Over 50 album titles re-mastered and scheduled for re-issue between August 2012 and May 2013, all with exclusive un-released tracks and mixes, all with exhaustive sleeve notes by man-about-Tokyo, Ken Hidaka, and all with lyrics transcribed by a certain Max Essa.

Artists scheduled for re-issue include: Loleatta Holloway, First Choice, Double Exposure, Love Committee, Silvetti, The Salsoul Orchestra, Logg, Inner Life, Instant Funk, Candido, Moment of Truth, Eddie Holman, Bunny Sigler, Ripple, Gaz, Metropolis, Carol Williams, Skyy, Aurra, Edwin Birdsong, Vaughn Mason & Butch Dayo, Jakky Boy & The Bad Bunch, Civil Attack, The Strangers, Funk Deluxe, Joe Bataan, and Charo. That`s some “legacy” and the huge re-issue program undertaken by Octave Lab / Ultra-Vybe is not just a testament to the singers, players, writers and arrangers, but also to the key remixers, Walter Gibbons, Larry Levan, Tom Moulton and Shep Pettibone, all of whom did some of their best work for Salsoul. Other names on that list of DJs called in to shape the songs for the dancefloor include Danny Krivit, Bobby Guttadaro, Pat Stapley, John Morales, Tee Scott, David Rodriguez, Frankie Knuckles, and Paul Simpson. Since each re-issue contains a minimum of four bonus tracks, with at least two of these being contrasting extended takes on an original LP track, these CDs are a great way to compare the styles of the remixers, and to hear how the art of the “Disco Mix” developed.

I will be playing a selection of exclusives and my favourites from Salsoul this Saturday (10 / 11 / 2012) on "The Remedy" / local FM (8 - 9 PM Japanese Time) / 11am in the UK (is that now Noon in Europe?) / on Karuizawa FM / to stream you need to click on web radio / then chose the first option - インタ-ネトdeラジオ / the shows are archived on Samurai.FM the following week here and you can find the Facebook page here.

And just by coincidence, my fellow Karuizawa resident, and practically my next door neighbour, Towa Tei, will be releasing a mix CD (his first made commercially available) to accompany the re-issue program. Not sure if Karuizawa usually does Disco, but we will certainly be giving it to them this weekend.