Unlikely Salsoul

[Robbie]

One of the songs from Salsoul Records that has always struck me as being un-Salsoul-like is "Mellow Lovin'" by Judy Cheeks. To me, this song sounds like an Abba-meets-Yvonne Elliman, produced by Benny & Bjorn (with Anna and Frida singing background). I would think this song would come from RSO records and not Salsoul.

[Giovanni]

Correct, but we must remember that Salsoul, particularly in the early years, picked up from European and Canadian labels several records not issued in the US (ORS, Silvetti, Kebekelektrik, Claudjia Barry, Flashlight, Gaz, Kongas) before estabilishing the "Salsoul sound" of the later years.

[Robbie]

Giovanni--

You are right about the groups you mentioned as well. I think Salsoul Classics Vols. 3&4 is a great place to hear those "unlikely" Salsoul tunes. I think the "Salsoul sound" was well established before many of those imports came out. In fact; in the liner notes of Vols. 3&4 they say when the songs were recorded. ORS' "Moonboots" was recorded in early 1977, Kebeletrick's "War Dance" in mid-1978. Judy Cheeks' "Mellow Lovin'" was recorded in mid-1978 as well.

One song I'll also add to the "unlikely Salsoul" list is Skyy's "Call Me" (1981). I would've never known that song was on the Salsoul label.

[markydefad]

I mentioned it before elsewhere:

"The Greatest Show On Earth" by Metropolis.

The Munich Machine meets Salsoul--great record!!!!!

[QUINNY]

See also Chilled/Disco which is a double CD collection of Salsoul material.
Marky: Only 'cos I saw it in one of your lists, I have to say that to my ears Eddie Holman - This will be a night to Remember, sounds very un Salsoul. More like a much earlier soul record. Do you think Eddie had some influence on the rhythm pattern used? Perhaps he didn't like the accepted Salsoul sound? Anyone know.
Also Love Committee - Love is You, sounds more old soul than Salsoul.

[DanceMan]

I have to disagree about Eddie Holman....I thought his "This Will Be A Night To Remember," was very Salsoul..particularly the piano riffs; I think the fact that it was such a fast-paced record at that point in the Salsoul musical run, it may have been off-putting to some, but then again, for that matter, so was First Choice's direction with their Great Expectations/Hold Your Horses galloping pace....their sound and production team was totally un-Salsoul....but it is hard to think of their record home as anywhere else....

[JussiK]

One of the more unlikely Salsoul realeses was Cellophane's "Super Queen/Dance With Me" 12" from 1978. Somewhat similar to Boris Midney or Amant but still quite original in style this Walter Gibbons mix was one of the first recordings to blow our minds with distorted echo, bizarre eq and other then new and sensational sounding effects. Seek this out at any cost people.

[jazz_pilgrim]

A good example of the diversity of music under the Salsoul label can be found in Ripple's excellent LP "Sons Of The Gods", from which came the Salsoul classic we all know and love, "The Beat Goes On". I picked it up in Toronto when I was over in Canada in 1988.

The title track is a blinding piece of left-field jazz fusion with driving rhythms excellently supported by some surging keyboard and electric guitar solos...The original was done by Charles Earland. Definitely not the Salsoul Orchestra/Vince Montana sound!! But excellent all the same!

And on the same LP is "Do What You Wanna", which can basically be described as a piece of "blaxploitation" funk. Very powerful vocals and words.

But then again, after having heard their early-Seventies funky stuff eg "Funky Song" from '74 (my research shows that they are indeed one and the same band), in the case of Ripple, it is probably the Salsoul-style "The Beat Goes On" which is the exception for them!! :grin: :grin:




_________________
If it moves - funk it!!

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: jazz_pilgrim on 2002-09-26 06:49 ]</font>

[jim]

On 2002-07-14 21:56, Robbie wrote:
Giovanni--

You are right about the groups you mentioned as well. I think Salsoul Classics Vols. 3&4 is a great place to hear those "unlikely" Salsoul tunes. I think the "Salsoul sound" was well established before many of those imports came out. In fact; in the liner notes of Vols. 3&4 they say when the songs were recorded. ORS' "Moonboots" was recorded in early 1977, Kebeletrick's "War Dance" in mid-1978. Judy Cheeks' "Mellow Lovin'" was recorded in mid-1978 as well.

One song I'll also add to the "unlikely Salsoul" list is Skyy's "Call Me" (1981). I would've never known that song was on the Salsoul label.

I'm not too sure,but I think Call Me was Salsouls only #1 POP hit.

[DanceMan]

Jim, Skyy's biggest national reach was at #26 on the Pop Charts....actually, the label never had a #1 Pop Hit (not that they didn't deserve one, especially with acts like First Choice, Loleatta Holloway, Skyy, Aurra, and the Salsoul Orchestra in constant release). Salsoul's biggest hit nationally was Instant Funk's "I Got My Mind Made Up," which reached #20 in 1979...of course, 1979 was probably the most popular Disco-to-Pop crossover year of the ERA for any record label, but we already knew that, didn't we, Jim!!