Here is a very rare African disco gem titled "I Need More" by Pat Thomas & Marijata. This track was featured on the group's 1977 self-titled album, which also features Ghanaian guitarist heavy-weight Ebo Taylor. Taylor's presence can truly be felt midway through the track as he breaks into a fuzzed-out psychedelic solo that helps capture the essence of the song. Overall, "I Need More" is a brilliant piece of work that really brings together elements of both psychedelic African rock and Nigerian disco. Enjoy!
Here is the classic Afro-flavored disco gem "Caraïba" by the group Tumblack. This break-heavy track was originally released on the group's rare 1978 self-titled album, and features some solid percussion work alongside a soulful rhythm section that helps provide a nice groove for any dancefloor. I don't think I'm going out on a limb here by saying when it comes to instrumental gems, "Caraïba" is an absolute masterpiece. Enjoy!
I'm going to change it up a bit today and post one of my favorite cuts from Steve Reid Ensemble's Spirit Walk album. This experimental track, titled "Lions of Juda", blends Reid's signature funky jazz sound together with the free-form electronics of Kieran Hebden (aka Four Tet). The album Spirit Walk, which was released by Soul Jazz Records back in 2005, is basically an entire albums worth of music devoted to bringing these two music sounds together. Interestingly enough, this is actually the second time Reid has recorded "Lions of Juda", with the original being recorded back in 1976 with Reid's at the time group The Legendary Master Brotherhood. That version then went on to be released on the group's landmark album Nova . The two versions are very different, with Hebden certainly making his presence felt with some experimental electronic sounds near the final minutes of the newer version, while the original is a bit more stripped down and focused more heavily on the different individual solos and overall jazz groove that the piece possessed. That being said, both are very good and unique in their own right. On a side note, I unfortunately just started to get into Reid's music around the time of his passing this past April. He was an artist I had always been interested in checking out, however for one reason or another never did. Once I started hearing some of his records, I became absolutely hooked and have continued to seek out each and every recording Reid and many of the members of The Brotherhood have been a part of. Spirit Walk was one of those albums that I kind of came across by accident, as I mostly focused on his earlier jazz material. That being said, it's an amazing unique record that is truly well worth owning. Enjoy!
With one of my favorite re-edit records of all-time being Prins Thomas' Major Swellings album, I occasionally enjoy re-posting tracks from that incredible record. Here is the track "Rompenridder", which is a re-edit of Macho's disco classic "I Am A Man" where Thomas's successfully uses the second half of the original and reworks it into a heavy-hitting cosmic gem. Since it's release in 2005 by the Noid Recordings label, this hard-to-find LP has been a much sought after record by many deejays and disco collectors. Here is a little taste of what certainly is a disco masterpiece. Enjoy!
Let's end the week with one of my favorite cuts from Mandingo, titled "The Headhunter". This track, which seems to resemble their version of "Soul Makossa" was released on the Mandingo III: A Story Of Survival album. Even though Mandingo sounds like a group that hailed from Africa, they actually where a studio project made up by a batch of British musicians and library music composers and writers. They released a number of great Afro-funk records during the seventies including notable albums like Savage Rite, The Primeval Rhythm Of Life, Sacrifice, and of course Mandingo III. Songs like "The Headhunter" really help capture the overall essence and sound of this well-crafted studio project that always seemed to produce quality African and exotic themed funk gems. Enjoy!
Here is one of my favorite cuts from the African jazz group Mombasa. This funky gem, titled "Nairobi", was originally released on the group's 1975 album African Rhythms & Blues, which features a number of other great African-flavored jazz and funk cuts. If you find yourself enjoying tracks like "Nairobi", I also highly recommend checking out the group's follow-up album "African Rhythms & Blues 2", which features the classic Afro-funk cut "African Hustle". Both albums have a wealth of great music, bringing together elements of jazz, funk, and traditional African music. On tracks like "Nairobi", we can certainly see why Mombasa was one of the defining African jazz groups of the seventies. Enjoy!
Here is a classic disco gem from The Fatback Band titled "Midnight Freak" from their 1977 album Man With The Band. Out of the group's vast collection of great songs that were released during the seventies, "Midnight Freak" is certainly one of my favorites. If you enjoy this track, I highly recommend checking out Lee Douglas's re-edit of the song, which was released on one of the Black Disco twelves a few years ago. Overall, another solid cut from one of the seventies most active groups. Enjoy!
Here is a funky version of Henry Mancini's "Give Me Some Mo!" by Guy De Lo and His Orchestra from the hard-to-find disco-themed album The Pink Panther Disco Star. As you might imagine, this record, which was released in 1978, features disco renditions of Pink Panther themed compositions that were originally written by Mancini. Often times these cleverly themed concept albums are nothing more than good ideas that lack execution and quality, however Guy Del Lo was able to put together a solid group of funky renditions that have the ability to stand on their own as well-crafted disco productions. I'm not here to say that every track on the record is stellar, however great instrumental cuts like "Give Me Some Mo !" and "The Pink Panther (Discostar)" make the very unique album worth adding to any music collector's wish list. It's nice to see that a concept record like this, when done well, can produce some good music. Enjoy!
Today I thought I would feature a feel-good soulful re-edit by Dimitri From Paris of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terell's late sixties hit "Ain't No Mountain High Enough". This re-edit was featured on Dimitri's Return To The Playboy Mansion a couple years back. Sometimes I enjoy playing this edit at the end of a set list, as it makes for a great dancefloor clap-a-long moment. Enjoy!
Well it's safe to say I'm not a big fan of Bob Marley's music. That being said, I totally respect him as an artist and what he means to reggae music, however his music is certainly not my cup of tea as they say. However, the reason I bring him and his music up is because in 1976 a disco group called The Chequers did an amazing cover of Marley's song "Get Up, Stand Up". This very funky track was featured on the group's hard-to-find album Check Us Out, which features other gems like Undecided Love and Check It Out (At The Disco). This record has become a much sought after album by both vinyl collectors and disco enthusiasts, and in my opinion, is well worth the costly price that it generally goes for. Here is just one of the many brilliant moments from this incredible record. Enjoy!
Here is a funky African gem that I've been enjoying a lot lately from Amadou Balake, titled "Wayisjelequeyele". This track was featured on Balake's 1978 hard-to-find album Taximen. Balake went on to follow up this album the following year with another solid album titled A New York. A couple of years ago the Oriki Music label released a compilation titled "Señor Eclectico", which featured many of Balake's finest and most hard-to-find tracks that is certainly worth hunting down. Here is a track that unfortunately didn't make it onto that release, however very worthy of praise in it's own right. Enjoy!
Ever since I first heard Los Charly's Orchestra a few years back, I've become a big fan of the group's music. I first took notice of the London based group back in 2008, when they released the twelve-inch EP titled Disco Royale. This amazing record, which features original compositions, had the overall sound and feel of a disco record from the seventies with cuts like "Swinging To The Bass", "Classic Reissue", and "Two Steps To Latin". At the time I wasn't aware that Disco Royale actually represented the group's third twelve-inch release. Since that time, the group has gone on to release a few more twelve-inch records including last year's Disco Funk and Nuevo Disco. Now the group is back with a new full-length CD titled Chicano Disco Funk, which is a collection of tracks that made up the group's previous twelve-inch releases. I'm always excited to come across new groups that are embracing the disco sounds of the seventies and successfully putting their own spin on it like the Los Charly's Orchestra. Hopefully the group, at some point, will make it to the West Coast so that I can get a live feel for their music. Until then, I will certainly sit back and enjoy many of their superb releases.
When it comes to blurring the lines between funky Latin music and disco, nobody might have brought the two together better than the seventies group Charanga 76. The group is mostly known for their classic 1979 album No Nos Pararan which features some increadible covers of some disco classics including McFadden & Whitehead's "Ain't No Stopping Us Now" and Chic's "Good Times" among many others. During that same year that group also released a twelve-inch single featuring the song "Music Trance". This twelve-inch release mostly, at the time, got overshadowed due to the success of the No Nos Pararan album. Now that it's not the late seventies and we can fully examine all of Charanga 76's work, it might be safe to say that "Music Trance" is one of the group's best songs and one that certaintly deserves the same kind of attention that songs like "No Nos Pararan" recieved during it's intial release. The song features all kinds of amazing percussion breaks and Latin flavored instrumental grooves throughout that is all tied together by a very catchy chorus. Overall, it's just another example of Charanga 76's brilliance and why they were ahead of the pack when it came to the Latin disco scene during the late seventies. Enjoy!
Today I thought I would go ahead and share the song that I get the most requests to feature in Black Diamond's rare disco gem "New York City Dream". This hi-energy track was featured on the group's 1978 self-titled album, which was released off of the French label Carrere. The album was produced by notable disco producer Luigi Ojival and featured lead vocals by Tara Schaft. Overall, "New York City Dream" is a great uptempo disco track that's beautifully primed for those peaking hours on a dancefloor. Enjoy!
Let's end the week with a funky Afro gem from Ekambi Brillant titled "Nyambe". This dancefloor friendly cut was originally released on Brillant's 1977 hard-to-find album Nayô-Nayô. Brillant released a number of great records throughout the seventies and eighties, as well as sang on a couple of tracks on Voyage's 1977 self-titled album. Overall, a solid track to help finish up a personally very busy week. Enjoy!
I'm very much in a laid back mood today, therefore I thought I would post Mulatu Astatke & His Ethiopian Quintet's Ethio-jazz gem "Soul Power". This funky classic was originally released on Astatke's 1966 album Afro-Latin Soul Vol. 2. For those who might not be familiar, Mulatu Astatke is as important to the history of Ethio-jazz as Fela Kuti is to Afrobeat, defining the genre from it's inception (Also See The Story of Ethio Jazz). On "Soul Power", we find another great example of Astatke's signature sound, blending together traditional Ethiopian music with Latin-jazz. Simply put, just another classic composition from one of the genre's most influential and legendary musicians. Enjoy!
To say that it's been a long day, well, that would probably be the understatement of the year, therefore I thought I would let the music do all the talking. And this is certainly a track that needs very little explaining in Mad Mats' re-working of The Doobie Brothers' "What a Fool Believes". This superb re-edit can be found on Mad Mats' "must-have" twelve-inch record The Blue Eyed Soul EP, which also features the funky re-working of Kenny Loggins' "This Is It. If you don't own this record, do yourself the pleasure and go snatch up a copy whereever you can still find one. Enjoy!
One of my favorite re-edit releases of 2010 is Guynamite and Nik Weston's Afro Disco Boogie Edits Vol.01. This funky twelve-inch was released on Guynamite(aka Guy Benton) and Weston's joint label Guynamukat. The record was the first of a series of re-edit releases by the Guynamukat label that focus's on Guynamite and Weston's much in-demand African disco and boogie edits. The first volume in the series features three superb edits including "Sexy Sexy Lady", "Enjoy Your Life ", and my personal favorite "Looking After Number 1". With all the buzz that I continue to hear regarding this limited edition re-edit series, one thing is definately certain, these records will move very quickly. Therefore, I highly recommend snatching up these twelves why they are still around for the taking. While many re-edit series come and go, some have the ability to leave their mark and become a valuable resource for deejays and music lovers. Guynamukat's Afro Disco Boogie Edits is definately one of those valuable and notable series. Enjoy!
It's Friday, and I'm very much looking forward to the long Memorial Day weekend. I recommend everyone in the Bay to attend the last Gemini Disco party this Saturday. Since I've lived here in San Francisco, Gemini Disco has been one of the best monthly disco parties and I'm very sad to see the night come to an end.
Now onto the music...
Here is a funky "break-heavy" gem titled "Silver Thrust" by library music composer Peter Reno. This track was originally released on the 1973 album Great Day, which was a collaborative effort from Reno and fellow library music composer Simon Haseley. This album was released by the library music record label Music De Wolfe, which released a number of great library music records during the 60's, 70's and 80's. Overall, Peter Reno's "Silver Thrust" is just one of the many classic recordings to come from the Music De Wolfe archives. Enjoy!
I've been enjoying another beautiful day in the bay while trying to recover from last night's very hot and sweaty Grow Up party. Thanks to Team Everything for coming out and dropping a fantastic set of funky tunes. The next Grow Up will be on October 3rd, so stay tuned for more info on that upcoming party.
Anyways, here is a funky Latin flavored gem titled "Soul Freedom" from Ray & His Court, which was a group led by Ray Fernández. This track, which blends together some solid Afro-Cuban flavoured instrumentation along with some heavy-hitting percussion breaks, was originally released in 1973 on the group's self-titled album. Overall, it's a great "hot weather" track and my personal favorite from this record. Enjoy!
First off, I wanted to remind everyone that tonight is another rendition of Grow Up at the Madrone Lounge (Click Here for more info). This should be a really fun night, therefore I hope to see a nice showing from all the bay area folks.
Now onto the music. Here is a funky Afro Boogie gem titled "Step On" by Harry Mosco. This track was originally released during the late seventies on Mosco's Peace & Harmony album, and then later made it's way onto his 1982 record Sugar Cane Baby. The track was also recently included on Kon & Amir superb compilation Kon & Amir Present Off Track Volume III: Brooklyn. Overall, "Step On" is a great track that blurs the lines between African funk and disco boogie. Enjoy!
Here is a very rare African disco gem titled "I Need More" by Pat Thomas & Marijata. This track was featured on the group's 1977 self-titled album, which also features Ghanaian guitarist heavy-weight Ebo Taylor. Taylor's presence can truly be felt midway through the track as he breaks into a fuzzed-out psychedelic solo that helps capture the essence of the song. Overall, "I Need More" is a brilliant piece of work that really brings together elements of both psychedelic African rock and Nigerian disco. Enjoy!
