Blue Eyed Soul

One of my favorite re-edit twelves from last year tackled two of my favorite "non-so-guilty" pleasures in Mad Mats' The Blue Eyed Soul EP. On this release, Mad Mats' reworks both Kenny Loggins' "This Is It" and The Doobie Brothers' "What a Fool Believes", two tracks that I enjoy even without any re-tooling. That being said, Mad Mats' does an amazing job on this record at giving these two cuts a refreshing and new feel. My favorite of the two tracks in "This Is It", Mad Mats' adds some additional percussion grooves to give the song even more "push" for the dancefloor. Regardless, this is an outstanding release that I highly recommend checking out. Enjoy!

Kenny Loggins - This Is It (Mad Mats Rework)

Guerilla Warfare

Here is a very rare gem, titled "La Popo", from the West African group Guerilla. This seventies Afro-funk cut was released on the group's impossible-to-find self-titled album. The song was also more recently included on the The Danque!! A Compilation of West African Funk compilation. Overall, "La Popo" is a solid cut that nicely blends together Afro-funk and psychedelic grooves to produce a true gem.

Guerilla - La Popo

Natural Juices

For the rest of the week I'll actually be in Seattle working, therefore I'm going to keep the next three posts fairly short. Here is an amazing track titled "Crache La Douleur" by Fanga for all those Afro-beat lovers. This heavy-hitting funky cut was released a couple of years ago on the group's Natural Juice LP. The track features legandary Africa 70 drummer Tony Allen and in my opinion, is one of the best 'nu-school' Afro-beat songs produced. That being said, if you find yourself loving "Crache La Douleur", then I highly recommend checking out Natural Juice and some of the group's other offerings. When it comes to the new batch of Afro-beat groups, it might not get any better than Fanga. Enjoy!

Fanga - Crache La Douleur

Afro Choco

Today I'm sharing one of the three re-edits from the upcoming release of Cabana Disco Vol.04. We are still a little ways off from the actual release date, however the new record excites me so much that I can't hold back any further. The fourth record in the series picks up where the last one left off with a very heavy Afro Disco underlining theme. The three edits will consist of Buari's "Advice From Father", Black Soul's "Dakar Sound" (which I choose over "Black Soul Music"), and today's featured edit in Chocolat's "African Choco". Like the previous Cabana Disco records the edits are full of tropical jungle sounds over heavy funky grooves and vocal chants. Just enough to keep the jungle safari dancin' throughout the night! Enjoy!

Chocolat's - African Choco (Pat Les Stache Re-Edit)

Cosmic Lady

It makes sense that the erotic disco classic and personal favorite in "Pazuzu" is the most notable track from Tony Silvester & The New Ingredient's 1976 album Magic Touch. Due to the brilliance of the cosmic disco eroticism that is "Pazuzu", my other favorite cut from the Magic Touch album, titled "Cosmic Lady", tends to go a bit unnoticed in comparison. "Cosmic Lady" is funky boogie gem that tends to ride that mid-tempo groove throughout the entire song. Overall, it might not have the same kind of massive appeal that "Pazuzu" clearly obtains, however "Cosmic Lady" definitely has the magic touch to stand all on it's own.

Tony Silvester & The New Ingredient - Cosmic Lady

The Latin Soul Brothers

A few months back, I snatched up a copy of Pucho & His Latin Soul Brothers' funky classic album Yaina. Until actually purchasing the Cubop records re-issue, I hadn't heard much about the group. That being said, after one listen of the record, I was pretty much hooked. The hard-to-find album was originally released in 1971 and has an overall funky Afro-Cuban and Latin jazz vibe throughout with a focus around heavy hitting percussion grooves. Some of my favorite cuts include "Chitterlings Con Carne", "Hard Hats", "Yaina", and "Inside The Corn". Since buying this record, I've gone on to pick-up other great releases from Pucho, including "Super Freak" and "Jungle Fire!" with much satisfaction. If you enjoy that heavy conga influenced Afro-Cuban sound, than I highly recommend checking out Yaina and all of the Pucho & His Latin Soul Brothers' records. Enjoy your weekend!

Pucho & His Latin Soul Brothers - Inside The Corn

The Rising Sun

This month, one of Canada's finest, The Souljazz Orchestra have released one of the best records of 2010 in "Rising Sun". This album, which was released by the good people over at Strut, is hands down the group's strongest release to date. The entire record is solid with an overall soulful, yet funky Afro-beat groove. Some of the album's more standout cuts include "Negus Negast", "Consecration", "Rejoice, Pt.2", and my personal favorite "Agbara". For much of the record, the group sounds like the backing group to a Afro seventies heavy-hitting Fela Kuti or Manu Dibango record. On the record's softer cuts, the group showcases it's diverse, yet impressive jazz influenced side with tracks like "Lotus Flower" "Serenity". Overall, Rising Sun is amazing record and, even though it's early, one that should contend for best album of the year honors. Regardless, do yourself a favor and go buy yourself a copy while you can still find the record in stores. Here is "Agbara" (for a very limited time, I might add) to get you excited. Enjoy!

The Souljazz Orchestra - Agbara
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Do You Believe In Miracles

Sometimes I'm simply in the mood to take a step back from the rarities and post a true classic. Well, one of those times is today. Here is the funky soulful 1973 gem titled "I Believe in Miracles" from the Detroit based Jackson Sisters. This funky cut was easily the group's most break-through cut during the seventies, and continues to remain a classic today. Enjoy!

Jackson Sisters - I Believe in Miracles

Cesar's Latin Beat

Well, I surely knew that when I decided to do a 2009 Best of post, I was bound to unintentionally leave out some worthy releases from the following year. One of those releases, which was right up there with the best albums of 2009, was Cesar's Salad's funky Latin jazz masterpiece Latin Beat. Cesar's Salad is a small combo that nicely blends together congas, Latin percussion, bass, and piano to create some of the funkiest Latin cuts of the past few years. Amazing tracks like "Batucada Surgiu", "Afrodisia", "Bolivia", and "Nana" take the listener on a journey back to the Latin dancefloors of Spanish Harlem during the 1960's. For fans of Sabu Martinez, Har-You Percussion Group, Mongo Santamaria, Latin Beat is an album definitely worth owning. The only downside I've found when it comes to this group, is that Latin Beat is a CD/Digital release only, leaving us vinyl lovers a little bit out in the dark. The only compromise has been the fact the group has release a seven-inch single of arguably the album's best track in "Batucada Surgiu". Hopefully in time we will see more vinyl releases from this upcoming group. Until then, I'll be putting the iPod on repeat and enjoying every second of the Latin Beat.

Cesar's Salad - Batucada Surgiu

Happy Valentine's Day

Nightlife Unlimited - Love Is In You (Pat Les Stache Re-Edit)

Love Is Still On Your Side

Well the end of the week is finally here, and with Valentine's Day on Sunday I thought I would end the week with a "love-themed" disco cut. Here is Premonition's funky "Your Love Is In The Pocket" off the newly released BBE records compilation The Real Sound of Chicago. This track represents just one of the many great selections from this solid compilation, which I highly recommend snatching up. Enjoy the love!

Premonition - Your Love Is In The Pocket

Reworking the Medley

When it came to disco during the late seventies, extended medley's were just about as common as the 4/4 groove. I'm sure, like many of you I find that even on the best disco medleys, I tend to enjoy only about a half of the actual song. There always seemed to be a lot of unnecessary "musical pork" that would take emphasis away from the actual standout parts of the song. I've always thought, that for this reason, certain disco medleys would be worthy material for some great disco edits. This is exactly what San Francisco's Tres Lingerie has done with Quality/RFC Records' 1981 Startrax Medley. I recently met the duo that makes up Tres Lingerie at a recent club night I was deejaying, and they passed this funky edit over to me the next day. I've always wanted to hear someone try to tackle a disco medley like Startrax. I don't think it would be easy, yet on this edit, Tres Lingerie has shown that they were more than ready to tackle the challenge. Enjoy!

Startrax - Startrax Medley (Tres Lingerie Re-Edit)

The Kings Of Benin

Here is one of my favorite cuts from the African funk group T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo, titled "Aihe Ni Kpe We". This group hails from the West African nation of Benin and is considered by many as one of the greatest african funk groups of all-time. Formed in 1966, the group can also probably hold the title as the longest established African groups of all-time, as they continue to still perform and record to this day. With their extrordianry output of about 50 LP's and a hundred of seven-inch releases, this funky group's music hasn't been simplified to just one genre, with the group experimenting with funk, soul, latin jazz, disco, highlife, and afro-beat grooves. I was introduced to the group just a few years back, with the Soundway release of the albm The Kings Of Benin Urban Groove, which highlights some of the group's best material from the years of 1972 to 1980. The very funky "Aihe Ni Kpe We", is the record's opening track and has continued to be a personal favorite of mine ever since I first heard the song. T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo is not the kind of group that you can successfully sum up in one blog post. Look for more posts discussing this group in the upcoming future. Until then, sit back and enjoy this funky cut!

T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo - Aihe Ni Kpe We

They Call Him Slick

My apologies for not getting a post up yesterday. It was a very busy and slightly stressful day. I guess that's just life sometimes. Anyways, here is a Theo Parrish edit I've been wanting to post for quite sometime of Willie Hutch's 1973 funky classic "Slick". This nine minute-plus edit is featured on volume seven of his outstanding Ugly Edits series. This edit over time, has easily become one of my all-time favorites from Parrish and his Ugly Edits collection. The original version was featured on Hutch's outstanding blaxploitation soundtrack, The Mack. Here we find Theo Parrish re-arranging a true classic, adding a touch of his own flavor, and making an already great song even that much better. Enjoy!

Willie Hutch - Slick (Theo Parrish Re-Edit)

Burned Sugar

It's Monday, which for the record, is my least favorite day of the week for obvious reasons. Anyways, I'm going to step a bit further outside the conventional "box" on this blog and post another amazing track, titled "Burned Sugar", from an artist I just can't seem to get enough of lately, and that's Sabu Martinez. The sixteen-plus minute funky Latin jazz cut is the title track to Martinez's three song album Burned Sugar: The Swedish Radio Recordings 1973, released in 2008 by the Swedish label Mellotronen. Until the more recent release of Burned Sugar, this collection of recordings was pretty much unable to be obtained. The Mellotronen label released at least four albums worth of lost and rare material from Martinez, that I know of, which represents much of the music he recorded during the final years of his life while he was living in Sweden. The records three tracks, "Burned Sugar", "Bernt", and "Mambollo", are all outstanding Funky Latin gems that feature plenty of congas, bongos, and heavy percussion alongside tasty electric piano, sax, and flute grooves. Overall, if you find yourself enjoying Sabu's classic Afro Temple record, than I highly recommend picking up a copy of Burned Sugar. In my opinion, the album represents some of the best funky Latin jazz that was ever recorded.

Sabu Martinez - Burned Sugar

More Funk from Nassau

The Beginning of the End will, rightfully so, forever be associated with the 1971 classic track "Funky Nassau". As this group continues to be recognized and appreciated for this dancefloor classic, many have forgotten or somewhat ignored their solid self-titled follow-up album, which was released in 1976. Now, this record doesn't have a track that can probably even stand up next to "Funky Nassau", however it would almost be impossible to duplicate such a great track. The record does contain plenty of solid gems to get excited about like "Super Woman", "That's What I Get", and "Jump in the Water". The self-titled record starts where the group's debut album Funky Nassau left off, with an overall feel-good funky soulful groove that made tracks like "Funky Nassau" and "Come Down Baby" such classics. Like I mentioned before, the group's 1976 self-titled album might not feature the group's signature cut, however the follow-up record is still very solid and definitely deserves some attention and praise. Here is my personal favorite track off the record in "Jump in the Water". Enjoy your weekend!

Beginning of the End - Jump in the Water

Jungle Funk

I'm still trying to recover from last night's re-launching of Grow Up. To say the party went off well, is probably a huge understatement with the dancefloor and club packed wall-to-wall right up until they basically kicked us out. Anyways, if you missed out, I highly recommend checking out the party next month. Thanks to residents Sick Face, Hotthobo, and Fenstar for having me play, as well as Loose Shus for putting on a great set. I had a lot of fun, and hopefully everyone who made it out, had a great time as well.

Now on to the music...

Here is one of the many brilliant tracks in Nkengas' s funky 1973 cut "Jungle Funk" from the Strut records' released compilation Club Africa. Being one of my favorite compilations of all-time, this now hard-to-find double-vinyl record was released back in 2000 and features some of the best African funk, Afro-beat, and African jazz that was ever created with a tracklist that includes funky gems like The Gaytones' version of "Soul Makossa", Buari's "Karam Bani", Mombasa's "Kenia", Oneness of Juju's "River Luv Rite" and many many more. Even though this record was released only about ten years ago, good luck trying to hunt down a copy of the compilation, as the record is almost becoming as rare as some of the originals that are actually featured on the compilation. I've only been able to hunt down a digital version of the record. Regardless, it's an amazing record and one that I'm sure I will be seeking out for, for a long time to come. Enjoy!

Nkengas - Jungle Funk

Afro Beat Explosion

Over the past decade, there has been a number of newer "Afro-beat" groups popping up on the scene. Keeping the sound that Fela Kuti helped create alive, group's like Fanga, Akoya Afrobeat Ensemble, Koloko Afrobeat Orchestra, Antibalas, as well as this group The Daktaris. The Daktaris were probably one the first modern day Afro-beat groups to successfully recapture Fela's unique African groove. This group released it's only record back in 1998, titled Soul Explosion. The entire record has overall classic 70's Afro-beat feel to it with cuts like "Super Afro-Beat", "Daktari Walk", "Voodoo Soul Stew", and a cover of Fela's classic "Upside Down". From what I've been able to research, it looks as if this group has broken up and the Soul Explosion record is the only material they successfully left behind. That being said, it's safe to say that their Soul Explosion album will forever be cheerished by Afro-beat and African funk enthusiasts as a true gem. Enjoy!

The Daktaris - Upside Down

Grow Up - Tonight!

It's been a while since the last time I deejayed in the city, with most of my recent focus on my next Cabana Disco twelve that will be out this spring. However, this tonight I will be guest deejaying the opening of a new SF disco monthly called Grow Up hosted by resident deejays' Sick Face, Hotthobo, and Fenstar. This new monthly will be located at Madrone (500 Divisadero). The opening night is packed will all sorts of goodies as the night will also feature a live performance from Loose Shus. I will be spinning everything from rare disco gems to funky Latin and Afro grooves. This should be an amazing night, so there's no excuses. Hope to see everyone there!

GROW UP
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Madrone (500 Divisadero, San Francisco)
w/ Residents Sick Face, Hotthobo, and Fenstar
+ Special Guests Pat Les Stache & Loose Shus
9pm No Cover

Stache Soul Music

As I mentioned yesterday, I've been spending the last couple of months working on the next Cabana Disco (vol.04) release. One of the re-edits I'm considering releasing on the upcoming record is a recent edit I completed of Black Soul's Black Soul Music. The original is taken from the group's amazing 1977 self-titled LP, which was mixed by Tom Moulton. I've found that I've always enjoyed this track right up until the keyboard break, therefore I tried to create an edit that really focused more on the overall repeatitive groove that really helps drive the funky track. I'm not %100 percent certain it's going to make it on the next record, however it's definitely under consideration. I would really love to know what people think about the edit. Enjoy!

Black Soul - Black Soul Music (Pat Les Stache Edit)

Uncover The Love

Fresh off of the recent reissues of his Disco Demands series, Al Kent and BBE records have put out another solid disco compilation titled Disco Love: Rare Disco & Soul Uncovered. Just in time for Valentines Day, this amazing compilation features many uplifting and feel good disco gems like Sweet Daddy Floyd's "I Just Can't Help Myself", Bob Williams' "I'm Alright", Patricia White's "Cosmic Disco", and many many more. Unlike some of Kent's other disco compilations, this collection of music is seeing a release on both CD and vinyl, so there is no excuses to pass on such a solid record. I have a feeling that this release will move fast, therefore I highly recommend snatching up a copy as soon as possible. Enjoy the love!

Sweet Daddy Floyd - I Just Can't Help Myself