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To date, Cherry Red’s SoulMusic Records imprint has reissued seven of the ten albums recorded by Tavares for Capitol Records between 1974 and 1981.  Late in 2016, the SoulMusic team added an eighth Tavares title to their collection.  Don’t Take Away the Music: The Remix Project features eleven floor-filling remixes from the Rhode Island brothers Ralph, Arthur (Pooch), Antone (Chubby), Feliciano (Butch) and Perry (Tiny) of such classic songs as “It Only Takes a Minute” (Pop No. 10/R&B No. 1, 1975), “Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel” (U.S. Pop No. 15/R&B No. 3, 1976) and “More Than a Woman” (No. 36 Pop/No. 32 R&B, 1977).

Ten of the eleven tracks on Don’t Take Away the Music were remixed by Dutch DJ Ben Liebrand, whose other charting remixes include tracks by Alisha, The Four Seasons, The Four Tops, Bill Withers, Hot Chocolate, and Phil Collins.  Liebrand’s Tavares remixes, featuring additional electronic instrumentation and production not present on the original singles, charted in 1985-1986 in both The Netherlands and the United Kingdom.  This collection has two versions of “Don’t Take Away the Music,” two of “Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel,” two of “More Than a Woman,” and three of “It Only Takes a Minute” (including the original 1975 Disco Version, the only non-Liebrand track here).  The set is rounded out by an instrumental remix of “One Minute” and extended “Whodunit.”

Liebrand’s remixes add an eighties dance sheen to the soulful original hits which tapped into disco, pop and R&B veins.  Kevin Goins has written new liner notes for SoulMusic’s release, drawing on interviews with Ralph, Tiny and Butch Tavares, producer Dennis Lambert, Capitol executive Larkin Arnold, and songwriter Keni St. Lewis.  The disc has been remastered with clarity and detail by Donald Cleveland.  Don’t Take Away the Music: The Remix Project is available now at the links below!

Tavares, Don’t Take Away the Music: The Remix Project (Cherry Red/SoulMusic SMCR 5142, 2016) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

1. Don’t Take Away the Music (Remix)
2. It Only Takes a Minute (Remix)
3. It Only Takes a Minute (Disco Version)
4. It Only Takes a Minute (Extended Remix)
5. Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel (Remix)
6. Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel (Irresistible Angel Mix)
7. More Than a Woman (Remix)
8. More Than a Woman (Extended Remix)
9. One Minute (Instrumental)
10. Whodunit (Extended Remix)
11. Don’t Take Away the Music (Hands Off The Music Mix)

Tracks 1 & 5 from Capitol U.K. TAV 1, 1985
Tracks 2 & 7 from Capitol U.K. TAV 2, 1986
Track 3 from Capitol U.S. P-4111, 1975
Tracks 4, 8 & 10 from Capitol U.K. 12TAV 2, 1986
Tracks 6, 9 & 11 from Capitol U.K. 12TAV 1, 1985