Keys: Charlie Milne & Colin Train bass: Stephen Westwater Guitar: Kevin McShane Drums: Jim Gash Vox: Liza Marie, Susie, Jane & Shona Percussion: Gary Kainth & Ryan Buchanan Alto Sax: Colin Train Tenor Sax: Alan Train Trumpet: Douglas West Trombone: Chris Pugh Violin: Sarah Wilson Violin: Graham McGeoch Viola: Ruaridh Campbell Cello: Nicola West Synths: Colin Train
Influences
Began Cekic, Peter Brown, Patrick Adams, Walter Gibbons.
Sounds Like
Crown Heights Affair meets MFSB, produced by Peter Brown, remixed by Walter Gibbons.
A few early reviews: Once in a blue, I sit down to review a CD or LP to that perks my ears within first four bars, and like I just downed a quad espresso, I get real charged and quickly start flipping through every track, and reading online to find out more. The Million Dollar Orchestra's "Better Days" has that effect. By the look of the cover, I thought it was another 70's rare disco groove band (which I also would've loved) but the music sounded so crisp and new. It just couldn't be old! I was immediately confused - aren't Escort and Chin Chin the only new disco bands? Alas, the liner notes explain it all. Turns out that the founder is Al Kent, who like so many producers, got tired of chopping disco loops for house tracks. Starting in 2005, the liners detail his 2 year journey of luck and destiny to form his band to finally make some disco that's authentic. So in 2007, with a full backing band 18 musicians deep, The Million Dollar Orchestra is hitting the block with first 8 track album. The chemistry is like super glue and the whole band is on fire with the timeless spirit of that good late '70's disco. I really can't pick my five favorites here, so here's a sampler: "Don'tcha Wanna Get Down(1)," "Get It Boy(2)," "Rock Freak Boogie(3)," "Feel The Music(4)," "Makin' Love(5)." Hats off for something I can enjoy all year. Highly recommended.
turntablelab.com
Like BBE labelmate and former Torontonian Robert Strauss, Glasgow’s Al Kent has a fantastic feel for the warmth and richness of disco. Clearly influenced by string-laden recordings from mid-’70s New York, the producer once worked with loops and samples, but now leads The Million Dollar Orchestra through one of the most magical modern takes on disco these ears have heard. Joyful from start to finish.
eyeweekly.com
Al Kent presents his Million Dollar Orchestra and shows us how to step back to those heady disco days in style! 8 ghetto style tracks that could easily have slipped out of some unseen blackploitation movie with their funky basslines, strings, percussion, melodies and atmospheres (not forgetting the lyrics also).
djvox.com
Sick and tired of cut and paste re-edits and hollow sounding Disco-House records, Scottish disco lord Al Kent decided to take matters into his own hands. He put together a real ‘orchestra’ to create dancefloor bound music that is full of retro charm and genuine musicianship. Following in the tradition of 70s outfits like Salsoul’s musical troupe, Kent’s modest outfit features horns, strings and singers and records delightful discoid ditties in an analogue studio. Efforts on this album such as the heart-warming “Don’tcha Wanna Get Down”, risqué “Rock Freak Boogie” and smile-inducing “Feel The Music” really hit home. This is New Disco, albeit with one ear stuck firmly in the past.
hearingisbelieving
Better days, indeed -- as the set takes us back to our favorite club sounds of the late 70s -- thanks to careful crafting from maestro Al Kent! The album's got a solid, soulful approach that's totally great -- a return to a time when making dance music involved a full range of instrumentation -- from tightly snapping drums and bumping bass, to fuller jazzy horns, and even a bit of strings! Al Kent brings them all together wonderfully -- and manages to make a sound here that's really quite authentic -- a batch of grooves that easily feel like they've been lifted from a stack of rare club 12" singles, and which hardly feel contemporary at all. There's a bit of vocals on the set from time to time -- mostly in a soulful chorus mode -- but overall, the style's more focused on the instrumentation, and often built around some really wicked basslines that recall the funkiest rhythms from the P&P scene. A treasure throughout -- and one of the few contemporary club sets we can recommend to any digger of older disco -- with tracks that include "Get It Boy", "Canal Street Bus Stop", "Rock Freak Boogie", "Keep On Doin Whatcha Doin", "Feel The Music", "Funky Funky Beat", and "Makin Love".
Dustygroove
Psychedelic Disco Madness from Germany* coming to you live like Charles Earland on an 8 tracked BBE album. Mainly instrumental with leading bass lines and minimal vocal overtones in the right places, it’s laidened with the underground dubs of a mid to late seventies deja vu. If you, like me, hear Juggy Murray Jones, El Coco, Patrick Adams, Dinasaur L, Atmosfear, Powerline, The Brothers, Mass Production and a touch of Francine McGhee influences throughout, we are reading off the same page. For me, amongst this quality collection “Don’t cha Wanna Get Down” is the ultimate bullet from this magnum album.
Soulsurvivor
* Germany??
The Million Dollar Orchestra's Friend Space (Top 24)
Thanks for supporting the independent artist by promoting their music! If you know of any artist interested in having their music aired on radio stations in London, Preston, Chicago, Manchester & New York, please refer them to the Soulchoonz Crew. Again, many thanks!!
The Soulchoonz Show with DJ Gary Spence Programmed by Di-Lee June 2008 Playlist
New & Upfront 1. Joey Negro & The Sunburst Band – Put A Lyric In It 2. Alex Lattimore – Keep Risin’ To The Top 3. Don E – Someday Somehow 4. Al Green Ft Anthony Hamilton – You Got The Love I Need 5. Monifa, Teddy Pendergrass & Melba Moore – My People 6. Johnnie Marshall – Wont Be No Heartache 7. Trina Broussard – Not Around 8. Adrian – Time For Romance 9. Angela Blair – Badd As You 10. Rachel Brown – Lets Fall In Love Again 11. Pru – Hazy Shades 12. The Politik – Saturn (Gentlemens Players Mix)
Flashback 13. Gayle Adams – Love Fever 14. Billy Griffin – Be With Me 15. Barry White – There It Is (Alex’s Remix) 16. Al Scratch Ft Brian McKnight – I’ll Take Her 17. Delegation – Oh Honey
New & Upfront 18. Brian Culbertson Ft Ledishi – The World Keeps Going Around 19. Eric Benet – You’re The Only One 20. Kimia Collins – Your Only 21. Michelle Tavares – Wanna Be 22. Wade O’Brown – So Glad 23. Darrius Willrich – Get It On 24. David Josias – Goodnight 25. Black Style Mood Ft Joseph Junior – Closer 26. Toni Redd – Anytime Of The Day 27. Robert Gee – I Don’t Want To Lose Your Love 28. Incognito Ft Maysa – I’ve Been Waiting 29. Syleena Johnson – It Is True
Thanks for supporting the independent artist by promoting their music! If you know of any artist interested in having their music aired on radio stations in London, Chicago, Manchester & New York, please refer them to the Soulchoonz Crew. Again, many thanks!!
The Soulchoonz Show with DJ Gary Spence Programmed by Di-Lee May 2008 Playlist
New & Upfront 1. The Rebirth - Love Issue (radio edit) 2. Scott Grimaldi ft Joe Thompson - Turn Your Love Around 3. The Chestnut Brothers - Whole Lotta You In Me 4. Blak Ice - Next To You 5. Nhojj - Dream 6. Nhojj - Peace & Blessings 7. Lalah Hathaway - Let Go 8. Gina Green - My Journey 9. Mary J Blige - Hello It's Me 10. Black Gold Massive - Snow In April (Mr Gone remix)
Flashback Section 11. Allure - Head Over Heals (remix) 12. Barry White - Staying Power 13. Trina & Tamara - What's Come Here For 14. Al Green - Waiting On You (C&J Extended Version) 15. BeBe Winans - What About It 16. Kenny 'Dope' Gonzalez - High - Skyy (Kenny Dope Mix) 17. Direct Drive Ft Helen Rogers - Anything
New & Upfront Cont. 18. Helen Rogers - My Eternal Love 19. Gregory R Coleman - Smooth Like You Like It 20. The Embers - The Last Time Saying Goodbye 21. The Embers - You're The Reason 22. Amber Ojeda - Don't Rush 23. E. Bland - Necessary 24. Ashanti Munir - I'm Staying Home Tonight 25. Glen Anthony Henry - I Don't Know 26. LeMar Mundane - Love Fantasy 27. William Demp - Everything 28. Temple Of Soul - Love Me Tonight 29. Skalp - Back 2 U 30. Skalp - Chanana
♥ ♥ ♥ A true pleasure being your friend, we hope you enjoyed our mood from the mixtape streaming from our page. Your reaction is much appreciated Your Italian friends, KINKY AFRO Disc Jockeys
Soulchoonz Show with Gary Spence - April 2008 Playlist
New & Upfront 1. Gina Foster - The B Side Of Love 2. Swing Out Sister - My State Of Mind 3. Seema J - My Loneliness 4. Heidi ft von Quest - You Know I'm Ready 5. Heidi - Family Love 6. Cool Million ft Eleana Young - Walk Away 7. Bob Baldwin - Jeep Jazz 8. Ty Causey - You'll Never Be Lonely 9. Leonie - Fool For Your Lovin'ez84yz8 10. Nhojj - Peace & Blessings 11. North '2unes' Woodall - Rock Steady 12. North '2unes' Woodall - All I Need Is You
Flashback Section 13. III Frum Tha Soul - Fever 14. Portrait - Dip & Dive 15. Reeno ft Gwen Mann - Funny How Time Flies 16. Colour Blind - Crazy (ext mix)
New & Upfront Cont. 17. Ashford & Simpson - It Seems To Hang On (Tommy Murto mix) 18. Xantha - Whisper 19. Soul Folk ft Will Hammond Jr - When It Rains 20. Lina - Feel The Love 21. Dreemtime - Drive Away 22. Fil Straughan - My Music 23. Cornelius MD - Step Baby 24. Cornelius MD - Do It 25. Drea - Come Around 26. Bobby Cutchins ft Cool Million & Laura Jackson - Next To Me 27. Jessi Colasante - Rhythm Of Our Lives 28. Gordon Nelson Jr - I'll Be Gone 29. Fordham & Walton - Closer 30. Talking Book - Chasing Green
Thanks The Million Dollar Orchestra for allowing us to post on your site. Let's keep supporting the independent artist and spread the word of what soul music means to all of us!
