty and the Dells is Universal which made it too expensive to license unfortunately (same goes with Motown, 20th Century, ABC etc, etc)..........

Ian D :D

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Marvin Smith?

Chocolate Syrup - Off and running

Spyder Turner - I can't make it any more (for that Paula Radcliffe moment)

Dean Parish - Bricks, broken bottles etc (for the English football side)

More to come....

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... and as the last Torch bearer makes his/her way into the distance you could always play the Javel(ins) "Goodbye Nothing To Say"

Really must get a life. Sorry

Steve

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Intruders is on there Swifty and the Dells is Universal which made it too expensive to license unfortunately (same goes with Motown, 20th Century, ABC etc, etc)..........

Ian D :D

Just made my appointment at Specsavers Ian , thing was I double checked the Intruders DOH!! :dash2:

Great Mix there mate will be purchasing it myself and good luck !

Swifty :thumbsup:

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Here's a few more ......

For those that trained hard for years ... You Got To Pay The Price (vocal)

For those destined to come 2nd .... Follow The Leader (Major Lance)

For the decathlon hopefuls ......... Fresh (Kool & Gang)

For the winners .............. You Got The Stuff (Bill Withers)

For marathon Runners .... 25 Miles (Edwin)

For the weight Lifters ... You Got The Power (War)

For the 5000 m runners .... First Time Around (Skyy)

For the walkers ......... Backfield In Motion (Mel & Tim)

For The walkers 2 .... You Got Me Walkin (Jackie Wilson)

For David Beckham ... Gone For Good ( O V Wright)

For the 100 m runners .... You Got Me Running (Lonnie Hill)

For those with little hope of making a final ... You Gotta Believe (Pointer Sisters)

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LOL, you're a natural compiler Roburt! This is actually getting in the spirit which is what I wanted.

When I eventually get home I'll post a list of some of the tunes we couldn't get for one reason or another. Luckily we managed to get around 80% of what we applied for, so it worked out pretty good in the end.

The best bit is trying to imagine the effect that many of these tunes will have on young music researchers looking for great music to use for all the footage. I think this album will give 'em a few ideas hopefully......

Ian D

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or "Up and Over" - Jay Traynor for the pole vaulting. :yes: In fact Ian, you should have opened it up on here for suggestions before you compiled it.

Jordi

You know I actually wanted to do that 'cos it would've made my life easier in terms of legwork. But on the other hand, I didn't want to give the game away (no pun intended) otherwise some bloody TV advertised compilation with a £200K spend could've nicked the concept and just outgunned me. It's pretty cut-throat in the music biz these days and you're only as good as your next release, so this one was too good to give away. So I just couldn't risk it Jordi.

But I'm totally into throwing wild cards into the mix. That's how the Backbeats series and albums like "Holy Spirit" happened. There's no point in repeating the same old stuff all the time as Ace/Kent, Numero, Outta Sight and others consistantly demonstrate. People LOVE listening to stuff they've never heard before.

It'd be constructive to do a thread to see what people on here would like to see as potential compilation concepts. Word of warning though: there has to be a feasible and realistic audience for a CD release - several thousand minimum. Anything less won't cut it.

So I'll start a seperate thread about this. I'm actually looking for ideas for the next lot of Backbeats comps, which, incidentally, sell fantastically 'cos they're quality and cheap so peope don't mind spending a fiver to check 'em out. Some of the biggest sellers are the so-called 'uncommercial' ones. So I need more of 'em.

However, in the meantime, I have an Olympics album to deal with.......

All I need is 1,000th of that 4 Billion audience and I'll be good for another year........... :lol:

Ian D :D

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Chocolate Syrup - Off and running

Spyder Turner - I can't make it any more (for that Paula Radcliffe moment)

Dean Parish - Bricks, broken bottles etc (for the English football side)

More to come....

English football team- Brown Sugar -The game is over

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now that chambers has been pick

cheating kind

LOL, there were a few cheating records I could've used ("Cheaters Never Win" - Love Committee, "The Cheater" - Bob Kuban etc) but the emphasis was more on winning and losing rather than cheating.

Plus can you imagine the joy of trying to licence Don Gardner? It'd be difficult to even find a decent copy to dub from!

Ian D :D

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One for the slow starters

Montclairs - Just can't get away

Pole jumpers

Bobby "blue" bland- Up and down world

Non drug takers

Mill Evans- use what you got

English football fans

Van Mccoy = My favourite fantasy

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OK, this got mailed out today to 35 of the key movers and shakers in the music placement business, so they should all get it in the post tomorrow morning. The exciting bit for me is just imagining a lot of people hearing these tunes for the very first time.

Will they get it? Will the hair on the back of their neck stand up? Will they sit there drooling from the sheer brilliance of these rekids?

Who knows? We'll see if anything happens.

In the meantime does anyone have any mates up in Salford who are doing Olympic type stuff @ the Media centre? I'd like to zap 'em a copy........

Ian D :D

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OK, this got mailed out today to 35 of the key movers and shakers in the music placement business, so they should all get it in the post tomorrow morning. The exciting bit for me is just imagining a lot of people hearing these tunes for the very first time.

Will they get it? Will the hair on the back of their neck stand up? Will they sit there drooling from the sheer brilliance of these rekids?

Who knows? We'll see if anything happens.

In the meantime does anyone have any mates up in Salford who are doing Olympic type stuff @ the Media centre? I'd like to zap 'em a copy........

Ian D :D

Can you please release something that might make my commute from Paddington to Spitalfields (there and back) more bearable during the Olympics? Come to think of it, and after the Olympics. Something on Mirwood maybe?

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Can you please release something that might make my commute from Paddington to Spitalfields (there and back) more bearable during the Olympics? Come to think of it, and after the Olympics. Something on Mirwood maybe?

For Mirwood check out Kent's releases. :thumbup:

But Paddington to Spitalfields is a doddle. CD 2 of "Inspired" would probably work OK..... :wink:

Ian D :D

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Good luck with your mailing Ian hope the cd pricks up some ears, think your theme could help the compilation in some kind of way. hope this venture works out for you. :thumbsup:

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Good luck with your mailing Ian hope the cd pricks up some ears, think your theme could help the compilation in some kind of way. hope this venture works out for you. :thumbsup:

Cheers mate, so do I! It cost quite a bit to license, so I need some luck and hopefully plenty of coverage throughout the games.

Ian D :D

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Hello Ian,

I heard there's going to be some kind of sporting event in London to promote this album.

I think it's called the Olympic Games.

Something like that.

:lol:

Paul

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Hello Ian,

I heard there's going to be some kind of sporting event in London to promote this album.

I think it's called the Olympic Games.

Something like that.

:lol:

Paul

Yep. The easy part was compiling the album. The hard part was getting the games to come to London....... :lol:

Ian D :D

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Hello Mr D! Great idea, well done :o)

We soul-punned the Olympics half to death on a drunken evening over on Facebook a couple of months back - some of my faves below to make you smile.

Free review copies to me at the usual address please ;o)

Tee x

Maxine Brown - It's Torcher

Little Richard - I Don't Want To Discus It

Landlords of East London - Cashing In

Invitations - Cross-Country Ski-ing In The Snow

Del-Larks - Job Opening Ceremony

Ron Grainer - A Touch Of Velvet A Sting Of Ralgex

Hop Skip & Jump Mahoney - Tennis (Don't Be So Blind To Love)

Paula Radcliffe - You Didn't Do A Turd

Judo Street - Shot

Benzine - Olympic Village Of Tears

Winstons - Love Of The Commentators

Johnny Nash - There Are More Equestrians Than Answers

Edwin Starr - Running Back And Forth

Johnny Howard - The (Steeple)Chase Is On

Marvin Gaye - Where Are We Rowing?

Willie Mitchell - That Diving Heat

Platters - With These Rings

Happy - Velvet Hammer

Edwin Starr - (Tug Of) War

Dana Valery - Judo Know If Your Drug Test Lies

Marvin Gaye - I Hurdle Through The Grapevine

Lou Pride - I'm Com"ží" 'neci In The Morn'un

Junior Walker - Shotput

Chairmen Of The IOC - Give Me Just A Little More Bribe

Tommy Hunt - Never Love A Robin Cousins

Melba Moore - The Magic Torch

Carstairs - It Relay Hurts Me Girl

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Ian

Am thinking about buying the CD but the Amazon reviews of the CD that all refer to Jazz FM are confusing the hell out of me - maybe i am missing something but why-are there reviews from 2001 & 2002 going on about obviously different CD's?

Mick

Quote.......

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

Can Jazz FM do any wrong? 24 July 2001

By xxxx

Format:Audio CD

Yet another fabulous album from Jazz FM. They just keep churning out fabulous compilations that are an asset to anyone's music collection.

Being an avid follower of the Hed Khandi series I am always intrigued by alternative Jazz FM releases and they never disappoint. Inspired is no exception!

The collection of songs on this album are truly wonderful and equally diverse. Whether you're into the funky sounds of the magnificent diva Beverley Knight, the gospel grooves of The Sounds of Blackness, or the remarkably mellow sound of Rahsaan Patterson, you'll definitely find what you like on this collection.

If you're into mellow, funky jazz then this will prove to be a great addition to your collection. It'll also prove superb value for money as this album will, no doubt, prove to be timeless.

Perfect for summer evenings, lazy days on the beach, pre-party and anytime you want an eargasm experience!

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

Another hit from Jazz FM! 25 Dec 2001

By xxxxx

Format:Audio CD

Jazz, soul..... funky, smooth and mellow. 32 tracks of pure bliss for the Jazz and Soul fan. Dennis Taylor with his "Enough is Enough" or a remix with Beverley Knight of the song "Flavour of the old school" absolutely beautiful. If you want to find new artists on the scene then this compilation is for you. Ecstasy for your ears.

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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful

Chill Out with pure soul 26 Jan 2002

By Xxxx

Format:Audio CD

I dismissed Jazz Fms record label ages ago as just being double collections of dull airy elevator music from the dreary Jazz Fm daytime playlist, and was only bowled over by the fresher uptempoes of the Hed Kandi division . However the Jazz Fm record label did bring out two belters in Spirit of the street 1 and 2 as they crossed over away from the Smooth Jazz genre to a more left field groove- inner city cool, and it's in the inner city cool vein that Inspired comes in on a wind down scale.The standard on inspired is high from mid-tempo old school styles to soul belters all with a soulful aura . This is a modern transatlantic soul selection at it's best with heavy grooves.Don't worry if your not familiar with the names. Will Downing, Angie Stone, Chico Debarge and Latimore are all renowned luminaries in there field but it's the more obscure names that offer the gems.

This is chill out with soul, for those how prefer the more soulful side of current sounds it's a Must!

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I agree. It's been like that since Monday and it's bloody annoying. The Amazon software has some kind of 'recognition technique' which has confused "Inspired! Blood, Soul, Sweat & Cheers" with an 'inspired' title from Expansion and for some reason given us their reviews in the process. Daft.

I have nothing but problems with these automated systems because they're just not good enough. For example, I tried to load "Inspired! Blood, Soul, Sweat & Cheers" into the new Official Chart Company database today and it kept blowing me back.

It turns out the Database doesn't recognise exclamation marks or commas - basic English grammar which is fundamental to our language and national identity. So, in order to get on the system, I have to bastardise my title in order to comply with a badly designed database. Sheer stupidity.

But the people who run the system don't think that there's anything wrong with the system and can't understand why I would get so upset about losing an exclamation mark and a few commas. I'm like the Victor Meldrew of maintaining literary standards in a sea of shit LOL...

Amazon have been alerted twice in the last 4 days about this blitch but they work at their own speed so who knows when it'll get changed. I'm not gonna moan too much 'cos they're my best customer these days.

Ian D

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