ALBUM REVIEW - Various - Philadelphia International Classics: The Tom Moulton Remixes - 4XCD BOX - HARMLESS/DEMON
Disco gurus Moulton, Gamble & Huff assembled in four disc treasure-trove of PI's greatest hits
10/10
During the past 12 months or so, Tom Moulton's name has been appearing on the sleeves and covers of various compilations, namely Harmless Records' re-edit and re-grooved series dedicated to pioneering soul and disco imprint, Philadelphia International. Along with try-hard labels such as Solar, 20th Century and Motown,
In the '70s, PI pretty much owned 'disco' after issuing around two years' worth of straight soul and a further two years of tight funk cuts, before hitting paydirt with these gems, all given a pin-sharp beat-perfect reworking by Tom Moulton in 2011/12, a man who once sported the sort of mustache to rival Magnum (the detective, not the ice-cream). These four discs are a testament to the management and songwriting prowess of PI founders Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, both good enough to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame a few years back (frankly, an honour that was way overdue) and millions of hit-single sales from 1973 to 1978, most of which are in this fabulous box set.
Chronologically gathered and presented in a smart card box, "Philadelphia International Classics" is a superlative clutch-bag of candid disco-dandies and sassy swingin' ladies all belting out classics such as "Love is the Message" by MFSB, the glorious opening track here, "Backstabbers" by The O'Jays, "When Will I See You Again" by Three Degrees and "Don't Leave Me This Way" by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, all given an extended reworking by Tom Moulton. It's disco-porn, that's what it is.
Lesser-known belters come courtesy of forgotten outfits such as The Futures, People's Choice and The Trammps (mercifully, NOT "Disco Inferno"), but the real gems that benefit from Moulton's penchant for hi-hats, cow-bells and string-driven choruses are so numerous, it's a travesty picking out one highlight - but I will anyway. It could be argued that Lou Rawls' perfect "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine" doesn't really need remixing or given any sort of makeover but, left in Moulton's dexterous hands, you just know he'll be gentle with it. Ten minutes of gentleness, in fact, and possibly one of his greatest works.
After piling through the 31 songs on offer here, it's easy to wonder just how you ever lived without these pieces of gold-plated disco history, a history that might never need rewriting - it's all here and more. Stunning.
10/10
During the past 12 months or so, Tom Moulton's name has been appearing on the sleeves and covers of various compilations, namely Harmless Records' re-edit and re-grooved series dedicated to pioneering soul and disco imprint, Philadelphia International. Along with try-hard labels such as Solar, 20th Century and Motown,
In the '70s, PI pretty much owned 'disco' after issuing around two years' worth of straight soul and a further two years of tight funk cuts, before hitting paydirt with these gems, all given a pin-sharp beat-perfect reworking by Tom Moulton in 2011/12, a man who once sported the sort of mustache to rival Magnum (the detective, not the ice-cream). These four discs are a testament to the management and songwriting prowess of PI founders Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, both good enough to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame a few years back (frankly, an honour that was way overdue) and millions of hit-single sales from 1973 to 1978, most of which are in this fabulous box set.
Chronologically gathered and presented in a smart card box, "Philadelphia International Classics" is a superlative clutch-bag of candid disco-dandies and sassy swingin' ladies all belting out classics such as "Love is the Message" by MFSB, the glorious opening track here, "Backstabbers" by The O'Jays, "When Will I See You Again" by Three Degrees and "Don't Leave Me This Way" by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, all given an extended reworking by Tom Moulton. It's disco-porn, that's what it is.
Lesser-known belters come courtesy of forgotten outfits such as The Futures, People's Choice and The Trammps (mercifully, NOT "Disco Inferno"), but the real gems that benefit from Moulton's penchant for hi-hats, cow-bells and string-driven choruses are so numerous, it's a travesty picking out one highlight - but I will anyway. It could be argued that Lou Rawls' perfect "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine" doesn't really need remixing or given any sort of makeover but, left in Moulton's dexterous hands, you just know he'll be gentle with it. Ten minutes of gentleness, in fact, and possibly one of his greatest works.
After piling through the 31 songs on offer here, it's easy to wonder just how you ever lived without these pieces of gold-plated disco history, a history that might never need rewriting - it's all here and more. Stunning.
