1. Change ft Luther Vandross – The Glow Of Love (Extended 12″ Version)
Heavily under the influence of Chics sound of the time Luther delivers an outstanding performance on this Studio 54 classic! This never grows old.
2. Minnie Ripperton – Les Fleurs – EMI
Pure unadulterated tripped out bliss! The first Ripperton song that turned me into a huge fan and a great introduction to her. Hard not to fall in love with this Orchestral masterpiece!
3. A Tribe Called Quest vs Sir Piers & Si Ashton – Bonia Applebum – Jive
Surely in the top 3 of THE best Hip Hop bands that ever graced our ears! In 2000 when Groove Armada voted our remix as No.1. and ‘better than their own release’ that month in the U.S. press I guess this was a turning point where I began to believe in my remix abilities.
4. Marvin Gay – Inner City Blues – Motown
An urban soundtrack in its own right! This record epitomises the sound of ‘Ghetto Fabulous’. A slice of Black America in the Seventies …
5. Kenny Thomas – Thinking About Your Love – Cooltempo
For many The King of Brit Soul. This is one of his classics that will remain etched in time as testament to his hugely authentic voice. Kenny has quickly gone from a massive influence to both close friend and songwriting partner.
6. Abstract Truth – We Had A Thing – Wave
Dirty. Chocolate. Sex! The reason I flew the bad ass Monique Bingham over from New York to begin our co-writing partnership in 2002!
Her songwriting brilliance combined with her charasmatic live abbilities and that beautiful tone sets her apart as my favorite modern female singer on this planet!
7. Stevie Wonder – Ribbon In The Sky (1982 Musiquarium Version) – Motown
Not the first record you would think of yet this is so beautiful that words do not justify how the song and his incredible voice will always make me feel!
8. Level 42 – Something About You – Polydor
My favorite of Mark King and Mike Lindup’s brain child. From a long line of classic Brit Soul Song writing! This one from 1985 is hard to forget! My father sat me at the drum kit in his studio as a young boy, handed me a cd and said simply ‘son if you can learn to drum like these guys you’ll be well on your way’. I’m sure that as a drummer this has not happend yet but it’s one amazing moment to have them sing a new song on on my debut album ‘Sirvival’, coming in 2008!
9. Sir Piers – Journey – curious
I strongly believe more people will come to hear these two words over the next few years ‘ Frank McComb ‘ – Forthcoming on my debut album. This mans vocal, keyboard and musical genius must be witnessed live to be fully apreciated If Donny Hathaway ever returned to sing to us again it would be in the body of this man! A trip to co-write and produce!
10. The Love Unlimited Orchestra – Strange Games & Things – BBE
Barry White was for me not just the maestro of love but The master of Orchestral Funk arrangements and this is one of those themes. Another benchmark influence on me for sure!
Sir Piers ft. Robert Owens ‘Back When’ single is out now on Curious Records.
