bbr Records continue their programme of Salsoul reissues with three classics from the iconic disco label. First up there’s the label-sound-defining 1975 eponymous long player from THE SALSOUL ORCHESTRA. Disco’s finest big band was the brain child of vibraphonist VINCE MONTANA JR who convinced music biz entrepreneurs JOE, KEN and STAN CAYRE of the viability of label that fused soul, dance and disco idioms with Latin flavours… and, like they say, the rest is history. ‘THE SALSOUL ORCHESTRA’ LP was one of the label’s first releases and on the back of the singles ‘The Salsoul Hustle’ and ‘Tangerine’ the album reached a credible #14 on the charts. They’re still highlights and as a bonus here you also get the single edits. Other favourites on the set include ‘You’re Just The Right Size’ and ‘Chicago Bus Stop’.
The two other new bbr/Salsoul albums feature DOUBLE EXPOSURE and INSTANT FUNK. The DOUBLE EXPOSURE set is their classic 1976 debut ‘Ten Percent’. The title cut and ‘My Love Is Free’ – when remixed by WALTER GIBBONS – became disco anthems while the album also included a great version of the 4 TOPS’ ‘Baby I Need Your Loving’ and the controversial self-help song ‘Everyman’. THE INSTANT FUNK album is their eponymous 1979 set which featured their signature song ‘I Got My Mind Made Up’. It kicks things off and to prove you can never get enough of a good thing the bbr people include two remixes of the song – two of five included bonus tracks.
