Mike

The recent sad news regarding David Axelrods passing on has led to Wax Poetics magazine site pushing out a turn of the century interview from the Big Daddy Magazine Issue #5 Part one of the interview can be viewed here and as still as worthwhile as when first read well worth the walk over... David Axelrod’s life is sensational. Forget for a minute that the man produced some of the finest R&B and jazz albums of the 1960s for luminaries such as Lou Rawls and Cannonball Adderley. Forget Axelrod the visionary who, long before Shadow and his sampling contemporaries “endtroduced” themselves to the musical world, created the blueprint for classical melodies melded with the funkiest of backbeats. This interview would be worth reading for the intense anecdotes that characterize David Axelrod’s life. http://www.waxpoetics.com/blog/features/articles/david-axelrod-part-1/ Forum thread https://www.soul-source.co.uk/topic/364427-rip-david-axelrod/ cover scan from the Soul Source Gallery Selection

BBE Records has a new set out, a vinyl / CD boxed set titled 'The Men In The Glass Booth' Its a 3 xCd / 5x lp /digital format release, details and release notes below The Men In The Glass Booth Part One: Ground Breaking Re-edits & Remixes By The Disco Era's Most Influential DJs They describe in the release details this release as 'opulent', well you could call the sampler 'opulent' as well....as its a opulent lengthy 45 mins of fun.... Listen Release Blurb... In May 1976 a record was released that would have an unforeseen and lasting impact on the music industry “Ten Percent” by Double Exposure was an early release on the New York independent label Salsoul Records. America was in the grip of a disco explosion with new clubs opening on a weekly basis; Salsoul saw what was happening and swiftly created a sound for their label, heavily influenced by the music then coming out of Philadelphia, aimed directly at New York’s dance-floors. Records like “Salsoul Hustle,” “Tangerine” and “You’re Just The Right Size” by The Salsoul Orchestra borrowed heavily from the beautifully orchestrated Philadelphia International records but added a more percussive, bass heavy depth that New York’s DJs loved. So what was so special about this particular single then? Double Exposure was, after all, just another band, “Ten Percent” just another song; one of many “disco” records released that week. First of all Salsoul became the first record label to make a twelve inch single available to Joe Public - the exotic format was previously only available to DJs as promotional items or bought under the counter at certain record stores. Not only that though, the extended version was created by Walter Gibbons, a DJ at New York’s Galaxy 21 who’d built his reputation making exclusive versions of tracks to play in his sets. In 1976 it was unheard of for a DJ to set foot in a recording studio, being seen as little more than living jukeboxes by the serious music industry. Recording studios were strictly the domain of recording artists and producers so Walter found himself in a unique position, gaining access to a world no DJ had been granted before. The Men In The Glass Booth compiled by Al Kent tells the full story. Featuring ground breaking re-edits and remixes by some of the Disco era’s most influential DJs including Walter Gibbons, Bobby DJ Guttadaro, Tom Savarese, Jellybean Benitez, Tee Scott and John Luongo, this opulent release also includes a 40 page book which features exclusive photos and insights from some of the story’s key figures. Current prices/formats 3CD - With 40 Page Booklet. 5LP - Part A contains 40-page coffee table book telling the story of the DJ as remixer and featuring previously unseen vintage photographs. Cat: BBE 191CLP1 Released: 27 Jan 17 5LP vinyl box set Part A (incl. 40 page book) – £60.00 5LP vinyl box set Part B (incl. poster) – £60.00 3CD (incl. 40 page book) – £25.00 Track listings: 5LP Box Part A Vinyl 1 A1 Leon Collins – I Just Wanna Say I Love You (John Luongo Remix) A2 Marboo – What About Love (Tony Gioe Remix) B1 Double Exposure – Ten Per Cent (Walter Gibbons Sunshine Sound Acetate Edit) B2 Juggy Murray Jones – Inside America (Rick Gianatos Disco Queen Acetate Edit) Vinyl 2 C1 Hot Ice – Dancing Free (John Luongo Remix) C2 The Sunshine Band – Black Water Gold (Sunshine Sound Acetate Edit) D1 The Salsoul Orchestra – Magic Bird Of Fire (Francois Kevorkian Sunshine Sound Acetate Edit) D2 The Salsoul Orchestra – It’s Good For The Soul (Jay Negron Sunshine Sound Acetate Edit) Vinyl 3 E1 Double Exposure – My Love Is Free (Walter Gibbons Disco Madness Remix) E2 Fay Hauser – Reaching Out For Happiness (Jonathan Fearing Remix) F1 Love Symphony Orchestra – Let Me Be Your Fantasy (Tom Savarese Remix) Vinyl 4 G1 Ripple – The Beat Goes On And On (Jim Burgess Remix) G2 Ruby Andrews – I Wanna Be Near You (John Morales Sunshine Sound Acetate Edit) H1 TC James and The Fist O Funk Orchestra – I’ve Been Looking For Somebody (Walter Gibbons Remix) Vinyl 5 I1 Lake Shore Drive – The Disco Scene (Rick Gianatos Remix) I2 TC James and The Fist O Funk Orchestra – Bumpsie’s Whipping Cream (Tom Savarese Remix) J1 Skip Mahoney – Janice (Don’t Be So Blind To Love) (Bobby DJ Guttadaro Remix) 5LP Box Part B Vinyl 1 A1 The Salsoul Orchestra – My Number’s Up (Tee Scott Remix) A2 The Skyliners – The Love Bug (Done Bit Me Again) (David Todd Remix) B1 Aura – L.A. Sunshine (Robert Ouimet Remix) Vinyl 2 C1 Tony Valor Sound Orchestra – Love Has Come My Way (Jim Burgess Remix) C2 Sparkle Tuhran & Friends – Handsome Man (Bobby DJ Guttadaro Remix) D1 First Choice – Love Thang (Tee Scott Remix) Vinyl 3 E1 Kay Gee’s – Burn Me Up (Jellybean Benitez Edit) F1 Brooklyn Express – Love Is The Message (Tee Scott Remix) Vinyl 4 G1 Chain Reaction – Changes (Jellybean Benitez Remix) G2 John Gibbs And The Jam Band – J’Ouvert (Frank Sestito Remix) H1 Bunny Sigler – By The Way You Dance (I Knew It Was You) (Bobby DJ Guttadaro Remix) Vinyl 5 I1 The Salsoul Orchestra – It’s Good For The Soul (Walter Gibbons Disco Madness Version) J1 Gladys Knight & The Pips – It’s A Better Than Good Time (Walter Gibbons Remix) 3CD CD1 Leon Collins – I Just Wanna Say I Love You (John Luongo Remix) Marboo – What About Love (Tony Gioe Remix) Double Exposure – Ten Per Cent (Walter Gibbons Sunshine Sound Acetate Edit) Juggy Murray Jones – Inside America (Rick Gianatos Disco Queen Acetate Edit) Hot Ice – Dancing Free (John Luongo Remix) The Sunshine Band – Black Water Gold (Sunshine Sound Acetate Edit) The Salsoul Orchestra – Magic Bird Of Fire (Francois Kevorkian Sunshine Sound Acetate Edit) The Salsoul Orchestra – It’s Good For The Soul (Jay Negron Sunshine Sound Acetate Edit) Double Exposure – My Love Is Free (Walter Gibbons Disco Madness Remix) Fay Hauser – Reaching Out For Happiness (Jonathan Fearing Remix) Ripple – The Beat Goes On And On (Jim Burgess Remix) CD2 Love Symphony Orchestra – Let Me Be Your Fantasy (Tom Savarese Remix) Tony Valor Sound Orchestra – Love Has Come My Way (Jim Burgess Remix) Ruby Andrews – I Wanna Be Near You (John Morales Sunshine Sound Acetate Edit) TC James and The Fist O Funk Orchestra – I’ve Been Looking For Somebody (Walter Gibbons Remix) Lake Shore Drive – The Disco Scene (Rick Gianatos Remix) TC James and The Fist O Funk Orchestra – Bumpsie’s Whipping Cream (Tom Savarese Remix) Skip Mahoney – Janice (Don’t Be So Blind To Love) (Bobby DJ Guttadaro Remix) The Salsoul Orchestra – My Number’s Up (Tee Scott Remix) The Skyliners – The Love Bug (Done Bit Me Again) (David Todd Remix) Aura – L.A. Sunshine (Robert Ouimet Remix) CD3 Sparkle Tuhran & Friends – Handsome Man (Bobby DJ Guttadaro Remix) First Choice – Love Thang (Tee Scott Remix) Kay Gee’s – Burn Me Up (Jellybean Benitez Edit) Brooklyn Express – Love Is The Message (Tee Scott Remix) Chain Reaction – Changes (Jellybean Benitez Remix) John Gibbs And The Jam Band – J’Ouvert (Frank Sestito Remix) Bunny Sigler – By The Way You Dance (I Knew It Was You) (Bobby DJ Guttadaro Remix) The Salsoul Orchestra – It’s Good For The Soul (Walter Gibbons Disco Madness Version) Gladys Knight & The Pips – It’s A Better Than Good Time (Walter Gibbons Remix) Links BBE Music https://www.bbemusic.com/downloads/the-men-in-the-glass-booth/ Al Kent http://www.alkent.co.uk/ Video Trailer

News and details concerning this just released Kent Records soul comp. Read and listen below Manhattan Soul Volume 3 - Various Artists (Scepter/ Wand) Preview via Juno Records Player Preview release notes clip and track listing These New York labels were at the inception of soul music and continued to release excellent tracks until the disco era. Scepter/Wand and Musicor/Dynamo were quintessential New York soul labels. Their common link was Luther Dixon, who set Scepter on the right path with the Shirelles and followed up with success for Tommy Hunt, Chuck Jackson, Dionne Warwick and Maxine Brown. He split for Musicor in 1966 where he got the Platters, Tommy Hunt and Inez and Charlie Foxx back into the charts. Over the years, our privileged position of accessing the labels’ tapes has enabled us to make many previously unissued recordings available. This CD alone features an unheard Chips Moman song from Helen Henry, the Shirelles’ take on Luther Dixon’s superb ‘Two Stupid Feet’, songwriter Van McCoy’s own interpretation of the Shirelles’ ‘What’s The Matter Baby’ and an R&B group sound from the Tabs. Earlier vault discoveries from Junior Lewis and Big Maybelle are given their first CD outing. Track Listing: 1. Open Up Your Heart (And Let Me In) - Dan & Clean Cuts 2. Now That You're Gone - Sonny Turner And Sound Unlimited 3. Haven't I Been Good To You - Johnny Moore 4. Fun City Woman - Ann Bailey 5. Nobody Made You Love Me - The Charts 6. Billy Boy - Billy Adams 7. That Same Old Song - The Fabulous Dinos 8. Every Little Bit Helps - Helen Henry 9. Two Stupid Feet - The Shirelles 10. Lover - Tommy Hunt 11. Giving Up - Junior Lewis 12. A Part Of Me - Earl King 13. Never In My Life - Lee Moses 14. Nobody Knows - Maurice Williams 15. Doesn't It Ring A Bell - The Platters 16. How Could It Be - The Esquires 17. Mr Schemer - Brenton Wood 18. Ooh Baby - Harold Hopkins 19. What's The Matter Baby - Van Mccoy 20. The Landlord - The Tabs 21. You Picked Me - The Soldier Boys 22. Remind My Baby Of Me - Billy Byers 23. Does Love Believe In Me - Melba Moore 24. If I Had You - Big Maybelle Full release notes by @ady croasdell and purchase options via http://www.acerecords.co.uk/manhattan-soul-volume-3

TOMMY MCGEE - Now That I Have You B/w Stay With Me - Numero Group US Cat: ES 058LP Soul Out soon on 45 and also now avail via download Release blurb Having anthologized his ’60s songbook with 1976’s overdue long-player Positive-Negative, Grand Rapids, Michigan's Tommy McGee was eager to place something more modern into the marketplace. Brass at Brunswick and MCA failed to hear a hit in McGee's sultry-yet-assured delivery of “Now That I Have You.” Unable to find a home for the romantic anthem, McGee issued his 2-step masterpiece on his own TMG Records in 1981. McGee would revisit the composition later in the decade, dressing the tune with drum machines and synthesizers for a run of 12” singles. However, this 45-only version from 1976 captures the progressive soul stepper at its most organic. http://www.numerogroup.com/products/tommy-mcgee-now-that-i-have-you-bw-stay-with-me