Had some discussion on the Nick Lowe fan club pages that I’m a member of about how Cruel to be Kind was influenced by the wonderful The Love I Lost by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes. I said that I’d always loved that song but couldn’t really see a link to CTBK. But someone posted a Tom Moulton remix of The Love I Lost and I can kind of see it now. Also that Costello’s Alison was influenced by The Detroit Spinners’ Ghetto Child.
But due to that discussion I’ve discovered Tom Moulton in a big way – what a guy! The inventor of the ‘breakdown’ and the 12″ single. Some 12″ mixes were a self-indulgent waste of vinyl but someone commented that Moulton’s mixes are just perfect – enhancing elements of the track without overstaying their welcome for a second. I agree 100%.
Absolutely wonderful stuff. I’m embarrassed and annoyed with myself that I’ve only discovered him now.
There’s some fascinating stuff in this interview as well.
https://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2017/11/tom-moulton-interview
This whole playlist is pure quality…
I love Tom Moulton. The 2012 box set of his Philadelphia remixes is astonishing. One of my favourite box sets.
MFSB featuring The Three Degrees – Love Is a The Message
I once tried to convince The Afterword of his genius but couldn’t find the right track to tickle its fancy.
I wish you luck!
I own K-Tel’s best-ever album, The Sound of Philadelphia.
MFSB… Backstabbers… Me and Mrs Jones… Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now…. it’s all there.
👍
Hopefully the track I posted will do it. A wonderful song to begin with, only enhanced by Moulton. Some records, e.g. rock-‘n’roll, 60’s/70’s/80’s pop, punk, new wave etc definitely don’t benefit from the 12″ treatment but Philly Soul, treated right, undoubtedly does.
I can only second this. Made me reassess my view of the Three Degrees who I’d always considered to be a Saturday night Two Ronnies sort of group.
The Philly remix box set then lead me to this https://www.discogs.com/Various-The-Definitive-Salsoul-Mixes/release/3011605 which you can pick up for buttons.
I notice that a few of those tracks are remixed by Larry Levan, someone Tom Moulton fans should check out if they haven’t already.
What a dude Tom Moulton is though. Started as a model. In his music career – stood against the payola culture. Quite rightly unapologetic about the rise of disco – wanted to make music for the masses.
Like many I’m sure , I’ve not been aware of him. Fascinating stuff. Thanks Doug.
👍
The three Philly ReGrooved collections are all amazing, but go with volume three if you’re getting just one:
https://www.discogs.com/label/561013-Philly-ReGrooved
11 minutes of magnificence with Tom Moulton’s mix of Eddie Kendricks’ ‘Keep on Trucking’:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAURhVqvBzw
Thanks Dougie! A new name to me too, and the couple of tracks I’ve listened to sound very promising.
Dangerous, indeed!
I love his work – he often gives his mixes a bit of extra oomph in the bass department, then brings out the best parts from the original mixes and let’s them shine – his mixes of Don’t Leave Me This Way and Love Train are particular favourites, but I think this revamp of an already glorious tune is his best work:
Kevin Rowland has this in his DJ set and if the mood takes him, sings along – take it away Kev!
I’ve got a few of his remix albums – this remix of The Intruders “Win place or show” is an absolute classic