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PRE-ORDER UPDATE: SoulMusic, The Second Disc Team to Celebrate The Salsoul Orchestra on New Box Set

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Salsoul Orchestra It's Good for the Soul

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Last Christmas, The Second Disc teamed with SoulMusic Records and Cherry Red for The Salsoul Orchestra's Christmas Jollies: The Extra Jolly Edition, celebrating the best-selling album in the entire Salsoul catalogue.  On May 31, we'll follow that set up with It's Good for the Soul: The Vince Montana Years (1975-1978), the definitive, first-ever box set collecting The Salsoul Orchestra's groundbreaking albums produced, arranged, and conducted by Vincent Montana, Jr.!  U.S. customers: pre-orders directly from SoulMusic Records' U.S. shop close tomorrow, May 17.  Get your pre-orders in now for domestic shipping by the release date!

The late Montana played his signature vibes on such all-time classic Philadelphia soul records as The Delfonics' "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)" and "La-La Means I Love You," Jerry Butler's "Only the Strong Survive," Dusty Springfield's "Brand New Me," and The Intruders' "Cowboys to Girls."  With MFSB, he added his distinctive touch to dozens more favorites from The O'Jays, Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes, Billy Paul, and The Three Degrees. Thom Bell even thanked his friend Montana for inspiring him to compose the melody of The Spinners' "I'll Be Around."  Montana came into his own when he moved from Philadelphia International Records to the upstart Salsoul label and founded The Salsoul Orchestra.  The oft-emulated, never-duplicated 40+-piece "disco orchestra" featuring MFSB veterans and a host of renowned Latin percussionists fused Philly soul and funky R&B with the red-hot sound of salsa to create some of the most joyful and enduring dance music ever recorded.

The 8-CD box It's Good for the Soul collects the six non-holiday Salsoul Orchestra albums led by Montana including collaborations with "First Lady of Salsoul" Carol Williams and "Cuchi-Cuchi" superstar Charo.  Every one of these albums is presented in an expanded edition.  The box also includes the only album from The Salsoul Strings, rare compilation tracks from Saturday Night Disco Party, and more than a dozen new-to-CD mixes and single versions, for a total of 103 sizzling songs sure to keep you on your feet.

Every album features a host of legendary Philadelphia musicians, including The Trammps' Earl Young, Bobby Eli, Jack Faith, Norman Harris, Ronnie Baker, Ron Kersey, Charles Collins, Larry Washington, T.J. Tindall, and conductor Montana on the vibes - plus Carla Benson, Evette Benton, and Barbara Ingram (a.k.a. The Sweethearts of Sigma) and Don Renaldo's Horns and Strings.  Percussion legends Manny Oquendo, Jerry Gonzalez, and Andy Gonzalez of salsa band Libre joined Peter "Choki" Quintero, Osvaldo "Chiwawa" Martinez, and Ray Armando to put the "salsa" in Salsoul.

Remixes from the 1970s to the present day are featured, spotlighting the work of such illustrious masters as Tom Moulton, Shep Pettibone, Walter Gibbons, Mike Maurro, Dr. Packer, and Luca Moplen.  Seminal cuts on this collection include "Salsoul Hustle," "It's Good for the Soul," the epic, classically-inspired "Magic Bird of Fire," "Run Away" featuring Loleatta Holloway, "Nice 'n' Naasty," "Tangerine," "Salsoul 3001," Carol Williams' reimagining of the standard "More," and Charo's sultry pair of "Dance a Little Bit Closer" and "Cuchi-Cuchi."

Audio for the box set has been newly remastered by Nick Robbins, a veteran of many past Salsoul releases.  The eight discs are housed in individual wallets replicating the original album artwork, while period Salsoul labels have also been replicated on each CD.  The clamshell box additionally houses a 40-page full-color booklet designed by another Salsoul veteran, Paul Bevoir.  The album-by-album notes from TSD's Joe Marchese draw on quotes from Vince Montana, Bobby Eli, Carol Williams, Charo, The Sweethearts' Evette Benton, and Salsoul co-founder Ken Cayre.

It's Good for the Soul: The Vince Montana Years (1975-1978) is the ultimate celebration of the groundbreaking sound of The Salsoul Orchestra and the most comprehensive collection yet of Montana's vibrant contributions to soul, R&B, pop, and dance music.  It's available for pre-order now directly from Cherry Red Records and Amazon stores. U.S. customers who prefer to place an order that will ship domestically have until tomorrow, May 17, to get pre-orders in at SoulMusic's U.S. shop!

The Salsoul Orchestra, It's Good for the Soul: The Vince Montana Years (1975-1978) (SoulMusic/Second Disc Records SM8CR5221BX, 2024) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Cherry Red / SoulMusic Records U.S.)

CD 1: The Salsoul Orchestra (Salsoul LP SZS 5501, 1975)

  1. Salsoul Hustle
  2. Get Happy
  3. Chicago Bus Stop (Ooh, I Love It)
  4. You're Just the Right Size
  5. Tangerine
  6. Tale of Three Cities
  7. Salsoul Rainbow
  8. Love Letters

Bonus Tracks

  1. Salsoul Hustle (Single Version)
  2. Tangerine (Single Version)
  3. You're Just the Right Size (Single Version)
  4. Chicago Bus Stop (Ooh, I Love It) (Single Version)
  5. Salsoul Hustle (Disco Version)
  6. Ooh, I Love It (Love Break) (Shep Pettibone Mix)
  7. You're Just the Right Size (Dr. Packer Rework)
  8. Ooh, I Love It (Love Break) (Moplen Rework)

Tracks 9, 13 from Salsoul single SZ 2002, 1975
Track 10 from Salsoul single SZ 2004, 1975
Tracks 11-12 from Salsoul single SZ-2007, 1976
Track 14 from Salsoul EP 20 9006 1, 1997
Track 15 from BMG digital release, 2020
Track 16 from BMG digital release, 2019

CD 2 - Nice 'n' Naasty (Salsoul LP SZS-5502, 1976)

  1. It's Good for the Soul
  2. Nice 'n' Naasty
  3. It Don't Have to Be Funky (To Be a Groove)
  4. Nightcrawler
  5. Don't Beat Around the Bush
  6. Standing and Waiting on Love
  7. Salsoul 3001
  8. We've Only Just Begun/Feelings
  9. Ritzy Mambo
  10. Jack and Jill

CD 3 - Nice 'n' Naasty Bonus Tracks

"THE SALSOUL ORCHESTRA" THROWBACK

  1. Salsoul Hustle (A Tom Moulton Mix)
  2. Salsoul Rainbow (A Tom Moulton Mix)

NICER 'N' NAASTIER

  1. Nice 'n' Naasty (Single Version)
  2. Nightcrawler (Single Version)
  3. Salsoul 3001 (UK Single Version)
  4. Ritzy Mambo (Single Version)
  5. Salsoul 3001 (Single Version)
  6. Nice 'n' Naasty (Walter Gibbons 12" Disco Mix)
  7. Salsoul 3001 (Walter Gibbons 12" Disco Mix)
  8. It's Good for the Soul (Walter Gibbons 12" Disco Mix)
  9. It Don't Have to Be Funky (To Be a Groove) (Tom Moulton 12" Disco Mix)
  10. Ritzy Mambo (12" Disco Mix)
  11. It's Good for the Soul (Demarkus Lewis Chocolate Dice Re-Drum Mix)

Track 1 from The Anthology, Suss'd Records/Salsoul CD SALSA CD 018, 2005
Track 2 from The Salsoul Orchestra Story: 40th Anniversary Collection, Groove Line Records CD GLRCDXD 0001, 2015
Tracks 3-4 from Salsoul single SZ-2011, 1976
Track 5 from Salsoul (UK) Single SZ 2017, 1977
Tracks 6-7 from Salsoul single SZ-2018, 1977
Tracks 8-9 from Salsoul 12" single 12D-2011, 1976
Track 10 from Disco Madness, Salsoul LP SA 8518, 1978
Tracks 11 from Salsoul 12" single 12D-2016, 1976
Track 12 from Salsoul 12" single 12D-2018, 1976
Track 13 from BMG digital release, 2017

CD 4 - 'Lectric Lady - Carol Williams, Music by The Salsoul Orchestra (Salsoul LP SZS-5506, 1976)

  1. Love Is You
  2. This Time May Be The Last Time
  3. More
  4. Just Feel
  5. My Time of Need
  6. Come Back
  7. Danger Sign
  8. Rattlesnake
  9. You're So Much A Part Of Me

Bonus Tracks

  1. Love Is You (Single Version)
  2. Rattlesnake (Single Version)
  3. More of "More" (Disco Version)
  4. Come Back (12" Disco Version)
  5. More (12" Disco Version)
  6. Love Is You (A Tom Moulton Mix)
  7. Rattlesnake (Disco Version)

Track 10 from Salsoul (UK) single SZ 2021, 1976
Tracks 11, 16 from Salsoul single SZ-2000, 1975
Track 12 from Salsoul single S7-2006, 1976
Track 13 from Salsoul 12" single 12D-2031, 1977
Track 14 from Salsoul 12" single 12D-2006, 1976
Track 15 from Salsoul (Canada) 12" single SPEC-1740, 1999

CD 5 - Magjc Journey (Salsoul LP SZS-5515, 1977)

  1. It's a New Day
  2. Short Shorts
  3. Run Away
  4. Guantanamera
  5. Themes from Montreal Olympics, 1976: Farewell Song & Ballet of the Closing Ceremony
  6. Getaway
  7. Magic Bird of Fire
  8. Journey to Phoebus
  9. Alpha Centauri

Bonus Tracks

  1. Getaway (Single Version)
  2. Magic Bird of Fire (Single Version)
  3. Run Away (Single Version)
  4. Run Away (Danny Krivit Re-Edit)
  5. Magic Bird of Fire (Walter Gibbons Disco Madness Remix)

Tracks 10-11 from Salsoul single SZ-2038, 1977
Track 12 from Salsoul single SZ-2045, 1977
Track 13 from Salsoul 12" single SPEC-1786, 2001
Track 14 from Disco Madness, Salsoul LP SA 8518, 1978

CD 6 -Cuchi-Cuchi - Charo and The Salsoul Orchestra (Salsoul LP SZS-5519, 1977)

  1. Dance a Little Bit Closer
  2. Let's Spend the Night Together
  3. Borriquito
  4. More of You
  5. El Reloj (The Clock)
  6. Speedy Gonzalez
  7. Cuchi-Cuchi
  8. Cookie Jar
  9. You're Just the Right Size
  10. Only You (Can Make My Life Worthwhile)

Bonus Tracks

  1. Dance a Little Bit Closer (Single Version)
  2. Cuchi-Cuchi (Single Version)
  3. Dance a Little Bit Closer (12" Version)
  4. Cuchi-Cuchi (12" Version)

Tracks 11-12 from Salsoul single SZ 2048, 1977
Tracks 13-14 from Salsoul 12" single 12D-2048, 1977

CD 7 - Up the Yellow Brick Road (Salsoul LP SA-8500, 1978)

  1. Ease on Down the Road
  2. West Side Story Medley
  3. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
  4. Fiddler on the Roof Medley
  5. Evergreen

Bonus Tracks

  1. West Side Encounter/West Side Story (Medley)
  2. Evergreen (Single Version)
  3. Ease on Down the Road (Single Version)
  4. West Side Encounter (12" Disco Version)

Tracks 6-7 from Salsoul single S7 2064, 1978
Track 8 from Salsoul single S7 2072, 1978
Track 9 from Salsoul 12" single Salsoul S7-2064, 1978

CD 8 - How Deep Is Your Love - The Salsoul Strings

  1. How Deep Is Your Love
  2. Just the Way You Are
  3. You Light Up My Life
  4. More Than a Woman
  5. Yours

Saturday Night Disco Party  - The Salsoul Orchestra

  1. You Should Be Dancing
  2. Night Fever
  3. Stayin' Alive

STILL WANT MORE? WE'VE GOT MORE!

  1. Tangerine (Mike Maurro Mix)
  2. Tale of Three Cities (Mike Maurro Mix)
  3. More (Single Version) - Carol Williams and The Salsoul Orchestra

Tracks 1-5 from How Deep Is Your Love, Salsoul LP SA-8506, 1978
Tracks 6-8 from Saturday Night Disco Party, Salsoul LP SA-8505, 1978
Tracks 9-10 from The Salsoul Orchestra Story: 40th Anniversary Collection, Groove Line Records CD GLRCDXD 0001, 2015
Track 11 from Salsoul single SZ-2006, 1976

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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.

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