A Tom Moulton Mix
Compilation album by
Tom Moulton
Released2006 (2006)
GenreDisco
Length115:35[1]
LabelSoul Jazz
ProducerTom Moulton, Frank Wilson, Leonard Caston, Isaac Hayes, Larry La Falce, Len Boone, Don Cypher, Anthony Monn
CompilerRomain Tassinari and Aldrick de Narp

A Tom Moulton Mix is a 2006 compilation released by Soul Jazz Records. The album contains disco music that had been mixed by Tom Moulton, ranging from artists from such as Eddie Kendricks, Andrea True Connection, Isaac Hayes, and Grace Jones. The tracks are predominantly pulled from unreleased, acetate and promotional singles of several artists.[2]

On its release, the album was praised by several music critics from The Guardian, Exclaim! and The Stranger, with Linhardt of Pitchfork calling it "simply some of the most electrifying music of the 1970s."[3] and Andy Kellman declaring it "one of the finest disco compilations".[1]

Background and music

A Tom Moulton Mix was the first ever compilation of tracks mixed by Tom Moulton.[4] Several of the tracks on the album were unreleased versions such as "Keep on Truckin" by Kendricks, "I'll Be Holding On" by Al Downing and "Free Man" by South Shore Commission.[2]

The albums cover was taken in 1977 at the first anniversary party of West End Records. The back row features Maye James and Grace Jones while the front row features Mel Cheren, Tomiko Jones and Moulton.[5]

Release and reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
The Guardian[6]
Pitchfork Media(8.7/10)[3]
The Stranger[7]
Stylus MagazineA[8]

A Tom Moulton Mix was released in 2006. It was released as a double compact disc and on two double vinyl releases by Soul Jazz Records.[4][9] John Brugess of The Guardian praised the album, stating that "artists graced with a Tom Moulton mix could expect their concise pop to be turned into an epic drama" and proclaimed that "Moulton had a good sense of when to hold back (Patti Jo's Make Me Believe In You is stripped and urgent) but also knew that disco floors often relished going over the top: MFSB's Love is the Message sounds like John Williams conducting a choir of cartwheeling angels."[6] Andy Beta of The Stranger echoed praise of Moulton's mixes, finding that under Moulton's guidance, "almost any component of a song could mutate and overtake the original, from the Indian toms on BT Express's "Peace Pipe" and MFSB's orchestral opulence on "Love Is the Message" right down to the tangy banjo from Al Downing's "I'll Be Holding On." Such expansions remain prescient, transcendent, and, well, timeless."[7] Alex Linhardt of Pitchfork proclaimed the structure of the album had "the complexity and elegance [that ]is nearly overwhelming throughout Soul Jazz's two-disc set." concluding that the compilation is "simply some of the most electrifying music of the 1970s."[3] Andy Kellman of AllMusic proclaimed the album as "one of the finest disco compilations" and that "it just so happens that it was put together to honor the work of a pioneer who played as much of a role in the development of dance music as any songwriter, producer, session musician, vocalist, or DJ."[1] Beyond the music, David Dacks of Exclaim! praised the compilation, noting that Soul Jazz Records had "done a tremendous job with this package", praising the liner notes cataloguing Moulton's career and work between 1974 and 1980.[10]

From later reviews, Barry Walters included the album in his list of "Essentials" for Disco music for Spin in 2008.[11] Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton wrote in Mixmag in 2012 that the album was a "brilliant compilation" and that it gather Moulton's "biggest and best mixes".[12]

Track listing

Track listing adapted from back of vinyl sleeve and liner notes.[5][2][13]

Disc 1
No.TitleWriter(s)Credited PerformerLength
1."Keep on Truckin'"Anita Poree, Leonard Caston, Frank WilsonEddie Kendricks11:14
2."I'll Be Holding On"Lance Quinn, Al Downing, Andrew SmithAl Downing2:58
3."Peace Pipe"Sam Taylor, Mark BarkanBT Express5:58
4."Dreamworld"Douglas Bright, Spencer CaseyDon Downing4:35
5."Make Me Believe in You"Curtis MayfieldPatti Jo7:12
6."Needing You"Chuck Jackson, Marvin YancyClara Lewis4:32
7."Free Man"Bunny Sigler, Ron TysonSouth Shore Commission7:19
8."You've Got the Power" Camouflage7:44
Disc 2
No.TitleWriter(s)Credited PerformerLength
1."More, More, More"Gregg DiamondAndrea True Connection6:17
2."Feel the Need in Me"Abrim TilmonDetroit Emeralds7:02
3."Moonboots"Monn, ZaunerOrlando Riva Sound9:31
4."Love is the Message"Kenneth Gamble, Leon HuffMFSB11:27
5."Won't You Try" Udell5:34
6."La Vie en rose"E. Gassion, L Guglielmi, D. MackGrace Jones7:26
7."Moonlight Loving"Isaac HayesIsaac Hayes9:58
8."Lip Service"Len Boone, Larry La FalceThe Lover5:42

Credits

Credits adapted from the liner notes of the compilation album.[5]

  • Tom Moulton – mixing, producer (on "La vie en rose" and "Moonboots")
  • Frank Wilson – producer (on "Keep on Truckin'")
  • Leonard Caston – producer (on "Keep on Truckin'")
  • Isaac Hayes – producer (on "Moonlight Loving")
  • Larry La Falce – producer (on "Lip Service")
  • Len Boone – producer (on "Lip Service")
  • Don Cypher – producer (on "Lip Service")
  • Anthony Monn – producer (on "Moonboots")
  • Duke Williams – arrangements (on "La vie en rose")
  • Romain Tassinari – compiler, sleeve notes
  • Aldrick de Narp – compiler, sleeve notes
  • Adrian Self – sleeve
  • Rodney Rex III – sleeve
  • Pete Reilly – mastering
  • Duncan Cowell – mastering

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Kellman.
  2. 1 2 3 A Tom Moulton Mix [back cover] (Media notes). Soul Jazz Records. SJR LP120 VOL1.
  3. 1 2 3 Linhardt 2006.
  4. 1 2 "A Tom Moulton Mix". Soul Jazz Records. Archived from the original on September 8, 2006. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 A Tom Moulton Mix (Media notes). Johan Kugelberg. Soul Jazz Records. p. 4. SJR LP120 VOL1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. 1 2 Burgess 2006, p. 10.
  7. 1 2 Beta 2006.
  8. ↑ O'Donnell 2006.
  9. ↑ "Latest News". Soul Jazz Records. Archived from the original on April 7, 2006. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  10. ↑ Dacks 2006.
  11. ↑ Walters 2008, p. 94.
  12. ↑ Brewster & Broughton 2012, p. 85.
  13. ↑ A Tom Moulton Mix [back cover] (Media notes). Soul Jazz Records. SJR LP120 VOL2.

Sources

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