The Salsoul Orchestra 1974 - 1982
Salsoul cover girl Ellen Michaels dressed as Santa Claus
Profile
The Salsoul label was primarily an outlet for the smooth, orchestral disco of producer, arranger, composer, vibraphonist Vincent Montana, Jr. , and when The Salsoul Orchestra [an incarnation of the MFSB band) weren't backing up other artists (including Charo) they recorded on their own. Montana got his start doing sessions for Philly soul producers, and he adapted that lush style to disco, adding Latin motifs and textures. When he's on, he's terrific, but unfortunately most of the time he's not on, either cranking out perfunctory disco-by-numbers or reaching beyond his subgenre and falling on his face. Jahsonic's Meta Soul site contains a lot of useful information on the Orchestra and Montana's other work http://www.warr.org/salsoul.htmlProfile (2)
Formed 1974 in New York, U.S.A. Disbanded in 1982.
This prime Disco big band was a big influence in inspiring club house music. They where fusing Philly Soul, Funk and Latin Music in a danceable disco sound. The Salsoul Orchestra included up to 50 members with instrumental section, arrangers and conductors.
Consisted of: Charles Apollonia, John Bonnie, Edward Cascarella, Roger DeLillo, Don Renaldo, Bobby Eli, Jack Faith, Larry Gold, Carl Helm, Carlton 'Cotton' Kent, Ron 'Have Mercy' Kersey, Rudolph Malizia, Vince Montana, Robert Moore, Peter Quintero, Christine Reeves, T.J. Tindall, Ron Tyson, Larry Washington, Earl Young, Philip Hurtt, Phyllis Rhodes, and Vincent Montana, Jr. --http://www.discogs.com/artist/Salsoul+Orchestra,+The [Sept 2005]
MFSB
Gamble and Huff's house band for their PIR label. [...]Philadelphia
Philly soulHouse
Earl Young His beats inspired the sound of house- Salsoul Orchestra With Bill O'Brien on synthesizer 1975 Salsoul SZS-5501
- Nice 'n' Naasty Vince does it again! 1976 Salsoul SZS-5502
- Christmas Jollies -- Salsoul SZS-5507
- Magic Journey Magic Bird of Fire 1977 Salsoul SZS-5515 Cuchi-Cuchi Charo & The Salsoul Orchestra -- Salsoul SZS-5519
- Up the Yellow Brick Road The West Side Story interlude! 1978 Salsoul SA-8500
- Greatest Disco Hits/Music for Non-Stop Dancing -- Salsoul SA-8508
- Christmas Jollies II Produced by Patrick Adams by Walter Gibbons
- Street Sense Arranged and conducted by Thor Baldursson. A Tom Moulton Mix. 1979 Salsoul SA-8516
- 12ZS-2002 Salsoul Orchestra Salsoul Hustle (1975)
- 12ZS-2004 Salsoul Orchestra Chicago Busstop (1975)
- 12ZS-2006 Salsoul Orchestra Tangerine/Just The
- 12D-2011 Salsoul Orchestra Nice 'n' Naasty
- 12D-2016 Salsoul Orchestra My Love is Free (1976)
- 12D-2028 Salsoul Orchestra Magic Bird of Fire (1977)
- 12D-2038 Salsoul Orchestra Getaway (1977)
- 12D-2053 Salsoul Orchestra X-Mas Medley (1977)
- SG-2061DJ Salsoul Orchestra West Side Story (1978)
- SG-2064 Salsoul Orchestra Westside Encounter (1978)
- SG-326 Salsoul Orchestra West Side Story Medley
- SG-358 Salsoul Orchestra Deck The Halls (1981)
- SG-368 Salsoul Orchestra Take Some Time Out (1982)
- SG-372?? Salsoul Orchestra Take Some Time Out (1982)
- SG-376 Salsoul Orchestra Seconds (1982)
- SG-391 Salsoul Orchestra Ooh I Love It, Hollywood Busstop (1983)
CDs
- Salsoul Orchestra - Magic Journey [Amazon US]
The Salsoul label was primarily an outlet for the smooth, orchestral disco of producer/arranger/composer/vibraphonist Vincent Montana, Jr. , and when The Salsoul Orchestra weren't backing up other artists (including Charo) they recorded on their own. Montana got his start doing sessions for Philly soul producers, and he adapted that lush style to disco, adding Latin motifs and textures. When he's on, he's terrific, but unfortunately most of the time he's not on, either cranking out perfunctory disco-by-numbers or reaching beyond his subgenre and falling on his face. Jahsonic's Meta Soul site contains a lot of useful information on the Orchestra and Montana's other work http://www.warr.org/salsoul.html [...] - Salsoul Orchestra - Christmas Jollies [Amazon US]
1. Little Drummer Boy 2. Christmas Medley: Joy to the World/Deck the Halls/O Come All Ye Faithfu 3. New Year's Medley 4. Sleigh Ride 5. There's Someone Who's Knocking 6. Christmas Time 7. Merry Christmas All 8. Silent Night - Michael Aharon 9. New Year's-Americana Suite
Great for the holidays, I personally prefer volume 2 because of one track, Jocelyn Brown wailing: 'You're all, you're all I want for Christmas']