Iconoclassic's B.T. Express Reissue to Keep Disco Fans "Satisfied"

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B.T. Express is rolling into the station! On May 27, 2022, Iconoclassic Records will board the train to the intersection of R&B, soul, funk, and disco with a definitive reissue of the band's 1974 debut Do It ('Til You're Satisfied). Despite the fact that the album scored mightily on the Billboard charts, reaching No. 1 R&B and the top five of the Pop survey, it's long lacked a proper CD reissue with the original artwork, proper sequence, and full-length audio. That all changes with Iconoclassic's reissue, a fitting tribute to a group that earned ten R&B chart entries (including two No. 1s) and five Pop hits.

The band was formed by Richard "Rick" Thompson on guitar, Bill Risbrook (tenor saxophone), Carlos Ward (alto saxophone), Louis Risbrook (bass), Dennis Rowe (percussion), Terrell Wood (drums), and Barbara Joyce Lomas (vocals) in the New York borough of Brooklyn. Aligned with producer Jeff Lane and the independent Roadshow Records, the band ended up on the Scepter label (then reeling from the loss of its marquee artist, Dionne Warwick, to Warner Bros. Records) via its distribution deal with Roadshow.

B.T. Express was more like a freight train with the release of its very first single, "Do It ('Til Your Satisfied)" in 1974. The insistent, catchy track penned by Billy Nichols and mixed to dancefloor perfection by the legendary Tom Moulton worked its way up to No. 1 R&B/No. 2 Pop/No. 8 Disco. It set the stage for the extended jam "Express" (complete with train whistle!) which repeated the No. 1 R&B success in addition to hitting the summit on the Disco chart and making No. 4 Pop. It even crossed the pond to reach No. 34 on the U.K. Singles Chart. B.T. Express was on the fast track to disco stardom.

Do It ('Til You're Satisfied), the album, introduced the many sides of the band via the slinky grooves of "Once You Get It," the brassy funk of "If It Don't Turn You On (You Oughta Leave It Alone)," the swaggering style of "That's What I Want for You, Baby" (with Randy Muller's soaring string chart), and the Norman Whitfield-esque psychedelic soul of "Mental Telepathy." Guided by producers Jeff Lane and Trade Martin, the group was rooted in classic R&B and applied enough melodic hooks to their dancefloor riffs to successfully attain crossover success.

Iconoclassic's reissue features the original album with its two Tom Moulton Disco Mixes (the title track and "Express") and the full-length LP versions of "If It Don't Turn You On (You Oughta Leave It Alone)," "Do You Like It," and "That's What I Want for You, Baby." Audio has been remastered by Donald Cleveland with input from Tom Moulton and Randy Muller, while the 16-page booklet boasts a comprehensive essay by A. Scott Galloway based on new 2022 interviews with the band members and key personnel. Chris Eselgroth has designed the package. B.T. Express released their final album in 1982 but left behind a legacy of great music that's further burnished by Iconoclassic's upcoming reissue.

You'll find the full track listing below for Do It ('Til You're Satisfied). It's due on May 27 at the following links!

B.T. Express, Do It ('Til You're Satisfied) (Remastered and Expanded Edition) (Iconoclassic ICON 1051, 2022) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Express (Tom Moulton Disco Mix)
If It Don't Turn You On (You Oughta' Leave It Alone) (full-length LP version)
Once You Get It
Everything Good to You (Ain't Always Good for You)
Mental Telepathy
Do It ('Til You're Satisfied) (Tom Moulton Disco Remix)
Do You Like It (full-length LP version)
That's What I Want for You Baby (full-length LP version)
This House is Smokin'
Express (Single Version)
Do It ('Til You're Satisfied) (Single Version)

Tracks 1-9 released as Scepter Records SPS 5117, 1974
Track 10 released as Roadshow single RD 7001, 1974
Track 11 released as Roadshow/Scepter single SCE-12395, 1974

Joe Marchese

JOE MARCHESE (Editor) joined The Second Disc shortly after its launch in early 2010, and has since penned daily news and reviews about classic music of all genres. In 2015, Joe formed the Second Disc Records label. Celebrating the great songwriters, producers and artists who created the sound of American popular song, Second Disc Records, in conjunction with Real Gone Music, has released newly-curated collections produced by Joe from iconic artists such as Johnny Mathis, Bobby Darin, Laura Nyro, Melissa Manchester, Chet Atkins, and many others. He has contributed liner notes to reissues from a diverse array of artists, among them Nat "King" Cole, Paul Williams, Lesley Gore, Dusty Springfield, B.J. Thomas, The 5th Dimension, Burt Bacharach, The Mamas and the Papas, Carpenters, Perry Como, Rod McKuen, Doris Day, Jackie DeShannon, and Andy Williams, and has compiled releases for talents including Robert Goulet and Keith Allison of Paul Revere and the Raiders. Over the past two decades, Joe has also worked in a variety of capacities on and off Broadway as well as at some of the premier theatres in the U.S., including Lincoln Center Theater, George Street Playhouse, Paper Mill Playhouse, Long Wharf Theatre, and the York Theatre Company. He has felt privileged to work on productions alongside artists such as the late Jack Klugman, Eli Wallach, Arthur Laurents, Betty Comden and Adolph Green. In 2009, Joe began contributing theatre and music reviews to the print publication The Sondheim Review, and in 2012, he joined the staff of The Digital Bits as a regular contributor writing about film and television on DVD and Blu-ray. Joe currently resides in the suburbs of New York City.