Salsoul Orchestra
Encyclopedia
The Salsoul Orchestra was the backing band
for acts on Salsoul Records
. Under their own name the group recorded several hit singles and albums between 1975 and 1981.
., U.S.
and disbanded in 1982. Their music featured elements of Philly Soul, Funk
, Latin Music and disco
. The Salsoul Orchestra included up to 50 members with instrumental section, arrangers
and conductors. The Salsoul Orchestra was conducted by Vincent Montana Jr.
Production duties came,from 1978 to 1983, by Tom Moulton
, Stan Lucas, Patrick Adams & Bunny Sigler
.
The Salsoul Orchestra consisted of the most of the original members of Philadelphia International's MFSB
, who had moved on to Salsoul as the result of a disagreement with producers Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff over finances. Other members began performing as The Ritchie Family orchestra, and as John Davis and the Monster Orchestra. On later MFSB recordings, Gamble & Huff uses a new rhythm section which caused them to have a slightly different sound.
Their song, "Love Break (Ooh I Love It)" has been sampled in rap songs such as 50 Cent
's "Candyshop" and Eric B & Rakim's "Paid in Full
", but most notably in Madonna
's "Vogue".
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
for acts on Salsoul Records
Salsoul Records
This article is about the record label. For SalSoul the Puerto Rican Salsa radio station see Cadena Salsoul.Salsoul Records was a New York City based record label founded by brothers Joseph Cayre, Kenneth Cayre, and Stanley Cayre . Salsoul released about 300 disco 12-inch singles, and a string of...
. Under their own name the group recorded several hit singles and albums between 1975 and 1981.
Group History
The orchestra was formed in 1974 in New YorkNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
., U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and disbanded in 1982. Their music featured elements of Philly Soul, Funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
, Latin Music and disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
. The Salsoul Orchestra included up to 50 members with instrumental section, arrangers
Arrangement
The American Federation of Musicians defines arranging as "the art of preparing and adapting an already written composition for presentation in other than its original form. An arrangement may include reharmonization, paraphrasing, and/or development of a composition, so that it fully represents...
and conductors. The Salsoul Orchestra was conducted by Vincent Montana Jr.
Production duties came,from 1978 to 1983, by Tom Moulton
Tom Moulton
Tom Moulton is an American record producer, and originator of the remix, the breakdown section, and the 12-inch single vinyl format.-Life and career:Thomas Jerome Moulton was born in Schenectady, New York, United States....
, Stan Lucas, Patrick Adams & Bunny Sigler
Bunny Sigler
Walter "Bunny" Sigler is a pop and R&B songwriter and record producer who has done extensive work with the team of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, and who was instrumental in creating the "Philly Sound" in the early 1970s. He is nicknamed "Mr...
.
The Salsoul Orchestra consisted of the most of the original members of Philadelphia International's MFSB
MFSB
MFSB was a pool of more than thirty studio musicians based at Philadelphia’s famed Sigma Sound Studios. They worked closely with the production team of Gamble and Huff and producer/arranger Thom Bell, and backed up such groups as Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, the O’Jays, the Stylistics, the...
, who had moved on to Salsoul as the result of a disagreement with producers Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff over finances. Other members began performing as The Ritchie Family orchestra, and as John Davis and the Monster Orchestra. On later MFSB recordings, Gamble & Huff uses a new rhythm section which caused them to have a slightly different sound.
Their song, "Love Break (Ooh I Love It)" has been sampled in rap songs such as 50 Cent
50 Cent
Curtis James Jackson III , better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, investor, record producer, and actor. He rose to fame with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin and The Massacre . Get Rich or Die Tryin has been certified eight times platinum by...
's "Candyshop" and Eric B & Rakim's "Paid in Full
Paid in Full (Eric B. & Rakim song)
"Paid in Full" is a song written, produced and recorded by American rap duo Eric B. & Rakim, released as the fifth and final single from their debut album of the same name, Paid in Full....
", but most notably in Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
's "Vogue".
Singles
- "Salsoul Hustle" (1975) Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
- #76 (charted for 6 weeks, Salsoul 2002) - "TangerineTangerine (1941 song)"Tangerine" is a popular song.The music was written by Victor Schertzinger, the lyrics by Johnny Mercer. The song was published in 1941.It was introduced in the 1942 movie, The Fleet's In, produced by Paramount Pictures, directed by Schertzinger, and starring Dorothy Lamour, William Holden, Eddie...
" (1976) - Billboard Hot 100 - #18 (charted for 13 weeks, Salsoul 2004) - "You're Just The Right Size" (1976) - Billboard Hot 100 - #88 (charted for 5 weeks, Salsoul 2007)
- "Nice 'N' Naasty" (1976) - Billboard Hot 100 - #30 (charted for 14 weeks, Salsoul 2011)
- "Ritzy Mambo" (1977) - Billboard Hot 100 - #99 (charted for 1 week, Salsoul 2018)
- "Getaway (Earth, Wind & Fire song)Getaway (Earth, Wind & Fire song)"Getaway" was a hit song for R&B/funk band Earth, Wind & Fire in 1976 and written by Beloyd Taylor and Peter Cor Belenky. Released from their Spirit album, it spent two weeks at number one on the R&B singles chart and peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. Along with the track, "Saturday...
" - Billboard Bubbling Under - #105 - "Dance Little Bit Closer" feat CharoCharoMaría del Rosario Pilar Martínez Molina Gutiérrez de los Perales Santa Ana Romanguera y de la Hinojosa Rasten , better known as Charo, is a Spanish-American actress, comedienne, and flamenco guitarist, best known for her flamboyant stage presence, her provocative outfits, and her trademark phrase...
- Billboard Bubbling Under - #104
Other songs recorded
- "Chicago Bus Stop" (1975)
- "It's Good For The Soul"
- "Merry Christmas All"
- "Run Away" (1977) featuring Loleatta HollowayLoleatta HollowayLoleatta Holloway was an American singer, mainly known for disco songs such as "Hit and Run" and "Love Sensation", both of which have been sampled extensively.-Biography:...
, covered in 1996 by Nuyorican Soul with musicians from the Salsoul Orchestra - "Salsoul 3001" (Also Spoke Zarathustra)
Albums
- "The Salsoul Orchestra" – Billboard albums chartBillboard 200The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
- #14 (charted for 45 weeks, Salsoul 5501) - "Nice ‘N’ Naasty" –Billboard albums chart - #61 (charted for 14 weeks, Salsoul 5502)
- "Christmas Jollies" –Billboard albums chart - #83 (charted for 6 weeks, Salsoul 5507 in 1976 and re-entered the charts in 1977 at #48 for 7 weeks)
- "Magic Journey" –Billboard albums chart - #61 (charted for 20 weeks, Salsoul 5515)
- "Cuchi-Cuchi" (Charo and the Salsoul Orchestra) –Billboard albums chart - #100 (charted for 15 weeks, Salsoul 5519)
- "Up the Yellow Brick Road" –Billboard albums chart - #117 (charted for 8 weeks, Salsoul 8500)
- "Greatest Disco Hits/Music For Non-Stop DancingGreatest Disco Hits/Music For Non-Stop DancingGreatest Disco Hits / Music for Non-Stop Dancing is an album released by The Salsoul Orchestra in 1978 on Salsoul Records LP record SA 8508. The album is noted for it’s pioneering use of Slip-cueing, known at the time as “disco blending,” by Walter Gibbons.-Reception:Prior to landing on the...
" –Billboard albums chart - #97 (charted for 13 weeks, Salsoul 8508) - "Christmas Jollies II" –Billboard albums chart - #170 (charted for 5 weeks, Salsoul 8547)