Salsoul Orchestra UK Release(s)?

**johnnylilo** · April 24th, 2003, 04:15 PM

:-? Just wondering if anyone out there has a full discography of Salsoul Orchestra releases on vinyl in the UK (including catalogue no's) or if they have a site URL I could look at.

I purchased a 12" single of Ooh I Love It (Love Break) by Salsoul Orchestra today which I think is a Shep Pettibone Remix from 1983 (although the label says 1975). The single has a black label with the salsoul logo in silver and cat no. SALT 102.

**billywho** · April 24th, 2003, 05:04 PM

Not sure about UK releases specifically, but if you want general Salsoul Orchestra discographies, with catalogue numbers, you could have a look at the following sites for starters.

http://www.black-music-collectors.co...l_12_part4.htm

http://www.jahsonic.com/SalsoulOrchestra.html

http://www.zeiger.franken.de/Labels/...Salsoul_1.html

(Thanks to Greg Wilson for pointing me towards the last one - an amazing discography site)

**Greg Wilson** · April 24th, 2003, 05:07 PM

You purchased a fantastic record there.

Don't know where you'd find a UK discography for the Salsoul Orchestra. You might have already come across this, which lists all the 12" releases on the Salsoul label in the US:

http://www.zeiger.franken.de/labels/...salsoul_1.html

The Salsoul label was distributed by RCA in the UK if that's any help.

**Greg Wilson** · April 24th, 2003, 05:09 PM

Looks like Billywho just beat me to it!

**billywho** · April 24th, 2003, 05:55 PM

Originally Written by Greg Wilson

Looks like Billywho just beat me to it!

He he....

You get the credit for it though. What a fantastic site. By coincidence, I've been listening to "TABASKO! The Salsoul Remix Project" tonight. Another Ian Dewhirst compilation from 93.

**Greg Wilson** · April 24th, 2003, 06:41 PM

Hi Billywho: Yeah, released by Beechwood, who put out the Mastercuts series.

Johnnylilo: Don't know if you're aware of this, but there were 2 volumes of 'Classic Salsoul Mastercuts' released in 1993. Volume 2 includes 'Ooh, I Love It (Love Break)', whilst the first volume features no less than 3 Salsoul Orchestra tracks, 'Nice And Nasty', 'You're Just The Right Size' and 'Runaway' (featuring Loleatta Holloway). If you come across these (released on vinyl and CD), they're well worth a purchase.

**DISCODISK** · April 24th, 2003, 08:29 PM

johnnylilo i dont know how old you are but dont get too exited about u.k salsoul releases they released nothing exceptional here,gregs right salsoul beind distributed by r.c.a but prior to that releases were on the epic label salsoul orcs first two releases salsoul hustle and get happy were on epic,not a sniff of a hit on epic or r.c.a /salsoul which is really sad as there should have been hits,all are fairly easy to find the most in demand eddie holmans this could be a night to remember, there was no 12" of that :( no spring rain :o its funny as richard searling was working for r.c.a at the time

**Greg Wilson** · April 24th, 2003, 10:05 PM

Hi Discodisk: Never realised that about Epic, it must have switched to RCA in 76? I also forgot all about Richard Searling working for RCA (from their Manchester office with Derek Brandwood if my memory serves me right). That would have been when I first met him, going over to Manchester with Terry Lennaine, the Liverpool Soul show presenter.

It is odd on reflection that Salsoul failed to make any real impact here (apart from in the specialist clubs) especially given Richard's involvement with the UK label. I've always had Instant Funk's 'Got My Mind Made Up' down as a Top 20 hit but I've just checked my Guinness Book Of Hit Singles and I was shocked, considering how huge it was in the clubs at the time, that it didn't get any higher than #46. Unless I'm missing something obvious, that must have been the highest placed single on Salsoul in the UK.

What a waste of a great label. Almost criminal.

**QUINNY** · April 25th, 2003, 03:07 AM

Greg: Not trying to be negative, but don't you think that Salsoul didn't score in the UK 'cos it just wasn't to the UK's general taste in Disco music? For me and many of my contemporaries in this area, much of it was just the wrong side of the line when it came to audience reaction. It's really strange 'cos Salsoul was a label that we really looked out for and my perception as an ex DJ would be that it was one of those labels that scored more often than not. Personally, I had visions of weary, OLD session musicians making a lot of it, especially the Salsoul Orchestra releases. It just had a slightly 'worn at the edges' feel to it and yet at the same time it was maybe just a little too slick for the masses. I know that doesn't make sense, but do you understand what I'm trying to say?
Instant Funk's ' I Got My Mind Made Up' was a notable exception, and #46 was actually quite an achievement for the time.
What about Candido's 'Jingo' which was an even bigger club sound? An absolute anthem in these parts.

Yes, Salsoul is a label I'm ambivalent about.

**billywho** · April 25th, 2003, 01:58 PM

Took a look at my copy of the Official MusicMaster Soul Catalgoue (Edition 1, 1994), and the Salsoul Orchestra UK releases it lists are the following (not sure how authoritative this is)

Christmas Time / New York medley
12" EPCA 131883 (Nov 81)
7" EPCA 1883 (Nov 81)

How High
LP SSLP 1518 (Dec 79)

Little Drummer Boy / Merry Christmas All
7" SSOL 113 (Nov 78)

Ooh I Love It
12" SALT 102 (Mar 83)

The Salsoul Orchestra
CD CPCD 8059 (Nov 94)
LP CPLP 8059 (Nov 94)

Short Shorts / It's A New Day
7" SZ 2037 (Jul 77)

Tangerine / Get Happy
7" EPC 4003 (Feb 76)

You're Just The Right Size / Speedy Gonzalez (not on reissue) / Runaway (on reissue only)
7" SSOL 110 (Jun 78)
12" 12 SALSA 5 (May 93)

**jazz_pilgrim** · April 25th, 2003, 04:24 PM

I've got quite a lot of Salsoul stuff on UK and US release. And Discodisk is quite right - the first releases were through Epic. I have the Salsoul Hustle Lp on UK Epic. I also have the 1983 version of Ooh I Love It on that very same 12-inch that johnnylilo mentioned. A great release it was too...

I agree with you totally, Greg, on your comments about the lamentable lack of success that Salsoul had over here.... Jingo was an anthem, as Quinny said, - I remember it being played on a regular basis in the commercial discos as well as the specialist clubs well into the mid 80T's ..... and when the 7-inch of Got My Mind Made Up was first floating around, I remember the SENSATION it caused in the clubs... we couldn't get enought of it!! I think I first heard Froggy spin that one, I seem to recall at a all-dayer somewhere, and we all went WILD!!

You would have thought that one of the Salsoul records would have charted eventually!! But I'm not too bothered - it's not my loss! When you listen to the commercial disco shows on today's radio - like Club Classics on Heart - I feel sorry for the people who tune into that and know only the commercial tunes and miss out on all these gems - including the whole Salsoul output!!! If only those listeners were to dig a little deeper - who knows - they might actually get to like the Salsoul sound?

:)

**Greg Wilson** · April 25th, 2003, 07:24 PM

Billywho: pretty sure that's not everything, I remember being mailed a 7" of 'Salsoul 3001' for a start, and how about 'Nice And Nasty'? Discodisk, we need you to fill in the gaps.

Quinny: to each his own, I personally think it's down to poor promotion rather than poor quality. Tracks like 'Ten Percent', 'Sing Sing', 'The Beat Goes On' and, as we've already mentioned, 'I Got My Mind Made Up' should have sold far more copies than they did, I've no doubt about that.

Candido's 'Jingo', as you rightly pointed out, was enormous here (both with the mainstream and specialist audiences as Jazz_Pilgrim observed), yet it wasn't released on 12" in the UK until it was revived by the Excalibur label in 1981 (reaching number 55 on the British chart). Had this track been brought out at the right time and properly pushed it would have been top 20 at the very least. This must have been one of the most enduringly popular Disco tracks I had the pleasure of playing, which within a few years had achieved classic status not only with Disco fans but also on the Jazz-Funk scene (hence the belated Excalibur release).

The fact that we've already put so much energy into this thread (when it was originally just a straightforward request for info) illustrates what an important label Salsoul was. I doubt Johnnylilo's going to expect to see so much comment when he checks back in (it's only been just over a day since his original post!).

**QUINNY** · April 26th, 2003, 06:05 AM

[quote="Greg Wilson"]

Quinny: to each his own, I personally think it's down to poor promotion rather than poor quality. Tracks like 'Ten Percent', 'Sing Sing', 'The Beat Goes On' and, as we've already mentioned, 'I Got My Mind Made Up' should have sold far more copies than they did, I've no doubt about that.

Greg: I agree with Sing Sing and The Beat Goes On.

Candido's 'Jingo', as you rightly pointed out, was enormous here (both with the mainstream and specialist audiences as Jazz_Pilgrim observed), yet it wasn't released on 12" in the UK until it was revived by the Excalibur label in 1981 (reaching number 55 on the British chart).

Greg: I hate to be a smartass, but Jingo was released on 12" in 1979 b/w Dancin' and Prancin' which was the official A side. I've already admitted elsewhere that I played Dancin' and Prancin' more than Jingo as I very rarely bothered playing the other sides of 12" records. My loss at the time.
The fact that we've already put so much energy into this thread (when it was originally just a straightforward request for info) illustrates what an important label Salsoul was.

Greg: Yep!!

**johnnylilo** · April 26th, 2003, 07:08 AM

Amazing. I didnt think my post would create such debate about the Salsoul Orchestra and Salsoul Records.

Thank you all for the information and your views, particularly Greg Wilson, Billywho, jazz pilgim and discodisk.

For the record, I cannot claim to know or have heard of all Salsoul Orchestra's Releases or the full Salsoul Catalogue but my favourite Salsoul Orchestra tune is "212 North 12th" which I only have on David Mancuso Presents the Loft Vol 2 LP. I think this is a top piece of music. 8)

I bought Candido's Jingo on Excaliber UK 12" the other week and much prefer Dancin & Prancin although Jingo is a classic!

**Greg Wilson** · April 26th, 2003, 07:19 AM

Quinny: My mistake over 'Jingo' 12" on Salsoul, you're right, it was issued back-to-back with 'Dancin' And Prancin'' in '79. For some reason I always remember playing 'Jingo' from the album, the bald headed guy on the cover forever etched in my mind from back in those days.

As you pointed out, you completely missed 'Jingo' at the time, as the record company had placed the emphasis on 'Dancin' And Prancin''. Another example of RCA UK getting it wrong when it came to Salsoul (not that 'D & P' wasn't a good track in its on right, but 'Jingo' had that special dancefloor something).

**billywho** · April 26th, 2003, 08:02 AM

I'm slightly on the side of Dancin' And Prancin' over Jingo, though, as everyone is saying, they are both great tunes.

**darrens** · April 30th, 2003, 11:33 AM

The Salsoul Orchestra did actually have one top 75 hit in the UK (yet another to miss the top 40, though) and that was with Charo on "Dance a little bit closer".

The chart was only a Top 50 until May 1978, so some of the Orchestra's early hits could have been amongst the Top 75 sellers, although we'll just have to speculate over that.

I've got the 7" of both "Salsoul:3001" and "Dance a little bit closer". I maintain that I hadn't heard the latter track before I bought it :roll:

**Greg Wilson** · April 30th, 2003, 01:44 PM

Hi Darrens: Thanks for pointing that out, I would never have thought 'Dance A Little Bit Closer' was the highest placing Salsoul release in the UK, but at #44 it beats Instant Funk by two positions.