SALSOUL PRESENTS: THE DEFINITIVE 12” MASTERS VOLUME 1.

dereksmusicblog ♦ April 14, 2013 ♦ Leave a comment

SALSOUL PRESENTS: THE DEFINITIVE 12” MASTERS VOLUME 1.

With so many Salsoul compilations having been released over the past twenty years, any newcomer to Salsoul Records is spoiled for choice. Indeed, anyone looking to discover disco’s premier label, will be confused by the sheer variety of Salsoul compilations on offer. Sadly, Salsoul compilations fall into three categories…the good, the bad and the ugly. To misquote George Orwell in Animal Farm, “all Salsoul compilations are created equally, but some Salsoul compilations are more equal than others.” For newcomers to Salsoul, this can prove frustrating and disappointing. So far, the best Salsoul compilation I’ve come across is Harmless Records’ triple-album The Definitive Salsoul Mixes. Released in 2011, The Definitive Salsoul Mixes set the standard for subsequent Salsoul compilations. So when I review a Salsoul compilation, I always compare them to The Definitive Salsoul Mixes. The latest contender to The Definitive Salsoul Mixes’ crown is Salsoul Presents: The Definitive 12” Masters Volume 1. 

Salsoul Presents: The Definitive 12” Masters Volume 1 is a double album released in 2004 on Suss’d Records. It featured eighteen Salsoul remixes from Tom Moulton, Larry Levan, Shep Pettibone and Jim Burgess across the two discs. This includes remixes of Loleatta Holloway, First Choice, The Salsoul Orchestra, Carol Williams, Candido, Inner Life and Double Exposure. With music from some of Salsoul Records’ greatest artists, can Salsoul Presents: The Definitive 12” Masters Volume 1 steal The Definitive Salsoul Mixes’ crown. That’s what I’ll tell you after I’ve picked the ten best tracks on Salsoul Presents: The Definitive 12” Masters Volume 1.

DISC ONE.

My first choice from Disc One of Salsoul Presents: The Definitive 12” Masters Volume 1 is the original mix of The Salsoul Orchestra’s You’re Just The Right Size. This was a track from The Salsoul Orchestra’s 1976 million-selling album The Salsoul Orchestra. It was written, arranged and produced by by Vince Montana Jr. and later, was recorded by Charo. Here the Sweethearts of Sigma provide sultry, sensuous vocals. They’re’ accompanied the pounding, dramatic Baker, Harris, Young rhythm section, growling horns and lush strings. Soon, The Salsoul Orchestra have hit their stride and are in full flight, showing why they were the best house-band of the seventies. As Ron Baker’s bass anchors the track, swathes of the lushest strings shiver and quiver, keyboards and blazing horns provide the backdrop to the sensual, sultry vamp. This demonstrates just how innovative a producer Vince Montana Jr. was. Although this is similar in style and sound to Donna Summer’s Love To Love, this is a better track.

Dreamin’ is one of four tracks Norman Harris cowrote with Ron Tyson and Allan Felder for Loleatta Holloway’s third album Loleatta. It was released in 1976 on Gold Mind Records. Norman arranged and produced the track, while Loleatta gives one of the best performances of her career. Larry Washington’s congas give way to grand strings that sweep and swirl, before the Baker, Harris, Young rhythm section, guitars and blazing horns. Loleatta struts centre-stage, her vocal sassy and fiery. She combines controlled power and confidence, while the Sweethearts of Sigma add sweet, soaring backing vocals. With the pounding rhythm section, punchy blazing horns and dancing strings accompanying Loleatta she gives one of sassiest, feistiest performances, settling into the roll of disco diva as if born for the role. 

Double Exposure’s Ten Per Cent is the track that most people consider launched Salsoul as one of the premier disco labels. It was released in November 1976 and produced by Norman Harris. Tom Moulton’s remix features on  Salsoul Presents: The Definitive 12” Masters Volume 1. Opening with Earl Young’s pounding drums, percussion and shivering strings, the track is driven along by the Baker, Harris Young rhythm section, as a gloriously, uplifting track unfolds. Hissing hi-hats, swirling strings, a sizzling guitar solo from Norman Harris and stabs of keyboards all play their part before the impassioned vocal enters. Accompanied by tight soulful harmonies, the vocal is laden with emotion, while an absolutely, intoxicating  and invigorating arrangement sweeps you along. There’s everything you could want and more on a disco track. Strings, percussion, the tightest of rhythm section and of course that impassioned and emotive vocal. It’s an irresistible slice of majestic disco, whose charms and beauty are deserving of the word masterpiece.

Another of Salsoul’s divas was Carol Williams. She released just one album ‘Lectric Lady in 1977. Love Is You was  released as a single in March 1977. For far too long, it’s been an underrated and overlooked track. Thankfully, Carol’s track has come back into “fashion,” and is one of the hidden gems in the Salsoul back-catalogue. Produced and co-written by Vince Montana Jr. the original mix fuses the sweetest, joyful vocal with a stunning arrangement. When the track opens, it’s just Earl Young’s drums that you hear, before literally, the track explodes into life. Suddenly, you’re greeted by sweet, cascading strings, blazing horns, percussion and the Baker, Harris, Young rhythm section. They give way to Carol’s sweet, beautiful vocal. She’s accompanied by a backdrop of quivering strings, flourishes of guitars and bursts of horns as the track reveals its irresistible sound. Later, Vince adds just the finishing touch to the track with his vibes, playing a lengthy and glorious solo. This is just the perfect way to close this gorgeous track, one with a hook-laden, feel-good sound.

First Choice released six albums during between 1973 and 1980. Delusions was their fourth album, and Gold Mind Records’ debut. Previously, the group had been signed to the Philly Groove label, where they enjoyed some commercial success.  Doctor Love was a track from their 1977 album Delusions and was produced by Norman Harris. With lead singer Rochelle Fleming, fronting First Choice, they’d become one of the disco era’s biggest groups. The track has a bright and bold introduction with a mixture of blazing horns, cascading strings and a punchy rhythm section combining. Then, when Rochelle’s vocal enters it’s perfect for the arrangement, with its mixture of power, passion and confidence. Behind Rochelle, the rest of the group contribute soulful, backing vocals, as the track heads to a breakdown. This was placed here by Tom Moulton, who remixed the original track. By adding this lengthy breakdown Tom allows the listener to experience the track in all its glory…and then some. A combination of Rochelle’s powerful and passionate vocal, Norman Harris’ stunning arrangement and Tom Moulton’s remixing skills result in one of First Choice’s greatest tracks.

Choosing just five tracks from Disc One of Salsoul Presents: The Definitive 12” Masters Volume 1 wasn’t easy. I had to overlook classics like Double Exposure’s My Love Is Free and Loleatta Holloway’s Runaway. The other two tracks are Walter Gibbon’s remix of Love Committee’s Just As Long As I Got You and Jim Burgess’ remix of Ripple’s The Beat Goes On. Quite simply, it’s quality all the way on Disc One of Salsoul Presents: The Definitive 12” Masters Volume 1. However, will that be the case on Disc Two of Salsoul Presents: The Definitive 12” Masters Volume 1?

DISC TWO.

Instant Funk’s I Got My Mind Made Up (You Can Get It Girl) is my first choice from Disc Two of Salsoul Presents: The Definitive 12” Masters Volume 1. It was released in December 1978, reaching number twenty in the US Billboard 100 and number one in the US R&B Charts and US Disco Charts. This success continued when Instant Funk was released in January 1979 reachings number twelve in the US Billboard 200 and number one in the US R&B Charts and US Disco Charts. Since then, it’s become a classic, which was remixed by Larry Levan. That familiar opening sees punchy horns kick, before Instant Funk’s rhythm section combine with synths, tight harmonies. Then a flourish of keyboards, ushers in James Carmichael’s punchy, sassy lead vocal. An equally sassy female vocal replies in disbelief to James’ vocal. Punchy harmonies add to the hook-laden sound, before James delivers a heartfelt vocal. Meanwhile, Instant Funk fuse percussion, a loping bass line, punchy drums and harmonies as the synths buzz. Breathy backing vocals accompany the really soulful lilting vocal, before midway through the track, a breakdown is like a musical curveball. When the track rebuilds, you revel in this glorious fusion of Latin, funk, soul and disco which unsurprisingly, was Instant Funk’s biggest hit.

How High was the first album after Vince Montana Jr. left The Salsoul Orchestra. It was released in 1978, and marked the start of numerous changes at Salsoul. The title-track How High, written and produced by Colin Horton Jennings and Steve O’Donnell and was remixed by Larry Levan. Cognac were drafted in to add vocals to a track that literally bursts into life. The Baker, Harris, Young rhythm section provide the track’s heartbeat, while keyboards, percussion and Don Renaldo’s lush strings and growling horns signal the arrival of the vocal. Her vocal is a mixture of power and passion, with tight, soaring, soulful harmonies accompanying it. Vibes, Bobby Eli’s guitar, the pounding, funky rhythm section and percussion combine, while the horns blaze, growling and rasping, almost ever-present and crucial to the track’s sound and success. Together, with The Salsoul Orchestra and Cognac, How High gets the album of to a brilliant start, one that’s soulful and funky.

Love Sensation was the title-track from Loleatta Holloway’s 1980 album. It gave Loleatta a number one club hit. Penned and produced by Hartman, arranged by Norman Harris and remixed by Shep Petibone, it’s a Salsoul classic. Here, Loleatta Holloway demonstrates why she as the true Queen of Disco. Opening with a combination of rhythm section, percussion, piano and cascading strings, so familiar is the track you anticipate the entrance of Loleatta’s strutting, powerful vocal. Accompanied by swirling strings, rasping horns and a punchy rhythm section, Loleatta delivers one of her trademark vocals. Her voice becomes an impassioned roar, while backing vocalists accompany her. The remix is a myriad of the lushest strings combined with dramatic drums and blazing horns, with Loleatta’s powerful, sassy vocal key to the track’s timeless, dramatic sound and huge commercial success.

Like many of the tracks released by Salsoul Ain’t No Mountain High Enough has a real timeless sound. It’s hard to believe that it was originally released back in August 1981 on Inner Life I, which confusingly, was their second album. It features a  timeless arrangement and stunning vocal from Jocelyn Brown. Her vocal is best described as diva-esque, as she delivers Ashford and Simpson’s lyrics. Produced by Patrick Adams and Greg Carmichael and remixed by Larry Levan, it’s a track that after a subtle, hesitant start, where drums, percussion and then Jocelyn’s vocal combine. Then. the track literally bursts into life. Drums pound, strings swirl, percussion, keyboards and chiming guitars combine before Jocelyn’s powerful, emotive vocal enters. After that, the track just gets so much better. Handclaps and bursts of backing vocalists join the arrangement, combining power and drama. The result is without doubt, one the highlights of Inner Life I, given its uplifting, joyous and energetic sound.

The best known track from Leroy Burgess’ solo career is undoubtably Heartbreaker. Released in August 1983 on Salsoul Records, Heartbreaker was the last track released by Salsoul before it closed its doors. This seems a fitting choice for my final choice from Salsoul Presents: The Definitive 12” Masters Volume 1. Not only did Leroy cowrite the track, but arranged and produced it. When the track opens, it’s a combination of a funky rhythm section, squelchy synths and joyous backing vocalists combining. They give way to Leroy’s vocal. His vocal is powerful, passionate and emotive as the backing vocalists combine with him throughout the track. Flourishes of piano, reverberating synths and the rhythm section provide the perfect backdrop for Leroy’s vocal. Along with his joyous, gospel tinged backing vocalists, Leroy creates a stunning track, one that demonstrates his talents not just as a vocalist, but as a songwriter, arranger and producer.

Apart from the five tracks I’ve chosen from Disc Two of Salsoul Presents: The Definitive 12” Masters Volume 1, I could just as easily have picked two tracks by legendary percussionist Candido, Logg’s I Know You Will or the First Choice classic Let No Man Put Asunder. Put simply, Disc Two of Salsoul Presents: The Definitive 12” Masters Volume 1 is long in quality and short in filler. 

Indeed there’s neither any faux pas nor filler on Salsoul Presents: The Definitive 12” Masters Volume 1, just eighteen tracks from disco’s greatest label. The music on Salsoul Presents: The Definitive 12” Masters Volume 1 covers the period between 1976 and August 1983, when Salsoul was the most influential and pioneering dance label. Having built its reputation during the disco era, Salsoul Records reinvented itself in the post-disco age and became one of disco’s survivors. Thirty years after Salsoul closed its doors, its music is seen as some of the best and most influential of the disco era. There’s much more to Salsoul than disco. As Salsoul Presents: The Definitive 12” Masters Volume 1 demonstrates, Salsoul Records released music that was soulful, funky and dance-floor friendly. Whether it’s funk, Latin, boogie or disco, the dance-music on Salsoul Presents: The Definitive 12” Masters Volume 1 is of the highest quality. Good as Salsoul Presents: The Definitive 12” Masters Volume 1 is, it doesn’t quite match the quality of The Definitive Salsoul Mixes. Mind you, The Definitive Salsoul Mixes is a triple album, while Salsoul Presents: The Definitive 12” Masters Volume 1 is just a double album. What i will say, is that for either a newcomer or veteran of Salsoul Records, Salsoul Presents: The Definitive 12” Masters Volume 1 will be a welcome and worthy addition to any record collection. Standout Tracks: The Salsoul Orchestra You’re Just The Right Size, Loleatta Holloway Dreamin,’ Carol Williams Love Is You and First Choice Doctor Love.

SALSOUL PRESENTS: THE DEFINITIVE 12” MASTERS VOLUME 1.