Renee, I Got The Feeling!

Thanks to some epic journalistic investigative efforts here at Highway 85 (I fully expect a Pulitzer to arrive in my mailbox any day now), I've been able to determine that there are at least four versions of Since the Last Time.  You have the standard version with 12 songs, then a deluxe version with 3 live songs and 3 remixes, a deluxe version with 11 remixes, and a "super" deluxe version with all 3 live songs and 12 remixes.  I actually own four (!) copies of this album as I bought it from Japan when it first dropped there, then bought it from their site as pre-orders came with an online mix tape and an autographed copy, and then I bought two of the deluxe versions.  I may have issues....but truth be told I found the deluxe versions really cheap.

With all of these versions out there, it's kind of hard to believe these songs didn't make any of those editions.  I'm not sure what the story is, but they were likely late cuts which could mean a sampling issue as "Renee" and "I've Got the Feeling" are both floating around out there on some kind "advance" version of Since the Last Time.   

Truth be told, I can kind of see why they didn't make the cut but it's still nice to track them down.  Both  "Renee" and "I Got the Feeling" are pretty good and Speech's verses are good, but I they don't quite fit to me.  But if you'd like to reinsert them into the track listing, "I Got the Feeling" is track 10 behind "I Know I'm Bad" and "Renee" would be track 12 behind "Down and Dirty."  (I've had "Feeling" on repeat while typing this and I can say that it's grown on me.)  As to the songs, here they are:

I Got The Feeling

Renee

Also, thanks to reader Ruiner for sending these my way! 

Since the Last Time Deluxe Live Tracks

Well, I can now confirm that there are at least four different versions of Since the Last Time.  Unbelievable.  I'll have more on that later, but until then, here are the three live bonus tracks from the editions from South Korea and Singapore.  They were recorded August 5, 2006 at the Fruitstock Festival in London, England.  "Tennessee" and "People Everyday" both clock in at over 8 minutes. 

Tennessee

Mr. Wendal

People Everyday 

And here's a video of some of that "People Everyday" performance....

AD's Black Friday Offer

OK, they really don't have a "Black Friday" offer in the AD store- but they are offering a few free downloads that you should check out if you haven't already purchased these recent online-only projects.  Right now, you can download two remixes to "Miracles" and a remix to "Caught Me" from the Life Music Remixes project in the AD store for FREE, right here.  This includes the SAM remix of Miracles which would finish up the Since the Last Time deluxe edition remixes disc 2 if you downloaded everything else from this blog.

Then, you can also download "The Kingdom of Illness" here, which is an outstanding Speech song from the Unreleased Jewels project.  Just wanted everyone to be aware of that!  Hat tip to AJ from www.jazzyjefffreshprince.com for sharing this information.  (BTW, if you are into Will Smith either as a rapper or an actor, that's a great site to check out and I wish someday I could make this blog into something comparable- but I would have a lot of work to do!  Now that I have a daughter, I've gotten a lot more into Will's music since I can play it guilt free in the car, just like AD and Speech's stuff.) 

As far as Unreleased Jewels, for a Speech fan it's a must-buy.  Great stuff on there, including a Christmas song for the season!  Life Music Remixes depends on how much you enjoy remixes but is worth the low price tag in my opinion.

I Know I'm Bad - Ritual Remix (Since Day Nine, Part Two)

Here is the third remix (the Ritual Remix) of "I Know I'm Bad" from Since the Last Time.  Not one of my favorite remixes from the deluxe version, but that might just be me.  This closes the book on the deluxe Since the Last Time that I currently have files to- however, I have two different deluxe versions on the way.  One of them lists the "SAM Remix" of "Miracles" as the 12th song on disc 2, so there might actually be 4 versions of this album.  That Sam Remix can be found on the Life Music Remixes online album available here.  Anyway, we'll have more on the deluxe versions later.

I Know I'm Bad - Mason Remix (Since Day Nine, Part One)

Here is the second remix of "I Know I'm Bad" from the deluxe Since the Last Time- the Mason Remix.  I described it previously:

"The album closes with two more remixes of "I Know I'm Bad." This first one is pretty cool. Kind of adds a 70s soul vibe to the track. I really like this one, it's a lot of fun."  

 AD better be careufl about calling something a Mason remix with all of the crazy and ridiculous rumors that fly around about Jay-Z!

I will have the second remix up later today.

Heaven Fiasko Mix (Since Day Eight)

Here is the Fiasko Remix of "Heaven," the Los Lonely Boys cover that AD was able to ride to victory on the reality show Hit Me Baby One More Time.  We're getting to the end of this project, which means I better figure out what's coming next!  Also, I didn't spell fiasco that way- for the record :)

Also, I somehow forgot to include a link to track two which was a remix of "Miracles", so if you missed that one, I have updated that post.  Sorry about that!

Caught Me Futuredogs Remix (Since Day Seven)

Here is the Futuredogs Remix of "Caught Me," the eighth remix on the deluxe Since the Last Time.  I really like this one, it has a good vibe I think.  Couldn't decide what "Future Dog" picture to go with so let's squeeze this between both!

I Know I'm Bad (Jamie Munton Remix) - Since Day Six

As I first described this remix, this one has kind of an industrial feel to it. It's a little jarring, not really my cup of tea but kind of interesting.  So here is the Jamie Munton remix of "I Know I'm Bad"  Now that I think about it, Muhammad Ali is referenced twice on Since the Last Time- on the title track Speech says "Jabs a little slower like Muhammad Ali but still we able to last" and of course on "I Know I'm Bad" he says "I'm bad, like James and Ali."

 There's two other remixes of this song on the special edition, which will be up soon enough. Also, it should be pointed out that this particular remix is on both "deluxe versions" of Since the Last Time.

Note:  I listened to this song again after posting this and I like the remix a lot more then I thought I did.  When I sit down and review things, I typically don't use the best system to listen to them and I think that caused me to underrate this particular remix as it's really pretty good.

Inner City Semper Fi Remix (Since Day Five)

All right, here is the Semper Fi remix of "Inner City" and the sixth remix from the Since the Last Time deluxe version.  According to google images, that is an Inner City snail, and I don't think you can get any more inner city then that.  This is a pretty good remix overall. 

Since the Last Time Deluxe - Day Four

All right, we've got another "Tight on Tape" remix, this time it's the title track "Since the Last Time" again.  I really like this one as well, as mentioned before it kind of gives me an Enya vibe.  This is presumably from the same crew that brought us the epic "Sao Paulo" remix that was posted yesterday.  Check it out!

Since the Last Time Deluxe - Day Three (Part Two)

"Sao Paulo" is one of my favorite songs on Since the Last Time, and the remix does not disappoint.  I love it!  So check it out and see what you think.  This is the Tight on Tape remix -it's pretty good on CD and mp3 as well.....  And this site has actually had a lot of hits from Brazil, so obviously that country has made a big impression on AD, and vice versa!  So hello to everyone from Brazil.

Since the Last Time Deluxe - Day Three (Part One)

All right, here is the Salty Sea Dog remix of "Miracles".  Great name, but not the best remix.  I'll post up my favorite remix on the project a little later today to make up for it.  And, if nothing else, I was able to use some awesome pirate art to showcase this one!

Since the Last Time Deluxe - Day Two

Here's a good "club" mix of "Miracles," which is one of my favorite cuts on Since the Last Time.  This is the Will Styles Club Mix, so the same guy that did yesterday's track.  I mentioned before that I don't normally care for "club" mixes yet I always seem to like AD's club mixes.  Can't explain it, but there you go!  

Since the Last Time Deluxe - Day One

As promised, I'm going to start delivering the remixes from the deluxe version of Since the Last Time.  As a side note, I do have two different deluxe versions on the way via ebay (one is apparently a "Singapore" edition which is very similiar to the Australian version, only it appears to have the three live tracks from the Korean edition.  Yes, I am serious, and no, I have not located an Antarctican version yet), so I will know a lot more about these releases shortly.  And yep, I am nuts.  Anyway, here is the Will Styles Remix of "Since the Last Time."  This is a good remix so enjoy!   

Since the Last Time Deluxe

So if you want to make my head explode, just tell me that there are two different versions of Since the Last Time beyond the standard release and that will likely do the trick. Well, in theory my head would explode, but somehow I was able to survive and make it through the day after I found out that there is a deluxe Korean and an Australian version of Since the Last Time. According to Amazon, the Korean version comes with 6 bonus songs- three of them being live versions of "Tennessee," "People Everyday," and "Mr. Wendal" and three remixes. I don't know anything about the live versions so they could be live versions we've seen elsewhere or completely new.

Fortunately, those three remixes can be found here on the two-disc deluxe Australian version. I did try to find this version to purchase, but haven't had any luck- but I did find the files through other ways. So let's take a look and see what those of us on the other 6 continents have been missing. I just hope we don't see an Antarctic version of Strong or my head really will explode....

1. Since the Last Time (Will Styles Remix) - This is pretty close to the original, only with "heavier" drums. This is good, I like having a little different spin on it.
2. Miracles (Will Styles Club Mix) - I'm not a huge fan of "club" remixes (for good reason- you do not want to see me dance), but for some reason when AD does them I typically like them. Go figure.
3. Miracles (Time Sea and Elroy's Salty Sea Dog Mix) - Another club remix really, with a very odd name. I was kind of hoping to see a pirate theme mixed in or something. I prefer the Will Styles remix to this one- I can live with club songs as long as the verses eventually get a chance to play, but this one just chops up some vocals and it's just not my thing. Your mileage may vary.
4. Sao Paulo (Tight on Tape Remix) - OK, this is one of my favorite AD songs, period, so I'm holding this one to a higher standard. It's a lot different then the original, but I really like it. More of a hard hip-hop sound on this one and it works very well. My favorite remix on the second disc.
5. Since the Last Time (Tight on Tape Remix) - We've got another look at Since with presumably the same crew that did the previous remix. This one is different but pretty cool- it pulls out some of the background harmonies and pulls them to the forefront- it almost gives the song an Enya sound, from what little I know of her work. Right now I would be fine with these guys remixing the entire album, but we are moving on.
6. Inner City (Semper Fi Remix) - Oddly, this does kind of have a "Marine" vibe to the beat (for those not familiar, Semper Fi means "Always Faithful" in Latin and is the slogan for the US Marines among many other groups). This isn't too bad, although some of the vocal samples used get a little repetitive.
7. I Know I'm Bad (Jamie Munton Remix) - This one has kind of an industrial feel to it. It's a little jarring, not really my cup of tea but kind of interesting.
8. Caught Me (Futuredogs Remix) - This is OK, really speeds up the track.
9. Heaven (Fiasko Remix) - I don't know why but this has never been one of my favorite AD songs, although I enjoyed seeing Eshe get the spotlight. The remix isn't bad though, I think I like it better then the actual song.
10. I Know I'm Bad (Mason Remix) - The album closes with two more remixes of "I Know I'm Bad." This first one is pretty cool. Kind of adds a 70s soul vibe to the track. I really like this one, it's a lot of fun.
11. I Know I'm Bad (Ritual Remix) - This is more in the vein of some of the other club remixes, again not really my cup of tea. I much prefer the other remix to this song.

So there you go, a look at the bonus disc of the deluxe Australian version of Since the Last Time. We will have more on this later!

As far as the remixes that appear on the Korean version, according to Amazon it's "Caught Me (Futuredogs Remix)", "I Know I'm Bad (Jamie Munton Remix)", and "Inner City (Semper Fi Remix)". If I am ever able to find out more about that particular version I will be certain to let everyone know!