Wednesday 9 September 2009

The Salsoul Orchestra ”The Salsoul Orchestra”

The Salsoul Orchestra

The Salsoul Orchestra
( LP Salsoul Records, 1975 )
Catalog # SZS 5501


Tracklisting:
A1 Salsoul Hustle (5:04)
Written-By, Arranged By – Vincent Montana, Jr.
A2 Get Happy (3:00)
Written-By, Arranged By – Ron Baker
A3 Chicago Bus Stop (Ooh, I Love It) (4:50)
Written-By, Arranged By – Vincent Montana, Jr.
A4 You’re Just The Right Size (4:30)
Written-By, Arranged By – Vincent Montana, Jr.
B1 Tangerine (4:35)
Arranged By – Vincent Montana, Jr.
Written-By – Johnny Mercer , Victor Schertzinger
B2 Tale Of The Three Cities (6:00)
Written-By, Arranged By – Ron Baker
B3 Salsoul Rainbow (3:45)
Written-By, Arranged By – Vincent Montana, Jr.
B4 Love Letters (3:30)
Arranged By – Vincent Montana, Jr.
Written-By – Edward Heyman , Victor Young

Personnel & Credits:
Artwork By [Art Director] – Richard Lopez
Bass – Gordon Edwards , Jimmy DeJulio , Ron Baker
Cello – Larry Gold , Romeo DeStefano
Drums – Charles Collins , Earl Young
Engineer – Ken Present
Engineer [Assistant] – Arthur Stoppe , Jim Gallagher , Michael Hutchinson
Executive Producer – Joe Cayre , Ken Cayre , Stan Cayre
Flute, Piccolo – Jack Faith
French Horn – Joe (One And Only Lips) DeAngelis
Guitar – Bobby (Electronic) Eli, Norman (The Harris Machine) Harris, T.J. Tindel
Keyboards – Carlton (Cotton) Kent, Ron (Have Mercy) Kersey
Mastered By – Al Brown
Percussion – Jerry Gonzalez , Larry Washington , Manny Oquendo,
Peter “Choki” Quintero, Ray Armando
Photography – Douglas Quackenbush
Producer, Vibraphone, Percussion – Vincent Montana, Jr.
Saxophone [Alto] – John Bonnie
Saxophone [Baritone] – John H. Davis
Synthesizer – Bill O’Brien
Trombone – Edward Cascarella , Fred Joiner , Richard (Basketball) Genovese,
Robert Moore , Roger DeLillo
Trumpet – Jack Wilson , Robert Hartzel, Roco Bene
Viola – Anthony Sinagoga , Davis Barnett
Violin – Albert Barone , Charles Apollonia , Christine Reeves , Don Renaldo,
Richard Jones, Rudolph Malizia
Vocals – Salsoul Hustlers, The

Notes:
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1975
Special thanks to Joe Bataan who planted the seed
Recorded at Sigma Sound Studios
Mastered at Frankford/Wayne, New York
Distributed by Caytronics Corporation, a Cayre Industries Company

Review:
This 1975 album introduced to the world to the slick yet groovy instrumental stylings of the Salsoul Orchestra, a group of Philadelphia session musicians spearheaded by vibes player Vincent Montana. Since many of the musicians (including Montana) also participated in the recordings of MFSB, it's not a big surprise that The Salsoul Orchestra explores a similar vein of orchestral soul. The difference between the two is that the Salsoul Orchestra explores a more Latin-oriented style with a heavy emphasis on congas and other forms of exotic percussion. This style is neatly encapsulated in the lead-off track "Salsoul Hustle," which is built on a contrast between a dreamy, string-led melody and a series of funky instrumental breakdowns spiced with conga tattoos. Other highlights in this style include "You're Just The Right Size," which layers sweet orchestrations and a female chorus cooing the title chant over a synthesizer-layered groove while "Salsoul Rainbow" glides forth on a fusillade of congas and wah-wah guitar riffs. On the downside, The Salsoul Orchestra occasionally allows their slickness to overpower their r&b backbone and the result is disco-flavored easy listening like "Tangerine" and "Love Letters." Another problem is the album's highlights, as funky as they are, often have a cookie-cutter feel to them: for instance, "Salsoul Hustle" and "Tale Of Three Cities" are built on strikingly similar arrangements that hinge on the contrast between string-led flights on fancy and funky grooves from the rhythm section. Despite these shortcomings, The Salsoul Orchestra shapes up as a solid disco album that will entertain anyone who enjoys orchestral soul.
By Donald A. Guarisco (AMG)

By Pier

3 comments:

Colemans Darfield said...

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Goofy said...

This is an album I have missed a lot, my vinyl is not playable anymore. Big thanks Darfield!!

Goofy said...

This is an album I have missed a lot, my vinyl is not playable anymore. Big thanks Darfield!!

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