I'll Not Let Hate Be The One.

Rapper Intuition takes Jessica Lea Mayfield's beautiful Our Hearts Are Wrong and adds a cheeky (unauthorised) verse to it. The result? The perfect soundtrack for when all that love stuff gets a bit complicated.

I'm Not Ready To Kiss & Hug

I'd foolishly forgotten how good The Numero Group releases were, but I was reminded when I broke the seal on my double LP copy of the incredible Home Schooled - The ABCs of Kid Soul comp on the weekend and rediscovered this absolute gem of a tune above.

All of their releases are quality and are well worth checking out. I guarantee you it'll be some of the best music you've never heard.

Running From Love

Running From Love (Instrumental) - Freddie Cruger

It Takes a Muscle To Fall In Love

Love themed joint off the new M.I.A album which highlights the difficulties concerning matters of the heart and falling in love. Judging by this it sounds like even the coolest people on the planet, do it tough sometimes.

This Bed's Too Big Without You

Tony Johns does a tidy little edit job on this Sly & Robbie produced Sheila Hylton lovers rock tune from 1980 which covers The Police's 'The Bed's Too Big Without You'.

Sheila Hylton - Beds Too Big Without You (Tony Johns edit) by Tony Johns

After The Break-Up

Came across this killer break-up mix via Meatskull your one stop blog spot for the dopest mixes on the world wide web.

This is another amazing love themed mix by DJ Magneto (peep another one here) this time around he's delivered the ideal soundtrack for when love doesn't go exactly according to plan, which lets face it, is more often than we'd like.

1- The Shadow Of Lo – Chick Corea
2- Baby Come Back – Player
3- Lovers Rock – Sade
4- Move On Up (Break) – The Dynamics
5 – Unbreak My Dub – Jstar
6 – My Demons – Distance
7 – Wasted Time Feat. Vikter Duplaix – Jazzanova
8 – Holding You Loving You – Don Blackman
9 – Love for the Sake of Love – Claudja Barry
10 – Georgy Porgy (Brubekk re-re-Edit) – Toto
11 – Why – Carly Simon
12 – Keep On Movin.. (In My Life Always Edit)- Soul II Soul
13 – Open Your Eyes – Bobby Caldwell
14 – Sensitivity – Ralph Tresvant
15 – All Around The World (Open Hearted Edit) – Lisa Stansfield
16 – Set Adrift On Memory Bliss – PM Dawn
17 – Only Love Can Break Your Heart – St Etienne
18 – No One (Pocketknife’s Songs In the Life of Keys Remix)(Unbelievable edit) – Alicia Keys
19 – Kool and The Gang – Too Hot
20 – I’m Out Of Your Life – Arnie’s Love
21 – “T” Plays It Cool – Marvin Gaye
22 – Blood Is Thicker- Ino Hidefumi
23 – Mona Lisa (Outro Walk On By Edit) – Slick Rick
24 – Dominoes – Donald Byrd
25 – I Just Called To Say I Love You (Things That Don’t Happen Without You Edit) -Stevie Wonder
26 – Overpowered (Radio Edit) – Roisin Murphy
27 – Lettin’ Go – Janelle Monae
28 – I’m Afraid the Masquerade is Over – David Porter
29 – Neither One Of Us (Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye) – Gladys Knight & The Pips

Download/Stream

So Many Ways... None Of Them Are Easy.

50 Ways To Leave Your Lover (Pollyn's Re-Edit Remix) - Paul Simon by AOR DISCO

You Can't Be Any Geek Off The Street...

Doobie Brother # 1 Michael McDonald gets all reminiscent about a love once had on this one from 1982 which was later sampled by Warren G & Nate Dogg on their 1994 smash hit Regulate.
Michael McDonald - I Keep Forgettin' (AC Re-Edit) by Andrew Clarke

The Yacht Rock crew give you their take on how it all went down in this hilarious youtube clip -

My World Is So Blue

Ridiculously good break up track from 1971 by Johnny Johnson. I love the transition from the soft intro to the moment you can practically hear his heart breaking on the record during the change up. Amazing.

Furthermore Johnny really did put the 'break' in this breakup track which was taken advantage of by Blu & Exile on their My World Is... joint.

Love Is Blue - Johnny Johnson Listen/Download

This Dells version is pretty boss too -

I Was Blind To Let You Go

A clever little edit courtesy of the mysterious Big J (?) who takes the Jackson 5 acapella of I Want You Back and places it on top of the Esso Trinidad Steel Band's instrumental cover version.

Best enjoyed whilst sipping on a rum based cocktail with an umbrella in it. hammock optional.

I Want You Back (Big J's Esso Trinidad Steel Band Edit) - Jackson 5 Listen/Download

Playing The Fool

Possibly the most perfect song to listen to after someone has broken your heart ever. From the moment the spoken word introduction kicks in you just know everthing is going to be alright.

Okay, so you're heart broken
You sit around mopin'
Cryin' and cryin'
You say you`re even thinkin' about dyin'
Well, before you do anything rash, dig this...

It's Not You, It's Me

Modern day soul/doo wop! I've only heard 4 tracks so far but i'm going to make the call and say this Mayer Hawthorne record will be the album of 2009. Going by what i've heard it appears the album will be loaded with themes for young lovers and 'Just Ain't Gonna Work Out' (above) has to be one of the best break up songs ever, I love the use of the 'Get Out My Life, Woman' drums especially considering the theme.

The album (of the year) is called 'A Strange Arrangement' and is out on the 9.09.09 through Stones Throw Records. Get excited people!

and here he is performing live in NYC with members of The Roots Crew (peep Questlove on the tambourine!)

Mayer Hawthorne w/ The Roots - Just Aint Gonna Work Out, live NYC from Stones Throw on Vimeo.

Short Ones, Tall Ones, Fine Ones, Kind Ones...

Now this really isn't a love song as such BUT it's still a great theme for that young lover who has had their heartbroken. We all know that love doesn't always run smoothly so this is a great track to listen to after the break-up and realise that there are infact plenty more fish in the sea!

San Francisco native DJ B.Cause takes the vocals of 1960's Motown girl group The Marvelettes' 'Too Many Fish In The Sea' and puts them over a nice chopped up edit of De La Soul's 'Oooh' instrumental resulting in a funky 'who needs that arsehole anyway' anthem for the ladies.

Bait up your hooks and go get it! Download

Check this great (shakey) footage of The Marvelettes performing the original