Various - The Reggae Disco Connection Part 3 (2013)

01 - cedric brooks - africa

02 - chalice - loosen up

03 - beres hammond - comin' at you

04 - joe gibbs & the professionals - bionic encounter

05 - lorna bennett - it's my house

06 - risco connection - good times (one more time inst)

07 - eric gale - red ground funk

08 - beres hammond - do this world a favour

09 - glp band - last funk

10 - guardian angel - last funk

11 - barry waite & ltd. - sting (part 1)

12 - ken boothe - down the road

13 - althea forest & togetherness - hey mister (instrumental)

14 - guardian angel - spirit

15 - ambelique - talk like that

16 - demos cates - ain't no stoppin' us now (1980)

More Jamaican Disco, Boogie & Modern Soul for you. If you enjoyed the first two compilations here and here - ''The Reggae Disco Connection Part 3'' will take you even deeper into the world of Jamaican Disco, Boogie & Modern Soul. This time I am trying to shed a light on 16 rare or overlooked songs out of Jamaica or from the Jamaican diaspora (UK, US, Canada) - again with a focus on Disco, Boogie, Modern Soul + a touch of Jamaican Funk & Soul. Most songs have either being recorded on the island, pressed on Jamaican labels and/or feature JA musicians. But compared to the first two compilations which still had a strong Reggae Feeling to most of the songs - this compilations is more or less straight Disco & Funk - often the accent of a singer being the only thing distinctive Jamaican...

I am starting this compilation with Africa by Cedric Brooks. Originally released on the 1979 album Sabebe by the Light Of Saba. ''Africa'' has some majestic horns arrangement, a sweet groovin' flute + a thumping funky bass line on top of a heavy steppers rhythm. But the arrangement of the song make it more akin to the disco sound than what is generally known as ''Steppers'' in Reggae. I would say, in Reggae music ''Rockers'' (yet another style of Reggae) heralded the militant hard (and fast) drum shots, and ''Steppers'' added the "four to the floor" bass drum beat. Steppers can be slow, it's the beat more than the speed of it. I'm sure some of you readers might come up with a better description though. I usually rather feel the music - and as I don't play an instrument myself or have any theoretical background in music - it's rather difficult for me to put it into technical characteristics. Back to Cedric Brooks. "Cedric 'Im' Brooks’ is arguably the most innovative saxophone players in all of reggae music. His stunning fusion of jazz, Afro-beat, funk and Latin with reggae sets him apart as a true pioneer, radically altering the limits and expectations of what reggae music could sound like. (...) In the late 60ies Brooks spent a brief period in Philadelphia, absorbing the music of some of his greatest influences, including Sonny Rollins, Pharoah Sanders, and Sun Ra. He was on the point of joining Sun Ra when the birth of his second daughter necessitated his return to Jamaica. Despite reggae being in full swing on the island, Cedric took up Sun Ra's challenge by moving beyond reggae's rocksteady beat by experimenting with free jazz and poetry, African robes and dancers. And so he formed his group The Light of Saba, taking leads from Hugh Masekela and Fela Kuti creating a multi-cultural 'world music' way ahead of its time. His original albums sell for a lot of money - but if you have the chance get a copy of the 2003 released album The Magical Light of Saba, which collects 18 Of Cedric Brooks' most exhilarating tracks blending African and US, Cuban and other West Indian influences - calypso and funk, rhumba, jazz bebop, nyabinghi and even '70s disco - on top of a foundation of sunny, warm reggae music. For further reading check out this great article on Cedric Brooks which originally appeared in the Wax Poetics Issue 29 in 2008. Unfortunately, while writing this blog post, I got to know that Cedric 'Im' Brooks passed away on May 3rd 2013 in New York. May he rest in peace. Track #2 is Loosen Up by Chalice. A dubby reggae disco song with a slow rolling bass line and some bubbling synths. Taken from their 1981 album Blasted. On track #4 we got Bionic Encounter by Joe Gibbs & The Professionals. ''Taken from the classic 1979 Dub album Majestic Dub, ''Bionic Encounter'' is in fact an off the wall yet admirable interpretation of the Salsoul Orchestra’s 1977 smash Runaway and is not a cover of Getaway, as many people tend to think (I listened to both on loop for about an hour and I conclusively say that it is ''Runaway''). Not a dub or special ''reggae disco'' version, the track is a soft and stripped back disco song that is strongly reminiscent of the works of producer Patrick Adams (the wigged-out, stoned keyboards, heavy breathing - that sort of thing)" (via Days Are Numbers). Track #8 is the Modern Soul anthem Do This World A Favour by Beres Hammond (and produced by Joe Gibbs). Beres Hammond has a fantastic voice, and this track is one of his most soulful. With it's strong songwriting ''Do This World A Favour'' is an impassioned plea to live right. Taken from his 1979 album Just A Man. Check out the uptempo song Music Is A Positive Vibration from the same album, which I shared on the Reggae Disco Connection Part 1 in 2012. It has a four-on-the-floor beat, funky bass, horns, and strings... Instant favourite! Next we have track #9 the GLP Band's Last Funk - which some of you might know from Originals Volume Three on Claremont 56. There is hardly any info available on the GLP Band. I assume they are the studio band/backing band of Bevin Fagan, who was most well known as the lead singer and producer of one of the UK's biggest reggae acts, Matumbi. Yet in his time he was involved with and influenced by all sorts of music that was going on in South London during the seventies and early eighties, even being part of a prog rock band named 'Stonehenge' at one point in his youth. In the late 70ies he formed ''Guardian Angel'' - which was a roots reggae project with his wife (or maybe sister) Sylvia Fagan on vocals. They put out a few lovers rock type singles, among which the ''Last Funk'' stands out as the most leftfield and hard hitting of all. Serious Disco Funk. Track #10, the Guardian Angel's Last Funk is the vocal version of the previous song. It can be found on Woman At The Well, the only longplayer released by Guardian Angel in 1980. I am ending this compilation with a beautiful cover of ''Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now'' by Demos Cates. An 1980 Island Jazzy Disco rendition of Mcfadden & Whiteheads's all-time classic Ain't No Stopping Us Now...

Enjoy! DubMe

Various - Safari Disco Club (2013)

01 - j.m. tim & foty - douala by night

02 - usje sukatma - waiting for your love

03 - esbee family - chics are magnets

04 - kiki gyan - disco dancer

05 - ray munnings - funky nassau

06 - lord shorty - sweet music (sofrito edit)

07 - tirogo - dancing machine

08 - guynamukat - full of african boogie spirit (re-edit)

09 - christy essien igbokwe - rumours

10 - guynamukat - ahhhh morfendu (afro disco edit)

11 - mombasa - anson edit

12 - sonny okosun - mother and child

13 - kassav’ - lague moin (les edits du golem - la toubana)

14 - kelenkye band - jungle music

15 - africa - a.i.e. - amwana (12inch version)

If you enjoyed the two Palmwine Grooves & Disco compilations I shared earlier here and here - then ''Safari Disco Club'' could just be the right follow-up for you! A selection of some of my favourite African Disco & Soul songs + a few disco flavored grooves from other tropikal regions thrown in for good measure.

I am starting this compilation with Douala By Night from JM Tim & Foty, who were a duo from Cameroon (playing together from 1977 to 1982). ''Douala by Night'' can be found on their debut album. With its disco beat and funky guitar riff, the song was an instant hit. ''Some 25 years later, Jean Marie Tiam aka Tim was in the studio in Paris working on a solo album (The duo had disbanded in 1982 but Tim had continued on a solo career) on which he planned to include a remake of ''Douala by Night''. Tim was shocked when the studio musicians informed him that the song was not his and that it belonged to American Hip Hop artist Missy Elliott who had released the song under the title Dog in Heat in her Timberland-produced 2002 album ''So Addictive''. (...) Tim filed a lawsuit against Moses Timberland in 2007 and on January 15, 2010, an out of court settlement was reached between the two, with Tim entitled to royalties beginning from 2009, along with a small monetary compensation. Tim says he was not really interested in the money and simply wanted to ''restore the historical truth [and] let intellectual honesty and intellectual property triumph.'' (via Bakwa Magazine) Track #5 is Ray Munnings' Funky Nassau - a ''superb disco/boogie version from 1979 of the classic Bahamas Funk song Funky Nassau by the Beginning Of The End. Ray Munnings, who wrote and recorded the original version as part of the group Beginning of the End in 1973, decided to rework his monster hit a few years later for a new audience and produced this sensational rendering, replacing the signature horns and Caribbean percusssion with fierce moog synths and super long funky drum breaks which made it hugely popular on both the boogie and breakbeat scenes'' (via Phonica Records). Personally, I am a bigger fan of the original version, but I think some people, especially those who are feeling "the boogie", will enjoy this discofied version with its long drum break + some slappin' synth bass! Get a tasty reissue of the orginal 12inch here! After a full dose of African & Tropikal Disco - I am ending this compilation with track #15: Africa - A.I.E. (12inch version). This is the Italo Disco version of the great funky Black Blood track from 1975. With the heavy bass line and the cool percussions, this track brings in the best from both worlds. (via Sleazybeach blogspot). Now hit the DL button & don't forget to leave a comment if you enjoy this compilation!

DubMe

PS: This compilation fits perfectly on one CD - just click "NO PAUSE BETWEEN TRACKS" when you are going to burn it - and the CD will be exactly 79:59 long...

More Jamaican Disco, Boogie & Soul: The Reggae Disco Connection Part 2 (2013)

01 - bunny wailer - back to school (vocal)

02 - sheila hylton - disco reggae beat

03 - brentford disco band - jamrec jam

04 - ernest ranglin - soft touch

05 - althea forest & togetherness - hey mister (re-edit)

06 - derrick harriott - checking out (vocal)

07 - willie lindo - samba pa ti

08 - the chariot riders - do it nice & easy

09 - dillinger - lsd

10 - derrick harriott - fly robin, fly

11 - junior tucker - which side of the coin (spinning round) (top ranking)

12 - risco connection - it's my house version (1980)

13 - joe gibbs & the professionals - ten commandments

14 - disco dub band - for the love of money

15 - derrick harriott - float on

16 - the in crowd - baby my love

17 - heptones - giving up on love

18 - willie lindo - midnight

After I shared The Reggae Disco Connection in 2012 - here is a second compilation/mix of Jamaican Disco & Boogie songs - plus a few soulful ones thrown in for good measure. ''Ting a Ling a Ling ! School bell ring and it’s back to school again!'' - I am starting the mix with Bunny Wailer's Back To School. An unseen blend of Bunny’s rugged rap over a fresh combination of Disco and Dub, and of course tightly produced with the unique Jamaican touch. Originally released on Solomonic Records in 1982. Among 18 different songs you will further get the pleasure to listen to Al Kent's re-edit of Althea Forest & Togetherness' Hey Mister (track #5) - a tight Jamaican Disco song with some wicked synth sounds! Released on Crystal Records in 1976 and produced by the "more than soulful" Reggae producer and crooner Derrick Harriott, who was not only responsible for a string of Rocksteady hits in the late 60ies, but also for some grooving soulful and discofied Reggae songs in the 70ies & early 80ies. Althea Forest, the female singer on ''Hey Mister'' is probably better known as part of the photogenic duo Althea & Donna and their Reggae hit Uptown Top Ranking (produced by Joe Gibbs). On track #8 we have yet another Derrick Harriot production - the Chariot Riders' Do It Nice & Easy from '76. Derrick Harriott's funky reggae cover of Eddie Drennon's Do It Nice And Easy has some seriously funky bass, militant drumming, bubbling guitar and cheesy disco organ; all topped off with vocals by Derrick and his niece Kim Harriott (via Roots From The Yard). A real treat! Be sure to play it out LOUD. On track #11 we have a very youthful Junior Tucker singing ''Which Side Of The Coin (Spinning Round)''. An upbeat piece of Jamaican Disco Soul sung by the then 14 year old Junior Tucker - who back then was also known as the Jamaican Michael Jackson. Released as a 7inch on Top Ranking records in 1980. I am ending this mix/compilation with Midnight by Willie Lindo. Recorded in Jamaica in '78, "Midnight" is a subtle cover of Midnight and You by Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra. Lindo's version is better than Barry's, but decide for yourself...

If you want to explore more discofied Reggae songs, Jamaican Boogie & Soul give a listen to Waxist Selecta's Red Stripe Disco Series which Waxist - a ''black music'' lover/vinyl collector from France already started back in 2009/10. There are 8 volumes/mixes online so far in which he sheds a light on ''rare tracks out of Jamaica or from the Jamaican diaspora (UK, US, Canada) with a focus on disco, modern soul & funky styles in a reggae mood. Most songs either being recorded on the island & issued on Jamaican labels or featuring JA musicians.'' Waxist Selector believes that there is much more to dig, saying Reggae Disco tracks are being pretty un-explored territory. ''I keep believing a lot of things remain pretty much unknown & to be discovered as most of the reggae headz didn't pay attention to those tracks at the time. The reason imo is that these tracks were too far from the regular "reggae" sound played in the 70's, also maybe seen as way too much into US music vein... A few JA producers have a real soul/funk/disco influence & touch... Sometimes versions (or b-sides) need to be checked as some nice stuffs could pop up... And Lovers style got also a few treasures imo, yet more modern soul oriented for most of them.'' (Via a Discogs discussion on Underground Reggae Disco Tracks.)

Now ''let the music take you higher''...

DubMe

The Reggae Disco Connection (2012)

01 - dennis brown - get high on your love (panama cardoon edit)

02 - derrick harriott - soul sister

03 - derrick harriott - dancing the reggae music (12inch)

04 - monyaka - go deh yaka (instrumental dub)

05 - peter tosh - dubbing buk-in-hamm

06 - richard ace - supernatural thing

07 - byron lee - the hustle

08 - beres hammond - music is a positive vibration

09 - the in crowd - back a yard (extented version)

10 - risco connection - ain't no stopping us now (version)

11 - la famille - all night long

12 - time unlimited - back fire (natural vibes intl.)

13 - jennifer lara - i am in love

14 - yellowman - world war (kill emil re-edit)

15 - willie lindo - drum song

Apart from the great SoulJazz compilation Hustle from a few years ago, Disco Reggae still seems to be a part of Reggae that is either frowned upon by Reggae purists - or has fallen under the radar of the many styles of DJ culture. I was planning to make this a compilation strictly showcasing some of the lost treasures of this "genre" - selecting some of my favourite Reggae songs in a Disco style. But actually I got carried away to include some soulful reggae grooves - as well as some Lovers Rock songs - smoothing out this compilation - and actually making it quite a nice player for your summer sunshine garden party, BBQ or beach day...

After finishing this compilation and having listened to a whole bunch of Reggae songs in a Disco fashion - I must say that the crown of Reggae Disco Grooves either goes to Joe Gibbs & his Disco Echo chamber - or the "more than soulful" Reggae producer and crooner Derrick Harriott, who was not only responsible for a series of classic Rocksteady productions in the late 60ies, but also for some grooving soulful and discofied Reggae songs in the 70ies, as you can hear on this compilation. I am opening this compilation with a Panama Cardoon edit of Get High On Your Love by Dennis Brown. Pure Disco Reggae with some good Greek bass & bounce! Find the Dennis Brown original here. Track #2 and #3: these two songs showcase some of Derrick Harriott's finest 70ies Reggae Soul and Pop sounds. Pure Reggae pop, love & groove. Derrick Harriott might also have been one of the first Reggae artists going Disco with his 1975 longplayer Reggae Disco Rockers, which includes the classic "Fly, Robin Fly", a cover of the Silver Convention original. Track #4 - Monyaka - Go Deh Yaka (Instrumental Dub) is a classic Easy Street Records disco reggae stomper from 1983. I prefer the Instrumental over the vocal version. The instrumental is heavily dubbed by legendary mixers Sergio Munzibal & John Morales. Monyaka was a funk group based out of Los Angeles, California, which among other great musicians had Reggae veteran Larry McDonald playing percussion and Val Douglas from the Skatalites playing bass. Track #5 "Dubbing Buk-In-Hamm" is the phenomenal dub remix of Peter Tosh's epic "Buk-in-Ham Palace" song over a bubbling disco rhythm, which was included on the 12inch of the same title. On the b-side of the same 12inch you will also find the prophetic The Day the Dollar Die, in which Tosh pleads his case for capitalism's demise over a shimmering reggae-pop groove. Track #7 takes things a little easier. Giving us an easy grooving cover version of Van McCoy's hit (Do) The Hustle. Pure 70s smooth-groove soul. Originally released on the Again! LP in 1975 on Dynamics Records. Track #8 is Music Is A Positive Vibration by Beres Hammond from his 1979 album Just A Man. Upbeat & Soulful. Can Disco Reggae get any better?! Track #9, the extended version of "Back A Yard" from The In Crowd Reggae band keeps things soulful and heartikal. A rejoiced Lovers Rock song about returning home to Jamaica to smoke some collie and celebrate love and life. Pure Chill-Out, love & sunshine sharing some "good time feelings". Track #10 is Ain't No Stopping Us Now by the Risco Connection. Already shared this song on the Palmwine Grooves & Disco compilation from 2011. But had to share it again. It just fits right into this selection. Risco Connection were a Jamaican band put together by Joe Isaacs (an original member of Jamaica's Studio One group "The Soul Vendors") in the late 1970s - which specialized in remakes of the hits of the day, with nice and dubby rhythms at the bottom, and some sweet moogy touches on the top! Another Risco Connection favourite of mine is their remake of Billy Stewart's "Sitting in the Park." Track #11, "All Night Long" by La Famille, gives us a lovers rock cover of All Night Long by the Mary Jane Girls. Track #13, I Am In Love by Jennifer Lara is a rare Studio One Disco joint produced by Coxsone Dodd in the early '80s. Check out the original by Evelyn "Champagne" King here. Track #15 - I am ending this compilation with Willie Lindo's cover of the classic Studio One Drum Song. Enjoy! DubMe

PS: This compilation fits perfectly on one CD - just click "NO PAUSE BETWEEN TRACKS" when you are going to burn it - and the CD will be exactly 79:57 long...

Beatz & Carrots #6 (March 2012)

01 - joubert singers - stand on the word (hot coins remix)

02 - sly & robbie - burru saturday

03 - ali hussan kuban - hanwil tanza (izzywise remix)

04 - johnny clarke - none shall escape the judgement (orig. egyptian reggae riddim!!!)

05 - king tubby & the aggrovators - a social version

06 - ely camargo - taieiras

07 - buena vista social club - chan chan (dj yamin remix)

08 - quintette guinenne - douga

09 - watusi - oio gere (alkalino rework)

10 - captain planet - samba radiante 2011 (chris read remix)

11 - eddy grant & the coach house rhythm section - timewarp

12 - banderas ft bouloukou - mogomake (lack of afro remix)

13 - the temptations - papa was a rolling stone (b.cause jamming dub edit)

14 - ray vs. beatsy collins - i got a woman

15 - razika - why have we to wait

16 - the pussycats - why have we to wait

17 - booker t & the mg's - hip hug-her (danny massure mastered)

18 - haruomi hosono, suzuki shigeru, tatsuro yamashita - passion flower

19 - jimmy cliff - sitting in limboton (dj theory remix)

20 - tall black guy - what's good (james brown - i feel good flip up)

21 - yusef lateef – passacaglia

This Beatz & Carrots #6 compilation should have been posted here like two weeks ago – a nice & fresh selection of musical favourites from the month of March - songs which I have listened to a lot, some brand new – some old and dusted – but nevertheless fresh and exciting. As usual - a colourful, eclectic mix of different styles... We start with a nice wonky dubbed out Hot Coins remix of the gospel disco classic „Stand On The Word“ by the Joubert Singers – probably one of the best and biggest Disco gospel songs ever made. According to Soul Sides and discogs.com: "Stand On The Word" was first ever recorded live in the First Baptist Church in Crown Heights, NYC, in 1982. Soon after the church pressed up a couple of hundred copies for the congregation," upon which, it was discovered by local DJs at places like Garage, The Loft, etc. and ended up getting a promo-release on Next Plateau (on both 12" and 7"). There's some disagreement over who actually remixed the song - there's a bootleg 12" you can find that credits Larry Levan but the actual record nods to Tony Humphries so go figure. Either way, it's just great.“ Track #2 „Burru Saturday“ - is a beautiful dub song - having one foot in the past, and one in the present - from Sly and Robbie's latest production Blackwood Dub. Track #3 is a izziwise remix of „Hanwil Tanza“ by the great Nubian singer and bandleader Ali Hassam Kuban. Love this remix! Beautiful raw, powerful, funky, fresh... And those vocals. Perfect combination!!! Check out his website for more. Track #7 was another soundcloud find: Buena Vista Social Club's song "Chan Chan" covered by The Mattanoll Brass Band Review and remixed with a bit more of that hard hitting Hip-Hop feel by DJ Yamin. Love the original, but this review and remix is definitely adding its own class to the original without dominating it - both songs forming a close union... And then comes track #08 – which must be one of the most beautiful, sweet, haunting songs I have listened to in a while - a kind of joyful ballad by the Quintette Guinenne – merging older African roots and modern jazz music. Its addictive!!! Track #9 is another joyful song which I think is from Brazil: Watusi - OioGere (Alkalino Rework). Musical Sunshine! Track #11 is „Timewarp“ by Eddy Grant's backing band „The Coach House Rhythm Section“. It's hard to compute this disco not disco monster came out in 1977 (the same year as Kraftwerk's „Trans Europe Express“). The vocal version of this song is called „Nobody's got time“ and you just need to listen to where he takes the instrumental to understand why it was labeled 'Timewarp'. Heavy Heavy Heavy Stuff! Eddy Grant – for having released so many classic tracks – he definitely deserves to get more credit! Huge artist! Track #13 - The Temptations - Papa Was ARolling Stone (b.cause jamming dub edit) gives us a well deserved break. Deep & beautiful Song! What a great idea it is to mash up the Temptations classic with Bob Marley's Jamming! Track #18 takes us to some exotic Pacific Island via Japan: „Haruomi Hosono, Suzuki Shigeru, Tatsuro Yamashita - Passion Flower“. I found this little disco gem on yer darling daily - which must be one of my favourite blogs out there – sharing such a variety of exiting & eclectic music. This is what he had to say about this song: „Aw yeah. Three incomparable instrumentalists, one sparkling disco rhinestone. You might call this elevator music. But it’s the kind you’d hear as you breeze out of the elevator at your Hanalei Bay resort, hiding behind your Ray-Bans, and someone hands you a coconut with a straw in it. Oh yes.“ - couldn't have said it better! If you want to get into more good Japanese music – try „JAPS ONRY 4: WAKARIMASEN“ at Ying Yangs. Track #19 – and we are slowly coming to the end of this months Beatz & Carrots selection – is DJ Theory having some fun with Jimmy Cliff's summertime classic „Sitting in Limbo“. And not only he is having fun and feeling much better! A1 remix!!! Everybody „Feeling Good“ now?! Then we can listen to track #20: What's Good (James Brown – I Feel Good Flip Up), a dope dope dope instrumental by the independent hip hop producer Tall Black Guy from Detroit, Michigan. That's it! Hit the download button and leave a comment if you enjoy the music... DubMe

PS: If you want to know more about the record which I used for the cover of this months Beatz & Carrots compilation – have a look at Beatz & Carrots #4.

And! This compilation fits perfectly on one CD - just click "NO PAUSE BETWEEN TRACKS" when you are going to burn it - and the CD will be exactly 79:43 long...

Various - More Palmwine Grooves & Disco (2012)

CD 1

01 - modern sound corporation - safari

02 - jo tongo - piani

03 - kabbala - ashewo ara (pat les stache re-edit)

04 - bunny mack - disco africa (dub)

05 - grupo arambere - iaia

06 - malinga 5 - marie-thereze

07 - bunny mack - discolypso

08 - time unlimited - back fire (natural vibes intl.)

09 - tumblack - caraiba

10 - ray munnings - funky nassau

11 - lord rhaburn combo - disco connection

12 - eko - manyaka

13 - black soul - black soul music (pat les stache re-edit)

14 - sofrito - music is the word

CD 2

01 - intro - bappi lahiri - let's dance for the great guy bruce lee

02 - bunny mack - let me love you (mr.b's reedit)

03 - eddy grant - california style (12'' extended version)

04 - turnblack - caraiba (club version)

05 - dennis brown - get high on your love

06 - wganda kenya - shakalaode

07 - cerrone - cycle's woman

08 - malinga 5 - malinga

09 - benis cletin - money make man mad (sofrito disco dub)

10 - skit - you make me feel so good (mikey dread action)

11 - charanga 76 - no nos pararan

12 - kalyan - disco reggae

13 - bunny mack - supafrico

14 - sorry bamba - kasanga

15 - black blood - a.i.e (amwana)

One of the first selections of music I shared here on the blog was Various - Palmwine Grooves & Disco (2011) - now here is a follow up - which I hope you enjoy as much as I do. Another selection of tropikal grooves and disco: Bunny Mack from Sierra Leone sharing „Discolypso“ (track #7) with the world - mixing Caribbean disco flavours with African grooves - and thus bringing to us sun and happiness in a disco style, Eddie Grant's wonderful & hypnotic Caribbean club track „California Style“ (track #3), a Latin disco version of „Ain't No Stopping Us“ (track #11), Dennis Brown, the crown prince of Reggae, having his first international record deal with A&M Records in 1981 - and delivering us some heavy discofied Reggae with „Get High On Your Love“ (track #5). Want more?! What about some massive dancefloor action from Brazil: „Gupo Arambere - Iaia“ - hypnotic, whirling & lots of percussion (track #5). "Manyaka" from Eko (track #12) - good good good Afro-Disco from Cameroon. Disco & violins! There is something funky about violins! Or „Modern Sound Corporation - Safari“ (track #1) - an Afro Disco tune with lots of Caribbean flavors from Sweden! And let's not forget that even the „great guy Bruce Lee“ (track #1) is joining the Party. - - - Download links are „hidden“ in the comments. Comments?! What about leaving some? What about sharing some of your favourite discofied tropikal grooves to make the next compilation even better? For the time being - hit the download button. And don't forget to play it load! Coz you wanna hear & feel that disco bass...

DubMe

PS: While compiling Various - Palmwine Grooves & Disco a few month ago and trying to find information on the web about all the different artists and songs – I came across the great music blog A Monsieurwilly World  - which introduced me to so many more great disco-influenced grooves & joys from around the world! Big big big blog out there! Monsieur Willy – if you should be reading this - my deepest gratitude to you! Great music you share - and bring forward more of those tropikal disco-tingled sounds! I love them!

Beatz & Carrots #3 (December 2011)

01 - the last minister - tribute to jb family

02 - odyssey - going back to my roots

03 - xl - take 5 (kool summer mix)

04 - krystian shek - got soul (poldoore remix)

05 - lord echo - things i like to do

06 - mr president - left and right

07 - marcia griffiths - feel like jumping (daytoner edit)

08 - mishkin - free

09 - the legendary 1979 orchestra - sunny

10 - jimmy hughes - i'm a man of action

11 - k - back to basics feat elaine dowling (original mix)

12 - little roy - come as you are

13 - circle research - stop look listen to your heart

14 - dj dus - cuando lo negro sea bello

15 - la playa sextet - pachanga con la playa (hobo d reedit)

16 - johnny clarke - johnny judgment (kid gusto edit)

17 - the bombay royale - sote sote

18 - volfoniq - balkan banghra

19 - merlin shepherd - pass the kasha (streamerpilot unkosher mix)

Hi everyone! Its been a long time I haven't updated my blog. To be exact: 2 months. Sorry about that. The last three weeks of December I was busy writing finals at University, which didn't leave me with enough time to take care of the blog or even compile some fresh compilations. On December 29th I then flew from Chengdu/China to Chiang Mai/Thailand - seeing my dentist there - and then having a 6 week long holiday – traveling Thailand and Malaysia, visiting friends, eating good food, lots of blue sky, sunshine and new inspirations! While trying to escape the afternoon heat on a little tropical island in the deep south of Thailand for a few hours, I tried to update my blog – but my blog was all in Thai, making it impossible to leave a little message ;-) But now I am back again. Gotta start writing my thesis these days – and then in June this year I hopefully should have earned myself a little degree – not that I am really planing to use it - but at least my parents & grandparents should be happy. I rather hope to be a natural gardener some day, working with my hands while listening to music...

Talking about music – here is my fresh selection of December favorites. As always – eclecticism is the name of the game. Starting with the very funky and groovy „Tribute to JB Family“ by The Last Minister, which was released on the Italian label Irma Records back in 1992 - which makes me wonder how I could have missed this song for so long! Well prepare yourself for 6:19 minute long tour de funk with a bit of a dirty house touch. The next song - keeps the groove - but gets a little more soulful with a nice version of „Going back to my Roots“ by Odyssey. Two other versions of this song I like are Richie Havens cover - and the original by Lamont Dozier. The 3rd song almost gets a little cheesy, having a strong 80ies Jazz feeling – but somehow I dig it! And with a song versioning Dave Brubeck's „Take 5“ one usually can't go too wrong. Track #7 is a very nice edit by Mr Daytoner from Cornwall, England of Marcia Griffiths „Feel Like Jumping“ - if you ask me – pure dancefloor gold! This is what Mr Daytoner had to say about this edit: „...We'll take you back to the very beginning' - this is the first edit I ever made for DJ sets (a few years ago now) - a basic edit of Marcia Griffiths classic from 1968 with just a break & a couple of samples extended over the fade to ensure regular use in sets (also used it for the opening track on the Daytoner Radio Debut mix)“. Track #9 is a great deep discoish cover of „Sunny“ by the mysterious DJ and producer „The Legendary 1979 Orchestra“ from Romania. The song „Sunny“, originally sung and written by Bobby Hebb in 1963 (and its countless versions) has always been a favorite of mine. That song even got me a date! Some 10 years ago, while I was working in a second-hand book and record shop in Germany, I remember one day a nice lady was entering the shop, catching my attention. And the minute I played that song she gave me a sweet smile. La Playa Sextet - Pachanga Con La Playa (Hobo D Reedit) - track #15 is a bouncing cumbiaish reedit by Hobo D. Really nice. But unfortunately he hasn't been updating his soundcloud page for ages. Hopefully he reads my blog and shares some more edits soon :) I'm ending this compilation with some Indian and Balkan sounds: Track # 17, which is „Sote Sote“ by The Bombay Royale – a fast drivin' funky rocky something song with some crazy crazy crazy Moog like only dem Indians can play it ;-) Track #18 is called „Balkan Banghra“ by Volfoniq - and it definitely got fire! Nice song mixing Balkan elements with Indian Banghra and some dirty electronics! Check out Volfoniq and the rest of the album „Ernest“– which they kindly share for free on their website. 

Enjoy! DubMe

P.S.: While I have been away travelling it seems that not only in China they have been busy blocking websites – but also in „The West“. Some blogs I have been following for ages have been taken down – among them the wonderful „Holywarbles“ music blog which has drawn my attention to a many wonderful albums! Well I hope „Holywarbles“ comes back – stronger than before - „Freedom of discovery on the web!“ And I am not sure if my multiupload.com links are still working. At least I can't open Multiupload in China anymore. Please let me know if you can still access my DL links. If not, I will be happy to replace them with working ones...

Various - Palmwine Grooves & Disco (2011)

CD 1

01 - benis cletin - jungle music (sofrito edit)
02 - quim manuel o esperito santo - eme lelu
03 - buari - advice from father
04 - kaleta & akoya afrobeat - the spirit of fela is alive & well! (guynamukat remix)
05 - manu dibango - wakafrica (danimalswainger edit)
06 - risco connection - ain't no stopping us now (version)
07 - guynamukat - music, music, only music (afro boogie edit)
08 - unknown - ay cosita linda
09 - orlando julius - disco-hi-life
10 - prince nico mbarga & rocafil jazz - cool money
11 - d. o. misiani and shirati luo voice jazz - amuka salama
12 - mandingo - dewgal (panama cardoon cut n paste edit)
13 - eddie hooper - pass it on

CD 2

01 - teaspoon & the waves - oh yeh soweto
02 - la tromba - calaba calabao
03 - shina williams & his african percussionists - agboju logun
04 - victor uwaifo - ohue (frankie francis & simbad edit)
05 - black soul - mangous ye
06 - richard ace - supernatural thing
07 - mixed grill - a brand new wayo
08 - steel an skin - reggae is here once again
09 - k. frimpong & his cubanos fiestas - kyenkyen bi adi mawu
10 - king errison - caribbean congo (pat les stache re-edit)
11 - teaspoon ndelu - sputla
12 - ray stephen oche - odeiyolaoo (pat les stache re-edit)
13 - eddie hooper - tomorrow's sun

Palmwine Grooves & Disco

This basically was going to be a compilation sharing various African disco-influenced songs and some more recent afro disco boogie edit niceness. Sweet deep music that has been sleeping on my hard-drive for ages. I was mostly going to build this compilation around songs like Guynamukat's „Music, Music, Only Music (Afro Boogie Edit)“ or some Afro Disco funkiness like Buari's „Advice From Father“ (which got sampled by Groove Armada for their song „Dr Eiff“ - but better try the 1979 version Shake by the Bombers, a kinda leftfield Disco song with some sweet strings – definitely funky stuff!) - but ended up adding songs in a similar vein from places like Guyana, Colombia or Jamaica to spice up this selection of music. Basically every song is a favourite on its own to me – some highlights are „Pass It On“ by Guyanese singer Eddie Hooper - which has been re-released as a 12inch by the mighty Soundway Records label: „Recorded in 1980, Hooper delivers some of the most life-affirming and spaced out disco soul you’re likely ever hear integrating Rhodes keys, orchestrations, the odd early keyboard synth and vocals that permeate the tracks and aptly spell out how to ‘set your spirit free’.“ Another big big big favourite is the funky 1976 afro-disco classic „Disco Hi-Life“ by Orlando Julius – can a song get any sweeter, groovier, smoother & uplifting than this? Just need to hear the first few seconds of this song and the „Blade Runner“ like grey Winter Sky in China's 10 Million people metropolis Chengdu suddenly seems to brighten up. This song has been re-released on Hot Casa Records some time ago – with a bit shorter 2009 edited version on the b-side. The nice thing about the edit is that Orlando Julius actually introduces the song himself adding a small message of "Enjoy yourself and be happy!". You can get the edit here. Another sweet song fitting right into this selection is „Risco Connection - Ain't No Stopping Us Now“ - which are some late night clubby soul grooves with a bit of Caribbean flavoring. I did some googling – and it seems they were actually a Jamaican band put together by Joe Isaacs (an original member of Jamaica's Studio One group „The Soul Vendors“) in the late 1970s - which specialized in remakes of the hits of the day, with nice and dubby rhythms at the bottom, and some sweet moogy touches on the top! Another Risco Connection favourite of mine is their remake of Billy Stewart's "Sitting in the Park." Other songs that deserve to be mentioned are „Mandingo - Dewgal (Panama Cardoon Cut n' Paste Edit)“ - another fresh edit by super-talented Panama Cardoon. D.O. Misiani and Shirati Luo Voice Jazz - Amuka Salama – a sweet uplifting Kenyan Benga song that needs a Sofrito edit. Just listen to that „break“ at 3:20 – boom! And last but not least the Danimalswainger edit of Manu Dibango's 'Wakafrica' - Ok! Now lets go and hit the download button. And don't forget to play it load!

Beatz & Carrots (October 2011)

                                                                                          (Original Cover Artwork taken from the great album "EL GRAN DUELO" by Akshin Alizadeh)

Here is my first compilation – "Beatz & Carrots“ from October 2011. Check the tracklist:

01 - raphael gualazzi - reality and fantasy (gilles peterson remix)

02 - rude hi-fi - cybercuba

03 - agape ft nadia harris - she really likes it

04 - quantic y su conjunto los mitcos del ritmo - nuthin' but a 'g' thing (dre en cumbia)

05 - turntables dubbers - get lively now (dreadsquad rmx)

06 - charlie winston - in your hands

07 - the breakbeat junkie vs djp - got what it takes (kurtis blow - the breaks)

08 - donny hathaway - the ghetto (suonho reloved)

09 - sam & dave - soul man (dj twister edit)

10 - maylee todd & circle research - hooked

11 - afrobuddha meets kakatsitsi drummers - obame (radio mix)

12 - petrona martinez - aroro (nate mars remix)

13 - quantic - cumbia clash

14 - faraon bantu soundsystem - macaco mata el toro (batata remix ft novalima)

15 - jmmy 'bo' horne - spank (reremaster)

16 - sun sect ft pam - shes hot

17 - red astaire - follow me

18 - slim gaillard - fuck off

There a quite a few upbeat/uptempo songs in this „beatz & carrots“ selection – probably because I have selected them from a more dj/dancefloor orientated angle this time. Most songs either seem to be disco/boogie/edit/soulful grooves/breakbeats or cumbia/latin/world sounds. Two fresh cumbia songs by „Mister“ Quantic my ever favourite dj/producer/musician: „Cumbia Clash“ by Quantic sounds like a dubby Cumbia Mash-Up like probably King Jammy would have mixed it ina de 80ies Digital Reggae Style – KILLER STUFF. Wait for the nasty bass to come in! „Cybercuba“ by Rude Hi-Fi is another beautiful Cumbia gem I only discovered on Soundcloud a week ago. Check out Rude Hi-Fi's Soundcloud page – the man is sharing/producing some serious music! Another Soundcloud find was „Agape ft Nadia Harris - She really likes it“ - let me quote the track description from Soundcloud: „Funk, soul, ska, drum and bass and Brazilian come together in this sultry hot little number to create a mood that is fun and up-tempo.“ Yes! And a voice that sounds like Sister Nancy's little sister! Nate Mars remix of „Petrona Martinez - Aroro“ was another big big monthly favourite. The bass and those powerful voice of Petrona Martinez is just killin' me! Mars places Martinez's vocals in the middle of spacey synths, tropical percussion sounds with a rolling bassline that comes and goes. Interesting information on the side - Petrona Martinez from Colombia didn't really start her music career until 2002 at the age of 63 (she made her money collecting sand for brick making prior to then), but continues to sing and perform now moving into her seventies. Well - I hope you enjoy some of these songs as much as I do... If you do, please leave a comment - its always rewarding to hear what fellow music lovers and addicts say - especially if you live in China - a blank spot on the world-map of music...

PS: Usually when I make these "compilations" of favourite songs - I try to put them in a certain order so there is a certain flow, mixing the songs without actually mixing them (so that you still have the unmixed song to make your own mixes/compilations ;-). This compilation fits perfectly on one CD – just click "NO PAUSE BETWEEN TRACKS" - and the CD will be exactly 79:40 long – so burn it & share some good vibes with friends & family...

Peace; Dubme