1:23:32 19 Sing (if you want it) (Tru Menace Jump Remix)
1:28:16 20 Sing (if you want it) (DJ Dodge Remix)
1:36:43 21 Lay It Down (Andre Lodermann 2011 Remix)
Omar’s sixth album, ‘Sing (If You Want It)’ is a bona fide soul classic and was all set to tip the UK soul sensation into the pop-star realm, once and for all, on its release in 2005. However, a series of setbacks – not least the sudden collapse of the record label involved, a week after release – severely dented its chances of breakthrough success. Hardly a flop, it impressively still sold over 50,000 copies, but as Tru Thoughts A&R and long-time Omar fan Robert Luis says, “it was so heavily anticipated, and with collabs from the likes of Stevie Wonder...well, everyone knew it could have sold ten times that”. Having recently made contact with Omar through his work on Maddslinky’s 2010 album ‘Make A Change’, Robert Luis found himself chatting to his soul hero about how they could work together to re-promote ‘Sing (If You Want It)’, as well as some exclusive new material that he had bubbling away, and the new, augmented version of the album is the result.
Omar’s enviable career has seen him sell over half a million records, including the hit “There’s Nothing Like This”, in 1992, which captured the imagination of soul fans the world over; Stevie Wonder declared himself a fan on first hearing it, and vowed to work with him. Further releases on Gilles Peterson’s label, Talkin’ Loud, were followed by a move to RCA, for whom he cut two albums (including 1994’s ‘For Pleasure’, on which he worked with legendary Motown producers Leon Ware and Lamont Dozier), notching up critical acclaim and introducing him to several more of his musical heroes and heroines. In 2000, the leading icon of the UK’s resurgent soul movement, Omar released his fifth LP; ‘Best By Far’ was a self-produced set on which his interest in cinematic soundtracks and jazz rose to the surface. This time, Erykah Badu and MOBO winner Kele Le Roc came good on their promises to work with him. Robert Luis summarises: “Omar is just a hugely influential and talented artist, and importantly he has always been respected by fellow musicians, which is proved by all the people queuing up to collaborate with him.”
