Brother Sister

Brother Sister is an album by British acid jazz and funk group the Brand New Heavies, released on March 22, 1994, by Delicious Vinyl. It spawned several singles, including "Spend Some Time" which spent two weeks at number two on the American dance charts. A cover of Maria Muldaur's "Midnight at the Oasis" became popular in the UK, but was not included in the US version of the album.

Brother Sister was lead singer N'Dea Davenport's last album with the Brand New Heavies before leaving to complete her solo album (which she had put on hold to join the Heavies). She returned to join the band ten years later.

Critical reception
Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "Still punch drunk from the single "Dream On Dreamer", the heavy weights of acid jazz hit you knock out with this 15-track album. It can be divided into three rounds--a strong opening and end with some shadow boxing inbetween. In "round 1" N'Dea Davenport powerlifts the title track with its electric piano to the level of '70s jazz funk outfit Deodato. When it really comes to hard hitting, in "round 3," she "kills" the "Fake" opponent with a swing not heard from the UK since the heyday of the Average White Band." Ian McCann from NME commented, "Brother Sister is a fine album, as far as it goes. The upbeat vibe they're noted for floods out from the opening tune, "Have a Good Time", a cool, chiefly instrumental groove, heavy on Maceo Parkerish sax. [...] If you're soulfully inclined, play Brother Sister on sunlit mornings as you walk to the dole office and it'll make perfect sense."

Personnel
The Brand New Heavies
 * N'Dea Davenport – lead and backing vocals, keyboards, percussion
 * Simon Bartholomew – guitar, backing vocals, percussion
 * Andrew Levy – bass, backing vocals, keyboards, percussion, string arrangements
 * Jan Kincaid – drums, backing and lead vocals, percussion, keyboards

Musicians
 * Maxton G. Beesley, Jr. – keyboards
 * Brady Blade, Jr. – vocals (background), production coordination
 * Mike Boito – keyboards, vocals (background)
 * The Brand New Heavies – percussion, producer, engineer, art direction, mixing
 * Amp Fiddler – keyboards
 * Ray Gaskins – saxophone, vocals (background)
 * John Thirkell - trumpet, flugelhorn (Solo on "Dream on Dreamer")
 * Gerard Presencer – trumpet, flugelhorn
 * Kevin Robinson – trumpet
 * Dennis Rollins – trombone, trombone (Tenor)
 * Eric Sarafin – strings, engineer, mixing
 * Jeff Scantlebury – percussion
 * Mike Smith – flute, saxophone
 * Steve Williamson – saxophone
 * Aaron Zigman – string arrangements

Production

 * Matthew Donaldson – photography
 * Brian Gardner – mastering
 * Chris Jones – engineer
 * John Laker – engineer
 * Michael C. Ross – executive producer, mixing
 * Martin Schmelze – engineer
 * Yo-Yo – engineer

Remix album
Excursions: Remixes & Rare Grooves was released in the United States by Delicious Vinyl Records. This album functions as a component to the US release of Brother Sister. Its cover art mimics the UK release of Brother Sister. Among its tracks are the two bonus tracks from the UK version of the album that were unavailable stateside. The UK hit "Close To You" was previously only available on the Prêt-à-Porter motion picture soundtrack. "Bang" and "O-Fa-Fu" were a pair of B-side instrumentals from the UK CD-single of "Stay This Way" in 1992. "Keep It Coming" is an extended version of a Jan Kincaid-penned B-side on The Heavies' "Don't Let It Go to Your Head" single.