22 February 2019

Say Her Name [Thoughts of You]



Her name is Shara Nelson.

She’s been called the Aretha of trip-hop. Her name is Shara Nelson.

Fuck, I shouldn’t have got so high & then listened to "Thoughts of You" while typing this shit-storm. I’m sitting here at the ole PC with major wood. (ha...ha...he said "wood"). Then "How Close" comes on: "How close is too close?..there must be a reason for this tension...I’m giving you time to blow your mind...How close is too close, baby?" Now I've gotta head to the bathroom to clean up, then I’ll hit this sucka again.

Shara was only eighteen when she hooked up with those scoundrels at On-U Sound & made her debut in 1983 as the vocalist with The Circuit on Aiming At Your Heart. She made numerous On-U guest appearances with Voice of Authority, Singers & Players, Missing Brazilians, & Dub Syndicate throughout the 80s.


all decryption codes in comments

Side A -
Aiming at Your Heart (Part 1)
Aiming at Your Heart (Part 2)

Side B -
Just as Long as We Have Love (Part 1)
Just as Long as We Have Love (Part 2)

However it is her work with Massive Attack on their 1991 debut album Blue Lines for which Shara remains most associated, in particular the highly acclaimed "Unfinished Sympathy".

"Unfinished Sympathy" was first released under the temporary group name Massive. It was written by the three band members Robert "3D" Del Naja, Andrew "Mushroom" Vowles, Grant "Daddy G" Marshall, as well as vocalist Shara Nelson, & the group's co-producer Jonathan "Jonny Dollar" Sharp. The song was released as the second single from Blue Lines, on the band's Wild Bunch label distributed through Circa Records on 11 February 1991.


Massive Attack - Shara tracks from Blue Lines, Wild Bunch Records WBRCD 1, 1991.

Safe from Harm
Unfinished Sympathy
Daydreaming
Lately


In total, Nelson co-wrote & provided vocals on four tracks on the Blue Lines album, including another hit single "Safe from Harm". Nelson also recorded & appears on another track with Massive Attack entitled "Just a Matter of Time", which was exclusively included on a short film the group made of the same name. It was shot on Super 8mm film on location in Bristol, 7 minutes of greatness & quite rare.







After Blue Lines, Shara launched a successful major label solo career. Her debut was What Silence Knows (co-writing & singing all tracks) on the Cooltempo/Chrysalis label.




Shara Nelson - What Silence Knows, Cooltempo ctcd35, 1993.

Nobody
Pain Revisited
One Goodbye in Ten
Inside Out
Uptight
Down the Road
Chance
Thoughts of You
How Close
What Silence Knows


She also released singles such as "Uptight" produced by Mike Peden. The one I’m posting (7243 8 81184 2 2) contains the supremely superior Adrian Sherwood & Style Scott unreleased version of the song "What Silence Knows" (Style plain rips it up!).



Shara Nelson - Uptight CD single, Cooltempo cdcool 286, 1994.

Uptight (Uno Perfecto edit)
Uptight (Uno Perfecto mix)
Uptight (Dirty Lowdown vocal mix)
What Silence Knows (Adrian Sherwood / Style Scott unreleased version)


Then life took its toll & Shara stepped away from the limelight.

In 2003, after more than 10 years away, she returned to On-U's spin-off imprint of the time, Soundboy & recorded a vocal version of Sherwood's "Hari Up Hari" from Never Trust a Hippy.



from promo 12" on Real World Records RWAS DJ 1, 2003.


She also released a self-credited track "Nobody Else" featuring a rhythm by Jazzwad [Rhythm 214].


Shara Nelson - Nobody Else 10'', Sound Boy SB012, 2004.

Side A -
Nobody Else

Side B -
Nobody Else (version)

Also in 2003, Nelson collaborated with Futurasound on the track "Right Now".

She co-wrote & sang "Say My Name" with Little Axe. When Shara begs you to "Say My Name", you'll truly know what longing is all about.


Little Axe - "Say My Name" from Champagne & Grits, 
Real World Records, 7243 5 76746 2 1, 2004.

Since then she has worked with 10th Planet ("Push Me Away"), NUfrequency ("Go That Deep" & "Promised"), Doug Wimbish ("I Wanna Know" - co-writer & vocalist).

Several new tracks have been posted on Nelson's official website, including "Promise to You", "Different" & "If".

In September 2012 Shara performed live for the first time in many years, performing her hit "Unfinished Sympathy" at the concert in aid of Cool Earth produced by Angelica Campion-Armstrong.






Since then she has contributed vocals to the tracks "Badger Swagger" by The Artful Badger, "All Together Now" on The Peace Collective single. Nelson, Simon Britton, & John Power wrote & recorded the title track "Looking" for the motion picture "ANTI-SOCIAL". Nelson is currently continuing work in the studio with Simon Britton & various collaborators for her next solo album purportedly due sometime this year.

& if you are still drooling for more, here’s a baby bonus...



Side A -
Sense of Danger (original Presence mix)

Side B -
Sense of Danger (Pepe Bradock remix)
Sense of Danger (Furry Phreaks Dub)

bonus bonus:
Presence - Matter of Fact featuring Shara Nelson from All Systems Gone, Pagan PAGAN CD1010, 1999.

Enjoy,

15 comments:

  1. If there is no decryption code for an item, then it doesn't need one & can be dl'ed direct.

    Aiming
    Rx167HONlazkQKnNg7trPNPf2IUm1GmVIQnKCRoDGBg
    Silence
    9BGqfWFmHUgViBvKJz64euKjPfNtmmB6ECaXidXsfYQ
    Uptight
    DzJvS_QkopS6c8YHTxv1ud60Yzo2lyEKhMt7t24AlHk
    Presence
    zz1Qr9CLLpAjHgKDmQaD_wWxYHXgYsQEyIXQZzaetbw

    ReplyDelete
  2. If I say her name three times, will she appear in my mirror?
    A well made post about an interesting career that has veered in and out of the On-Universe!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If only we lived in that more perfect world.

      Tried to hit some of the highlight of a volatile career. As always, appreciate your input, brother.

      Delete
  3. This is exactly why I come by your blog in the middle of the night - to find that something extra. Thank you very much indeed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I usually creep about here in the middle of the night myself. Thanks for the kind words.

      Aiming at your heart,
      NØ.

      Delete
  4. Hey Nathan,

    first of all, big thanks for keeping up with the blogging while majority of us (incl. me) gave up long time ago. I owe you this also because I have grabbed loads of dub stuff from you.
    In 2013 (probably inspired by her stalking incident) I have compiled a small collection of Shara's 1990s colaborations for my Future Vintage blog but the Man kept on erasing it so finally it found a way only to a small circle of my readers. Here's the traclist:

    01 Massive Attack-Unfinished Sympathy
    02 Dave Stewart-Heart Of Stone
    03 Presence-Matter Of Fact
    04 Massive Attack-Safe From Harm
    05 Shara Nelson meets G.Corp-Good Intentions
    06 Kasha-U
    07 Presence-Sense Of Danger
    08 Guru-Nobody Knows
    09 Cuba-Black Island
    10 Massive Attack-Daydreaming
    11 Saint Etienne-On The Shore
    12 David Arnold-Moonraker
    13 Massive Attack-Lately
    14 Dub Syndicate-Je t'aime

    You can still grab it in 320k at hxxps://mega.nz/#!BEZHCIbI

    Also I can provide her second album Friendly Fire from 1995 and I Fell (So You Could Catch Me) single if you care to expand your post.

    Thanks again and stay tuned!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This is beyond my wildest belief. This is way kool. I really appreciate the generosity. The MEGA file needs a decryption code.
      I would love to get the other two to add to this mess. Hope to hear from you.

      Delete
  5. thank you !!! Thank you!!! always enjoyed this site and digital. I always learn and find something new.

    ReplyDelete
  6. hi,
    just found your great site and i,m after shara nelsons abums please!
    or anything by her
    the links you put up ask for a key ?
    can you re-up or provide a key?
    many thx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The decryption codes are in the comments above. Just cut & paste when prompted by MEGA.

      Delete
  7. Hi - Just stumbled onto this site while researching Shara! Can I please have the decryption code? I don't see it anywhere in the comment section above - Thank You!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The decryption codes are in the very first comment. It begins:
      "If there is no decryption code for an item, then it doesn't need one & can be dl'ed direct."

      Beneath that are the names of the files:
      Aiming (at Your Heart)
      Silence (What___Knows)
      Uptight
      Presence (Sense of Danger)

      Underneath each file name is the decryption code (a series of 43 symbols, letters, or numbers). Just copy the decryption code, select the file name directly below the cover art for whichever file(s) you are choosing. You will be sent to MEGA. MEGA will ask for a decryption code. Paste the code you copied where prompted & download the .zip file. Unzip & enjoy.

      Delete
  8. Many thanks!!!

    ReplyDelete