Anthology I

Founded by composer and percussionist Vincent Montana Jr., Salsoul Orchestra was a big band with a twist: they played disco. Active from 1974 to the early 1980's, they served as the backing band for several vocalists on Salsoul Records and recorded their own material, which included eleven LPs of hard-hitting Philly soul, Latin percussion, and funk. Featuring up to 50 members, the orchestra helped shape the sound of an era. Flamboyant string arrangements, funked-up guitars, and cheeky vocals, topped by an unfaltering horn section, made for memorable hits such as 'Tangerine' and 'Salsoul Hustle'. Mind-blowing renditions of Christmas classics, like 'Little Drummer Boy', earned the band a place in the charts: their third record, 'Christmas Jollies', became the bestselling holiday album in 1976 and 1977. Despite Montana disbanding the group in 1982, their legacy has endured well into the present day, shaping house and dance music and being sampled by many prominent artists.