the love unlimited sound system

Underground disco 45, “Magic Mandrake” from the Sarr Band, released on the Calendar label in the UK as both a 7″ & 12″ single with Double Action as a Double A side and also on the Canadian Unidisc record label.

Big with the Love Unlimited & many DJ’s in the UK & US (it was re-edited by Rahaan for his jisco records release) & has featured on many a mix from the States. With a distinctly European sound the vocal is nice & sleazy & has the killer line “Turn this dirty city into a rosepetal garden.”

This acts as a nice little taster for the next installment of our series of mixes courtesy of the Chuck Brothers that will be added to the love unlimited mixes archive soon.

 

 Sarr Band - Magic Mandrake [4:42m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In the same vein as MFSB for ‘Philadelphia International’, the Salsoul Orchestra where the in-house band for ‘Salsoul Records’. Vince Montana wrote, conducted and produced many of the orchestra’s releases.

The Orchestra had many arrangers & whole instrument sections contributing to their distinctive sound, with sessions attended by up to 50 members on a regular basis.

Plenty of quality musical goodness along the way to take your pick from, but here is the cracking ‘nice n naasty’ from 1976.

 

 Standard Podcast [4:11m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

More musical goodness from CurtisMayfield. Do Do Wap Is Strong in here has the unmistakable Mayfield quality from start to finish. Released in 1977 on Curtom as a 7″ (edit) & from the Long Player Short Eyes.

 

 Curtis Mayfield - Do Wap Is Strong In Here [3:32m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Uptown disco for a dollar…

Lovely little funky disco 7 arranged by Randy Muller & Jeff Lane of Brass Construction & similar in style. Randy was also heavily involved with B.T. Express arranging strings on ‘Express’, ‘If It Don’t Turn You On’, ‘Do It (’Til You’re Satisfied)’ & ‘Herbs’.

Madison 76 by Venus has disco strings & breaks, wah-wah guitar & female vocals all for 50p. The track was also released as an early columbia extended 12″ single for promotional puposes only.

 

 venus madison 76 [5:08m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Love House Music? then pick-up a copy of the forthcoming Easter Edition of the Faith Strobelight Honey fanzine. Available at phonica or stussy & ther spots in London & various record shops across the UK. Full details on their Easter Party in London & how to order a copy of the fanzine via pay pal can be found at www.faithfanzine.com

Features include Robert Owens on dj’ing to south side gangs in the late 70s, the current house dancing scene in NYC, the story of the mid 70s london soul dancers & Back to Basics.

We welcome Robert Owens to the Love Unlimited, from 1992 a stunning vocal workout over house drums & subtle strings - Gotta Work

 

 Standard Podcast [8:47m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Where the sun sets and the stars rise…Sadly the Godfather of Disco Mel Cheren passed away yesterday.

If you like disco & soul it’s hard to imagine that you won’t have danced & listened to something Mel had a hand-in be it a release on Scepter or West End Records, a b-side instrumental or a Disco 12… and for this contribution we will always be thankful to Mel.

Mel Cheren began his career in the music business via ABC/Paramount Records where he eventually became head of the label’s production department. When the company moved operations to Los Angeles in 1970, Cheren left to become head of production for Scepter Records. Here the musical innovator forged new territory: he was instrumental not only in supporting the creation of the first 12″ single for DJs and in forming the first record pool, but also the first to release an instrumental mix on a 12″ B-side (”We’re On The Right Track” by Ultra High Frequency). Other hits during his tiime at the label included B.T. Express’ “Do It Till You’re Satisfied,” and Patti Jo “Make Me Believe in You”

When Scepter closed in 1976, Mel co-founded West End Records and soon after signed Karen Young, whose single “Hot Shot” sold 800,000 copies making it one of the biggest selling 12″ in history.Disco hits followed from the likes of Jakki, Taana Gardener, Loose Joints, Barbara Mason & Ednah Holt featured here with the club mix of “Serious Sirius Space Party”.

To top it all Cheren, was the financial backer of The Paradise Garage one of the world’s most famous nightclubs.

Truly one of the most important and passionate figures in dance music history…Mel Cheren

RIP

 

 Standard Podcast [7:16m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Everyone love’s a list don’t they?

Here’s what I played during my first slot at the pre-party for Credit to the Edit with Greg Wilson & Maurice Fulton.

1. Runnin’ - Pharcyde (Delicious Vinyl)
2. Youre The Man - Marvin Gaye feat Snoop Dogg (white)
3. Music Feel The Soul - Marvin Gaye Project (Choonz Inc)
4. Lickshots - Missy Elliott V Roy Davis Jnr (white)
5. I Got The.. - Labi Siffre (Stateside)
6. Sunshine of Your Love - Spanky Wilson (Fat City)
7. I Know You Got Soul - Bobby Byrd (School Yard Breaks)
8. Education Wrap - Community People (Delmar International)
9. Wicked Funk - Kwanza Posse (Fat City)
10. Random House Party - El Jay (white)

Sampled by Eminem for its killer break here is I Got The… by Labi Siffre.

 

 Standard Podcast [5:05m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Hailing from Chicago South Shore Commission signed with New York-based Scepter Records, recording for their Wand subsidiary.

Their biggest hit was “Free Man” released in 1975, and they charted twice more in the next year with “We’re On The Right Track” and “Train Called Freedom”. They released one album the self-titled South Shore Commission, this long player was recorded in Philadelphia with Bunny Sigler and also in Hollywood.

Tom Moulton remixed freeman with the original reference disc cut on a 12″ rather than a 7″ - now there has been many a disco dedbate as to whether a 12 inch of this track actually exists. In an interview with Al Kent of www.millliondollardisco.com according to Tom there was never a test pressing, supposedly 10 acetates were given to DJs like David Mancuso, Walter Gibbons and merely a handful of others.

In the same interview Tom reckons Private Stock made the first move to release a 12 inch promo record for DJs with swearin’ to god (see previous post).

This is meant to be the unreleased acetate version, then again who knows, what we do know is it’s a real disco belter…

 

 Standard Podcast [7:20m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Over the years licensing deals between record labels have thrown-up some tasty results.

When Eddie Pillar & Acid Jazz hooked up with LA based label Delicious Vinyl the brand new heavies benefited from heavy US promotion & dj remixes - check the lunar dub & eclipse mixes of stay this way by Dave Morales.

Eddie got the likes of Skate Master Tate & Dread Flimstone - from the early 90’s bass-heavy party business…revival pressure

 

 dread flimstone - from the ghetto [4:41m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download