GREAT SOUL / FUNK RECORD LABELS # 3

This Series of Post's concerns in my Opinion the Best Soul / Dance / Jazz Record Label's of all time.

I will write a Short Bio's concerning  the Labels Owner's, the Band's and Artists, some Facts and figures, the Histories,  Links, Videos, the Tracks they made Famous, Links to Download etc etc

I will continue the series with the Salsoul Records.

Salsoul Records was founded in 1974, by Brothers, Ken, Stan and Joe Cayre with Musician Joe Bataan, the name Salsoul comes from the mix of the words Salsa and Soul (Latin Fusion).

The Label was Based in New York City, they mainly Released 12 in Singles, but also included Albums, the first ever Release was the 12" Single by "Double Exposure"  called "Ten Percent", in 1976, incidentally the Track's Remix by "Walter Gibbons" was the First Commercially available 12" ever Released!

"Double Exposure" went on the Release 3 Albums for "Salsoul"

Salsoul Featured some of the Biggest Dance Acts/Tunes of the 70's and 80's including:

Aurra,  Double Exposure, Loleatta Hollaway, Skyy,

First Choice, Salsoul Orchestra, Eddie Holman, Instant Funk, Candido, Bunny Sigler, Ripple, Moment Of Truth, Jocelyn Brown,

Surface, Cameron, Vaughan Mason, The Jammers, Joe Bataan,

Weeks and Co, Leroy Burgess, Inner Life, Carol Williams, there was also a Steve Arrington Track in 1980.

In 1974 The Salsoul Orchestra was formed, mainly for In-House Backing to the Salsoul Acts,  it was Conducted by (Originally) Vincent Montana Jr from 1975 to 1978. At one point there were over 50 Members of the Band, and most were recruited from Philadelphia International's in House band "M.F.S.B"

Other Members of "The Salsoul Orchestra" included "Norman Harris" Earl Young and "Ronnie Baker" all member's of The Trammps, also Songwriter and Producer "Bunny Sigler"

The Salsoul Orchestra Disbanded in 1982, 3 years before Salsoul Records Folded!

Over a 10 Year period they Released several Singles, probably their Biggest Hit was "Love Break (Ooh I love It).

By 1984 Salsoul Records closed after around 10 years in Existence, the Cayre Brother's went on to Build up their Home Video Empire, which was called "Good Times Entertainment" that lasted until 2005 before Filing for Bankruptcy. 

I have found a Great In-Depth Story on Disco-Disco.com concerning Salsoul Records History and all the Singles Ever Released, it was made possible with the Help of Stan Cayre, Check it out

For a Great Selection of Salsoul Classics, Press Here  and Here!

Here's a Selection of the Best tracks!

THE 105th MIX FOR F.S.V.B

Here's the 105th Mix selection for F.S.V.B, Its been Mixed by DJ Matthew Africa, its called "The Chic Organization Part 1, Its a Tribute to the Work of Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers, aka Chic, there's some Classic Dance  Track's on here, all connected with Chic, either Producing, Writing, Playing, etc on all the Tracks.

The Mix Features some Chic, Sister Sledge, Norma Jean, Fonzi Thornton and Diana Ross!

Press play button below or to Download go to WebPage  to see Complete Track Listings!

BUNKS AND HERBIE HANCOCK

The first night on the platform, we were given a Cabin just for that Night and told we would be Allocated our Permanent Cabin's the following Day.


So myself and the Steward Peter were shown to a Cabin along with some other Blokes, it turned out there were 6 Bunks/Beds in a very Small Cabin, and they were 3 either side of the cabin.

As the other Worker's were already in there and sorted out, me and Peter had what was left, the top 2 Bunks, you have imagine this, the Top Bunks must have been about 8 or 9 Feet off the ground, they were that High, we even had a Ladder to get to them!


Any way we settled in, as this was November time (1983) it was dark outside by about 15.30 hrs, so we didn't do to much Sight-Seeing that first Day, but around about 16.00 hrs, something happened I had never experienced before! 

The Alarm went off, what a Panic that was, we were still in the Cabin, so we had to get all out Safety Gear on, Overalls , Boots, Life jacket etc etc, so then it was just a matter of getting to the Muster Point Asap, I remember that First Alarm like it was Yesterday!


The whole process took about 30 minutes and as soon as everybody was accounted for, we were all off back to our Cabins.

I found out around this point, from other Experienced Workers, that Gas Platform Alarms go off on a Regular Basis and at all times, obviously because of the Fumes!


After we got back to the cabin, we got sorted out and then went to get something to eat for Tea.

I played Pool that night and met some of the other Worker's, all of them seemed alright, we went back to the Cabin around 22.00 hrs  and got ready for bed!


It felt like Climbing Everest getting into that Bunk, as I said it was at least 8/9 feet off the Ground, but eventually I made to the Top!


I then had talk with Peter, about the Job and then a nice relaxing Read of a Book (for about 60 minutes)  before I decided to go to Sleep, it must have been around 23.30 hrs.


Little did I know what was instore for myself in about a Couple of Hours Time, around 2 am the following Morning !
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As for Music around this period, what about Herbie Hancock, he generally up until  then  Produced Jazz Music, but his Single Release "Rockit" was a Big Change for Him.


It was released in June of 1983, and was from the forthcoming Album "Future Shock" which was Released in August of '83.


It was the first Record to use Scratching and other turntable Techniques, they were Performed by GrandMixer D.ST 


It was Produced by Bill Laswell and was a WorldWide Hit.


It was a Great Record, I remember buying the 7 in, 12 in and Album (on Tape)

THE 104th MIX FOR F.S.V.B

Here's the 104th Mix selection for F.S.V.B, its to go with my Last Post, and finish off my Tribute to the Great Marvin Gaye.


Its been Mixed by DJ Savoir Faire, its a Tribute   called "Happy Birthday, Marvin Gaye" there's some Classic Tracks on here, including: What's Going On, Got To Give It Up, Let's Get It On, Sanctified Lady and The Great, Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) !

Press play button below or to Download go to Savoir Faire's Podomatic Page WebPage

THE BEST SOUL BANDS / ARTISTS OF THE ALL-TIME # 3...MARVIN GAYE Part 5 (and Final)

This Series of Post's concerns in my Opinion The Best Bands/Artists of all time.

I will write a Short Bio including  the Band Members/Artist, some Facts and figures, their Histories,  Links, Videos, The Tracks they made Famous, Links to Download etc etc

I will continue the series with the Best Soul Vocalist from Tamla Motown Records................MARVIN GAYE. Part 5 (and Final).

After Signing for CBS Records in March of 1982, while still living in Belgium, Marvin Gaye started to writing and Recording Songs for his Forthcoming New Album.

But prior to the Album, was a New Single release, and as it turned out, it was to be one of his biggest Hits Ever!


The Song "Sexual Healing" was Released on 30/09/1982, and went on to Top the US Charts for 10 Weeks (A Record, at the time) it was also the Fastest Selling and Rising Single on the US R&B Charts for more than 5 years and also went Platinum!


The Album that followed was called "Midnight Love" and Released in October of '82, in the US Pop Chart it Reached Number 7 and in the UK Pop Chart it peaked at Number 10, it Sold over 6 Million Copies to eventually go Triple Platinum.  

Three more Singles were to follow from the Album: Joy, Til' Tomorrow and My Love is Waiting, but none did as well as "Sexual Healing"


In February of 1983, MG was invited to Perform "The Star Spangled Banner" at the NBA All Star Game, this turned out to be his Last Public Show!


By this time, Marvin Gaye was Battling his Demons again, Privately and Publicly, he Feared Artists like "Michael Jackson" who he thought would take his Fan Base away!

March '83 Marvin Gaye agreed to perform at the "Motown 25" Celebrations, after making up with Berry Gordy, he sung "What's Going On" (check out, Motown 25) and this turned out to be his very Last Live Performance!

During the summer of '83 until August Marvin Gaye Toured the US, but once again he was Plagued by Depression and Drugs!


After the Tour had came to an end he had began Isolating Himself from the Outside World and things were getting Worse, so MG decided to move back to His Parents House in Los Angeles, it was reported at that time that his Mental and Physical State was Spiraling out of Control! 


Things continued to Worsen back at Home, he was Hounded by Groupies and Drug Dealers all through the Day and Night, this led to Arguments between Marvin Gaye and his Father (Marvin Senior), they had never had an Easy Relationship, MG also threatened to commit Suicide, more than once!


All the Aggravation between Marvin Gaye and his Father came to a Head on 1st April 1984, (One Day before His 45th Birthday), MG walked into a Room and his Parents were Arguing about some Mis-Placed Business Documents, MG got on with His Mother a lot Better than he did His Father, so he was backing his Mother in the Argument, and before He or his Mother realised  Marvin Senior had got his Gun and pulled the Trigger!


Marvin Gaye was Shot Dead Instantly by hands of his own Father, ironically with the Gun that Marvin Gaye had brought his Father to Protect his Family Home, four months earlier.


Marvin Gaye Sr was Charged with First Degree Murder of his own Son, this was later Dropped, when it was Discovered during the Court Hearing that Marvin Gaye had Beaten his Father just before he Shot him! Marvin Gaye Sr pleaded Guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter, and was Given 5 Years probation.                     


Marvin Sr died in a Nursing Home some 14 Year later in 1998.


Marvin Gaye was Inducted into the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" after His Death, also he was awarded with Stars on the Hollywood "Rock Walk" and the "Walk of Fame"

There were also 3 Albums Released after his Death, During 1985, 2 Albums "Dream Of A Lifetime" and "Romantically Yours" and a further 12 Years later in 1997, the Album "Vulnerable" was Released.

I have Compiled a List of My Favorite Top 10 of Marvin Gaye Tracks, with my Favorite Track Being "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" this is also in my Top 5 Soul Records of All Time! 

TO DOWNLOAD SOME 25 MARVIN GAYE ALBUMS, CLICK HERE!