Ishola Muhammad – Open Up Your Heart

Ishola Muhammads ‘Open Up Your Heart’ was discovered in 2010 when the 1st known copy that popped up on ebay was bought by keen eyed Northern Soul collector Steve Clancy, who then sold it to Ian Wright for a four figure sum. Ian then included it on a online mix late last year at around the same time Dave Ripoles was negotiating to buy the last remaining copy owned by Ishola himself. Since then only 1 further copy has shown up and has changed hands privately for over £3,000.

This records was a true labour of love with lots of help from friends and music lovers, Well know NYC radio Presenter Mat Winegarden (Downtown Soulville) Picked up the Original Tape Master in New York from Lenis Guess and sent it over to Scotland where an initial digital backup master was made, after which the original master flew with Fryer to the mighty Timmion Cutting Lab in Helsinki, Finland. There we spent a day fine tuning a direct from master tape cut right to the Neumann VMS70 lathe without any unnecessary signal-path. After much tinkering a super wide grooved loud cut onto 12 that has to be heard to be appreciated loud, deep and low. This is the way 12″ were made to sound their best in the late 70s/ early 80s and why they have not been matched since. This release is ltd to 500 and will not be repressed.