Category Archives: Philadelphia Soul
DOUBLE EXPOSURE-LOCKER ROOM.
DOUBLE EXPOSURE-LOCKER ROOM. Following the trials and tribulations that surrounded Double Exposure’s sophomore album Fourplay, Locker Room their third and final album, proved to relatively plain sailing. Having released their debut album Ten Percent Salsoul in 1976, there was a two year delay with the followup. This was due to alleged discrepancies regarding Double Exposure’s …
BILLY PAUL-WAR OF THE GODS.
BILLY PAUL-WAR OF THE GODS. A year after the release of Billy Paul’s most commercially successful album 360 Degrees of Billy Paul in 1972, an album that featured the Grammy Award winning number one single Me and Mrs Jones, Billy released his follow-up album War of the Gods. By this time, Philadelphia International Records had …
THE THREE DEGREES-MAYBE.
THE THREE DEGREES-MAYBE. Way before Gamble and Huff sprinkled their magic over The Three Degrees, they were signed to Roulette Records, where they a series of singles and their 1970 album Maybe. Then, five years later, when The Three Degrees were at the height of their popularity, Roulette released So Much Love, a collection of …
BUNNY SIGLER-THAT’S HOW LONG I’LL BE LOVING YOU.
BUNNY SIGLER-THAT’S HOW LONG I’LL BE LOVING YOU. Back in the spring of 1974, Philadelphia International Records had a busy schedule of releases. They’d three albums scheduled for release. The first of this trio was M.F.S.B’s seminal Love Is The Message and the third was The O’Jays’ classic Ship Ahoy. In between these two …
DISCO RECHARGE-ULTIMATE-ULTIMATE AND ULTIMATE II.
DISCO RECHARGE-ULTIMATE-ULTIMATE AND ULTIMATE II. All too often, history repeats itself in music. This is as true in music as life. There are many examples of this, but a good example of this is the story of Bruce Weedon. Bruce who was one of the most innovative and creative disco producers of the late-seventies. No …
RONNIE DYSON-ONE MAN BAND.
RONNIE DYSON-ONE MAN BAND. Three years after the release of his debut album (If You Let Me Make Love To You Then) Why Can’t I Touch You in 1970, Ronnie Dyson released his sophomore album One Man Band on Columbia Records. This would be the second of five albums Ronnie would release for Columbia between …
FIRST CHOICE-BREAKAWAY.
FIRST CHOICE-BREAKAWAY. After becoming one of Norman Harris’ first signing to his new record label Gold Mind Records in 1976, First Choice released Delusions in 1978 and Hold Your Horses in 1979. Soon, Double Choice became one of Gold Mind Records and indeed, Salsoul’s biggest commercial successes. This lead to First Choice touring worldwide and …
THE SALSOUL ORCHESTRA-STREET SENSE.
THE SALSOUL ORCHESTRA-STREET SENSE. Recently, I’ve been documenting the Salsoul Records rise to becoming disco’s premier label and the changes the label went through after 1978. Indeed, 1978 was a landmark year for Salsoul.Vince Montana Jr, the man who created, conducted, arranged and produced many of The Salsoul Orchestra albums between their 1975 debut The …
MAJOR HARRIS-MY WAY.
MAJOR HARRIS-MY WAY. For a member of a successful group, it’s always a risk to leave and embark upon a solo career. Often, the success they’ve enjoyed becomes a distant memory. Conversely, the success they’ve enjoyed is often surpassed upon embarking on a solo career. Everyone will have examples when an artists decision to embark …
BAKER, HARRIS, YOUNG-B-H-Y.
BAKER, HARRIS, YOUNG-B-H-Y. By 1979 Ron Baker, Norman Harris and Earl Young were still the hardest working and most in-demand rhythm section in music. They were currently part of The Salsoul Orchestra and accompanying artists like the undisputed Queen of Disco Loleatta Holloway, First Choice and Double Exposure. They’d done everything, from writing, arranging and …
THE SALSOUL ORCHESTRA-UP THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD.
THE SALSOUL ORCHESTRA-UP THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD. For Salsoul Records and The Salsoul Orchestra, Up The Yellow Brick Road would prove to be the end of an era. Up The Yellow Brick Road proved to be last Salsoul Orchestra arranged, produced and featuring the sound of vibes virtuoso Vince Montana Jr. It also proved to …
GQ-DISCO NIGHTS.
GQ-DISCO NIGHTS. After a chance meeting with a man walking his dog and a change of name to GQ in 1978, the lives of four musical veterans were forever changed. Later that year, when GQ released their debut single Disco Nights (Rock Freak) in December 1978. and it would reach number one in the US R&B …
DOUBLE EXPOSURE-TEN PERCENT.
DOUBLE EXPOSURE-TEN PERCENT. December 11th 1975 is a significant date in the history Salsoul Records. It was the date that Double Exposure started recording their debut album Ten Percent, which would become their most successful album, and one of Salsoul’s biggest selling albums. Ten Percent which will be released on 17th September 2012 by BBR …
FIRST CHOICE-DELUSIONS.
FIRST CHOICE-DELUSIONS. Three men played a huge part in the success of two of the most important and successful record companies of the seventies, but despite doing so, don’t get the credit they so richly deserve. These three men are bassist Ron Baker, guitarist Norman Harris and drummer Earl Young. Together, were known as the …
THE SALSOUL ORCHESTRA-THE SALSOUL ORCHESTRA.
THE SALSOUL ORCHESTRA-THE SALSOUL ORCHESTRA. Sometimes, fate plays an important part in the success of an artist, album or in the case of Saloul Records, a record label. This was the case when Ken Cayre met vibes virtuoso Vince Montana Jr. Ken Cayre wanted to import the Philly Sound to his nascent record label, Salsoul, …
THE SALSOUL STRINGS-HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE.
THE SALSOUL STRINGS-HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE. Recently, I’ve been reviewing many of Salsoul Records’ releases, and during these reviews, explaining how Salsoul Records started to change around 1978. This change came about when several of Salsoul’s key personnel started to leave the label or play less of a role in the label’s releases. This …
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