For those that love rare groove, funk, soul and disco, Spring Revisited should be on your shortlist this fall.
During the early days of the club and rave scene, another sound was bubbling up in the clubs of London, New York, San Francisco, and every hip metropolis. It was Acid Jazz —a sound that really connected with me —and it was also the label that ushered me into this genre, along with DJ Greyboy and the vibrant San Diego scene that was popping off in the mid-90s. The sound was an amalgamation of rare grooves from the mid-70s, fused with modern takes on the sound from bands like The Brand New Heavies, Greyboy Allstars, James Taylor Quartet, Galliano, etc.
I still rummage through my old compilations on CD, vinyl, and I’m thrilled to see the label still going strong. When I saw the press release for Spring Revisited, I immediately knew this was going to be exceptionally good, just by the roster of remixers they chose, so here’s my take.
I was lucky enough to get the album on vinyl, which is how I listen to most of my music at home these days, either on my DJ decks or my Hifi system in the basement. It’s been on rotation almost nonstop since I popped the vinyl out of the sleeves.
Spring Revisited—a collaboration between Acid Jazz and Ace Records—is precisely that: a deep dive into the archives of New York’s Spring Records, polished, remixed, and reborn for the dancefloor. It’s a project that manages to honor the past without embalming it—a balancing act most “heritage remix” albums never quite pull off.
Spring Revisited – A Look Back At A Label That Defined Gritty Soul
Founded in 1967, Spring Records was the underdog of the soul and R&B world—less polished than Motown, less glittery than Stax, but every bit as important for the genre. It’s actually crazy how many good labels there were at this time, and it’s nice to see labels going back to the vaults to rerelease or remix this era.
This was the label that gave us Millie Jackson’s sharp-tongued funk feminism, The Fatback Band’s proto-disco swagger, and Joe Simon’s velvet grit. Spring was New York through and through—streetwise, a bit gritty, raw, and ready to get down.
By the time Ace Records acquired the catalog in 1988, the mission wasn’t reinvention, but resurrection. Thank you, Ace Records! Without curators like these guys, much of this music would have been lost in time.
They spent decades restoring master tapes and reviving lost treasures, preserving Spring’s warmth and weight for digital and vinyl generations alike. Now, in partnership with Acid Jazz and Cosmos Music, they’ve opened the vaults again—this time, inviting the house world’s finest remix architects to give it a go.
Packaging & Pressing: For Those Who Still Care About the Details
Everything on the Spring Revisited album was done right, from the artwork to the packaging.
The gatefold sleeve is lush, vibing in vintage soul iconography, liner notes that trace Spring’s wild history, and archival photography. Inside, you’ll find two colored vinyl discs—one in Spring Green, the other in off White—both well-pressed and built to last longer than the streaming era itself.
Sonically, the pressing is perfect: warm, full, and dynamic. The basslines have the kind of body that reminds you why vinyl still matters—thick and tactile, not just audible but felt. The high end stays clean and analog-smooth, even when cranked on my DJ setup, which can often reveal flaws at that register. Whoever handled the mastering clearly knew they were dealing with sacred material. I’ve played this album on all three of my turntable setups, with the best result being on the HiFi setup, for obvious reasons. If you are a DJ, this is a great one to pack in the record bag.
Spring Revisited Stays True To The Source: Remixed Faithfully and with respect to the original
This isn’t a remix album in the cheap “add a four-on-the-floor” sense—it’s a reimagining. Each producer was given access to the original multitrack masters and the creative freedom to rebuild from scratch. The result? An album that travels from deep, dusty funk to disco uplift without ever losing its identity.
Spring Revisited – Tracklist Highlights
- Millie Jackson – “We Got to Hit It Off” (Dimitri From Paris Liberated Women Mix) Dimitri delivers exactly what you’d expect—velvet disco class with a feminist pulse. He teases Millie’s sass into a glitter-ball sermon that belongs in every sophisticated DJ set.
- Street People – “I Wanna Get Over” (Cosmodelica Mix) The recently departed Danielle Moore (Crazy P) gave this one her signature cosmic groove—liquid basslines, Balearic sunshine, and a warm hug of nostalgia.
- Garland Green – “Sending My Best Wishes” (The Reflex Version) The Reflex does what he does best: expands, extends, and refines without overworking it. The groove breathes—pure Sunday afternoon perfection.
- The Fatback Band – “Night Fever” (Kenny Dope Remix) – Forget the Bee Gees—Fatback’s original funk already was the fever, and Kenny Dope turns up the thermostat. His drum work alone could heat a small apartment.
- Joe Simon – “Love Vibration” (DJ Spinna Remix) – Spinna’s deep-soul sensibility meets Joe’s velvet rasp for a late-night masterpiece. It’s equal parts Brooklyn basement and Muscle Shoals séance.
- Macho – “Mucho Macho” (Kenny Dope Mix) – Kenny finds the sweet spot with this one—looped, hyped, and dripping with swagger. This cut will get heads bobbing.
- The Fatback Band – “Snake” (Joaquin ‘Joe’ Claussell’s Sacred Rhythm Version) – Claussell goes full ritual mode—spiritual percussion, organic layering, and enough low-end rumble to summon the ancestors.
- Millie Jackson – “Don’t Send Nobody Else” (A Magnus Frykberg & Kenny Dope Joint) – A perfect bridge between vintage soul and broken beat. Millie’s emotional fire finds new footing in an understated, head-nodding groove with a break beat that hits just right.
- The Joneses – “Love Contest” (Dave Lee’s Mini Disco Mix) – Dave Lee (a.k.a. Joey Negro) keeps it classy—tight edits, gleaming strings, and that unmistakable London funk polish.
- The Fatback Band – “Groovy Kind of Day” (Opolopo Remix) – Opolopo injects synthy buoyancy into the groove—retro-futurist funk that feels tailor-made for rooftop parties.
- Joe Simon – “I Wanna Taste Your Love” (Smoove Vocal Remix)- A soulful closer that nods to modern nu-disco—silky, sexy, and gorgeously restrained.
Summary
Spring Revisited is more than a compilation—it’s a time capsule of cuts that are ready for the dancefloor and a second go around. It’s a great way to experience what soul music still has to give when faithfully reworked and not remixed into something entirely different.
Every remix honors the DNA of the originals while giving them new context, new energy, and new relevance. The remixers here were chosen for a reason; they know this music and can be faithful to it like others might not be able to.
This is one of those compilations I used to buy when I was doing a lot of vinyl DJing, because I knew I could pull it out and play every song in a set. These days, it’s also just as nice to throw it on the HiFi system and really listen carefully, as that updated production really brings out the essence of these tunes.
Release date: October 24, 2025
Label: Acid Jazz
Verdict: If you love soul, R&B, and Disco, these cuts will not disappoint; there is not one track that disappoints, and that’s a rarity in any remix compilation.
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