Hidden Beach Presents: The Original Jill Scott From The Vault, Vol. 1

I don't know how many times I looked at this album but couldn't pull the trigger or more accurately, press the mouse button because in my psyche to purchase it felt like a violation of a - unilateral and unknown to her - covenant with the irrepressible Ms. Scott, a betrayal. Yet, not having it in my collection left a vacuum that I had to confront whenever I decided to open my Jill vault and that occurs with a frequency not duplicated with nearly any other artist.I'm glad I finally relented. As she swoons at the fade out of Running Away, resistance is futile...I listen to 'Collaborations,' 'The Real Thing' and to a lesser extent, 'The Light Of The Sun.' All have selected tunes that bring a glow to the visage but in totality, none of those releases lift me in the same manner as `Who is...,' `Experience' and most especially, `Beautifully Human.' These are the missing tracks from Experience. I have no idea why Jill and Hidden Beach decided to keep these cuts in mothballs because all of them soar. This is the Jill who brought butterflies the first time I heard her and continues to do so with that silky, sensuous voice.Really, there isn't a weak track here and when you give a listen, you'll know the best feature of audio equipment is the repeat loop option.

Believe it or not, Jill just may not be pleased with this release.She left Hidden Beach prior to her contract being up and also left her unreleased material @ Hidden Beach.This album of her unreleased songs is a volume of more to come to suffice her broken contractual agreement with her now former record label.She conveyed her regrets in June's Ebony Magazine Issue, warning her readers to "never leave your songs where you yourself are leaving" (paraphrased, but you get the idea)I hope that She and Steve McKeever's relationship is atleast amicable, i read that the songs compiled here were furnished in order by both Jill and Steve (CEO of Hidden Beach Recordings)so, it may just be.Her music, her lyrics, her gift is Genius and i love it.Who ever is thinking of purchasing this, treat yourself; trust me...you will love it too.

Wonderful archives. Arguably the best artist to put her poetry to music and deliver with such beauty. Jill Scott is legendary.

at first i kept wondering why this was being recommended to me since i have her whole collection so i looked at the release date, then the song titles then sampled and it sounded new. i bought it because i'm a big fan. let me say, it's awesome!!! pure jill, good lyrics, smooth music. i'm happy i didn't keep ignoring the recommendation. now i do think there might have been some drama with hidden beach releasing these songs based on an article i read when jill released her lasted cd this year but this is one of jill's best works (in my opinion), not sure why it wasn't released before. if you're a jill fan buy this "new" music from her.

I absolutely love this CD!!! Thank God, Hidden Beach released it. Jill's sound has evolved and believe me - I love all of her neo-soul CDs but some of her later CDs have me skipping tracks so throughout the years, there have been times when I missed listening to her on her old CDs when she was raw and fresh and her poetry and/or music was mellow, one song just flowed into another, and she was able to do what she wanted to do before branching out the neo-soul realm. Well, this CD definitely takes me back to those good old days. From track one to track to track fourteen, this CD is absolutely masterful - and I do not have to skip a track...and her live tracks have me jumping out of my chair feeling like I am actually in the audience. So invite some friends over, light some candles, pour something smooth and mellow, and just let her voice caress you and take you to a old school concert.

Although I felt a twinge of regret that Jill isn't profiting off this CD, it's still amazing and I'm glad it's out there. She is consistently brilliant.

Hidden Beach Presents: The Original Jill Scott From The Vault, Vol. 1 - This music CD will make you a fan of Jill Scott -- IF you are not already one. Some hot tunes to keep you reminisce and loving it. Gotta have it!

This girl has got a serious gift. Can do it all vocally, brings from the heart and out the box.

2011 proved to be an interesting year for fans of Jill Scott's work, seeing the release of much anticipated new material on her new label with 'The Light Of The Sun' (through Warner Brothers Records), soon followed by 'The Original Jill Scott: From The Vault Volume 1', available in a standard and deluxe edition (which two bonus tracks and an enhanced track / video version of 'North Side Philly Love (Live)'. This latter album, by former label Hidden Beach, contains music that was apparently stored away, being the result of Scott's always creating more material than was made available through her original album recordings. The question is, how does this older material compare against the newer fare?The album opens with 'Intro - Love To Love Prelude', a twenty second track featuring a puntuated beat and a short vocal line, before launching in to 'I Don't Know (Gotta Have You)', which manages to offer a fusion of Hip Hop and Soul (evidenced through the looping sample driven backing), being a track that could sit equally well with Scott's earliest and latest work. 'Wondering Why? (You Don't Talk To Me)' is a typically potent observation from a feminine perspective ('Things have changed dramatically, I'm the Same Queen'), riding over a low slung beat and unobtrusive keyboard work, and fits particularly with the work found on 'Beautifully Human: Words And Sounds Volume 2'. This is equally true of 'The Light (Original Mix)', a sparsely driven groove over which Scott demonstrates her love (and ear) for the spoken word. Produced by Andre Harris and Vidal Davis (previously responsible for work by Glenn Lewis), listen to the very subtle piano that works around and through the track. 'Wake Up Baby' is a blues drenched groove, in which the wisdom of an older woman is imparted to a younger relative ('You may not believe it now I know, But once upon a time I was young and fine too'). 'Lovely Day', a cover of the Bill Withers and Skip Scarborough classic, manages to offer a diffent view of something wildly familiar, and is beautifully phrased and sung (listen especially to Scott's harmonising), and as the tracks progresses her voice opens up in a truly confident performance. Utterly beguiling and beautiful.'Dear Mr & Mrs Record Industry' is a bitterly observed commentary on the machinations of an industry that may not always recognise, appreciate and (most importantly) financially reward the art upon which it depends. Although there is no information as to when this was recorded with Jazzy Jeff, one can only wonder at the likely reaction to such a track if it had been released earlier, and the possible results it may have engendered. 'Love To Love' develops the intro heard earlier, a largely beat driven and dance floor orientated groove. As the liner notes indicate, this is a track made in 'an atmosphere full of fun and bonding'. 'Running Away (Suite)' opens with a stuttering beat, and is a return to the contemplative mode heard on 'The Real Thing: Words And Sounds Volume 3', with a fully engaged Jazz inflected vocal performance. 'Comes To Light (Everything)' is musically light and reflective, driven by the climbing acoustic guitar and piano accompaniment, but this belies the pain suggested by the contrapuntal lyric. 'Holding On' is a return to the sparse soundscape in which her voice can be heard at its very best, intimate and throughly engaging. This is a track that sounds very much like an early 'run through', and hopefully it is something to which she may return.So. Do you buy?As an artist Scott remains one of the most significant black female vocalists to have emerged in recent years, having successfully negotiated and survived early attempts to label her music as part of the early 'Neo-Soul' revival (a much disputed term). Not willing to be constrained by labels Scott is a woman able to exhibit talent across a range of creative platforms (music, poetry and acting), and her music at its very best manages to combine music with acute observation allied to a voice that communicates emotional empathy as few other contemporary artists can. Of the tracks here 'Lovely Day' is perhaps the most assured as a finished product, but the others (whilst not sharing the same degree of shine) are indicative of an artistry that can still engage the listener even whilst exploring, developing and expressing through the creative process.For fans this will remain an essential purchase, and it would be particularly worthwhile to do so in conjunction with 'The Light Of The Sun', managing to provide an interesting counterbalance to, and indication of, her talents that are occasionally lost in the other work (which occasionally also sounds like a work in progress). Neither offers a fully realised account of her considerable talents, but both deserve to be heard.For Scott the best is, undoubtedly, yet to come.A worthwhile purchase.7/10.

I suspect anybody reading this is already a Jill Scott fan, so you've already tuned into her and know what she's about. If so then you'll like this album. If your not already familiar With her music and poetry then i recommend you don't start here. You'll be better of starting with her earlier offerings like " Who is Jill Scott". For me she is the Greatest! and i love everything she does. So to rap this up, it gets a big thumbs up from me. Go out and buy it. I'm Sure you wont be disappointed.

My favourite absolutely love it

Jill is an artist like no other in this current era. i love every album from here as each album is so different. she is always on top form live

Wowed, what a voice Jill Scott has. She just blows you away with her music and lyrics. I love this cd and would definitely buy more.