Hil St Soul: Soul Organic - 20th Anniversary Edition, Vinyl Double LP

In 1999 HIL ST SOUL released a groundbreaking debut album SOUL ORGANIC. Zambian-born vocalist Hilary Mwelwa and producer/musician/songwriter Victor Redwood-Sawyerr (VRS) had been working away in a North London studio creating a unique blend of neo soul, jazz and R&B that had critics on both sides of the Atlantic in raptures. 

Billboard magazine enthused: “Brimming with R&B/hip-hop/jazz-flavoured rhythms and image-rich lyrics….Even Aretha’s Until You Come Back To Me glows again under Hil’s touch”. 

And talking about the lead single Strictly A Vibe Thang, US magazine Radio & Records were smitten: “You can’t sit still on this one.   While listening to this infectious tune you got to move something – even if it’s just your big toe!”   In the UK Echoes magazine called it “one of the best UK soul albums ever”. 

Strictly A Vibe Thang charted on the Billboard R&B Singles chart, following in the footsteps of Loose Ends, Soul II Soul and Brand New Heavies, while Hil’s acoustic take on the Stevie Wonder-composed Until You Come Back To Me came out of nowhere to be a sensation at America’s Smooth Jazz radio format   It ended 2000 as the most-played vocal track of the year across US Smooth Jazz radio stations, and in the ensuing two decades it has been the most-downloaded - and one of the most-streamed - tracks on the Dome label.   Also heavily played: the joyful mid-tempo groove of For Your Love

This 20th Anniversary Edition of the album – now in a gatefold sleeve – includes three bonus tracks not included on the original vinyl release: the acoustic version of Until You Come Back To Me, the VRS Remix of Just A Matter Of Time, with its insidious groove, and Down To Business. 

Hil is still very active, playing several UK shows a year including at London’s Jazz Café, where she first performed 25 years ago.