Ritchie Family: Life Is Music & African Queens coming to CD

The Japanese label Marlin/Ultra Vybe will be releasing the Ritchie Family's albums "African Queens" and "Life Is Music" on CD, on December 20th. Dusty Groove has the product listings up on their website, showing as 'coming soon'.

https://www.dustygroove.com/search.p...ritchie+family

https://st.cdjapan.co.jp/pictures/l/...L-2111.jpg?v=1

https://st.cdjapan.co.jp/pictures/l/...L-2110.jpg?v=1

They are currently available for pre-order from CD Japan...

https://www.cdjapan.co.jp/searchuni?...Ritchie+family

As Lakeside had already posted in a separate thread, this same label is issuing Wild Honey's album on CD...

https://soulfuldetroit.com/showthrea...582-Wild-Honey

Low-priced down reissue. *Available for a limited period of time until February 29, 2024.

Ordered! :)

Jack, I bought these two CD titles back in the late '90s or early 2000's from [[I think) Hot Productions in Florida. I hope your copies will sound as good as mine which are phenomenal!

Miami, Florida-based label and distributing & manufacturing company for several dance labels. Founded by Henry Stone and Paul Klein in 1986. Closed in 1999.

Hey Gary,
usually the japanese discs sound very good so I might be lucky.
I got some of the Hot Productions cds:
The Best Of D.C. LaRue - Let Them Dance

The Best Of The Ritchie Family - Best Disco In Town

The Best Of Eastbound Expressway - You're A Beat

The Best Of Saint Tropez - Fill My Life With Love

The Best Of Carol Douglas - Doctor's Orders

For lushness in disco ....this is hard to beat!

Does the LIFE IS MUSIC cd contain the extended 12" versions.

LADY LUCK was magical in a club setting . After 3:40, those loud piercing strings and harp strums melted the walls. I think its the only way one can experience them so someone would fully get it....the intent, the effect, the airy hollowness created by a caverness sound system.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyqQCdy4yvg



let lady luck smile, let the child smile now, let lady luck smile on me... hee haw !!

Just when I thought it was safe to close the music spending for this year! Thanks for the heads up, I love this group for some reason. The Marlin/Mercury releases are crying out for a box set but this is a good start. Interesting on the reference to Hot Productions who don't have the greatest reputation for quality here in UK. Must admit, I have the Moby Dick Records compilation which although a little quiet sounds fine to me. Hopefully, this is just the beginning for re-releasing their stuff.

My Hot Productions cds all sound OK.

Some more RF:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fM_EKTUa8f8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-G7Z20WiYg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Od_n39Nx7Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LYlk-xOM6Y

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jack020

Miami, Florida-based label and distributing & manufacturing company for several dance labels. Founded by Henry Stone and Paul Klein in 1986. Closed in 1999.

Hey Gary,
usually the japanese discs sound very good so I might be lucky.
I got some of the Hot Productions cds:
The Best Of D.C. LaRue - Let Them Dance

The Best Of The Ritchie Family - Best Disco In Town

The Best Of Eastbound Expressway - You're A Beat

The Best Of Saint Tropez - Fill My Life With Love

The Best Of Carol Douglas - Doctor's Orders

---

Yes, Sir, Jack! I bought 'em all! HOT Productions' sound quality was phenomenal! [[Just one problem -- my Ritchie Family CD [[above) mistracks on Track 1 - "The Best Disco In Town". Does yours? At this point in time, it doesn't really matter, as I've got the full-length album version on the CD reissue of The Ritchie Family's "Arabian Nights" CD. Still, just wondering if your copy has a tracking problem or if it's just mine.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jack020

My Hot Productions cds all sound OK.

Some more RF:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fM_EKTUa8f8

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God, Jack -- I LOVE this song! It's easily my favorite of all their hits. BTW, I've always loved Ritchie Family's harmonies, but I had no idea that their stage presence is so professional. Super-impressive! Also, bravo to Ruud's Extended Mix. Excellent, as always!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jack020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LYlk-xOM6Y

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Another winner, Jack! When "Best Disco In Town" first came out, I played it to death as well as the full-length version of "Romantic Love", and "Life Is Music". Couldn't get enough of them!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Boogiedown

For lushness in disco ....this is hard to beat!

Does the LIFE IS MUSIC cd contain the extended 12" versions.

LADY LUCK was magical in a club setting . After 3:40, those loud piercing strings and harp strums melted the walls. I think its the only way one can experience them so someone would fully get it....the intent, the effect, the airy hollowness created by a caverness sound system.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyqQCdy4yvg



let lady luck smile, let the child smile now, let lady luck smile on me... hee haw !!

---

Boogie, I hate to be the fly in the ointment, but I was never able to get into this one. It's just too sing-songy compared to their other hits which are by far more powerful.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jack020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Od_n39Nx7Q

---

Wow! Even a live show! The Original group members -- Cassandra Ann Wooten, Gwendolyn Oliver, and Cheryl Mason Jacks [[as shown in the above videos) -- were my favorite version of the Ritchie Family. Their first 3 albums -- 1) "Brazil"; 2) "Arabian Nights"; and 3) "Life Is Music" -- were produced by Richie Rome at Sigma Sound Studio in Philly. Later albums were okay, but somehow not as special as the first three due to varying producers and Ritchie Family group personnel changes.

My 2 cds were shipped dec.20 by CDJpn!

Received them yesterday without import taxes! :)
Both cds are Japanese remastered and contain some bonus 7-inch versions while Life Is Music also has the 12-inch version of Lady Luck

Next 2 releases in Japan:
American Generation | Release: March 20, 2024 /1950yen
Arabian Nights | Release: March 20, 2024 /1950yen