In this week’s ReWrite, we’re hitting up a St. Louis institution for some classic 1970s American disco-funk. After a fruitful day of digging through the vast crates at Vintage Vinyl, I came up with “Nice n Nasty,” a swagged out and laid back 1976 cut from the Salsoul Orchestra. Opening up with a minimal, but nonetheless driving drum rhythm, then quickly layering up with bass and horn lines fit for the swankiest of pimp struts, this track wastes no time getting you on your feet. After establishing control over your body, dreamy and seductive strings and vocals let your mind drift into unspoken realms of nastiness, dripping with sexual overtones that bar nothing and encourage everything. Good for a party starter or a late night jam, this track offers something for everybody. Be sure to stick around through the sax solo for a breakdown that will stop hearts and make the floor shake. With production by Vincent Montana Jr., who worked with sensational acts such as the O’Jays, First Choice, The Delphonics and the Jackson 5, “Nice n Nasty” delivers a raw, yet full sound guaranteed to get your party patrons nasty on the floor.
The Salsoul Orchestra was the backing group for the iconic 1970′s disco/funk/latin label Salsoul Records and included many players from MFSB, who comprised the house band for the Philadelphia International Records label and were instrumental in creating the “Philly sound” that dominated the early part of the decade and the hi-hat driven sound of the latter part. Also associated with Salsoul Records was visionary (read: fucking insanely talented) producer Tom Moulton, credited with developing not only the 12″ single format, but also the “breakdown section” of a song and…….and the remix. Think to yourself, where would dance music, let alone the music industry as a whole, be without remixes?
