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A landmark album from Joe Bataan – so great, that it made the entire record company change its name! The record has Joe really bursting out after his seminal Latin Soul work of the late 60s – blending Latin rhythms and American soul into a whole new style of music – one that Joe called "Salsoul", because of it's mixture of salsa and soul! The blend is fantastic, a real milestone in the NuYorican scene – and handled perfectly by Joe on every cut! There's some massive Latin funk on here, including the tracks "Latin Strut" and "Aftershower Funk", plus some straighter Latin jazz, like "Sunny Gets Blue Mambo", and a great Latin Soul cut with English vocals called "Johnny".

Ok, ok – so Charo was everyone's idea of a joke on 70s TV, but this album's actually a pretty great 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. Titles include "Cookie Jar", "Speedy Gonzalez", "Only You", "Dance A Little Bit Closer", "El Reloj", "More Of You", and "Borriquito".

Brillant work from the Salsoul Orchestra – some of their most sophisticated work ever, and right in line with a soulful orchestral style that runs back through the work of Barry White into the early experiments of the Soulful Strings! Unlike some of their other poppier efforts, this one's got a very solid batch of tracks, including the two massive Richard Evans groovers "Zambesi" and "Burning Spear", both killers that were originally performed by the Soulful Strings. A number of other tracks were written by Thor Baldursson, who also handled the arrangements on the album. Titles include "212 North 12th", "Street Sense", and "Sun After The Rain".

Brillant work from the Salsoul Orchestra – some of their most sophisticated work ever, and right in line with a soulful orchestral style that runs back through the work of Barry White into the early experiments of the Soulful Strings! Unlike some of their other poppier efforts, this one's got a very solid batch of tracks, including the two massive Richard Evans groovers "Zambesi" and "Burning Spear", both killers that were originally performed by the Soulful Strings. A number of other tracks were written by Thor Baldursson, who also handled the arrangements on the album. Titles include "212 North 12th", "Street Sense", and "Sun After The Rain".

A gem of a disco track – later than most of the Salsoul Orchestra's hits, but handled by Patrick Adams with a soulful groove that makes Loleatta Holloway's vocals come off wonderfully! Remix by Shep Pettibone.

An excellent groover from the legendary Vince Montana! Vince arranged, produced, conducted, and wrote just about all of this second album by hard-grooving Salsoul Orchestra – and the album's a no-nonsense batch of disco instrumentals that's way better than many of the fake albums of the type that sprung up in the group's wake. The players include the cream of the Sigma Studios team – including the Baker/Harris/Young triad – and the tracks have a wonderfully soulful sound, with loads of great instrumentation on guitar, bass, percussion, and Montana's jazzy vibes! Titles include "It's Good For The Soul", "Nightcrawler", "Nice N Naasty", "Salsoul 3001", "Ritzy Mambo", and "It Don't Have To Be Funky (To Be A Groove)".

The Salsoul Orchestra at its finest, with Vince Montana at the helm, crafting some superb arrangements that have all of the positivity of the best funky club groove the band can come up with, and little of the campy disco sound that other soundalike bands were starting to hit! The group's format is still head and shoulders above most of its imitators here – a perfect balance of larger orchestrations and tighter rhythms for the club – handled with all the best Philly elements that Montana brings to play. Titles include the superb soul track "Run Away", which features excellent lead vocals by Loleatta Holloway – one of her best tracks ever – and other instrumental titles include the funky "Getaway", plus "Magic Bird Of Fire", "It's A New Day", and "Alpha Centuri".

An incredible compilation of dancefloor soul & disco from the early 80s – rare, extended and previously unreleased mixes by NYC legend John Morales – featuring essential material from Logg, Universal Robot Band, Tony Adderly, Class Action, Inner Life and more! Morales was a part of the DJ remix scene that made club ready soul gems out of a bunch of the pop and soul hits of the day, but this compilation on BBE goes deeper than that for the cream of the crop of the post disco grooves of the day, most running on the long side for that unstoppable dancefloor approach, while keeping the song based soul sound fully in place. Essential! CD version has 19 tracks on 2CDs: "Ain't No Mountain High Enough Part I" (JM 4AM mix), "Breaking Down (Sugar Samba)" (JM After-Session M&M mix) by Julia & Company, "Barely Breaking Even" (club version) by Universal Robot Band, "I Ain't Mad At You" (JM extended M&M mix) by Tony Adderly, "Never Can Say Goodbye" (demo version) by La-Rita Gaskin, "All Over Your Face" (JM After-Session M&M mix) by Ronnie Dyson, "(Knock Out) Let's Go Another Round" (JM After-Session M&M mix) by Inner Life, "You Got (That Something)" by Logg and more, "Down For Double" (JM After-Session M&M mix) by Cubie Burke and more.

Great grooves from Salsoul Records – but served up in a way that's quite different than usual, with a very strong emphasis on the more break-heavy side of the spectrum! The tracks here still come from the same club and disco sources you'll know from Salsoul – but in the hands of DJ Muro, the get a special focus towards the old school – honed in to the most funky, most snapping elements of the cuts – in ways that really unlock a whole new understanding of the label! Muro never messes with the tracks too much – but he does bring them together in ways that re-emphasize his skill as a master selector – in a mix of 22 tracks that includes "Slap Slap Lickey Lap" by Instant Funk, "Sadie" by Joe Bataan, "Psyched Up" by Dr Perri Johnson, "The Incredible Hump" by Sound On Sound Productions, "I Like It Like That" by Inner Life, "High" by Skyy", "Win Tonight" by Edwin Birdsong, "Sugar Frosted Lover" by Flakes, "Kongas Fun" by Kongas, "Sun God" by Tierra, "El Caravanero" by Chocolat, and "Girl From Ipanema/Brazilian Nights" by Gary Criss.

A sweet collection of grooves from the legendary Salsoul label – easily one of the hippest imprints on the New York scene of the 70s! Salsoul's grooves go way beyond the usual disco – crafted with roots that go back to soul and salsa of the earlier part of the decade – and often mixed to perfection with a sound that holds up strongly, even on a crowded dancefloor! This package features ten of the best-remembered gems from the label – most in long mixes that echo their strong popularity as 12" single – titles that include "Doctor Love" by First Choice, "Runaway" by The Salsoul Orchestra with Loleatta Holloway, "Jingo" by Candido, "Dreamin" by Loleatta Holloway, "By The Way You Dance" by Bunny Sigler, "Love Is You" by Carol Williams, "Dance A Little Bit Closer" by Charo, "I Love New York" by Metropolis, and "Rio De Janeiro" by Gary Criss.

The soaring debut of one of the greatest groups of the disco era – and one that would go onto be the sound of Salsoul Records too! The large mostly-instrumental ensemble is headed up by Vince Montana – who brings plenty of Philly disco touches into play with the group's wonderful blend of tight rhythms, jazzy instrumentation, and full strings – a blend that comes off perfectly, and with a surprisingly lean groove – thanks to Montana's vision, and help from arranger Ron Baker too. There's some surprisingly funky moments at times – that sharp edge of the Sigma Sound rhythm section – and titles include "Chicago Bus Stop", "Salsoul Rainbow", "Salsoul Hustle", "Tangerine", and "You're Just The Right Size". Great bonus tracks too – including single versions of "Chicago Bus Stop", "Tangerine", "You're Just The Right Size", and "Salsoul Hustle" – and the bonus 12" "Salsoul Hustle (disco version)".

The first Salsoul album from Aurra – and the start of a great run that would make the group one of the label's strongest acts in the early 80s! Things are nicely funky throughout – more 80s groove than the disco that first brought Salsoul success – and right from the start, Aurra have a well-conceived approach that uses both male and female vocals to flesh out the rhythms with plenty of soul! Instrumentation is as tight as older funk, but served up more at an 80s club clip – yet all still with a very live feel, and none of the too-stiff modes that were hurting other groups at the time. The album has 6 long tracks – and titles include "In The Mood To Groove", "Too Much", "Who Are You", "When I Come Home", and "You're the Only One". CD features the bonus tracks "When I Come Home (Larry Levan 12" mix)", "In The Mood To Groove (orig 12" mix)", "When I Come Home (ext album mix)", and "In The Mood To Groove (orig single)".

Snapping beats and a really great 80s groove make "Checking You Out" one of Aurra's best tracks! The tune starts out slow, in a way that's perfect for bringing up out of a mix – then the vocals come in with some nice electro undercurrents – really making for a catchy appeal to the tune! Shep Pettibone mixed, too!

The image on the cover is a great summation of the Aurra magic – a sweet blend of male and female vocals with plenty of soul – woven together in ways that are quite different from more cliched duet modes of earlier years! The grooves are at the center of the record – set out strongly by producer/arranger Stephen Washington, with loads of great basslines at the core! Yet it's the vocals that really make the record sparkle – work by Starleana Young and Curt Jones – both very individual singers who have a way of coming together here with a very fresh feel! Studio magic allows both to provide backup as well as lead vocals – and the album's filled with great groovers that include "It's You", "Make Up Your Mind", "A Little Love", "In My Arms", "Still Free", and "Checking You Out". CD features lots of bonus tracks – "Checking You Out (Shep Pettibone 12" mix)", "Make Up Your Mind (unreleased Tom Moulton rmx)", "Make Up Your Mind (orig 12" inst)", "A Little Love (orig 12" rmx)", and "A Little Love (orig single)".

Great grooves from Aurra – a group with a sound that's rooted in the late 70s funk of Slave, but which is given a whole new life at Salsoul by fearless leader Stephen Washington! The album's tight and right on the money at the very first note – heavy on bass, but not in a way that's ever overdone – and sparkling much more strongly from the vocal contributions of Curt Jones and Starleana Young – two singers who really know how to open up while holding a groove! The whole thing's great – polished and tight, but never slick or commercial – and a perfect summation of the 80s groove at its best. Titles include "Baby Love", "Such A Feeling", "Undercover Lover", "You Can't Keep On Walking", and "One More Time". CD features bonus tracks "Such A Feeling (orig Shep Pettibone 12" mix)", "Such A Feeling (orig Shep Pettibone 12" mix part 2)", "Such A Feeling (orig Shep Pettibone 12" mix part 3)", "Such A Feeling (orig single)", and "Baby Love (orig Shep Pettibone 12" inst)".

Sweet 80s grooving from one of Salsoul's best acts of the post-disco years – a group with a groove that comes up right from the bottom, thanks to a great ear for a funky bassline! The sound is nice and lean – but all still mighty live, with a lot of spontaneous energy in the instrumentation – and none of the too-programmed rhythms that could hurt a project like this! Steve Washington plays bass, arranges, produces, and heads up the conceptual side of things – and vocals alternate between male and female leads in a really great way – creating this warm, almost family-like approach to the sound. The whole thing's wonderful – tight and soulful, in a mode that should have made these guys climb higher on the charts – and titles include "Are You Single", "Forever", "Send Your Love", "Living Too Fast", and "Keep Doing It". CD features two bonus tracks – original single versions of "Are You Single" and "Living Too Fast".

After "The Bottle", Joe's big remake of the Gil Scott Heron song in 1975, "Rap-O Clap-O" was probably his second biggest club cut. The track's got a very catchy groove – with sort of a stomping beat that Joe used to cook up his own dance. Arranged by the great Marty Sheller, so it's still got some Latin soul cred.

After "The Bottle", Joe's big remake of the Gil Scott Heron song in 1975, "Rap-O Clap-O" was probably his second biggest club cut. The track's got a very catchy groove – with sort of a stomping beat that Joe used to cook up his own dance. Arranged by the great Marty Sheller, so it's still got some Latin soul cred.

A great little club set from the enigmatic Edwin Birdsong – a artist that we first came to love for his quirky early recordings on Polydor, and his later collaborations with Roy Ayers – but who sounds equally great here in a Salsoul setting! Birdsong's always had a great talent for spinning an offbeat sort of groove – one that stretches out with unusual rhythms, funky basslines, and odder-than-usual subject matter and lyrics. And here, he's taking the smoother Salsoul sound and infusing it with some of his own offbeat phrasings – in a mode that's got some great 80s groove old school funky touches! The set includes the classic "Rapper Dapper Snapper", a tune that's got a fair bit of Roy Ayers touches in the mix – plus the tracks "Funtaztik", "Win Tonight", "Two Faced Lover", and "Fortune & Fame".

The debut from Rafael Cameron – a pretty soulful set for Salsoul produced by Brass Connection's Randy Muller! Cameron's got a nice deep soul sound to his vocals, and although the arrangements are uptempo and clubby on some tracks, they're not there to cover up the singing, and have a nice soulful groove! Muller plays piano, flute and some of the percussion, with some sweet guitar in the mix, and some congas – with nice female backing vocals, too! Cuts are on the longer side, and include the dancefloor groover "Let's Get It Off", plus "Funkdown", "Magic Of You", and "Together" and "Feelin's".

A key chapter in the rich long legacy of Candido on record – a set that pushes the percussion maestro strongly into the disco generation – with wonderful results that are still massively strong all these many years later! Candido had always been one of the funkiest conga players around – especially as his music moved into the 70s – but here, he really takes off with some sublime disco arrangements – full clubby grooves that are some of the best Salsoul sounds of the time, yet which still leave plenty of room for Candi's congas! The congas participate in the rhythms at every level – and often take on a nice solo spotlight too – and all tracks are nice and long, with killers that include a club remake of "Thousand Finger Man", plus "Dancin & Prancin", "Jingo", and "Rock & Shuffle". CD features a massive amount of bonus tracks – more than on the album – with gems from singles that include "Jingo (original 12" version)", "Thousand Finger Man (12" ext version)", "Jingo (Shep Pettibone mix)", "Thousand Finger Man (single)", "Jingo (single)", and "Jingo (inst)".

Everybody's favorite "cuchi-cuchi" girl shows her musical side in this trashed-out Salsoul set from the end of the 70s! Charo, apart from being well-built, sensual, and not ashamed to show it, is also a pretty decent guitarist, in a Spanish/flamenco mode. She plays a bit on the album – especially on her version of "Concierto De Aranjueuz", but most of the tracks are disco tunes, done with orchestrations by John Davis. Titles include "Ole Ole", "Stay With Me", "Hot Love", and (of course!) a version of the "Love Boat Theme"!

Sweet electro funk from Civil Attack – a sweet project from the team of Sheila and Stephen Washington – the latter of whom was crucial to the hard-grooving sound of Aurra! The vibe here is almost pointing towards the Prince sound of the mid 80s – as the bass chops around with as much strength as the drums – popping out some very nice hooks as the tunes groove along, and going for a mode that's a bit more mainstream funk than earlier Salsoul disco – especially when the sweet keyboards start getting into the mix! Vocals are often second tier next to the rhythms, but fit into the set nicely – and titles include "One Love", "Just A Bore", "Plug It In", "On The Phone", and "Not Guilty By Reason Of Insanity". CD features a bonus track – "Not Guilty By Reason Of Insanity (original 12" short version)".

Sublime work from one of our favorite groups ever on Salsoul Records – the amazing harmony quartet Double Expsoure – soaring out here in a set of Philly gems produced by Norman Harris! The album's got a wonderful sound right from the start – rich in rhythms, yet also soaring on harmonies that few other Philly acts could even touch – especially at this point in the 70s, when the group sound seemed to be waning a bit on other fronts. In a way, Double Exposure really carry on the best tradition of the east coast scene with a set like this – pushing things forward with rolling grooves for the clubs, yet also showing that they still can have a special way with a ballad too – a blend that's maybe only matched by Teddy Pendergrass-era work by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes. Titles include "Newsy Neighbors", "Perfect Lover", "There's Something Missing", "Handy Man", and "Why Do You Have to Leave". CD features bonus tracks – "Perfect Lover (orig single)", "Newsy Neighbors (unreleased 12" mix)", and "Newsy Neighbors (orig single)".

One of the hottest locker rooms in town – thanks to sublime Salsoul grooves from the always-great Double Exposure! The album's got a bouncy groove that's topped by the quartet's wonderfully warm harmonies – easily some of the best from the disco generation, served up in a careful classy style that makes them a perfect heir to some of the initial harmony grooves from the east coast scene of the early 70s! Norman Harris here handles production with associates Bruce Hawes, Ron Kersey, and Ron Baker – all of whom ensure just the right blend of Philly poise and soulful swing – and titles include "Can We Be In Love", "(Where Have You Been) All My Life", "I've Got The Hots For Ya", "I Wish That I Could Make Love To You", and "Why Do We Have To Go Our Separate Ways".

One of the hottest locker rooms in town – thanks to sublime Salsoul grooves from the always-great Double Exposure! The album's got a bouncy groove that's topped by the quartet's wonderfully warm harmonies – easily some of the best from the disco generation, served up in a careful classy style that makes them a perfect heir to some of the initial harmony grooves from the east coast scene of the early 70s! Norman Harris here handles production with associates Bruce Hawes, Ron Kersey, and Ron Baker – all of whom ensure just the right blend of Philly poise and soulful swing – and titles include "Can We Be In Love", "(Where Have You Been) All My Life", "I've Got The Hots For Ya", "I Wish That I Could Make Love To You", and "Why Do We Have To Go Our Separate Ways". CD features three bonus versions of a single – "I've Got The Hots For Ya (Bobby Guttadaro 12" mix)", "I've Got The Hots For Ya (Bobby Guttadaro & Keny Kayre 12" mix)", and "I've Got The Hots For Ya (orig single)".

A wonderful album – one of those underground classics that seems to show up in everyone's record collection, even though it was never a huge chart hit. Double Exposure are part of the "second wave" of East Coast vocal groups – and like their contemporaries, they mix the sweet harmony soul tradition of earlier years with the burgeoning clubby sound that was coming out of Philly. The set's produced by the Baker/Harris/Young team – who also play on the album along with the rest of the Sigma Sound crew – and the songs feature some stunning anthemic club numbers, plus a few surprisingly sweet harmony tunes. Includes their huge cut "Ten Percent", the amazing positivist groover "Everyman" – and the cuts "My Love Is Free", "Gonna Give My Love Away", and "Just Can't Say Hello". CD features some great bonus tracks too – including "Ten Percent (Walter Gibbons 12" disco)", "Everyman (Joe Claussell 12" disco)", "My Love Is Free (Tom Moulton 12" disco)", "Ten Percent (single)", "Everyman (single)", and "My Love Is Free (single)".

A wonderful late 70s comeback for Eddie Holman – best known to folks for his earlier sweet soul work, but sounding equally great here on a set of club-heavy tracks! Although Eddie's falsetto soul might have seemed like a strange choice for the disco-oriented Salsoul label, this album actually works well – and stands as a good representation of the shifts in styles along the East Coast soul scene during the 70s. Eddie's voice is still in great shape, and he's great on the ballads like "You Make My Life Complete", "Immune To Love", and "It's Over" – but he also fits in great with the more up-tempo tracks, which were arranged and produced by Ron Baker and Norman Harris! Titles include "Time Will Tell", "All My Life", and the title cut, "This Will Be A Night To Remember". CD's got some killer bonus tracks – including "This Will Be A Night To Remember (orig Tom Moulton 12" mix)", "Time Will Tell (orig Tom Moulton 12" mix)", "You Make My Life Complete (orig single)", "Somehow You Make Me Feel (orig single)", and "I've Been Singing Love Songs (background vocals)".

Maybe the third great Philly studio group of the 70s – after MFSB and Salsoul Orchestra – a killer combo who provided backing grooves to plenty of great club tracks over the years – and who step out strongly here on their own debut album! Bunny Sigler helps give the album a sharp focus – with his own production and songwriting in play – in modes that are very much like his own best club tracks of the time – but the group is more than great enough on their own – with a funky edge that definitely lives up to their name, and a groove that's even sharper than the two aforementioned contemporary combos. Lead vocals are by James Carmichael, who's totally great – and titles include "Don't You Wanna Party", "Never Let It Go Away", "I Got My Mind Made Up", "Dark Vader", "Wide World Of Sports", and "You Say You Want Me To Stay". CD features bonus tracks that include "I Got My Mind Made Up (12" rmx)", "I Got My Mind Made Up (single)", "Crying (12" rmx)", "Crying (single)", and "Dark Vader (Pat Stapley rmx)".

A sweet disco circus from Metropolis – one of the many studio groovers from 70s disco maestro Thor Baldursson – who handles all the arrangements on the set! The great Tom Moulton produced with Thor – and gives the record a rich, clubby, disco feel that's mighty nice – and vocals are by The Sweethearts trio – which features Barbara Ingram in the lineup! There's some surprisingly great tracks on the set – tunes that have a deeper soul than some of Thor's other projects, and which evenly balance out the grooves with a few more laidback moments – making for a really well-rounded album on Salsoul. Titles include "Here's To You", "New York Is My Kind Of Town", "I Love NY", "Was That All", and "Go Get It". CD features bonus tracks – "I Love New York (original Tom Moulton 12" long mix)" and "I Love New York (original Tom Moulton 12" short mix)".

The one and only album by Moment Of Truth – a short-lived group with a mighty east coast club groove! The set soars with a sound that's in the mode of the best Philly work of the mid 70s – clubby, but not too caught up in disco cliches, and handled with plenty of soul on the vocals and the rhythms. Reid Whitlaw and Norman Bergen produced, and though their names aren't the most well known in the Salsoul roster, they do a great job with both the uptempo numbers and the sophisticated ballads. Includes "Lovin You is Killin Me", "You Got Me Hummin", "Helplessly", and "You're All I Want You to Be". CD features loads of bonus tracks – including "Lovin You Is Killin Me (12" mix)", "Lovin You Is Killin Me (Tom Moulton 12" mix)", "You Got Me Hummin (Rafael Charres 12" mix)", "Helplessly (Tom Moulton 12" mix)", "So Much For Love (Tom Moulton 12" mix)", and "Lovin You Is Killin Me (orig single)".

A really rich second album from Ripple – a group who took awhile to return to the studio, but really developed a lot in the process! The combo started out as a straight funk act – but here, they really take off with a tight approach to their instrumentation – razor-sharp work on guitar, keyboards, bass, and percussion – soaring off into the clouds with energy that more than matches the image on the cover! Given their Atlanta roots, there's a vibe here that's a bit like some of the best Tommy Stewart material of the time – and Floyd Smith produces the group on the record, really finding a great way to blend everything together, but without ever losing an edge! Titles include the club classic "The Beat Goes On and On" – plus "Sons of The Gods", "Do What You Wanna Do", "Here I Stand", "Call Me Traveling Man", and "Victorious". CD features bonus tracks – "The Beat Goes On & On (orig Jim Burgess 12" mix)", "The Beat Goes On & On (orig single version)", and "Today (orig single version)".

This is the kind of Italian disco we can get our ears around! Bebu Silvetti is on keyboards, and at the helm of the orchestra – working here like an Italian Barry White, on a groove that's very similar to the best work of the Love Unlimited Orchestra. The tracks have a harder focus on the drums and beats than you'd expect – which punches things up nicely, and is a perfect complement to the breathy vocals and smooth Euro grooving over the top of the mix. Great stuff – a real treasure, and with a lot more soul than you'd expect! Titles include "Primitive Man", "Spring Rain", "Two Cups Of Coffee", "Voyage Of No Return", "Coconut Rain", and "Contigo". CD also features a bonus track – a Joe Cain edit of "Spring Rain".

Soaring grooves from Bebu Silvetti – a set that definitely has the disco touches you'd expect on the Salsoul label, but which also seems to pick up a few soundtracky styles as well! Some tunes are upbeat and grooving, with a great blend of strings and beats – the kind that Silvetti does so well – while others are a bit more groovy, and feel like the kind of thing you might hear on an Italian soundtrack of the time – especially when the wordless vocals are scatting along with the music! Titles include "Silvia's Picture", "Winter Rain", "Travel Check", "Steps In The Snow", "A Day In The Country", and "Spring Rain".

Skyy are soaring high at this point – they've dropped the space suits, but still have the heavy bass, and all those cosmic production touches that put them at the forefront of the new sound of 80s funk. The album's prehaps not as strong as some of their others for Salsoul, but still keeps essentially the same groove – with tracks that include "Miracle", "Let Love Shine", "Won't You Be Mine", "Freak Outta", "Movin Violation", and "Together".

A stone classic from Skyy – one of those groups who virtually helped invent 80s groove! Like the best of the genre – such as Slave, BB&Q Band, and others – Skyy have a soulful approach that goes way past the simple cliches that other groups were so content to only muddle around it. The sound here goes very deep – based around the bass-heavy funk sound of the time, but setting up the instrumentation with lots of jazzy touches, and coming up with a strong ensemble approach that offers up plenty of freshness, even while the boogie groove goes on and on! Titles include "Call Me", "Get Into The Beat", "Jam The Box", "When You Touch Me", and "Gonna Get It On".

A stone classic from Skyy – one of those groups who virtually helped invent 80s groove! Like the best of the genre – such as Slave, BB&Q Band, and others – Skyy have a soulful approach that goes way past the simple cliches that other groups were so content to only muddle around it. The sound here goes very deep – based around the bass-heavy funk sound of the time, but setting up the instrumentation with lots of jazzy touches, and coming up with a strong ensemble approach that offers up plenty of freshness, even while the boogie groove goes on and on! Titles include "Call Me", "Get Into The Beat", "Jam The Box", "When You Touch Me", and "Gonna Get It On". CD features four bonus tracks – "Call Me (12" disconet rmx)", "Call Me (single version)", "Let's Celebrate (single)", and "Let's Celebrate (12" rmx)".

Warm Philly magic from the great Vince Montana – a track that links together both parts of the city's sound in the decade of 70s soul! "Love Is You" bubbles along on strings, beats, and vibes long before Carol's vocals come into the mix – and then really takes off majestically once she does – hitting all the right notes with a full female vocal that's sure to pack the floor! "Come Back" is a flurry of skipping strings, tight horns, and fast beats – all setting the stage for another great vocal from Carol!

Sweet electric soul from Carol Williams – a rich voice from the disco generation, served up here with some great Philly club arrangements from Vince Montana! The groove is great, right from the get-go – thanks to rhythm from the team of Bobby Eli, Norman Harris, and Ronnie Baker – and Carol's vocals slide in strongly with a style that echoes soul styles from a few years before – and reminds us at this great point, the singer wasn't always subservient to the grooves on the cuts! Vince Montana plays a bit of vibes on the record – and titles include "Rattlesnake", "Just Feel", "My Time Of Need", "This Time May Be The Last Time", "Love Is You", and "Come Back". Bonus tracks include "Love Is You (unreleased Tom Moulton 12" version)", "More (original 12" version)", "Come Back (original 12" version)", and "More (single version)".

6 of the biggest late 70s singles for the Salsoul label – stretched out to form one hard-grooving LP! Nearly every cut's a super-disco winner, and titles include "My Love Is Free" and "Ten Percent" by Double Exposure, "It's Good For The Soul" and "Magic Bird Of Fire" by Salsoul Orchestra, "Let No Man Put Asunder" by First Choice, and "Catch Me On The Rebound" by Loleatta Holloway.

Classic cuts on Salsoul are remixed by the legendary Larry Levan – guru of the Paradise Garage scene, and a mixer who always knew how to make the floor move! Tracks include "I Got My Mind Made Up" by Instant Funk, "Double Cross" by First Choice, "First Time Around" by Skyy, "The Greatest Performance Of My Life" by Loleatta Holloway, "Handsome Man" by Sparkle and "How High" by Salsoul Orchestra.

Excellent single from the godlike hands of Patrick Adams & Greg Carmichael! The record's a club-heavy update of this Motown classic that's mixed by Larry Levan!

The image on the cover is a great summation of the Aurra magic – a sweet blend of male and female vocals with plenty of soul – woven together in ways that are quite different from more cliched duet modes of earlier years! The grooves are at the center of the record – set out strongly by producer/arranger Stephen Washington, with loads of great basslines at the core! Yet it's the vocals that really make the record sparkle – work by Starleana Young and Curt Jones – both very individual singers who have a way of coming together here with a very fresh feel! Studio magic allows both to provide backup as well as lead vocals – and the album's filled with great groovers that include "It's You", "Make Up Your Mind", "A Little Love", "In My Arms", "Still Free", and "Checking You Out".

Heavy 80s groove boogie from Aurra, off their third LP.

Disco tunes with a Brazilian spirit – recorded in Philly by white boy Gary, but with the sunny finish of Copacabana! The tunes were all arranged by John Davis – and Gary's got a nice Free Soul style of singing that makes the songs bounce bouyantly along. Titles include "The Lady Is Latin", "Amazon Queen", "Rio De Janeiro", "The Girl From Ipanema", and "My Rio Lady".

Funky funky disco from Gaz – one of the best-remembered groups of the Salsoul 70s generation – even though they only ever cut this one album! There's a lot of tight percussion in the mix here – really rooting these tunes in a tight live instrumental vibe – and the arrangements from Richie Rivera also feature a female vocal chorus over the top, but kind of scatting away in a jazzy style that's mighty nice! The set leads off with the totally funky cut "Sing Sing" – a track that's been sampled by plenty over the years – and other cuts include "Synth He Sized Her", "Interstellar Love Affair", "Indian Gaz", and "The Force". CD features three bonus tracks – "The Good The Bad & The Ugly (original 12" version)", "Sing Sing (original single)", and "Indian Gaz (original single)".

Darn hard to find – this is a killer dancefloor stormer that never gets old, not even after it was sampled without clearance by Black Box. The cut's a great one, and is the record that will forever be Loleatta Holloway's most remembered – and for good reason!

An overlooked gem from the early 80s years at Salsoul – a set that's beat-heavy, and plenty funky too – with a groove that's nicely heavy on both roller skate and electro modes! The record's a bit more offbeat than the usual Salsoul set – and we mean that in a good way – more in the street-styled mode you'd hear on the Vaughan Mason/Butch Dayo collaboration for the label – and proof that the company had a strong ear for grooves that go way beyond disco! There's plenty of surprises here – and the approach to the grooves has a very New York feel that mixes together the best of the up-and-downtown modes of the time. Titles include "Angel Baby", "Come To Me", "Rock The Rhythm", "I've Been Watching You", "Holdin On", and "I Need Your Love".

An obscure second set from the man who gave the world "Bounce Rock Skate Roll" – but a great one too! The album's got Vaughan Mason paired with Butch Dayo, in a way that brings a nice sort of back/forth feel to his usual roller skating groove – with results that are even more partyful than the first time around! The pair have a great sort of street soul energy to their groove – not really breakdance or electro, but not that far off – and served up with a much deeper soul conception than you'd usually find in this sort of project! We'd even go so far as to note a bit of hip hop influence in the music – even though the overall approach is definitely clubby soul – and titles include the great "Party on the Corner", plus "Rollalong Songs", "Feel My Love", and "You Can Do It". CD features the bonus tracks "Party On The Corner (orig Shep Pettibone 12" master dub)", "You Can Do It (orig 12" radio)", and "You Can Do It (orig 12" inst)".

One of the best later albums from Joe Bataan – a really wonderful little set that takes off strongly from the salsoul experiments he first began on the Afrofilipino album! The album's got a great blend of clubby rhythms and Latin soul touches – all arranged by Marty Sheller, and carried off by Joe with soulful vocals that still retain a fair bit of the heartbreaking qualities of the older days. There's a punch and funky undercurrent here that was often missing from other Salsoul albums – and titles include the great "Rap O Clap O", which is kind of a remake of Cheryl Lynn's "To Be Real" – plus "Sadie (She Smokes)", "Mestizo", "Rock Me All Night Long", and "Latin Lover". CD features a lot of bonus tracks too – including different mixes of "Rap O Clap O" and "Sadie" – making for a total of 12 tunes in all!

One of the best tracks ever by First Choice! "Let No Man" is a sweeping anthemic club track – with a righteous lyric about love and losing it, and some killer production by the Baker-Harris-Young team that really gives the girls a great soulful groove! The Frankie Knuckles mix has some great strings, too!

The hard to find 2nd album by this great Afro-Cuban group from New York – recorded as part of Salsoul's early committment to straight Latin grooves, and with a nice raw sound! Henry Fiol sings vocals, and co-leads the group with bassist William Millan,a nd the rest of the lineup includes piano, trumpet, timbales, conga, and additional percussion. Tracks include "Paso Fino", "Viejo Canuto", "No Me Llores Miseria", and "Clavo Saca Clavo".

A great little club set from the enigmatic Edwin Birdsong – a artist that we first came to love for his quirky early recordings on Polydor, and his later collaborations with Roy Ayers – but who sounds equally great here in a Salsoul setting! Birdsong's always had a great talent for spinning an offbeat sort of groove – one that stretches out with unusual rhythms, funky basslines, and odder-than-usual subject matter and lyrics. And here, he's taking the smoother Salsoul sound and infusing it with some of his own offbeat phrasings – in a mode that's got some great 80s groove old school funky touches! The set includes the classic "Rapper Dapper Snapper", a tune that's got a fair bit of Roy Ayers touches in the mix – plus the tracks "Funtaztik", "Win Tonight", "Two Faced Lover", and "Fortune & Fame". CD also features the bonus instrumental of "Rapper Dapper Snapper"!

A sweet 80s project from the legendary Randy Muller – a set that's a bit heavier on the beats and keyboards than his previous horn-heavy efforts – but which still has more than enough of a groove to earn the "funk" in the title! The style here is almost a take off from later Skyy modes – catchy club with a slightly poppy undertone – vocals from a variety of singers, wrapped nicely over core rhythms arranged and produced by Muller. There's some nice riffing guitar on most numbers too – creating almost a Chic-like funk feel at times – and titles include "Dance It Off", "Tender Lovin", "This Time", "Partime Lover", "Friends", "She's What I Need", and "Take It To The Top". CD features 2 bonus tracks – "Dance It Off (rmx)" and "This Time (12" version)".

A jamming little project from dancefloor maestro Richie Weeks – early 80s club tracks, done with a sweetly soulful approach! The music's still as heavy on the bass as other Salsoul work from the time, but there's a warmer approach to the vocals overall – a style that's as concerned with soulful approach of the lyrics as it is the rhythmic progression of the grooves – thanks to great lead vocals from Sheldon Weeks and Debra Blackwell. Richie plays keyboards, and titles include "And You Know That", "Funky You, Funky Me", "Out To Get You", "What Have You Got To Lose", and "Just For You". CD features a bonus track – "And You Know That (Richie Weeks mix)".

Munich disco, retooled for the Salsoul Sound – thanks to some great remixing for this US version by Tom Moulton! ORS aren't nearly as cold or cheesy as some of their Munich contemporaries – making them a great choice for Salsoul through their tight use of stripped-down rhythms, rolling percussion bits, and just the right amount of moog to give the album a spacey feel that's very much in keeping with its astral cover image! The record sports the big single "Moon Boots" – a spare, but surprisingly catchy number – plus the cuts "Dream Machine", "Sweet Release", and "Body To Body Boogie".

Rare work from Aurra – recorded right at the tail end of their years at Salsoul Records, and with a groove that's still very tight and in the pocket1 "Satisfaction" is a bassy groover that has plenty of bump way down at the bottom – that leaner groove Aurra used near the end, with lots of bass quick-stepping tightly underneath the lyrics – with almost a roller skating vibe! "Lovin Is For You" is mellower, but equally bassy – a nice track to kick back to, yet never lose your groove!

A totally great mellow soul track – recorded during the late Curtom years, by a group that may or may not be the same one on Salsoul! "Yes I'm In Love" is a really heavenly little number – a tune that builds and burns with a solidly soulful feel – mature 80s soul at its best, really sent home with the track's incredibly catchy hook! There's a nice stepping rhythm around the middle of the tune – and the flipside's equally nice too! "After All This Time" has much more of a boogie sort of groove – sweeping along in a great post-disco sound, with full arrangements that still keep things soulful enough overall!

One of the best records ever cut by this soulful Philly female trio! The album's one of the first on Salsoul's Gold Mind subsidiary – and it features sparkling club production by the Harris/Baker/Young team – a landmark force not only in Philly disco, but 70s female soul as well – as their backings for groups of this nature are always sensitive to the complexities of the vocals! The record's mostly uptempo – with plenty of soaring tracks that still retain the more soulful sound of the group's early work – and the songwriting's generally tight, a few notches above earlier albums on Warner – showing that their return to the indie fold was a very good move. Titles include the classic "Let No Man Put Asunder" – plus "Doctor Love", "Indian Giver", "Do Me Again", and a great version of Stevie Wonder's "Love Having You Around". CD features lots of bonus tracks – including "Doctor Love (single)", "Love Having You Around (single)", "Indian Giver (single)", "Doctor Love (12" Tom Moulton mix)", "Let No Man Put Asunder (12" Shep Pettibon mix)", and "Let No Man Put Asunder (12" Frankie Knuckles mix)".

The only album we've ever seen by Janice – aka Janice Barnett – a set that's got some great smooth production from the legendary Harvey Fuqua! The set's got a sound that's almost in a Salsoul mode at times – not totally disco, but with some uptempo elements – mixed in with some warmer harmonies provided by Janice and a group, of the sort you might find on records by Double Exposure – although with the obvious female difference, of course. A nice little album – we wish she made a whole bunch more of them! Titles include "Goody Two Shoes", "I Should Have Left You", "Love On The Line", "Take Me Away", "If I Had Known", and "Wake Up Smiling".

One of those funk classics that was a funk classic even back in the days when nobody was talking about funk classics! Ripple were an obscure little group of southern players, and although they later went onto cut a disco record for Salsoul, this first album is still their most enduring legacy. The record combines a sound that's a bit Meters, a bit Average White Band – with plenty of funky guitars, choppy riffs, and kine of a white boy soul vocal sound. Includes some stone classics – like "A Funky Song" and "I Don't Know What It Is, But It Sure Is Funky" – both of which were sampled more than a few times over the years – plus "Get Off", "Ripplin", "Willie Pass The Water", and "Dance Lady Dance".

One of those funk classics that was a funk classic even back in the days when nobody was talking about funk classics! Ripple were an obscure little group of southern players, and although they later went onto cut a disco record for Salsoul, this first album is still their most enduring legacy. The record combines a sound that's a bit Meters, a bit Average White Band – with plenty of funky guitars, choppy riffs, and kine of a white boy soul vocal sound. Includes some stone classics – like "A Funky Song" and "I Don't Know What It Is, But It Sure Is Funky" – both of which were sampled more than a few times over the years – plus "Get Off", "Ripplin", "Willie Pass The Water", and "Dance Lady Dance".

A later bit of Philly disco – recorded at Sigma Sound studios with really soaring production from Tom Moulton – and some surprising help on a number of tracks from a young Arthur Baker! The style here has that Instant Funk sort of groove – a bit more bass at the bottom than earlier Philly disco, and a real penchant for instrumental breakdowns in the Salsoul mode – stepping out nicely on a set of longer tracks that really bubble over with energy! Titles include "Put Yourself In My Place", "Small Circle Of Friends", "I Don't Need No Music", and "Am I Dreaming".

A later bit of Philly disco – recorded at Sigma Sound studios with really soaring production from Tom Moulton – and some surprising help on a number of tracks from a young Arthur Baker! The style here has that Instant Funk sort of groove – a bit more bass at the bottom than earlier Philly disco, and a real penchant for instrumental breakdowns in the Salsoul mode – stepping out nicely on a set of longer tracks that really bubble over with energy! Titles include "Put Yourself In My Place", "Small Circle Of Friends", "I Don't Need No Music", and "Am I Dreaming". This Big Break UK remastered edition has 3 bonus tracks: "Storm Warning", "Put Yourself In My Place (Single Version)" and "Am I Dreaming (Single Version)".

The initials, in case you don't know, stand for Ron Baker, Norman Harris, and Earl Young – three of the best arrangers/producers/players to come out of the Philly soul scene in the 70s. The record is pretty straight Philly disco, with a lot of the club sound that characterized Salsoul albums of the time. Tracks include "Come As You Are", "Handle Me With Love & Care", "Touch Me While I'm Touching You", and "Opus BHY".

Rochelle and the girls are in full force on this late 70s Salsoul groover – and with production by Norman Harris and Tom Moulton, they're in a perfect setting to open up and do their thing. Titles include "Hold Your Horses", "Great Expectations", "Love Thang", and "Double Cross". You know the groove!

The second album by Inner Life, and the group's first for Salsoul – an instant club classic, thanks to some supremely soulful vocals by Jocelyn Brown, and excellent arrangements by Greg Carmichael and Patrick Adams! The album starts out with the slow-building track "It's Wonderful", but then moves quickly into uptempo club territory – letting Brown really open up on tracks that include "Pay Girl", "Live it Up", "Make It Last Forever", and the classic "(Knock Out) Let's Go Another Round"! CD features the bonus track – "Let's Get This Thing Together", previously unreleased!

The classic club album by Love Committee, and one of the most sought-after albums on Gold Mind/Salsoul – a soulful set of club classics that almost beats most of the other work by its contemporaries! The session's grounded in some very solid help from the Sigma Sound team – production and arrangements by the likes of Norman Harris, Ron Tyson, or BHY Productions – in that wonderfully soulful style that was the best mode of the Harris Machine when it was working overtime! The style is disco, but far from the cliches of more commercial work like this – and much more in the legacy of Philly soul from the earlier part of the decade. Titles include "Cheaters Never Win", the classic dancefloor track – plus "Law & Order", "Pass The Buck", "Give Her Love", "Just As Long As I Got You", and "If You Change Your Mind".

Classic Latin club from this New York combo! "Sunny" is done here in a nice jazzy Latin style – warm, mellow, with that early Joe Bataaan Salsoul style firmly in place! There's some electricity in the arrangements, female voices on the chorus, and nice use of wah wah guitar under the horns! "Hippopatamus" is great too – very warm and jazzy – with snapping timbales at the start, which are then quickly filled in by some fuller jazzy instrumentation – all moving along with a groove that's pretty darn sunny too!

One of those funk classics that was a funk classic even back in the days when nobody was talking about funk classics! Ripple were an obscure little group of southern players, and although they later went onto cut a disco record for Salsoul, this first album is still their most enduring legacy. The record combines a sound that's a bit Meters, a bit Average White Band – with plenty of funky guitars, choppy riffs, and kine of a white boy soul vocal sound. Includes some stone classics – like "A Funky Song" and "I Don't Know What It Is, But It Sure Is Funky" – both of which were sampled more than a few times over the years – plus "Get Off", "Ripplin", "Willie Pass The Water", and "Dance Lady Dance".

A real turning point for Joe Bataan – and the beginning of his funky Latin sound of the 70s! The album was one of the first in Joe's "Salsoul" style – a sweet blend of Latin rhythms, late 60s Latin soul influences, and some of the hipper styles bubbling through the NuYorican scene. A few cuts are in the sweet soul ballad mode of Joe's earlier years – but there's others that pick up the groove nicely, and add in some guitar and vibes for a sweet electrified groove. Includes a great remake of "Theme From Shaft", plus the two-part "I Wish You Love", "If I Were A King", "Coco E", "El Regreso", and "Charangaringa".

One of the best records ever cut by this soulful Philly female trio! The album's one of the first on Salsoul's Gold Mind subsidiary – and it features sparkling club production by the Harris/Baker/Young team – a landmark force not only in Philly disco, but 70s female soul as well – as their backings for groups of this nature are always sensitive to the complexities of the vocals! The record's mostly uptempo – with plenty of soaring tracks that still retain the more soulful sound of the group's early work – and the songwriting's generally tight, a few notches above earlier albums on Warner – showing that their return to the indie fold was a very good move. Titles include the classic "Let No Man Put Asunder" – plus "Doctor Love", "Indian Giver", "Do Me Again", and a great version of Stevie Wonder's "Love Having You Around".

A great little 80s album by Manny Oquendo's Libre group – recorded after their classic Salsoul LPs, but every bit as great! The group are in incredible form – very tight, with loads of jazzy touches, and an approach to the groove that won't quit. Players include Andy Gonzalez, Jerry Gonzalez, Steve Turre, Dave Valentin, and Milton Cardona – and the tracks are all long enough to allow the players plenty of space to express themselves. Arrangements are by Marty Sheller, Andy Gonzalez, and Manny Oquendo – and tracks include "Que Humanidad", "Elena Elena", "Bailala Pronto", "Llora Timberto", and a great version of "Little Sunflower".

A classic bit of club from Lipps Inc – an album that's got the group nicely stretched-out and extended – taking them way past the simpler sounds you might know from their hit single work! Tracks here are all quite long, and feature lots of instrumental workouts over very tight rhythms – almost a mix of Casablanca disco with some of the freer modes you'd get from labels like Prelude or Salsoul – served up with lots of guitar and heavy basslines from group leader Steven Greenberg! Vocals are by Cynthia Johnson – who helped Lipps Inc become one of the first standout soul acts from the Twin Cities – and in addition to a great extended take of "Funkytown", titles include "All Night Dancin", "Power", and "Rock It". CD features four bonus tracks – all the shorter single mixes of the long tracks on the album.

Harmony heaven – a pair of Little Anthony & The Imperials albums together in a single set, with some sweet bonus tracks too! On A New Street is wonderful work from Little Anthony – and a great update to his smooth 60s harmony sound with The Imperials! Anthony wisely employs the use of two of 70s top harmony arrangers on the album – using Thom Bell on one side, and Teddy Randazzo on the other – both of whom really help take the group to a whole new level! The Thom Bell material fits perfectly with his work with The Stylistics from the same time, and the cuts have a wonderfully mellow east coast harmony style that's quite different than Anthony's earlier work. Teddy Randazzo does a pretty nice job, too – but with a fuller sound too, almost in a Manhattans mode that makes for a nice change from the previous fragility of Anthony's vocals. Titles include "I Don't Have Time To Worry", "That's What Love is All About", "I'm Falling In Love with You", "Heartache Never Entered My Mind", and "The Loneliest House on the Block". Also features an alternate take on "La La La At The End". Hold On has Little Anthony & The Imperials really hitting some great Philly modes – working with help from Tony Bell and Phil Hurtt, and getting lots of sweet backing from the Sigma Studio team – all in a mode that rivals some of the bigger soul group work of the 70s! The vibe's got a bit of Spinners in the mix, but still also holds on to the more fragile style that made The Imperials so great – especially on the mellower cuts, which have Anthony's voice cracking in that completely wonderful, very human way. But like Eddie Holman on Salsoul, he can also really shine on the clubbier cuts too – and the blend makes for a mighty compelling album from the group! Titles include "Hold On", "You Are The World To Me", "Promise Me", "I've Got To Let You Go", and "Back Where You Belong". CD also features some bonus cuts – "Hold On (stereo single mix)", "I've Got To Let You Go (stereo single)", "I've Got To Let You Go (stereo)", and "I've Got To Let You Go (mono short version)".

A key moment for the Philly soul scene of the 70s – and the first album to feature the MFSB backing group as a solo act on their own! The ensemble were responsible for key sounds on countless soul singles of the time – yet also find a way to soar beautifully on their own – in a sweet instrumental groove that matches the strength of Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra, and which was definitely a key inspiration for the sound of the Salsoul Orchestra! There's definitely a bit of early disco in the mix, but the style's more uptempo east coast overall – that pre-disco groove that was going down in the clubs – with larger strings added to a core group of funky rhythm players. Gamble & Huff production make the whole thing sparkle, and arrangements are by Vince Montana, Bobby Martin, and Jack Faith – on titles that include "Love Is The Message", "Cheaper To Keep Her", "TSOP", "Zack's Fanfare", "Touch Me In The Morning", and "My One & Only Love".

A key moment for the Philly soul scene of the 70s – and the first album to feature the MFSB backing group as a solo act on their own! The ensemble were responsible for key sounds on countless soul singles of the time – yet also find a way to soar beautifully on their own – in a sweet instrumental groove that matches the strength of Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra, and which was definitely a key inspiration for the sound of the Salsoul Orchestra! There's definitely a bit of early disco in the mix, but the style's more uptempo east coast overall – that pre-disco groove that was going down in the clubs – with larger strings added to a core group of funky rhythm players. Gamble & Huff production make the whole thing sparkle, and arrangements are by Vince Montana, Bobby Martin, and Jack Faith – on titles that include "Love Is The Message", "Cheaper To Keep Her", "TSOP", "Zack's Fanfare", "Touch Me In The Morning", and "My One & Only Love". CD features bonus tracks – "Love Is The Message (single version – with Three Degrees)", "TSOP (with Three Degrees)", and "Love Is The Message (Tom Moulton mix)".

Skyy is still shining brightly in the mid 80s – delivering nicely thumping, dancefloor ready soul on From The Left Side! After a number of sweet sets for Salsoul, the group moved on up to Capitol Records for this one set – embracing the era's synth soul production sheen more than ever, but their by now veteran status as a funky soul group on top of disco and dancefloor act informs the sound. The beats thump harder, the electronics resonate that much deeper, and overall they create a thoroughly contemporary mid-to-late 80s style groove that should have made this record bust out huge for them. Includes "Givin It (To You)", "Love Attack", "Non-Stop", "Big Fun". "Love Illogical", "Jealousitis" and "Rock It".

Nice "best of" comp that brings together loads of the hard to find 80's club tracks that Aurra recorded for Salsoul. The CD's got 13 cuts in all, with a number of 12" mixes that differ from the LP versions of the tracks. Titles include "Make Up Your Mind", "A Little Love", "Checking You Out", "Nasty Disposition", "Live & Let Live", "Who Are You?", "Are You Single?", and "Send Your Love".

A second volume of underground disco and unstoppable dancefloor soul from NYC in the late 70s and early 80s – M&M Mixes Vol 2, highlighting rare and previously unreleased mixes by John Morales! It features a roster of legendary names, particularly to diggers of deeper disco tracks, but also some soul stars who worked well in that groove – a batch of tunes mixed & engineered by Morales back in the day at M&M Studios and elsewhere. Great numbers by Brass Construction, Inner Life feat Jocelyn Brown, Candi Staton, Fantastic Aleems, Teddy Pendergrass, War, Double Exposure, Salsoul Orchestra and more! CDs version includes 18 tracks on a jam packed 2CDs – many grooving on the longer side, with titles include "Caught Up" by Inner Life feat Jocelyn Brown, "Heartless" by Evelyn Thomas, "Now Is Tomorrow" by Brass Construction, "You Hearts Run Free" by Candi Staton, "Slipping Into Darkness" by War, "Dreamin" by Loleatta Holloway, "Magic Bird Of Fire" by Salsoul Orchestra, "Dancing Into The Stars" by Logg and more.

The rebirth of the Afro-Cuban groove on the New York scene of the 70s – a dozen recordings in the "new traditionalist" sound of the time! After the boom of the Latin Soul sound of the late 60s, and the rise of salsa in the early 70s, there was also a "back to basics" movement within the players of the New York Latin community – a shift that stripped down the sound, reintroduced traditional instrumentation, and worked in rhythms that might have been used on older sessions, but which were slightly updated for the newer recordings. The work of that period, although strong, has often been overlooked in favor of some of the flashier sounds of the scene – and this set wonderfully corrects that fault by bringing together a great sampling of work from the traditional spectrum of the Salsoul and SAR record labels, along with the kind of notes and commitment to quality that makes the Honest Jon's reissues so great! Titles include "Son Sabroson" by Rey Roig, "Cuchillo Para La Pina Cubana" by Charlie Rodriguez, "Chocolate En C7" and "Trumpet En Montuno" by Chocolate, "Oriente" and "Tiene Sabor" by Henry Fiol, "Yo Perdi El Corazon" by Lita Branda, "Camina Y Ven Pa La Loma" by Roberto Torres, "Celosa" by Angelo Y Su Conjunto Modelo, and "Los Dos Hermanos" by Los Jimaguas.

Great 70s work from the legendary Johnny Zamot – a set recorded around the same time as his monstrous album for Salsoul – with a similar salsa-heavy groove! The vibe here is nicely old school – lots of heavy percussion in the rhythms – including conga and guiero from Johnny – plus brassy horns, piano, bass, and drums. A few tracks feature a bit of guitar and keyboards – and vocals are by Adalberto Santiago, Yayo El Indio, and Nestor Sanchez. Titles inlcude "Tiempo Muerto", "Vano Empeno", "Sigo Buscando", "Mi Cuerpo", "La Solucion De La Salsa", "Sonero Soy", "Dime Que", "En La Barandilla", and "No Lograro".

Classic Latin club from this New York combo! "Sunny" is done here in a nice jazzy Latin style – warm, mellow, with that early Joe Bataaan Salsoul style firmly in place! There's some electricity in the arrangements, female voices on the chorus, and nice use of wah wah guitar under the horns! "Hippopatamus" is great too – very warm and jazzy – with snapping timbales at the start, which are then quickly filled in by some fuller jazzy instrumentation – all moving along with a groove that's pretty darn sunny too!

A musical document of an amazing moment in the New York scene – the late 80s/early 90s wave of vogue balls – which were almost a collision of club culture with high fashion! There was a particularly rich gender-bending element to the vogue scene – and the music that accompanied it was a key part of that activity – tracks that had already risen to fame in crossover clubs from previous years, taken to new heights by DJs who provided music along with the voguing activity – in a great array of grooves from the disco years through early house music, brought together in ways that made 80s musical evolution make a heck of a lot of sense! The compilation album is a companion to the excellent book of the same name – also by Soul Jazz – and this 3CD version features tracks that include "Moment Of My Life" by Inner Life, "The Ha Dance (Ken/Lou mixx)" by Masters At Work, "Just Like A Queen (share the throne mix)" by Ellis D, "Is It All Over My Face" by Loose Joints, "Body Drill" by 2 Body's, "Love Hangover" by Diana Ross, "The Witch Doctor (dark ages mix)" by Armand Van Helden, "Break 4 Love (Spanish fly mix)" by Raze, "Din Daa Daa" by George Kranz, "X (Sound Factory mix)" by Junior Vazquez, "Love Is The Message (Tom Moulton mix)" by MFSB, "Cunty (party mix)" by Rageous Projecting Keven Aviance, "Love Thang" by First Choice, "This Brutal House" by Nitro Deluxe, "Ooh I Love It (Love Break)" by Salsoul Orchestra, and "Deep In Vogue (Banjie Realness mix)" by Malcolm McLaren. Also includes a limited bonus mix CD by Junior Vazquez – and a booklet and cool set of postcards!

The only album we've ever seen by Janice – aka Janice Barnett – a set that's got some great smooth production from the legendary Harvey Fuqua! The set's got a sound that's almost in a Salsoul mode at times – not totally disco, but with some uptempo elements – mixed in with some warmer harmonies provided by Janice and a group, of the sort you might find on records by Double Exposure – although with the obvious female difference, of course. A nice little album – we wish she made a whole bunch more of them! Titles include "Goody Two Shoes", "I Should Have Left You", "Love On The Line", "Take Me Away", "If I Had Known", and "Wake Up Smiling".