Unidisc Music Inc. - what happened?

[neonlights]

I was just wondering if anyone knows what's happening with the Unidisc label these days.. I was checking their website (http://www.unidisc.com) a few weeks ago to see if I could find some info on their recent Salsoul album reissues (which for whatever reason are really hard to find) and I couldn't find any info, since they hadn't updated in a while.. But then I go to the site a few days later and the website is gone... I'm hoping the site was taken down to be overhauled and updated. Then again, I'm wondering if maybe the company has gone out of business or is in financial trouble.. It would probably explain the hard-to-find recent releases and the disappearance of their website..

I'd be really sad if they did go out of business.. Despite their quality control being a little lacking at times, for the most part their releases were of excellent quality, especially when compared to some other disco reissue labels out there (Hot Productions anyone?). Not to mention that they were the only ones who were as comprehensive (ie. they seemed to have kept most of the Prelude catalogue in print) and who had any interest whatsoever in releasing this stuff..

Just wondering if anyone out there remembers their email address (the URL is still registered, so perhaps the email still works) or if anyone has a phone number that I could contact them with.. It would be greatly appreciated..

Thanks!

[Videoskooter]

I noticed that problem too since a little while. I can't connect either but this info is in my database:

Unidisc Music inc. 57-B Hymus Blvd.
Pointe-Claire, PQ H9R 4T2
Contact: George Cucuzzella, President: Anna Spano, GM
Tel: (514) 697-6000 Fax: (514) 697-6864
Email: inform@unidisc.com
Web: www.unidisc.com

Hope it's still active!

[neonlights]

Thanks so much Videoskooter! I hope so too..

[NickNack]

Salsoul is owned by:

BETHLEHEM MUSIC COMPANY INC.
16 EAST 40TH STREET
NEW YORK, NY 10016

Sorry, no web or email address on the disc.

[Davicillo]

Try this for the Salsoul stuff;

www.salsoul.co.uk

[neonlights]

Thanks NickNack and Davicillo.. I emailed Unidisc already, I might try to contact Bethlehem music if I don't get anything.. I love the stuff Suss'd has been doing with the Salsoul stuff in the UK, but unfortunately I don't think they have anything to do with the reissues that I was referring to.. Thanks though :)

I don't know if anyone here has come across them or has obtained one.. These were actual album reissues done by Unidisc, released last year in 2004 or 2003.. They came as a surprise to me when I found out.. All of the Instant Funk, Loleatta Holloway, Salsoul Orchestra, First Choice and Bunny Sigler albums done for the label were reissued with bonus tracks.. as well as albums by others like The Jammers, Charo and Candido to name a few.. I'm not sure about the full extent of the program, but it was quite comprehensive.. All of them have a little "glowing" Salsoul logo on the front covers.. There's one guy on ebay selling a bunch of them, until recently that's been the only place where I've found them.. www.amazon.co.uk now lists a lot of them, but not www.amazon.com or the Unidisc retailers at buymusicbymail.com or DJMR.. it's a bit of a mystery really.. I'm curious to know if any of these CDs sound good or not, or if Unidisc will make them more widely available..

I found some pics of one.. cat. no. AGEK-2488

[Davicillo]

Charly records UK reissued some Salsoul CDs.

Salsoul Orchestra - 'Salsoul Orchestra' CPCD8059
'' '' - 'Nice n nasty' CPCD8077
'' '' - 'Street orchestra' CPCD8098
First Choice - 'Delusions' CPCD8060
'' '' - 'Hold your horses' CPCD8096
Instant Funk - 'Instant funk' CPCD8075
'' '' - 'The funk is on' CPCD8097
Double Exposure - 'Ten percent' CPCD8062
Candido - 'Dancin' & prancin' CPCD8074

Hope this helps. I think some of these have been deleted but you may find them elsewhere.

[BrunoRepublic]

It should be noted that the Charly releases are needle drops, although very good ones. I don't know about the last batch of Unidisc ones, but the 12" collection ones were needle drops... not bad, but they should've used a better cartridge...

[neonlights]

Well I got a reply from Anna Spano of Unidisc today and to paraphrase; she said the website should be up and running, but nevertheless, it still isn't.. Though I suppose that means they are still in business and everything's as usual on that front, so that's good at least.. So big thanks again for the contact info and pardon my over-reaction earlier :P

Thanks Davicillo for the list of the Charly reissues.. I have a few of them so far (the First Choice, Candido and Loleatta Holloway ones).. They definitely do sound good for needle drops.. I was beginning to wonder about that myself.. I guess that explains why they sound crystal clear, yet on closer listening don't seem to sound as "full"..

edit: Aug. 31 - looks like the Unidisc website is indeed back up & running :)

[MrDap]

My response is five years after the original post but you can consider it an update. Unidisc is still going. I just picked up their release of Hold Your Horses by First Choice with 5 bonus tracks. The quality of sound is delicious. I'm having a tough time deciding whose remix of "Double Cross" is better: Tom Moulton's or Larry Levin's. Unidisc is currently updating their meager website. The top 100 list is woeful; not a single Salsoul artist is listed. They've hooked up with ITunes so if you're in love with your IPod that's the site for you. After calling Unidisc to see if they had a catalog of releases I came away thinking that their operation is inept and their employees uninformed. The woman I spoke to didn't know if there is a catalog, didn't know when the website update would be finished and didn't know if Unidisc had a distribution deal to release their productions in the States. Other than that though? They're a top flight organization. I shouldn't criticize them too much because what they have released so far is outstanding. I'm hoping they can throw together First Choice's The Player album and put it out there, even though that was under the Philly Groove label.

[RobbaDobba]

Unidisc has always been very hit and miss in the CD era. I always proceed with caution on their releases. EQ's could be all over the place...needledrops abound..."modern sounding" remixes unlabeled as such on comps...

[Disco Funk]

After calling Unidisc to see if they had a catalog of releases I came away thinking that their operation is inept and their employees uninformed. The woman I spoke to didn't know if there is a catalog, didn't know when the website update would be finished and didn't know if Unidisc had a distribution deal to release their productions in the States. Other than that though? They're a top flight organization. I shouldn't criticize them too much because what they have released so far is outstanding. I'm hoping they can throw together First Choice's The Player album and put it out there, even though that was under the Philly Groove label.

They're an odd one, considering they've been in the disco music business since the late 70s or so. I don't know if the people who put it together came from another music label.

But they are the only ones who not only put out almost all those Salsoul and Gold Mind LPs onto CD, they also put on bonus cuts! And some of those bonus cuts turn out to be previously unreleased mixes from back in the day!!

Perhaps the fact that they're so disorganized allows them to fly under the radar with copyrights and such? :) It would be nice if the websites that carry their product, like Amazon or HMV, would provide proper track listings and audio samples.

Unidisc @ Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.ht...reative=390957

Unidisc @ Amazon UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/redirect....creative=19450

Disco Funk