TJM/Loose Change

[SandraDee]

I wasn't aware of these Tom Moulton acts/LPs at the time ('79) & have caught up with them in recent years thankfully. I was surprised though when I found that they were from '79 as I think they have a somewhat earlier 70s 'Philly'/Salsoul-type sound (like First Choice or Double Exposure or the O'Jays for example). The Philly or Salsoul sound had generally moved on by '79 e.g. Candido or the Jones Girls. Does anyone know whether Tom intended these LPs for Casablanca to have a 'retro' sound?

[Disco Funk]

I wasn't aware of these Tom Moulton acts/LPs at the time ('79) & have caught up with them in recent years thankfully. I was surprised though when I found that they were from '79 as I think they have a somewhat earlier 70s 'Philly'/Salsoul-type sound (like First Choice or Double Exposure or the O'Jays for example). The Philly or Salsoul sound had generally moved on by '79 e.g. Candido or the Jones Girls. Does anyone know whether Tom intended these LPs for Casablanca to have a 'retro' sound?

The Grace Jones albums from that time (Fame and Pride) also have that sound. If you really want retro sound, you should check out 'The Whole World's Dancing' by The Trammps. It was released in '79 but it sounds like it could have been from '76. The albums after that album didn't have the old philly sound, although there were a few cuts on Mix It Up that were pretty good.

Going back to TJM and Loose Change, how did you learn about their albums? If it was from buying that UK made two-albums-on-1 CD, that CD was terrible. Not only did they use poor quality source material (scratchy vinyl records) they faded out the TJM songs half way. In other words, songs that are 5 minutes on the CD are really 9 to 10 minute cuts on the LP.

The Loose Change is the real gem. I totally love that album from front to back, although their version of Love Is Just A Heartbeat Away doesn't do anything for me. All the other cuts are just incredible. I've ranted and raved about this record a few times in the past. I was lucky enough to get the Japanese pressed CD on Dusty Groove when they had it for around $11. I don't know if its still in print. Definitely mastered from the tapes. Unfortunately, the only song they did special remixes for was All Night Man. The LP is 6 minutes, the 12" is 8 minutes (the Japanese CD has this version) and I stumbled across a 45 with Straight From The Heart on the A side, and an instrumental mix of All Night Man (6 min) on the flip. Just in case you were wondering...

Disco Funk