Tag Archives: The Sweethearts of Sigma

MAJOR HARRIS-JEALOUSY.

MAJOR HARRIS-JEALOUSY. As someone whose a huge fan of Philly Soul, one thing that continues to frustrate me, is that many Philly Soul albums haven’t yet made it to CD. I can think of numerous Philly Soul classics waiting for their CD debut. Considering CDs are nearly thirty years old, that’s disappointing, to say the …

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SALSOUL PRESENTS-PHILLY SOUL FLAVAS.

SALSOUL PRESENTS-PHILLY SOUL FLAVAS. There aren’t many musicians who played their part in making two separate record labels the most critically acclaimed, commercially successful, innovative and influential labels in the history of music. However, back in the late sixties in Philadelphia, a group of supremely talented musicians began working together. This included the Baker, Harris, …

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SALSOUL PRESENTS: THE DEFINITIVE 12” MASTERS VOLUME 2.

SALSOUL PRESENTS: THE DEFINITIVE 12” MASTERS VOLUME 2. Recently, I was asked by a friend to recommend a Salsoul Records compilation. They’d heard a couple of songs from Salsoul’s illustrious back-catalogue, and decided they wanted to dig deeper. Realizing that I was huge fan of all things disco, and especially Salsoul, they asked if i …

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SALSOUL PRESENTS: THE DEFINITIVE 12” MASTERS VOLUME 1.

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 …

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SALSOUL PRESENTS: DISCO DIVAS AND SOULFUL SISTA FLAVAS.

SALSOUL PRESENTS: DISCO DIVAS AND SOULFUL SISTA FLAVAS. when you look back at the history of Salsoul Records, you realize they weren’t short of some stunning female vocalists. Loleatta Holloway, First Choice, Charo, Carol Williams, Jocelyn Brown from Inner Life, The Sweethearts of Sigma, Brenda Gooch and Claudja Barry. Each of these divas feature on …

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THE SALSOUL RECORDS STORY.

THE SALSOUL RECORDS STORY. Given Salsoul Records is disco’s premier label and was responsible for some of the most innovative and influential music of the disco era, you’d expect there to be many more compilations available than there are. Granted there have been a number of compilations released over the past few years, but recently, …

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THE MANHATTANS-THERE’S NO ME WITHOUT YOU.

THE MANHATTANS-THERE’S NO ME WITHOUT YOU. Like so many other groups, success took time to come The Manhattans’ way.  Indeed, The Manhattans released seven albums before making a commercial breakthrough with 1976s The Manhattans. It was certified gold, and 1977s It Feels So Good and 1980s After Midnight repeated the feat. However, before their 1976 …

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ARTHUR PRYSOCK-ALL MY LIFE.

ARTHUR PRYSOCK-ALL MY LIFE. Ever since his career began in 1944, Arthur Prysock had watched musical tastes constantly change. Since then, Arthur’s music had been in and out fashion several times. His fusion of jazz, blues, pop and R&B had proved commercially successful during the fifties and sixties. Arthur’s recording career began in 1959 at …

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NIGHTLIFE UNLIMITED-NIGHTLIFE UNLIMITED.

NIGHTLIFE UNLIMITED-NIGHTLIFE UNLIMITED. Another of the great labels of the disco era was Casablanca Records. Along with Salsoul Records, Prelude, SAM and West End, Casablanca Records established a reputation as one of disco’s premier labels. Casablanca was founded by Neil Bogart, along with Larry Harris, Cecil Holmes and Buck Reingold after they left Buddah Records …

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MICHELLE-MAGIC LOVE.

MICHELLE-MAGIC LOVE. ssk anyone who loves disco music, which were the most influential and innovative labels of the disco era, and certain labels will always crop up. At the top of list, is Salsoul Records, which released some of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful music, which was influential, innovative and cutting-edge.  Then there’s …

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SLICK-SLICK.

SLICK-SLICK.  The best way to describe Slick, who released their eponymous debut album Slick in 1979, on Fantasty WMOT Records, are a disco supergroup. Slick were a collaboration between legendary Philly backing vocalists The Sweethearts of Sigma, members of Ingram and Fat Larry’s Band. Between them, the members of Slick were  no strangers to disco …

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BEN E. KING-I HAD A LOVE.

BEN E. KING-I HAD A LOVE. In 1975, Ben E. King had resigned to Atlantic Records. His first album for Atlantic Records was Supernatural, which was produced by Bert De Coteaux and Tony Silvester. Supernatural had proved a commercial success, reaching number thirty-nine in the US Billboard 200 and number thirteen in the US R&B …

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BARBARA MASON-TRANSITION.

BARBARA MASON-TRANSITION. When Barbara Mason signed to Buddah Records in 1973, she was already an experienced artist. Indeed, Philly born Barbara, released her debut single Trouble Child in 1964, on Crusader Records. Then in 1965, aged just eighteen, Barbara enjoyed the biggest single of her career, the classic, Yes, I’m Ready, which reached number five …

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ECSTASY, PASSION AND PAIN-ECSTASY, PASSION AND PAIN.

ECSTASY, PASSION AND PAIN-ECSTASY, PASSION AND PAIN. The maxim that Good Things Don’t Last Forever proved to be true for Ecstasy, Passion and Pain. They released just one album, Ecstasy, Passion and Pain in 1974. Featuring just ten songs, Ecstasy, Passion and Pain was a tantalizing taste of what might have become for Barbara Roy’s …

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BLUE MAGIC-MYSTIC DRAGONS.

BLUE MAGIC-MYSTIC DRAGONS. The story of Blue Magic, is far from unique. Their eponymous debut album Blue Magic, released in January 1974, reached number forty-five in the US Billboard 200 and number four in the US R&B Charts. This resulted in Blue Magic being certified gold. Blue Magic featured the million-selling Philly Soul classic Sideshow, …

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JOHN DAVIS MONSTER ORCHESTRA-UP JUMPED THE DEVIL.

JOHN DAVIS MONSTER ORCHESTRA-UP JUMPED THE DEVIL. By 1977, disco was at the peak of its popularity. Salsoul Records, owned by the Cayre brothers had established itself as disco’s premier label. Soon, other labels looked enviously at Salsoul’s success. They wanted to hitch a ride on the disco bandwagon. One thing many labels hadn’t worked …

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EDDIE KENDRICKS-GOIN’ UP IN SMOKE.

EDDIE KENDRICKS-GOIN’ UP IN SMOKE. For Eddie Kendricks, hooking up with Norman Harris for his seventh album He’s A Friend had rejuvenated his flagging career. Just three years before He’s A Friend, the future looked a lot brighter for Eddie Kendricks. Eddie had made his commercial breakthrough with his third album Eddie Kendricks, released in …

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THE DETROIT SPINNERS-YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW.

THE DETROIT SPINNERS-YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW. For The Detroit Spinners, their 1977 album Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow would mark an end of an era for the group. Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow was Phillip Wynn’s final album as lead singer of The Detroit Spinners. This wasn’t the only thing to change. Unlike their five previous studio …

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THE STYLISTICS-ROCKIN’ ROLL BABY.

THE STYLISTICS-ROCKIN’ ROLL BABY. Often, when a group decide to change producer, this can mark a change in their fortunes. This is even more risky when the producer has co-written some of your biggest hits. Forty years ago, The Stylistics were about to release their third album Rockin’ Roll Baby. Their two previous albums, 1971s …

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THE TRAMMPS-THE TRAMMPS III.

THE TRAMMPS-THE TRAMMPS III. Just five days apart, in November 1977, two albums were released that would play a huge part in The Trammps’ career. On 10th November 1977, The Trammps released The Trammps III. Then five days later, on 15th November 1977, the Saturday Night Fever: The Original Movie Soundtrack was released. It featured …

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