Safari So Good

Today I thought I would feature the funky Euro library gem "Safari So Good" by British producer John Cameron. This track was originally featured on the 1973 KPM Music library series release Afro Rock, which was produced by both John Cameron and another well known British producer Alan Parker. The entire record features a number of great instrumental tracks that blend together African rhythms and jazz-influenced instrumentation. The hard-to-find original LP, as well as much of the KPM music series, was more recently re-issued by Tim "Love" Lee's label Tummy Touch. Overall, I highly recommend checking out Afro Rock, as well as all the other releases in the KPM Music series, as they contain some of the finest library recordings to come out of Europe.

John Cameron - Safari So Good

Ocean Music

Today I find myself in a very laid-back mood as I continue to recover from last night's Grow Up party, therefore I thought I would post this funky lounge gem "Ocean Song" by the German group Sunbirds. Sunbirds is another group that features the legendary Kraut-Rock drummer Klaus Weiss (Also See The Sounds of Niagara). The track "Ocean Song" was originally released on the group's 1973 album Zagara and was more recently included on the Compost Records' compilation Glücklich, which consists of a solid collection of rare and funky Brazilian-flavoured German fusion tracks. Overall, "Ocean Song" is a solid instrumental track, that has a bit of a laid-back Brazilian jazz feel to it that makes it perfect for the days that follow those late-night parties. Enjoy!

Sunbirds - Ocean Song



Purchase the Compost Records' compilation Glücklich by Clicking Here.

Safari Mindbender

When it comes to Euro library music, one of my all-time favorite tracks is Stringtronics' 1972 cut "Safari Park". This laid-back funky track was just one of the many great cuts off the group's classic "Mindbender" album, which remains to be one of the most sought after library albums by record collectors. "Safari Park", along with many of the other tracks on the album, blend together string instruments alongside electronics that help to produce funky Afro-styled grooves. The record as a whole, does contain some "sleepy" moments, however the funky cuts like "Safari Park" along with others, really help make the album a library music masterpiece. Enjoy!

Stringtronics - Safari Park

The Soul Of Ali 'Ben' Djamballa

Here is a rare funky gem titled "Blue Jeans" by Alberto Baldan. This track was featured on Balden's 1974 album The Soul Of Ali 'Ben' Djamballa, which is a much sought after LP by record collectors worldwide. The good grooves from this record don't just start and stop with "Blue Jeans", as the album features a number of other great tracks including "Black Coffee", "Take Six", and "Niger", which all tend to blend euro "library music" grooves together with a touch Afro-flavored funk. As you might imagine, the record features a number of solid breaks and worthy sampling material. Overall, the hard-to-find album represents a fine dose of funky rare grooves. Enjoy!

Alberto Baldan - Blue Jeans

A Story of Survival

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!

Mandingo - The Headhunter

Silver Thrust

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!

Peter Reno - Silver Thrust

Music For Dancefloors

Last night on KALX, I played a couple of tracks off one of my favorite compilations in Music For Dancefloors: The Cream Of The Chappell Music Library Sessions. This amazing compilation was released by Strut back in 2001, and features an incredible assortment of music taken from the renowned Chappell Music Library. Focusing on the archives of the sixties and seventies, the compilation brings forth many of the more funky and cosmic tracks from the Chappell's collection including Paul Dupont & His Orchestra's "Rainbow Bridge", Ensemble Rager Roger's "Afro-Beat/ Afro-Syn", Keith Mansfield's "Blockbuster", and Stringtronics' "Safari Park" among many others. As with most decent library music, there is plenty of great percussion breaks and sampling material to go around. Overall, with library music becoming more expensive and harder to find, a compilation series like Music For Dancefloors becomes absolutely essential to any record collection. Here is one of my favorite tracks from this compilation, and a song I'm currently re-editing in Irving Martin & Brian Dee's 1980 cosmic disco gem "Indianapolis 2". Enjoy!

Irving Martin & Brian Dee - Indianapolis 2