The Brand New Heavies — Dream Come True (original vers 1990)

JUL 01 1990 · 12:00

The Brand New Heavies — Dream Come True (original vers 1990) (1990) Director: Tony van den Ende Era: Acid Jazz Emergence (1990) - The nascent UK acid jazz scene coalesces around Acid Jazz Records; live-band funk and soul revivalism challenge the dominance of synth-pop and house music in British club culture. High curatorial value as a primary document of the UK acid jazz scene at its commercial inception, featuring the original vocalist lineup prior to international rebranding. Directed by Tony van den Ende at the height of his prolific 1990 output, the video constitutes a verifiable record of both an important cultural moment and a significant directorial career. Its rapid-cut performance aesthetic and warm analogue palette make it a technically instructive example of low-to-mid-budget British promo craft at the cusp of the early-digital era. Context: Released on 13 August 1990 as the second single from The Brand New Heavies' self-titled debut album on Acid Jazz Records, 'Dream Come True' represents a foundational artifact of the UK acid jazz movement — a genre and label ecosystem that fused 1970s jazz-funk, rare groove, soul, and London warehouse-party energy into a commercially viable live-band format. The original version features vocalist Jaye Ella Ruth, who departed the group shortly after release. The Brand New Heavies, formed in 1985 as Brother International by Simon Bartholomew, Jan Kincaid, and Andrew Levy, had by 1990 become standard-bearers for a resurgent British interest in American funk traditions, distinguishing themselves through live instrumentation at a time when electronic production dominated UK charts. Director notes: Confirmed as director of The Brand New Heavies' 'Dream Come True' (1990) by both IMDb (tt37762348) and IMVDb. The video was also edited by Warren Meneely per IMVDb credits. The production corresponds to van den Ende's peak period of activity (9 credits in 1990 alone per IMVDb year data) and aligns with his documented working relationship with the Brand New Heavies, listed explicitly on his official portfolio site tonyvandenende.com. The video was produced in support of the original 1990 Acid Jazz Records single release, featuring vocalist Jaye Ella Ruth, prior to the 1991/92 reissue with N'Dea Davenport.