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". LP, Vinyl record album

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)". CD

One of the stranger moments in the Salsoul catalog, but a great groover too – an album of tunes from films, interpreted by the Salsoul Orchestra in a soaring disco mode! The style was one that was certainly aimed at the more mainstream club-goers at the time – a way to reach out to the older crowds out on Long Island, and find the kind of tunes that would bring them back into the discos. But thanks to Vince Montana, the overall style is still pretty nice – soaring and complicated in true Salsoul fashion, and featuring vocals on most numbers from a trio that includes Barbara Ingram – who really helps give the music a new sort of sparkle. Titles include "Evergreen", "Ease On Down The Road", "West Side Story Medley", and "Fiddler On The Roof Medley". LP, Vinyl record album

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

Back to back slammers from Salsoul Orchestra! "Nice N Naasty" has a great funky bit on the intro – setting the scene for a jaunty groove that's not nearly as kitshcy as you'd expect from the title, and which has all the sweet Salsoul touches firmly in place! "3001" is another take on the famous "2001" mode – cosmic, building, and soaring to the stars with a full on orchestra groove that never quits! 12-inch, Vinyl record

Ooh, we love it! 3 Shep Pettibone mixes of this solid groover that begins with conga licks, fills up with heavier beats, and has a solid bubbling vocal that really catches on as the track moves on! 12-inch, Vinyl record

Philly classics for the Holidays! The legendary Christmas Jollies set by the Salsoul Orchestra was one of the label's biggest-selling albums – originally recorded in 1976, and pressed again and again over the years – and eventually remixed even stronger in the early 90s. Vince Montana is at the head of the whole project – pushing the group with that great full sound he had at the time – a blend of strings and soul that could be kitschy, but comes off great! The sound is kind of a disco-Christmas one, with driving uptempo versions of tunes like "Merry Christmas All", "Sleigh Ride", "Christmas Time", and "Silent Night" – plus the original tune "There's Someone Who's Knocking". In addition to this, the album also features 2 extended medleys of holiday tunes – one based around Christmas, the other around New Years! CD

Philly classics for the Holidays! The legendary Christmas Jollies set by the Salsoul Orchestra was one of the label's biggest-selling albums – originally recorded in 1976, and pressed again and again over the years – and eventually remixed even stronger in the early 90s. Vince Montana is at the head of the whole project – pushing the group with that great full sound he had at the time – a blend of strings and soul that could be kitschy, but comes off great! The sound is kind of a disco-Christmas one, with driving uptempo versions of tunes like "Merry Christmas All", "Sleigh Ride", "Christmas Time", and "Silent Night" – plus the original tune "There's Someone Who's Knocking". In addition to this, the album also features 2 extended medleys of holiday tunes – one based around Christmas, the other around New Years! LP, Vinyl record album

A great new chapter for the Salsoul Orchestra – a set that has them working with underground legend Patrick Adams, who gives them an even cooler sound than before! There's more keyboards in the mix than on previous albums – some of those cool and moogy touches that Adams brought to his famous work for P&P and other indie labels – which gives the record an edge that goes way beyond the more familiar Salsoul Orchestra modes – and a quality that's leaner and meaner for the post-disco years! Rhythms are nice and funky – lots of snapping grooves that really give the record an edge – topped with bold vocals from Jocelyn Brown, Loleatta Holloway, and Carol Bramble. Titles include "Take Some Time Out (For Love)", "Comin At Cha", "Heat It Up", "Seconds", and the space themed "Columbia The Space Shuttle". LP, Vinyl record album

Recorded at Sigma Sound and produced, arranged and conducted by Vincent Montana Jr., this is a compilation of some of the Salsoul Orchestra's big disco tunes. Montana composed just about every song on the record and the tracks include "Nice N Naasty", "You're Just The Right Size", "Chicago Bus Stop (Ooh, I Love It)", "Salsoul Hustle", "Magic Bird Of Fire","It's Good For The Soul", "Salsoul Rainbow", and "Salsoul: 3001". A total of twelve tracks in all. LP, Vinyl record album

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)". LP, Vinyl record album

A landmark album from Joe Bataan – so great, that it made the entire record company change its name from their original Mericana to the better-known Salsoul – which would later rule the world with a host of disco classics! 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 – upbeat, funky, and definitely a precursor to the later sound that Salsoul would release with soul and funk groups. 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". LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

Grandmaster Flash is best known for his work in the world of hip hop, not the sort of club scene that Salsoul helped feed back in the day – yet this surprisingly great package has Flash adding in some hip hop energy to the catalog of the legendary label – spinning tracks that emphasize the funkier currents of Salsoul, and drawing a link between disco singles and the sorts of rhythms that first helped feed the old school street party scene! Titles include "High" by Skyy, "Doctor Love" by First Choice, "Make Up Your Mind" by Aurra, "Runaway" by Salsoul Orchestra, "Let's Celebrate" by Skyy, "Slap Slap Lickedy Lap" by Instant Funk, "Love Sensation" by Loleatta Holloway, "Ten Percent" by Double Exposure", "I Got My Mind Made Up" by Instant Funk, "Spring Rain" by Silvetti, "Ooh I Love It" by Salsoul Orchestra, and "Checkin You Out" by Aurra. LP, Vinyl record album

A heck of a lot of classic dancefloor tunes from the legendary Salsoul label! The imprint was home to some of the best work of the late disco years – much of which you'll find on this first set, which includes classics like "The Bottle" by Joe Bataan, "Hit & Run" by Loleatta Holloway, "My Love Is Free" by Double Exposure, "Love Thang" by First Choice, "Checking You Out" by Aurra, "I Got My Mind Made Up" by Instant Funk, "Just As Long As I Got You" by Love Committee, and "Runaway" by Salsoul Orchestra with Loleatta Holloway. CD

The Idjut Boys take on the catalog of the legendary Salsoul Records – in a continuous mix that shows just how much the sounds of the past have to answer for the grooves of the present! Unlike some of the other titles in this series, the Idjuts seem to leave a bit more of their trace on the tunes – augmenting them just a bit with contemporary production touches, while still keeping things classic at the core – maybe a bit like Joey Negro does with his own music. The track selection is mighty nice, too – with some less-iconic Salsoul tunes, in a 76 minute mix of 17 titles that include "I'll Keep You Warm" by Salsoul Orchestra, "Into The Milky Way" by Jimmy Briscoe & The Beavers, "You Can Do It" by Vaughn Mason & Butch Dayo, "Go Get It" by Metropolis, "Candi's Funk" by Candido, "Moon Boots" by ORS, "Disco Dancin" by Skyy, "By The Way You Dance" by Bunny Sigler, and "I May Not Be There When You Want Me" by Loleatta Holloway. CD

A landmark album from Joe Bataan – so great, that it made the entire record company change its name from their original Mericana to the better-known Salsoul – which would later rule the world with a host of disco classics! 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 – upbeat, funky, and definitely a precursor to the later sound that Salsoul would release with soul and funk groups. 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". CD features the bonus track "Continental Square Dance"! CD

A landmark album from Joe Bataan – so great, that it made the entire record company change its name from their original Mericana to the better-known Salsoul – which would later rule the world with a host of disco classics! 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 – upbeat, funky, and definitely a precursor to the later sound that Salsoul would release with soul and funk groups. 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". CD features bonus tracks – "Continental Square Dance", "Latin Strut (mono single)", "Peace Friendship Solidarity (mono single)", "Aftershower Funk (mono single)", and "Fin (mono single)". CD

The glory of Salsoul – made even better by the talents of Danny Krivit! Danny was working the clubs back in the days when most of these cuts were breaking bit – and he's got a real touch with classic grooves like these – stringing together the best disco elements of the tracks, many of which are served up here in rarer mixes than the originals! The set features 14 tracks selected and mixed by Danny – including "How High" by Salsoul Orchestra, "Let No Man Put Asunder" by First Choice, "Dreamin" by Loleatta Holloway, "Falling In Love" by Surface, "Such A Feeling" by Aurra, "I Got My Mind Made Up" by Instant Funk, "Win Tonight" by Edwin Birdsong, "Getaway" by Salsoul Orchestra, and "Everyman" by Double Exposure, which is redone in a really great Joe Claussell acapella mix! CD

Excellent collection of Salsoul groovers compiled by Takeshi Hanzawa of Free Tempo, with cuts by Love Committee, Joe Bataan, Aurra, Double Exposure, Skip Mahoney, Inner Life, Silvetti, Keni Righout, and Metropolis. CD

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! 12-inch, Vinyl record

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". LP, Vinyl record album

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". Also features bonus tracks – "Just For You (unreleased 12" mix)" and "And You Know That (Richie Weeks mix)". CD

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 single edit of "Spring Rain". CD

Maestro Richie Weeks is at the helm of this sweet set of early 80s groovers – funky club in the best second chapter mode of the Salsoul label – served up with a sound that's lean and mean throughout! We're not sure who the "Co" is, since Richie sings, plays keyboards, and handles most of the rhythms too – all at a level that's tight, but never uptight – and which gets graced at points by some jazzy instrumentation and female chorus vocals too! Tunes are mighty catchy – grooving, but in a hip post-disco way – and there's even a bit of vocoder on some of the lyrics. Titles include "Good To The Last Drop", "Tunnel Of Love", "Knock, Knock", "Rockin It In Your Pocket", and "Going Out Of My Head". Also features bonus tracks – "Rock Your World (long version)" and "If You're Looking For Fun (orig Shep Pettibone 12" master dub)". CD

A 2LP set that features some of the bigger Salsoul cuts that reined during Larry Levan's days at the Paradise Garage. Titles include "Make It Last Forever (unreleased mix)" by Inner Life, "How High" by Salsoul Orchestra, "The Greatest Performance Of My Life" by Loleatta Holloway, "First Time Around" by Skyy, "Double Cross" by First Choice, and "I Got My Mind Made Up" by Instant Funk. (Note: This item is not for sale online until 7:00am on Sunday, April 23. It is in limited supply – and by nature of the Record Store Day rules it will be offered for sale first to customers who visit the Dusty Groove retail outlet in Chicago the morning of Saturday, April 22. It will not be pre-sold or reserved in any way. However, after 7:00am on April 23 we will offer up whatever we have left for sale online.) LP, Vinyl record album

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". LP, Vinyl record album

A heavy package of work from the legendary Skyy – the funky club combo headed by Randy Muller after his work with BT Express and Brass Construction! With Skyy, Muller honed his groove even more than before – creating a really tight focus on bass-heavy bottoms, and focusing all instruments in the group into a solidly soaring sound that showed that funk was alive and well on the dancefloor – even well beyond the disco years – as you'll hear in this collection of work that not only includes Salsoul Records classics by Skyy, but also later work for Capitol and Warner too. The 2CD set really runs the gamut of Skyy sounds – and links their disco material with some great later 80s grooves too – on titles that include "The Groove Is Bad", "First Time Around (12" mix)", "Call Me", "Let's Celebrate (12" mix)", "Real Love", "Up & Over", "Start Of A Romance", "Givin It To You (12" special mix)", "Bad Boy (12" version)", "When You Touch Me", "Get Into The Beat", "Movin Violation", "Let Love Shine (12" version)", "You Got Me Up", "Love Plane", "Skyyzoo (12" mix)", "Fallin In Love Again", "Disco Dancin", and "Superlove". CD

A lost 70s salsa session – one that pairs the vocal talents of Roberto Torres with the instrumental work of trumpet Chocolate Armenteros – very much in the modern traditional style of some of the best mid 70s Salsoul Latin recordings. Tracks are relatively short, and the main focus is on Torres' vocals – and tracks include "El Castigador", "Ya Mismo", "Dejame Tranquilo", "Falsas Palabras", "Barco Sin Rumbo", "Para Que Aprendas", and "Un Caminante Con Salsa". CD

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". LP, Vinyl record album

Two nice little groovers from Aura – 80s club numbers with a sound that's less disco than some of the other work on Salsoul. "Are You Single" is really the best one here – a catchy track with a really great hook, snapping along at a fast midtempo pace, with a clean and simple groove! 12-inch, Vinyl record

Excellent work from Aurra – one of the most soulful acts on the legendary Salsoul label, a Slave offshoot group with a very similar groove! The set brings together 24 tracks that Aurra recorded for Salsoul – the bulk of most of their albums, plus some additional tracks from 12" singles – a format that the group really dominated for the label at the time. Titles include "Who Are You", "Nasty Disposition", "Kingston Lady", "Keep On Doin It", "Baby Love", "You Can't Keep Walking", "Live & Let Live", "Undercover Lover", "When I Come", "Are You Single (12" mix)", "Summer Lovin (12" mix)", "Checking You Out (12" mix)", and "A Little Love". CD

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". LP, Vinyl record album

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

A killer Norman Harris/Philly club classic, issued here on a reissue 12" that includes the original radio version of the track, plus 3 remixes by Clivilles & Cole – "David's Theme", "David's Jam", and "Love Mix". 12-inch, Vinyl record

You might know Tommy Stewart for his rare solo album – or for his underground work on the Atlanta scene of the late 70s – and here, he really makes for some fresh sounds for the Salsoul label, by bringing in a lot more funk at the bottom than usual for the mostly-disco imprint – at a level that really makes the album a unique set all the way through! Rhythms are at the core – and usually snap along at a level that's full, but super-tight – kind of late blacksploitation funk, with just enough kick for the dancefloor, but no throwaway disco cliches at all. And while there's a lady on the front cover, and a bit of female vocals on the record, the main focus is instrumental – sometimes with a sweet harmonica or bluesy guitar in the lead. Titles include "Hey Music Man", "Hambone", "Win or Lose", "One For Jo Jo", "This Masquerade", and "Big Fat Juicy Fun". LP, Vinyl record album

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! 12-inch, Vinyl record

The second album from Instant Funk – and a really fully developed batch of tunes that 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 that snap and crackle with a few nice disco breaks! Titles include "It's Cool", "Funk N Roll", "What Can I Do For You", "Can You See Where I'm Coming From", and "You Want My Love". CD

One of the greatest tracks ever from this legendary Philly backing combo – a sweetly tippling bit of disco that really soars on this 12" single! The track builds with a full feel, then snaps into some clapping rhythms and funky guitar that show that that the group more than live up to their name! Backed up here by the great "Wide World Of Sports" theme – the kind of track that sounds surprisingly wonderful as a club tune! 12-inch, Vinyl record

If "Hit & Run" was always like this, it wouldn't be a crime! The track's a bouncing joyous number, and one of Loleatta's first bit club tunes – really grooving with a gently funky approach that has lots of great Salsoul Orchestra touches underneath! Great arrangements and production by Norman Harris, too! 12-inch, Vinyl record

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". LP, Vinyl record album

The first-ever group-spanning collection of work from the family of Slave – the late 70s funk powerhouse that was also linked to the group's Aurra and Steve Arrington's Hall Of Fame! The package is heavy on work from Slave – that bass-heavy group who really revolutionized the sound of funk in the late 70s – creating a lean groove that was tight and right on the money, and providing a perfect platform for so many new artists to leap off into the 80s! The group also boasted members Steve Washington and Steve Arrington – the former of whom would launch Aurra, a great funk group famous for their Salsoul Records material – the latter of whom was lead singer Steve Arrington, who'd enjoy a great run under his own name in the 80s! This package brings together a massive amount of greatness from everyone involved – Aurra tracks that include "Are You Single", "Checking You Out", "Make Up Your Mind", "Such A Feeling", and "In The Mood To Groove"; Steve Arrington cuts "You Meet My Approval", "Weak At The Knees", "Feel So Real", and "Dancin In The Key Of Life"; and Slave cuts that include "Slide", "Screw Your Wig On Tite", "Are You Ready For Love", "Stellar Fungk", "Feel My Love", "Shine", "Funky Lady", "Snap Shot", "Party Lites", "Life Can Be Happy", "Great American Funk Song", "Stone Jam", "Sizzlin Hot", "Watching You", "Son Of Slide", "Party Hardy", and "Drac Is Back". 44 cuts in all! CD

The first-ever group-spanning collection of work from the family of Slave – the late 70s funk powerhouse that was also linked to the group's Aurra and Steve Arrington's Hall Of Fame! The package is heavy on work from Slave – that bass-heavy group who really revolutionized the sound of funk in the late 70s – creating a lean groove that was tight and right on the money, and providing a perfect platform for so many new artists to leap off into the 80s! The group also boasted members Steve Washington and Steve Arrington – the former of whom would launch Aurra, a great funk group famous for their Salsoul Records material – the latter of whom was lead singer Steve Arrington, who'd enjoy a great run under his own name in the 80s! This package brings together a massive amount of greatness from everyone involved – Aurra tracks that include "Are You Single", "Checking You Out", "Make Up Your Mind", "Such A Feeling", and "In The Mood To Groove"; Steve Arrington cuts "You Meet My Approval", "Weak At The Knees", "Feel So Real", and "Dancin In The Key Of Life"; and Slave cuts that include "Slide", "Screw Your Wig On Tite", "Are You Ready For Love", "Stellar Fungk", "Feel My Love", "Shine", "Funky Lady", "Snap Shot", "Party Lites", "Life Can Be Happy", "Great American Funk Song", "Stone Jam", "Sizzlin Hot", "Watching You", "Son Of Slide", "Party Hardy", and "Drac Is Back". 44 cuts in all! CD

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 kind 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". CD features an insane number of bonus tracks – 12 more titles that include "Hell Of A Man", "Pride In Your Stride", "This Ain't No Time To Be Giving Up", "Hey Lady", "Get Ready For A Biggie", "Maybe It's You", "Break Song", and "I Can't See You Loving Nobody Else But Me". CD

Claudja Barry makes the move from Salsoul to a bigger label – but given that this album, like the previous one, was licensed from the German Lollipop company, the same creative team is in place! The style's nicely stark at time – kind of a better version of some of the poppy Munich disco by bigger acts – with a post-Moroder blend of keyboards and tightly controled rhythms – all topped by sultry vocals from Barry. Titles include "Boogie Woogie Dancin Shoes", "Cold Fire", "Give It Up", "Heavy Makes You Happy", "Nobody But You", and "Boogie Tonight". LP, Vinyl record album

Collection of tracks from Joe's Salsoul years – focusing mostly on the early Latin funk sides that gave the label its name. Titles include "Aftershower Funk", "The Bottle", "Ordinary Guy (Afrofilipino)", "Break Down Dead Ahead", "Latin Strut", "Latin Lover", "When We Get Married", "Ling Ching Tong", and the extended "Meztizo Suite". CD

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". CD

One of the best Curtom dancefloor projects from the label's later disco years – an all-out clubby set from vocalist Ava Cherry, recorded both at Curtom and Sigma Sound! Unlike other Curtom disco efforts, which almost seem to carry an apology for taking a straighter singer onto the dancefloor, this set has an unabashedly joyous feel – one that's perfect for Ava's richly soulful vocals, which hit the backings here with the same force as some of the best disco divas on Salsoul. Arrangements are by Bobby Eli and Gil Askey – and titles include "You Never Loved Me", "I Just Can't Shake The Feeling", "Where There's Smoke There's Fire", "Gimme Your Lovin", "Single Woman Married Man", and "I'm Always Ready". LP, Vinyl record album

Some alternate versions of some great club tunes, like "Dance And Shake Your Tambourine", "Nice & Naasty", "Salsoul Hustle" and "Dance Your Ass Off". 9 tracks in all. LP, Vinyl record album

The Trammps are still burning strong at the end of the 70s – never losing their Philly groove despite a run on the charts and much bigger fame than most of their contemporaries – and in a way, the album's almost a back-to-basics affair that's pure Philly all the way! Arrangements here are by Norman Harris, Ron Kersey, and Ron Baker – who've taken the group into a mode that's perhaps got some of the new club touches being explored more at Salsoul than Philly International – but which still works tremendously well for the group. Tracks are all full, flowing, and and aimed at the dancefloor – and although there's not really any standout hits or hooks here, that aspect of the album is almost a welcome relief, given that the group could be going for easy hits at this point. Titles include "Love Insurance Policy", "Whole World's Dancing", "My Love It's Never Been Better", "Soul Bones", "Love Magnet", and "More Good Times To Remember". LP, Vinyl record album

A killer collection of Joe Bataan's Latin Soul work for Fania Records – all groundbreaking stuff recorded in the years before his bigger fame on Salsoul! The tunes are incredible – blending together sweet soul, Latin rhythms, and an occasional bit of funk – all served up by one of the most pointedly personal talents in both soul and Latin music! Joe really breaks our hearts on tunes like "What Good is a Castle", "Uptown", "My Opera", and "Special Girl" – but also grooves his way into our soul on the jammers "Puerto Rico Me Llama" and "Aguanta La Lengua". Other tracks include "Mambo De Bataan" and "Muneca". CD

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". CD

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". CD features 4 bonus tracks – including "Where Will It End", "Law & Order (Walter Gibbons orig 12" mix)", "Cheaters Never Win (Walter Gibbons orig 12" mix)", and "Just As Long As I Got You (Walter Gibbons orig 12" mix)". CD

A great bit of Philly from Salsoul – done in an older mode that has True Example really stretching out in a harmony sort of way, alongside deeper groove-heavy support on the backings! "Love Is Finally" is a heck of a great number – really hook-heavy and catchy, with alternating male and female lead vocals that almost recall a classic soul duet mode. "As Long" is great too – a bit mellower and more compressed – bubbling along like a key early 70s radio hit. 12-inch, Vinyl record

A real turning point for the great Loleatta Holloway – and a record that really finds a great way to unleash her vocals for the dancefloor! Loleatta got her start as more of a traditional deep soul diva – but here, she really takes off with a sweet Philly groove – thanks to production from Norman Harris, who creates these incredible rhythms that really push Holloway forward strongly! Gone are the sad tears of earlier weepies, and in their place is a strong sense of joy and power – Loleatta's very positive, very progressive, and very dedicated to standing her own ground! Includes the big single "Hit & Run", plus "Dreamin", "We're Getting Stronger", "Ripped Off", and versions of "That's How Heartaches Are Made" and Curtis Mayfield's "What Now". LP, Vinyl record album

A wild cut from the great Joey Pastrana – a Latin leader that most folks remember from the boogaloo and early salsa years – but who steps out here with a sweetly electric groove from the 80s! In a way, the cut's similar to the shift that Joe Bataan made at Salsoul during the decade – picking up strong currents from 80s club and even an influence from hip hop – as Joey calls out at the start of the track in a great way, before sliding into a warmer soul vocal! 12-inch, Vinyl record