The ‎Salsoul Strings – How Deep Is Your Love

From the late 1960s, Vincent Montana Jr. was instrumental in establishing Sigma Sound Studio, the birthplace of the Philly sound, and led its house band, MFSB. When he encountered contract disputes with Gamble & Huff, he was approached by the New York-based Salsoul label. In 1974, he formed the Salsoul Orchestra as their house band. Since the owners of the Salsoul label were big fans of Philly soul, they boldly recruited key members of that scene, including Montana Jr., Norman Harris, Ronnie Baker, Earl Young, and Bunny Sigler, to faithfully recreate the Philly sound. They even recorded at Sigma Sound Studio, despite the apparent irony. However, this 1978 release, "How Deep Is Your Love" was strangely released under the name "Salsoul Strings" As the title and cover suggest, this album is mostly instrumental and takes on an easy-listening vibe, featuring renditions of popular hits of the time, such as Billy Joel's "Just The Way You Are" and Debby Boone's "You Light Up My Life" While it may not seem very "Salsoul-like" it's a personal favorite that gives a cozy feeling.

60年代後期からフィリー・サウンド発祥の地、シグマ・サウンド・スタジオの設立に関与し、そのハウスバンドMFSBのリーダとして活躍したヴィンセント・モンタナJr。彼がギャンブル&ハフと契約で揉めている時にNYのサルソウルから誘いを受け、同レーベルのハウスバンドとして74年に結成したのがサルソウル・オーケストラで、サルソウルのレーベル・オーナーがフィリーSOUL好きだったため、その中心メンバーだったモンタナJrをはじめノーマン・ハリス、ロニー・ベイカー、アール・ヤング、バニー・シグラー等を引き抜き、フィリー・サウンドを忠実に再現するために、図々しくもレコーディングをシグマ・サウンド・スタジオで行っているのですが、なぜか本作のみサルソウル・ストリングス名義による78年リリース作「ハウ・ディープ・イズ・ユア・ラブ」

ジャケットからも臭いがしていますが、そのグループ名のとおりのほぼインストによる構成で、ビリー・ジョエル「Just The Way You Are」やデビー・ブーン「You Light Up My Life」等、当時のヒット曲を織り交ぜたイージー・リスニング集といった趣。所謂サルソウルらしからぬも、個人的にはほっこりできるお気に入りの一枚でス。

The ‎Salsoul Strings – How Deep Is Your Love　1978 Salsoul
A1. How Deep Is Your Love
A2. Just The Way You Are
A3. You Light Up My Life
A4. More Than A Woman
B1. Evergreen (Love Theme From "A Star Is Born")
B2. Yours
B3. Love Letters
B4. Feelings / We've Only Just Begun

Credits;
Alto Saxophone – John Bonnie
Backing Vocals – Barbara Ingram, Carla Benson, Evette Benton
Bass – Gordon Edwards, Michael "Sugarbear" Foreman, Ron Baker
Cello – Larry Gold, Richard Amoroso, Romeo Di Stefano
Congas, Timbales, Bongos – Carlos Martin, James Walker,
Larry Washington
Copyist – Frank Zuback
Drums – Charles Collins, Earl Young
Engineer – Arthur Stoppe, Carl Paruolo, Darrell Rogers,
Dirk Devlin, Jeffrey Stewart, Jim Dougherty, Jim Gallagher,
Ken Present
Executive Producer – Joe Cayre, Stan Cayre, Ken Cayre
Flute, Piccolo Flute – Jack Faith
French Horn – Joe "One And Only Lips" De Angelis, Milton Phibbs
Guitar – Bobby "Electronic" Eli, Dennis Harris, Norman "The Harris
Machine" Harris, Ronnie "The Hawk" James, T.J. Tindall
Keyboards – "Cotton" Kent, Ron "Have Mercy" Kersey,
Vincent Montana Jr.
Mastered By – José Rodriguez
Mixed By – Ken Present, Vincent Montana Jr.
Percussion – Crusher Bennet, Jerry Gonzalez, Manny Oquendo,
Peter "Choki" Quintero, Ray Armando
Producer, Arranged By, Conductor – Vincent Montana Jr.
Synthesizer – Bill O'Brien
Trombone – Edward Cascarella, Fred C. Linge, Richard Genovese,
Robert Moore, Roger De Lillo
Trumpet – Evan Solot, Joseph Cataldo, Louis Opalesky,
Rocco Bene
Viola – Anthony Sinagoga, Davis Barnett, Julia Ann Di Gaetani,
Victoria Ann Matosich
Violin – Americus Mungiole, Bertram Greenspan, Bridget Pumpolis
Mitten, Charles Apollonia, Charles Parker, Christine Reeves, Diane
Barnett, Don Renaldo, Emilye E. Nicholl, Florence Schwartz, Gov
Hutchinson, Helen Kwalwasser, Joseph Bonaccorse, Lance Elbeck,
Leonore Walaniuk, Patricia Gott, Peter Nocella, Rudolph Malizia,
Thomas Di Sarlo, Vito J. Kasiello

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