MARCIA GRIFFITHS — Sweet And Nice

Marcia Griffiths – Sweet And Nice opens the Be With Records release BEWITH056LP, a 2x12-inch vinyl that revisits the iconic debut album with a freshly remastered original LP and a second disc of fourteen rare tracks. The double-LP arrives as a 140 g pressing, pairing the ten-track soul-inflected reggae core with an extensive archive of out-of-print material, offering a comprehensive portrait of the 1970s era that blended funk, soul, pop-hip-hop and disco-hip-hop influences. Within Be With’s 2026 catalogue, Sweet And Nice follows a series of diverse projects, including Kimiko Kasai With Herbie Hancock’s “Butterfly” (BEWITH028LP) and Letta Mbulu’s “In The Music......the Village Never Ends” (BEWITH006LP). The label’s current trajectory of reissues and deep-cut explorations underscores the significance of presenting Marcia Griffiths’s debut in its original sequencing, reaffirming Be With’s commitment to preserving seminal cross-genre works. Side A opens with “Here I Am Baby (Come And Take Me)”, a version that has long been a favourite among genre-spanning selectors, setting a warm, melodic tone that leads into the sophisticated, wah-inflected groove of “Everything I Own”. The momentum continues with “Green Grasshopper”, a smooth lovers’ soul piece, and “Play Me”, a lilting Neil Diamond cover that showcases Griffiths’s vocal nuance. The side closes with “Children At Play”, a thundering, humid funk track that, as noted by FACT Mag, anticipates the atmospheric depth later explored by Massive Attack. Side B sustains the emotive intensity. “Sweet Bitter Love” delivers a swooning, melodic hook that has even served as an alternate album title. Curtis Mayfield’s “Gypsy Man” is rendered here as a proto-lovers rock statement, followed by “There’s No Me Without You”, where the Federal Soul Givers’ majestic horns elevate the track’s forlorn mood. The record’s penultimate statement arrives with a definitive rendition of Ewan MacColl’s “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”, before concluding the original album with “I Just Don’t Want To Be Lonely”, a reflective closing that rounds out the ten-track narrative. The bonus disc (Side C and D) gathers fourteen rarities recorded around the same period. Highlights include the late-60s singles “Melody Life” and “Mark My Word”, both prized for their exquisite craftsmanship, as well as a sumptuous take on “Band Of Gold”. An alternate vocal version of “Play Me” featuring producer Lloyd Charmers adds a fresh dimension, while “The First Cut Is The Deepest” offers a compelling reinterpretation. The remaining cuts—ranging from the ambitious “Working To The Top (My Ambition) (Part 1)” to the soulful “When Will I See You Again”—provide a broader view of the artist’s creative range during this prolific era. In the context of Marcia Griffiths’s debut, this reissue not only restores the original track order but also expands the listening experience with material that had been largely inaccessible. For the label, the release reinforces Be With’s curatorial focus on deep archival projects that bridge historic significance with contemporary relevance. From a DJ’s perspective, the original side offers a suite of tracks that can be woven into warm-up or late-night sets, with “Children At Play” delivering a funk-laden groove suitable for transition into modern bass-heavy moments, while “There’s No Me Without You” provides a lush, horn-driven backdrop for more melodic mixes. The bonus disc supplies rare gems for collectors seeking unique cuts to punctuate setlists, especially the alternate “Play Me” and the emotive “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”, which can serve as standout moments in a soulful set. The release is presented as a double 12-inch vinyl, pressed at 140 g and fully remastered, ensuring the original LP’s warmth is enhanced while preserving the character of the rare tracks. The format respects the album’s historic sequencing and delivers a tactile listening experience that aligns with contemporary vinyl appreciation. Marcia Griffiths – Sweet And Nice, Be With Records, catalogue BEWITH056LP, 2x12-inch vinyl, ten original tracks plus fourteen rarities, genre-spanning funk, soul, pop-hip-hop and disco-hip-hop. Tracklist: A1. Marcia Griffiths – Here I Am Baby (Come And Take Me) A2. Marcia Griffiths – Everything I Own A3. Marcia Griffiths – Green Grasshopper A4. Marcia Griffiths – Play Me A5. Marcia Griffiths – Children At Play B1. Marcia Griffiths – Sweet Bitter Love B2. Marcia Griffiths – Gypsy Man B3. Marcia Griffiths – There’s No Me Without You B4. Marcia Griffiths – The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face B5. Marcia Griffiths – I Just Don’t Want To Be Lonely C1. Marcia Griffiths – Mark My Word C2. Marcia Griffiths – The First Cut Is The Deepest C3. Marcia Griffiths – Melody Life C4. Marcia Griffiths – Work And Slave C5. Marcia Griffiths – Working To The Top (My Ambition) (Part 1) C6. Marcia Griffiths – Don’t Let Me Down C7. Marcia Griffiths – Band Of Gold D1. Marcia Griffiths – Put A Little Love In Your Heart D2. Marcia Griffiths – I See You, My Love D3. Marcia Griffiths – It’s Too Late D4. Marcia Griffiths – Baby If You Don’t Love Me D5. Marcia Griffiths – Love Walked In D6. Marcia Griffiths – When Will I See You Again D7. Marcia Griffiths – Play Me (Part 2)