Let's start the week off with a funky Caribbean gem from King Errisson titled "Conga Man". This rare song was included on the 1976 album The Magic Man which was produced by disco/ funk legends Mike Theodore and Dennis Coffey. The funky track includes some subtle, yet impressive steel drum work that reminds me a bit of an Exuma song gone tropical. One of my favorites from the Nassau based percussionist. Enjoy!
A while ago I featured a track off the amazing, yet less known, compilation Rare Afro & Caribbean Funk Volume 2 (See Afro-Caribbean Funk. Today I thought I would post one of the many gems from the compilation series' first volume in Oby Onyioha's Afro boogie cut "Enjoy Your Life". This funky gem was originally featured on Onyioha's 1981 album I Want To Feel Your Love and features a solid disco groove throughout the track. Overall, just another superb cut from what I find is one of the most slept-on and well-crafted compilation series. Enjoy! (No pun intended)
Even though a few years have past since it's release, I thought I would feature a track titled "The Little You Say" by The Revolution Of St. Vincent from one of my all-time favorite compilations in Calypsoul 70. This well crafted comp was released by Strut Records back in 2008 and features a funky collection of rare seventies-era gems from within the Caribbean region. Some of the highlights include Amral's Trinidad Cavaliers Steel Orchestra's version of Gwen McCrae’s "90% Of Me Is You", Duke's Afrobeat-flavored "Freedom in Africa", Juan Formel & Los Van Van's latin gem "A Ver Que Sale", Biosis Now's funky "Independent Bahamas", Boris Gardiner's psychedelic organ-based jam "Negril" and the superb disco cut by The Checkmates titled "Disco Groove". The compilation was compiled by Duncan Brooker, the man behind Strut’s Nigeria 70 selections. Unfortunately, this album was only released in CD/ Digital format, leaving us vinyl collectors scratching our heads. Hopefully the people over at Strut will possibly consider doing another edition of this Caribbean focused compilation in the future, with of course a vinyl format release. Regardless, there has been a number of amazing compilations that have been released over the past couple of years that have focused on this culturally and musically rich region, however there might not be a better compilation that has paid homage to the area's more dancefloor friendly gems than Calypsoul 70. Enjoy!
Here is the funky tropical gem "Voodoo" by Cyril Diaz & His Orchestra. This late fifties track, is just one the four amazing instrumental calypso songs found on this retrospective 10" record that was recently released by Soundway Records. This limited edition release features some of the best tracks from the Trinidad based band's two full-length records Calypso Carnival 1958 Vol. 1 and Caribbean Cruise With The Cyril Diaz Orchestra. I imagine this 10" release won't last long in record shops, therefore I highly recommend snatching up a copy soon. Enjoy!
