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SOUL
Recommended smooth and mellow soul CDs |
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PHILLY SOUL
Recommended Gamble & Huff CDs |
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FUNK
Recommended funk and disco CDs |
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JAZZ/FUNK
Recommended jazz/funk fusion CDs |
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POP/SOUL
Recommended blue-eyed soul CDs |
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ELECTRONICA
Recommended chill out electronica CDs |
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WEST COAST
Recommended west coast soft rock CDs |
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CD WANT LIST
Care to help me track down some much sought-after CDs? |
The SALSOUL story…
New York’s Salsoul Records was created in 1974 by brothers Joe,
Ken and Stan Cayre, who had already established themselves in the
business via their expertise in the Latin-American music market.
Afro-Filipino musician Joe Bataan must have zapped the Cayre
brothers with his sizzling version of Gil Scott-Heron’s "The
Bottle", now done in a natural fusion of South American rhythm and
hot temper – Salsa, together with North America’s most unique legacy
– Soul. Salsa and Soul became Salsoul. "The Bottle" hit big, Salsoul
was born and the rest is dance music history… |
The 12 inch single…
One of Salsoul Records finest – Double Exposure – are credited
with the first ever 12 inch vinyl single, the classic "Ten
Percent" from 1976. Since then, about 300 12" singles followed
together with a string of albums until it all was over in 1985. |
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The rest…
Several other acts have also released material on Salsoul Records.
– The Anvil Band
– Aurra
– Avenue B Boogie Band
– Sharon Bailey
– Claudja Barry
– BHY
– Edwin Birdsong
– Bombers
– Jimmy Briscoe & The Beavers
–
Rafael Cameron
– Candido
– Jimmy Castor
– Cream De Coco
– Gary Criss
– Flashlight
– Gaz
– Loeatta Holoway
– Hambone
– Martha High
–
Eddie Holman
– Jammers
– Barbara Joyce
– Kongas
– Logg
– ORS
– Mauriat
– Metropolis
– Bunny Sigler
– Silvetti
– Cubby St. Charles
– Tierra
– True Example
– Weeks & Co |
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Joe Bataan:
The Anthology – 2005
Label: Salsoul/Suss’d Records UK
Produced by: Joe Bataan, Joe Cayre
4 albums worth of material by the legendary Joe Bataan, nearly
all of his second period recordings in one 2CD package! The first album
on the set is the legendary "Salsoul", Joe’s groundbreaking combination of
Latin rhythms, funk, and New York soul — originally issued on the Mericana label, but a record so great the company decided to adopt its
name for all future releases, and which also kicked off a groove that countless
other artists followed. Essential stuff
for anyone with an ear for Latin, funk, disco, or soul. 34 tracks in
all.
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Charo & The
Salsoul Orchestra: Cuchi Cuchi – 1977
Label: Salsoul/Unidisc
Produced by: Vince Montana
Ok, — so Charo was everyone’s idea of a joke on 70s TV, but
this album’s actually a pretty good little session — thanks to help
from Vince Montana and the Philly crew. The album has Charo breathily
singing and talking most of the lyrics — inflecting them with a slight
Latin accent, as you’d expect from her many appearances on game and
variety shows in the late 70s. Vince more than keeps things cool, though
— providing some great soulful grooves, and a bit of vibes, to really
flesh out the tunes, and keep them from being simple disco knockoffs.
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Double Exposure:
The Anthology – 2005
Label: Salsoul/Suss’d (UK)
Produced by: Ron Baker, Norman Harris, Earl Young, Ron
Tyson, Bunny Sigler, Ron Kersey
Philly harmony quartet Double Exposure were one of the greatest
groups to record in the Sigma Sound Studios. Although working on the
clubby Salsoul label, they have a depth that matches any of the best
male soul groups of the 70s, and equally well-suited to mellow tracks as
well as uptempo ones. And although the group are best remembered for
their big disco singles of the late 70s, this 2CD collection also
includes all of their great ballads — the complete set list from the
albums Ten Percent, Fourplay, and Locker Room.
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First Choice:
The Anthology – 2005
Label: Salsoul/Suss’d (UK)
Produced by: Baker, Harris & Young ++
A massive collection of work by one of the greatest female acts
to come out of Philly in the 70s, whose work had a huge influence on
disco and club into the 80s! First Choice got their start doing more
pop-oriented work for the Philly Groove label — but by the end of the
70s, they’d hooked up with Salsoul. This 2CD set features all 3 of the
group’s albums for Salsoul — Delusions, Hold Your Horses, and
Breakaway.
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Inner Life feat. Jocelyn Brown: The Anthology – 2005
Label: Salsoul/Suss’d Records UK
Produced by: Various
Inner Life were one of the most soulful groups to record
for Salsoul Records — but that’s no surprise, considering that their
lead vocalist was the legendary Jocelyn Brown! In the years since
Jocelyn parted ways with the group, she’s gone onto a rich club career
of her own — but at the time of these early 80s recordings, her voice
was a key part of the Inner Life sound — pairing with excellent
arrangements from maestros Stan Lucas and Greg Carmichael. This massive
23 track 2CD set brings together all the tracks on the 2 albums that
Inner Life recorded for Salsoul plus remixes, solo tracks by Jocelyn, and recordings
for the Prelude and Personal labels.
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Instant Funk:
Instant
Funk – 1979
Instant Funk: The Funk Is On – 1980
Label: Salsoul
Produced by: Bunny Sigler
Instant Funk: The Anthology – 2006
Label: Salsoul/Suss’d Records UK
produced by: Bunny Sigler ++
After MFSB, Instant Funk were probably the second most famous
backing group from the Philly scene. "Instant Funk" from 1979 is Salsoul
Records in-house band’s first release. Featuring the classic "Got My
Mind Made Up". The second album has them stepping out from their role as
a Philly backup group. The album bounces along in a well-produced groove
— thanks to Bunny Sigler — stepping with the best funky Salsoul work
of the time in a round blend of bass, heavy percussion, and some
ultra-catchy riffs. Still want more? "The Anthology" is a massive 29
track 2CD set that features most of the tracks from all 6 of the group’s albums
for Salsoul! Instant Funk first came to fame as one of the key studio
combos behind the sound of Philly International in the mid 70s — but
when the Salsoul/Gold Mind imprint got rolling, the group moved over to
that label and recorded a great run of hard-grooving albums! And while
the "funk" in their name isn’t the same sort as you’d imagine from deep
funk, they definitely have a tightly-crafted sense
of musicianship that made them one of the best groups working on the
east coast disco scene in the 70s. |
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Love Committee: Law & Order – 1978
Label: Salsoul
Produced by: Baker, Harris & Young
The first and best of Love Committee’s two albums. The quartet
featured Ron Tyson-Presson, later a member of the Temptations. The title
track "Law and Order" is a slab of social commentary that’s reminiscence
of Blue Magic’s "Welcome to the Club".
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Moment Of Truth: Moment Of Truth – 1978
Label: Salsoul
Produced by: Baker, Harris & Young
Comparable to the Trammps and Double Exposure, Moment of Truth
combined Philly soul and disco and owed a strong debt to classic Philly
soulsters like Intruders and Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. Their
self-titled 1978 album was their only effort, and although it is a
Salsoul/Philly Soul gem, including the minor club hit
"Helplessly". the album was pretty much ignored by radio at the time and
therefore didn’t sell much.
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Ripple: Sons Of the Gods – 1979
Label: Salsoul/Unidisc
Produced by: Floyd Smith
A disco club classic — the second album from funky combo
Ripple’s — and a record that’s completely different than their first
one! This set was recorded years after the group’s first funky sides,
and has Ripple sliding nicely into a disco group. Including the classic
club groover "The Beat Goes On & On".
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Salsoul Orchestra:
Anthology – 2005
Label: Salsoul/Suss’d (UK)
Produced by: Vince Montana, Tom Moulton, Bunny Sigler, Patrick Adams,
Stan Lucas
Vibes, strings, keyboards, and vocals — the heavenly sound of Vince
Montana’s large disco orchestra, The Salsoul Orchestra, one of the
greatest disco/soul/funk outfits of the 70s! In the same way that MFSB
were the ‘house orchestra’ to Philadelphia International, the Salsoul
Orchestra performed the same task for Salsoul Records. Amazing how great these
tunes still sound after all these years — still tight, right, and funky
at the best places — gliding along with a sound that’s classy yet
soulful at the same time. Of all the Salsoul Orchestra compilations,
this 27 track 2 CD set is by far the best!
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Skyy: First Time Around – Best Of – 2003
Label: Salsoul/Capitol Japan
Skyy: The Anthology – 2006
Label: Salsoul/Suss’d (UK)
Produced by: Randy Muller
Despite being on the Salsoul label, Skyy didn’t have the
standard Salsoul sound. Thanks to
producer/songwriter/arranger/keyboardist Randy Muller — who also
produced Brass Construction and Rafael Cameron — Skyy were heavier and
more funk oriented. "First Time Around" is a very good Jap. 17-track collection
incl. the basic Skyy tracks. Still want more? Check out the 2006 massively overstuffed 30 tracks double CD
package which features tracks from Skyy’s 7 Salsoul albums which had an
big influence on the groove at the time. Great liner notes! |
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Various: Classic
Salsoul
Mastercuts Vol.1 & 2 – 1993
Label: Beechwood Music UK
An excellent Salsoul overview in this highly recommended CD compilation series from
Beechwood Music UK. Including
12" versions – if available – of classic Salsoul Records
acts. Featuring First Choice, Double Exposure, Loleatta Holloway,
Ripple, Instant Funk and The Salsoul Orchestra among others.
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Various: Salsoul Presents – Philly Soul Flavas – The Soul Sound
Of Philadelphia – 2005
Label: Salsoul/Suss’d Records UK
Massive work from the Salsoul label and a great
collection of the company’s more soul-based records of the 70s. During
the later part of the decade, Salsoul was king of the discos, but at
the same time the label was also recording some great mellower soul work that
was often overlooked next to the company’s bigger dancefloor hits
despite that they were on a par with anything that was coming out on the
Philly International label at the time. The reason of course being that
Salsoul was recording heavily at the Gamble & Huff home turf of Sigma
Sound Studios — using many of the same players and arrangers, and
coming up with a sound that ended up taking the Philly groove to a whole
new level. 16 remastered tracks and a great set of
liner notes!
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Various: Salsoul Presents – Disco Divas & Soulful Sista Flavas –
2004
Label: Salsoul/Suss’d Records UK
A motherlode of female soul — from one of the greatest club
labels of all time! Salsoul Records was a key force in transforming the
sound of the female singer in the mid 70s — mixing together older soul
styles with a warm and joyous groove that pushed the vocals onto the
dancefloor.
And while disco soul often gets a bad rap as being "sellout", one listen
to this set will quickly dispel any of those thoughts — as Salsoul
always considered the singer to be the strongest element of the music,
and never buried the vocals as in styles used by other disco labels at
the time.
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Various: Salsoul Presents – Disco Funk Flavas Vol 1 & 2 –
2004/05
Label: Salsoul/Suss’d Records UK
Some of the funkiest tracks ever recorded for Salsoul! The set’s
a real surprise to anyone who’s ever thought of Salsoul in lusher, more
traditional disco terms — because the album’s overflowing with catchy grooves
and
many of the tracks are represented in great mixes that bring out
some of the best elements of the tunes! 2CD set features 23 tracks in
all, plus a great set of notes. Volume 2 is a bit heavier than
the first — overflowing with overlooked grooves, either because they’re
rare singles, or because they were lost among the bigger disco hits of
the label. 2CD set w/ 24 tracks.
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Various: Salsoul Presents – Latin Funk Flavas – 2005
Label: Salsoul/Suss’d Records UK
Latin-styled club from the Salsoul label. The name
Salsoul was first coined by Joe Bataan to describe the unique mix of
Latin, soul, disco, funk, and salsa he was working in at the time — and
while the label that grew out of the term was better known for their
crossover disco hits, they also managed to always keep one ear out for a
Latin-sounding groove! This set does a great job of bringing together
the more Latiny Salsoul singles of their classic dancefloor years. 13 tracks including "Rio De Janeiro" by Gary Criss,
"Samba Funk" by Candido, "Kongas Fun" by Kongas, "Return
Of Leroy" by Jimmy Castor, "Baila
Simon" by Tierra, "Hail To The Teeth" by District Of Columbia, "Ritzy Mambo" by Salsoul Orchestra, "Samba" by
The Anvil Band and "Aftershower Funk" and "The Bottle" by Joe Bataan.
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Various: Salsoul Presents – Mello Vibes & Funky Flavas – 2005
Label: Salsoul/Suss’d Records UK
Salsoul mellow? Oh yes, the famous disco label had some great
chilled-out moments. A unique collection of Salsoul work as it goes for
the mellower funk of the disco era, often stepping into territory that
sits nicely between club and soundtrack orchestrations, with a sweet
easy groove. Including rare album
cuts that are often overlooked beside the bigger hits of the times, and
some real gems by some of the lesser-known artists who represented Salsoul’s more soulful side of things. Titles include "My Lady" by
Tierra, "Sea Shell Shore" by Paul Mauriat, "One For Jojo" by Hambone,
"Love For The Sake Of Love" by Claudja Barry, "Silvia’s Picture" by
Silvetti, "Was That All" by Metropolis, "Nice Vibes" by The Anvil Band,
"Since I Fell For You" by Hambone, "Calm Before The Storm" by Gary Criss,
"Facts Of Life" by Ripple, "Stop & Think" by Salsoul Orchestra, and "Mujer
Mia" by Joe Bataan.
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