Wikipedia

Flavour of the Old School

'"Flavour of the Old School"' is a song by British R&B recording artist Beverley Knight, released as her debut single from her first album, The B-Funk (1995). The track, which peaked at number fifty on the UK Singles Chart when it was released in March 1995, was accompanied by a low budget music video that saw Knight in the recording studio singing directly into the camera. It was re-released however in October 1995, supported by a new video and strong support from urban radio. The song went on to become Knight's first top 40 single, peaking at number thirty-three in the official UK Singles Chart. The song later reappeared on the b-side of Knight's 1999 single "Made it Back". The video is frequently shown in rotation on MTV Base.

"Flavour of the Old School"
Single by Beverley Knight
from the album The B-Funk
Released27 March 1995
9 October 1995 (re-release)
Recorded1994
GenreSwingbeat[1]
Length4:06 (radio/video version)
4:45 (album/rap version)
LabelDome Records
Songwriter(s)Neville Thomas, Pule Pheto, Beverley Knight
Producer(s)Neville Thomas, Pule Pheto
Beverley Knight singles chronology
"Flavour of the Old School"
(1995) 		"Down for the One"
(1995)
Music video
"Flavour of the Old School" on YouTube
"Down for the One"
(1995)
"Flavour of the Old School (re-release)"
(1995)
"Moving on Up (On the Right Side)"
(1996)
Alternative cover
UK re-release single cover

Critical reception

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In his weekly UK chart commentary for Dotmusic, James Masterton described the song as "an interesting if unexciting piece of R&B."[2] Caroline Sullivan from The Guardian felt that "floor-fillers", like the "deliriously retronuevo single [...] pump up the hip-hop-based grooves while retaining the gospel-boogie feel of modern UK soul."[3] A reviewer from Music & Media wrote, "Everything sho' is funky here. Knight knows her classics from Rose Royce to Chaka Khan, but despite the title she isn't deaf for the latest developments in new jill swing. Have a taste of it."[4] Ralph Tee from Music Week's RM Dance Update said, "Every now and again the UK soul scene comes up with something that blows everyone away, and this time it's Beverly Knight with this amazing vocal debut on a chunky, full-on swing cut good enough to rival any US production."[5] Another editor, James Hamilton, declared it as a "plaintive Janet Jackson-ish sweetly cooed jiggling funky hip hop soul jogger".[6]

Track list

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Original release

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CD:

  1. "Flavour of the Old School" (radio version) 4:06
  2. "Flavour of the Old School" (Featuring Rapro) (album version) 4:45
  3. "Flavour of the Old School" (Full Flava remix) 4:48
  4. "Promise You Forever" 5:51

Re-release

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CD:

  1. "Flavour of the Old School" (radio version) 4:06
  2. "Flavour of the Old School" (2B3 New Flava mix) 4:31
  3. "Flavour of the Old School" (Featuring Rapro) (Hip Hop mix) 4:09
  4. "U've Got It" 4:34

Charts

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Chart (1995) Peak
positions
France (SNEP) 40
Scotland (OCC)[7] 92
UK Singles (OCC) (original release) 50
UK Singles (OCC) (re-release) 33
UK Dance (OCC) 13
UK R&B (OCC)[8] 5
UK Club Chart (Music Week)[9] 40

Personnel

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  • Written by Beverley Knight, Neville Thomas and Pule Pheto
  • Produced by Neville Thomas and Pule Pheto
  • All vocals performed by Beverley Knight

References

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  1. ^ Larkin, Colin, ed. (2006). "Knight, Beverley". Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-531373-9.
  2. ^ Masterton, James (15 October 1995). "Week Ending October 21st 1995". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  3. ^ Sullivan, Caroline (27 October 1995). "Music: CD releases – Pop". The Guardian.
  4. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 29 April 1995. p. 12. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  5. ^ Tee, Ralph (7 January 1995). "Hot Vinyl" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert). p. 10. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  6. ^ Hamilton, James (7 October 1995). "Dj directory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert). p. 11. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  7. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 15 October 1995 – 21 October 1995". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  8. ^ "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  9. ^ "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert). 4 March 1995. p. 6. Retrieved 2 September 2021.

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