Total class, both sides. Urgent, interplanetary jazz-funk; and mid-tempo murder on the flip, magnificently fronted by Terri Wells.

Ecstatic, cosmic soul from 1981, swirling into space on flurries of brass, two-step bass, and TM’s overdosed-with-joy falsetto.

‘When Salsoul boss Ken Cayre handed over the multi-track tapes of Hit and Run to Walter Gibbons in 1976, the burgeoning art-form of the disco edit was liberated from its previous cut & paste routine. Following on from the likes of Grasso, Burgess, Levan, Scott, and Siano, Gibbons had become a lethal beat mixer, with an ‘uncanny sense of mixing that was so accurate it was unbelievable’, according to Francois Kevorkian. After early edit work with Salsoul releases Nice ’N’ Naasty and Salsoul 2001, Gibbons had established himself as a meticulous artist, able to completely rework existing tracks into new extended amalgams of rhythm and sound. Cayre’s multi-tracks conferred the ability to thoroughly deconstruct each of the songs elements, and Gibbons transformed the cut into an eleven minute opus which fellow tape pioneer Tom Moulton would distinguish as being ‘so different from the original that it must be classified as a new record.’ The resulting 12” would go on to sell 300,000 copies; DJs and the dance-floor would now dictate runnings as never before. 

‘Whilst Gibbons transformed the original by banishing the strings and brass, Joe Claussell sets out for a different horizon entirely. The lead guitar is exchanged for a clean, chopped chucking; the vocals are promoted to a new spaciousness. The horns presage a rethinking of the rhythm, and by the time the familiar fuzz guitars are welcomed back, the coalescing orchestra has been sustained and revitalized in a complete surrender to time and pulse. As Holloway’s vocals are pulled into non-semantic expression, the track’s foundation is given a final rinse and farewell, before evaporating in delay. This is an iteration every bit inspired and fresh as Gibbons’ landmark mix.’

Expertly ecstatic disco-house treatments of Marvin’s Come Live With Me Angel and You Oughta Be Dancin’, by People’s Choice. Prime Leon Ware, prime Tom Moulton, brilliantly filleted and lovingly arranged on the plate.
In short supply. Don’t miss this.

The full 12:45 John Morales mix.

Surprisingly the first time on 12” for this brassy, string-laden, modern/Northern crossover classic, more Philly than NYC. Beautifully written by Thom Bell, expertly remixed by Tom Moulton.

The first official 12’ release of these two walloping classics by one of the very greatest soul singers of all time. Undimmed after forty years.

Crucial Arthur — with a deadly Walter Gibbons mix.

Arthur Russell’s 1978 disco smash for Sire Records, in collaboration with Nicky Siano, deejay at The Gallery in New York.
Wilbur Bascomb plays bass… Allan Schwartzberg, David Byrne, Miriam Valle, Peter Gordon, Peter Zummo… Arthur plays cello and piano.
Remastered from the original tapes. With liner notes by Peter Gordon, Peter Zummo and David Byrne.

This is the sublime, eleven-minute version, featuring vocalist Gavin Christopher.
Big Theo Parrish record.
Backed with the promo-only disco mix of Saturday Night, lavished with percussion by Sheila E.
Murders.

Superb disco boogie. A deeply soulful song, expertly sung. Killer, bare-bones break-downs, soaring strings, resplendent horns, with composers McFadden and Whitehead rocking the controls.
Plus an unmissable version of Curtis’ Make Me Believe In You! Fabulous, epic, Van McCoy drama, with a meaner Melba, thumping bass, and stomping kick-drum.

Terrific, grooving Black History from the Roy Ayers camp.
‘Remember to remember, to never forget. How long… how long… how long will it take?’

Barney ‘Blair’ Perry was the Blackbyrds’ guitarist for their first two albums. He wrote the mighty Walking In Rhythm. Here he is in 1978 with another killer piece of jazzed-up, how-we-roll, funky disco; massive on the two-step scene.

‘Former Mind & Matter bandmates James ‘Jimmy Jam’ Harris and Michael Dixon teamed up for this 1978 gospel-boogie banger, originally on the private Mad label.’