V/A – Mixology: The Definitive Salsoul Mixes

By Gerry Hectic on August 15, 2011

We’ve been inundated with old and new disco of late but you can’t pass up on this 3 CD set that’s been “compiled with love” as its a fiting tribute to Loleatta Holloway and must have: The Definitive Salsoul Mixes!

Here we go then as Harmless take a Disco Discharge sling shot and launch a compilation series called Mixology that concentrates on iconic dance labels starting with none other than Salsoul on a triple CD package – could this be heaven?

Whilst we’ve enjoyed recent Disco re-issue compilations and nu-disco releases, there can be no question that the 31 tracks selected by Ian Dewhirst (all bow and give thanks) are classics in a purist sense.

This ‘definitive’ here represents an incredible selection of artists, DJ/remixers, label execs and people that danced and bought the records on the Salsoul label. And if that doesn’t sound good enough, have an earful of the credits on the including Shep Pettibone, Walter Gibbons, Frankie Knuckles, Tom Moulton and the man of the moment Larry Levan.

Well, when I say moment, DJ Larry Levan is all over the airways/Internet with the tributes to Paradise Garage which, happily coincided with the launch of Salsoul in 1975. Of course, that wasn’t the only club as there was also The Loft, The Gallery, Sanctuary and Galaxy 21 being some of the better known in New York.

As we’ve seen from Walter Gibbon’s Jungle Music, he was the first to remix tracks into 10 minute plus percussive dance heavy tracks that are still with us today. And the first to get such a treatment and a 12” release was Double Exposure’s ‘Ten Percent’ that’s including on CD1 along with other classic club tracks like Joe Bataan’s version of ‘The Bottle’ (originally made famous by Gil Scott Heron (RIP) and Brian Jackson), the house band (who also happened to be PIR’s M.F.S.B.) with ‘You’re Just The Right Size’ (a track that Dewhirst says blew him away when he first heard it in a club in Leeds in the 70s and in contrast, revolted a Student as a recent gig I played whilst I stayed Mr. Diplomacy me at all times of course) and ‘Nice N’ Easy’ plus others.

In truth, most folks would be happy with the content of just the first CD on its own but as a 3CD it just gets better. Not only that, the second CD is a bit of a tribute to Loleatta Holloway who died earlier this year (with Norman Jay promising a ‘Good Times’ 30th Anniversary Carnival tribute) and here are the tracks she’s best known for, the true classics, ‘Getaway’, ‘Hit & Run’ and ‘Runaway’.

There’s other Holloway tracks featured on the other discs and my current favourite is ‘All Abut the Paper’ is like a funky rap reply to Millie Jackson with some trash talk but some beautiful strings and hard horn.

And when you’re as high on love as when you’ve got a burnin’ ‘Love Sensation’ as Loleatta Holloway gets done with a Tom Moulton remix, you can only have one choice…as you’re such a hot sensation. Right on time (didn’t Louie Vega play this a Ministry of Sound last year?)

And for all you ladies called ‘Janis’, you have an anthem. I must admit I can only think of Janis Battersby in my knowledge/poplar culture but this Janis “can’t be so kind to love”. Very much in the post Northern Soul meets Modern Room era but none the less fantastic for that – I’m feelin’ like a wolf in the hills already.

Whilst all this was going on in the US, this period also covered the time of Jazz Funk and Soul All-Dayers in the UK and one hybrid you would have definitely heard everywhere was Candido’s ‘Jingo’. Today it sounds just as good as ‘the’ club dance record of all time (well, if not of all time, extremely high up there in the top 10) as it’s been a tune for me since hearing it at the Mecca in Tottenham High Road (big in the news last week) being my equivalent of Dewhirst’s moment in Leeds).

And not only were there all these brilliant songs, remixes, performers, producers and more, it was a great opportunity to revisit classics such as ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’ by the faboyant Inner Life with Larry Levan on a 12” remix. Normally, you can’t get much higher than that but as you get to the end of this extravagance, the Salsoul guys were getting a bit clever and with The Salsoul Orchestra supergroup with a super production of ‘Take Some Time Out For Love’.

And if you’re thinking that all this is ancient history, guess where the samples came from for Black Box’s ‘Ride On Time’ or Spiller’s ‘Groovejet’?

That said, by 1984 Salsoul had released over 400 records and with the ‘Disco Sucks’ era raining havoc through the record industry, Salsoul at least didn’t close down. They effectively went into hibernation for over 20 years dealing with licencing and re-issue deals. In January this year, the Verve Music Group bought out the family business and it was Ian Dewhirst at Harmless that foresaw that this event was a last chance to get in before closing orders to tell the history of the label in 31 tracks and he’s done a fantastic job.

On a personal note, one word of warning, I’ve had this CD literally on me for about a month and it’s looking a little battered and that’s not how to treat a this compilation – Salsoul’s history deserves respect, love and dancing. And there’s a fantastic booklet with great photos and geeky info; and if you’re still not convinced, this is an essential 2011 purchase.

Reviewed: V/A – Mixology: The Definitive Salsoul Mixes (Harmless) Cat. No. HURTXCD110 Release date: 25th July 2011
Tracklisting:

DISC ONE---
1-01 Bataan – The Bottle (La Botella)(Original Album Mix) (3:29)
1-02 The Salsoul Orchestra – You’re Just The Right Size (Original Album Mix) (4:40)
1-03 Moment Of Truth – Lovin’ You Is Killin’ Me (Original Tom Moulton 12″ Mix) (6:24)
1-04 Double Exposure – Everyman (Original Album Mix) (7:19)
1-05 The Salsoul Orchestra – Nice N’ Nasty (Original Walter Gibbons 12″ Mix)(5:21)
1-06 Double Exposure – Ten Percent (Original Walter Gibbons 12″ Mix)(9:41)
1-07 Silvetti – Spring Rain (Original Tom Moulton 12″ Mix) (5:52)
1-08 Double Exposure – My Love Is Free (Original Tom Moulton 12″ Mix) (9:40)
1-09 Loleatta Holloway – Dreamin’ (Original Album Mix) (6:18)
1-10 Eddie Holman – This Will Be A Night To Remember (Original Tom Moulton 12″ Mix)(5:47)
1-11 Carol Williams – Love Is You (Original 12″ Mix) (5:06)

3-01 Candido – Jingo (Original David Rodriguez 12” Mix) (9:51)
3-02 Candido – Dancin’ & Prancin’ (Original David Rodriguez 12” Mix) (6:53)
3-03 Loleatta Holloway – All About The Paper (Original Bobby DJ Guttadero Album Mix)(6:13)
3-04 Skip Mahoney – Janice (Don’t Be So Blind To Love) (Original Bobby DJ Guttadero Album Mix)(6:59)
3-05 Loleatta Holloway – Love Sensation (Original Tom Moulton 12″ Mix)(6:34)
3-06 Inner Life – Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Original Larry Levan 12″ Mix) (10:26)
3-07 Logg – I Know You Will (Original Larry Levan 12″ Mix) (6:44)
3-08 The Salsoul Orchestra – Take Some Time Out For Love (Original 12″ Mix) (6:22)
3-09 First Choice – Let No Man Put Asunder (Original Frankie Knuckles 12″ Mix) (7:35)
3-10 Leroy Burgess – Heartbreaker (Original Shep Pettibone 12″ Mix)(6:12)

Got it

PANDURITO said:

Got it

This was released last year...I can't believe that I'm just now finding out about it.

i don't have this set but i think i've got everything on it at least twice on vinly and twice on cd. the disc is only £7 on amazon. i have a lot of the harmless records compilations and they are really great

unique said:

i don't have this set but i think i've got everything on it at least twice on vinly and twice on cd. the disc is only £7 on amazon. i have a lot of the harmless records compilations and they are really great

Yeah,most of this stuff has been released on other compilations.But it's a great package.Harmless Records is doing an extraordinary job on these sets.

Caramelpfe said:

I picked this up last year Definitely the best salsoul compilation that's been put together

Don't have it, but I need to get it.

Right now!

TD3 said:

Don't have it, but I need to get it.

Right now!

they did a superb job with this set.I highly recommend it.

Salsoul disco flashback: "Spring Rain" by Silvetti (1976)