Title: Groovejet (If This Ain’t Love)
Artist: Spiller featuring Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Label: Positiva
Genre(s): House, Deep House
Year released: 1999
Spiller was an Italian DJ and producer who concocted a great instrumental house tune from a sample of an old Salsoul cut, “Love Is You” by Carol Williams. I had heard Pete Tong pump it on an Essential Selection compilation he made. DJs loved the tune, but the label wanted it more palatable for radio play…thus vocalist Sophie Ellis-Bextor, formerly of the indie rock band Theaudience, was brought in.
By the time I landed a copy of Groovejet, Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s vocals were added in, and I have to be honest, I loved the tune even more now with her voice flowing through that groove. I still love that tune to this day, as I see it as timeless.
Genre(s): House, Deep House, Latin House
Year released: 1998
While Groovejet was the anthem that put Spiller on the map, in many circles, this tune was our first real taste of Spiller’s talent. I’d hear it played all over the deep house scene here in Chicago, and was excited to land a copy back then.
The song is a cover of a slower, original creation by Samba greats Marcos Valle, Paulo Valle and Ray Gilberto. Spiller had brought in Italian vocalist Moony for the voice, and the rest is just happy rhythm.
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