Larry Levan - The Definitive Salsoul Mixes '78-'83 flac mp3 download

Great selection but very poor sound quality. I must concur with what was previously written in January 2006. Spectral analysis shows that many tracks are likely LQ mp3 sourced. It still remains a must for every Larry Levan's fans.

I'm sorry to say so, but this CD does sound bad - like pretty much all of the Suss'd Salsoul re-issues on CD. I own most of these CD re-issues. I have compared about a dozen CD tracks against quality rips made from my own original vinyl (in an equal-volume crossfader A/B blind test setup),and the picture is always the same: the CD tracks have constistently narrow stereo imaging, sharp spikes in the highs, dull midtones and an obvious lack of bass punch most noticeable in the kickdrum. EQing wont change things for the better. It's a shame considering how much loving care Suss'd / Ian Dewhirst have put into packaging and liner notes. One can only speculate why the sound quality is so inferior compared both the original vinyl releases and re-issues on compilations like the excellently sounding (and brillantly compiled) CHOICE series on Azuli. If master tapes were really used as sources, somebody must have terribly messed up the transfer to digital. Sad, sad, sad. This is one of the reason why DJs serving disco from CDs have a bad name :-

Larry Levan The Definitive Salsoul Mixes’78-‘83 If you really want to begin to understand what all the fuss is about, when it comes to the names Larry Levan, Salsoul, and the Paradise Garage, then look no further than this compilation… In a world where everyone’s an expert, this comprehensive double cd selection of mixes and productions, by the original DJ superstar / remixer, will leave you nothing short of being one yourself, and is a must for any Salsoul lover. The names Jocelyn Brown, The Salsoul Orchestra, First Choice, Loleatta Holloway, Aurra, Leroy Burgess, Steve Arrington, The Jimmy Castor Bunch, and Instant Funk might ring bells, but listen to this, and them bells gonna rock. Larry Levan mixed it all up at the Paradise Garage from 1977 until 1987 – and seeing as this edition only covers 1978-1983, youll do well to scope out anything else that bears his name! Hats off to the man from del-sussd

"from 1977 until 1987" .. noted in the booklet. The name for this release might be depending on the tracks mixed: 1978-1983.

In regards to the other review written here, this compilation was not compiled from MP3s. About 85% of the tracks included were in fact mastered from the original tapes which are stored and managed by Tom Moulton at the Salsoul Offices in New York. 3 of the tracks included in the compilation were not available as 2 inch masters or 1/4 inch tapes, and were not previously released in any other format. These 3 tracks may possibly have been converted to MP3s before compiling the CD's, but at the time of compilation they were received as AIFF's, and submitted to the label as such. It should be noted that the Bunny Sigler track was of slightly poorer quality than the other tracks, however, the mix itself is a belter, and was simply not available in any other format at the time, and all have come from the same source since this release. One of the ideas of this collection was to compile every single track that Larry mixed for Salsoul records, and it's related labels. This was 'almost' achieved. The only exceptions were the Jimmy Castor releases 'Tellin On The Devil' and 'Return Of Leroy', which were actually an oversight on my part (I was the compiler), but to make amends this were released as a 12" some months after this release.

For a fact this entire cd was compiled from .mp3's, I tested the algorithms with the free audiochecker program to be found at: http://www.dester.hu/eng_index.html. The sound quality is dreadful, it is obvious to the ears it was low quality .mp3 for that matter too! If this is what all Suss'd releases are doing, someone needs to stop them! Nevertheless great selection..but you'll be best off with "Larry Levan's Greatest Mixes Volume Two" original LP release from 1980 instead.