Guest Charts
‘10 essential Latin dancefloor burners’
Selected by Rob Coley (Rob is resident DJ at The Jazz Meet, a super fine weekly jazz get-together in London. F* the Olympics, The Jazz Meet is where you need to be in London)
+ Ray Barretto – Lucretia the Cat (taken from The Other World LP, 1973 Fania)
Killer Latin jazz funk from percussionist and bandleader Ray Barretto
straight out of the Fania stable in the early 70’s. It’s all about the
horns in this, funky and with enough swing to get any dance floor
bubbling.
+ Tito Puente - Picadillo (taken from Tito Puente & His Concert
Orchestra LP, 1973 Tico)
Everyone knows this album for the cut ‘Black Brothers’ which I think
Mr Bongo compiled somewhere a while ago but the whole set has got that
definite NuYorican vibe to it and sizzles. A fiery collection of
tracks from the timbale master, here I’ve selected the lesser known
‘Picadillo’ to ease us in gently to what’s to come.
+ Bobby Valentin - Codazos (taken from Rey del Bajo LP, 1974 Fania)
An absolutely banging LP from the Puerto Rican bass player. I have so
many favourites on this album but ‘Codazos’ just seems to fit this
precise moment. Also check the funky Latin workout of ‘Coco Seco’
+Willie Bobo - La Descarge Del Bobo (taken from Juicy LP, 1967 Verve)
An all-time fave in my sets ever since I picked up a MAW remix five or
six years ago. Had to seek out the original LP and as with any Willie
Bobo release, there’s a range of styles on show. This however is a
definitely dance floor moment waiting to happen. Just listen to that
driving percussion!
+ Louie Ramirez - The New Breed (taken from In the Heart of Spanish
Harlem LP, 1967 Mercury)
Re-edited/remixed by Beatfanatic for one of his Raw Fusion LPs, here’s
the original track in all its glory from one of Lou Ramirez’s earlier
albums. It really comes into its own in the second half of the track
when it turns into a hypnotic percussive workout.
+ Sabu Martinez - I Remember Carmen (taken from Sabu’s Jazz Espagnole LP, 1961 EAB)
More supercharged business this time from the early sixties and
renowned percussionist Sabu Martinez. A killer Afro-Cuban LP from
start to finish (also check ‘The Oracle!), ‘I Remember Carmen’ is one
for the b-boys, with it's shuffling percussion and swinging horns.
+ Cesar 830 - Descarga (taken from Cesar LP, 1975 Flying Dutchman)
Some West Coast Latin funk on the Flying Dutchman label from pianist
and promoter Cesar Ascarrunz. As you’d expect the piano lines dominate
this tune and coupled with the horn section and congas (courtesy of
Francisco Aquabella), you get a storming little number. Not sure about
the electric guitar solo though!
+ Louie Bellson & Walfredo de los Reyes - Para Buenos Bailarines (For
Good Dancers) (taken from Ecué Ritmos Cubanos LP, 1978 Pablo)
‘Ecué’ has always been the fave on this LP I understand, but I much
prefer the less sprawling nature of this tune which pairs
Italian-American jazz drummer Louie Bellson with Cuban percussionist
Walfredo de los Reyes. A simple percussive groove on top of which
rides the trumpet of Cuban legend Alejandro “El Negro” Vivar. This is
a perfect record with several big tunes worthy of your attention.
+ Eddie Palmieri - 17.1 (taken from Superimposition LP, 1968 Tico)
Had to include some Eddie Palmieri as I own so many of his albums and
he's a true don in the world of Latin music. It was difficult to pick
just one tune from his catalogue but I think this is probably one of
my all-time favourites. After a mellow start, the rhythm section
slowly builds to a crescendo and the trumpet totally takes over,
punctuating the atmosphere. Definitely one of the few records that
never leaves my bag.
+ Noraida - Oye (taken from Me Voy a Desquitar LP, 1971 Tico)
A change of tempo but again another of my all time faves that I always
try and play out. Produced by Tito Puente, ‘Oye’ is a rare Latin funk
tune from Cuban sonero Benny Moré’s missus (and subsequent widow)
Noraida. Killer vocals and just check those horns. Nasty!
‘10 tracks that make me feel better when I’m down’
Selected by Orsii (One of the handful of people I know who have the same taste in jazz as I do (I mean, check that tracklisting!). She’s involved with Fat City, Jazzman and Laid Back.)
Guest mix by Orsii (Laid Back, Jazzman) by Blast Kid The Jazz Kid on Mixcloud
01. Mark Murphy - Jump For Joy
02. Bobby Cole - A Perfect Day
03. Azanyah - Guiding Light
04. Jef Gilson - Valse Pour Hélène
05. The Kenny Clarke - Francy Boland Sextet - Just Give Me Time
06. Lorez Alexandria - Send In The Clowns
07. Sahib Shihab - Om Mani Padme Hum
08. Michael Garrick Band - Epiphany
09. Matthew Halsall - Music For A Dancing Mind
10. Billy Gault - The Time Of This World Is At Hand
“You’ve probably heard them all, but they are all songs/artists I can’t imagine to live without now that I have heard them because they enrich my life in more than just one way. But then again, I guess that is just one of the many simple pleasures of music…”
‘Top Ten Flawless Albums Released Between 2005 & Present’
Selected by Mr. Critical (One of the best dj’s I know with a very eclectic taste. Check out the superb mixes he did for LDBK Radio.)
+Feist - The Reminder
+Flying Lotus - Los Angeles
+Fink - Distance & Time
+Florence & The Machine - Lungs
+Radiohead - In Rainbows
+Eddie Vedder - Into The Wild
+The Dead Weather - Sea Of Cowards
+The Cinematic Orchestra - Ma Fleur
+The Mars Volta - Frances The Mute
+The Black Keys - Chulahoma
‘In no particular order…’
‘Top Ten “45 is my number”’
Selected by Dj Macka Fat (Dj and organiser of the Super Soul Stew parties and concerts in Mechelen)
+R.D. Stokes - My Sandra’s Jump (II Bro Records)
This stays my favorite 45. An uptempo hammond groover.
+David Rockingham Trio - Soulful Chant (Josie Records)
I heard a rumor that this is actually a track by Jimmy Smith and Kenny Burrell!
+Alvin Cash & The Crawlers - Twine Time (Mar-V-Lus)
An absolute top R&B instrumental from 1965
+Mongo Santamaria - We Got Latin Soul (Columbia Records)
Mongo released this track as a reaction to ‘We Got More Soul’ by Dyke & The Blazers. A floor filler!
+Ernie Hawks & The Soul IG - Soulful Trip pt. 1 (Timmion Records)
One of many alter egos of the Soul Investigators and in my opinion the best release on the Finish Timmion Records label.
+The Monks - Rock Me (Sir JJ Records)
One of many cover versions of Aretha Franklins Rock Steady, but not just any! Jamaican Rocksteady at its best!
+Elton Anderson - The Crawl pt.2 (Lanor Records)
The B-side is an instrumental version with a fantastic guitar part.
+The Pan-Atlantics - Serengeti Stroke (B.M.J.)
A 45 by The Poets Of Rhythm. I could make an entire top ten list with their releases. Praise the lord for the brothers Weisenfeldt!
+Bobby Rush - Sock Boogaloo (Checkers Records)
Starts as a train and keeps on going at a high tempo! Comon’ Everybody, sock it to me boogaloo!
+Los Sospechos - Mirror Door (Colemine Records)
Some of the members of the Budos Band go undercover for this amazing music for the film ‘Postales’.
“This used to be my Top Ten list 5 minutes ago, but I already changed my mind…”
‘Top ten Belgian 45s’
Selected by Daptunes (Dj and digger. Host of a superb radio show and organizer of lots of parties – Dyn-O-Mite, Out There - and concerts – Mulatu Astatke etc- in Ghent)
+The African Souls - Haleluja
Unknown Afro R&B sax groover, mad bass dancefloor bomb and recorded in Belgium - I dare you to find one!
+Kiosk - Mona Call
Fuckin’ badass pre Placebo 45 Marc Moulin recorded for his radioshow “Dimanche Musique” on Rtbf - one of the wildest eurojazz 45’s I ever heard.
+Patchwork - Laughing Sam One The Phone
Fuzz and breaks galore on this ‘45 from the people that gave us Yamasuki’s, Chicken Curry and the likes…though it pisses all over the others in terms of freakout intensity.
+Lucky Alba - J’ai l’habitude
I found this in the closet of my nephew’s cleaning lady, how about that for an unlikely diggin’ spot! (though don’t ask me HOW I got there…) Frantic freakbeat from a guy that commited suicide a couple of years later - for freakbeat this truly goes as a proof of quality btw.
+Roger Mores - Zug
Damn this is hard, I love the Vogue Belgium production sound, the basspedal of the hammond sounds almost like a sub-bass, twangy guitars, horny horns and no wonder this was used as the soundtrack to one of Belgium’s only ‘60ies pornflicks L’entreinte - it’s kinda innocent but still a cool B-movie.
+Brussels Art Quintet - Vas-Y-Voir
Superscarce Belgian jazz 45 from Daniel Schell the man that later gave us Cos, crazy good, inventive guitarplaying even sounds ahead for a ‘69 jazz band.
+Irish Coffee – Child
Mental Belgian Hard Rock - there’s a lot of fuss about this band that’s partly from my hometown Ninove - I went to school with one of the bandmember’s sons also - and their only Lp is considered a grail for Euro rock collectors BUT this tune is not on the album and well for me it’s the best they ever did…
+Marco Reynders - Liefste ik heb AIDS
In my small but intense collection of weird schlagers this is the one I cherish most, a song about a guy writing to his beloved one how he became entangled in the “big city life”, how he got into drugs and parties and bad women and how all of this ended - the cover pictures him in a bar writing the letter - dressed in the worst ‘80ies jeans outfit - and in a balloon above his head the dirty black girl that gave him AIDS…Oh Boy!
+Enso Samai - Funky Action
This is really Baron Zen, James Pants and Madlib rolled into one…well at least the first 8’ seconds.
+Absolute Body Control - I’m leaving
Found this in a garage filled with trashy awful late 80ies disco shit, I didn’t know what it was but it looked damned interesting and it was the only thing I took that day, remember saying to my buddy “well this really looks like an indie coldwave 45”. Turns out I was exactly right the moment I dropped the needle on it, coldwave doesn’t get any colder than this.
‘Top ten last month’s Fleamarket Finds’
`Selected by Weedy (producer from Antwerp, Belgium. One half of 40 Winks)
(40 Winks’ new album ‘It’s The Trip’ is scheduled to be released on Project Mooncircle in April 2011)
‘Ten of my favorite tracks’
Selected by 45 Ben (One of my favorite record dealers who himself has a stunning collection of Funk 45s and Rare Groove lp’s)
+Damn Sam The Miracle Man & The Soul Congregation - “Smash”
O.C. Tolbert had a long history in gospel music, but he dropped this raw funk/soul bomb of an album in the early seventies on the Tay-Ster label. Original copies are very scarce nowadays.
+Bobby Boyd Congress – “Straight Ahead”
Opening track from their sole early seventies album on the French Okapi label. The Bobby Boyd Congress were a bunch of Americans who were based in France, and who made various albums and sevens as Bobby Boyd Congress, Lafayette Afro Rock Band, Ice, The Crow. One of the ultimate in European rare groove albums.
+Billy Martin - “Stax”
Originally hailing from the US, Billy Martin (and the Soul Jets) made most of their records while residing in Canada. The track selected here comes from the rare “Strawberry soul” LP on the Trans-World label; the album stands as one of the best instrumental funk LPs of all time.
+Wu-Tang Clan - “Method Man”
What can we say about this one… When the Clan dropped their first album “Enter the Wu-Tang” in 1993 it shook the whole hiphop world. It sounded like nothing you’d ever heard before, and they looked like nothing you’d seen before neither. One of the few true classic hiphop albums that still kicks it nearly twenty years after its release…
+Showbizz & A.G. - “Fat pockets” (12” radio remix)
The original version was featured on their “Runaway slave” LP from 1992, but this is the remix that was also used for the clip we loved and watched so many times on Yo!MTV-raps. Ahhh man, those were the days…
+Magnum - “Natural juices”
From their magnificent jazzfunk LP “Fully loaded” on the Phoenix-label from 1974. A midtempo groover of the highest order. The whole album displays incredible tight musicianship; can you believe the singer was only 16 years old at the time of release??!! Unfortunately very hard to find on original imprint…
+Brother Williams - “Right on brother”
This 7” came out on the famous Florida label Saadia, backed with a crazy version of JB’s “Cold sweat”. Saadia did release no more than 12 sevens or so, but they have now become some of the most wanted sevens by funk collectors around the globe. Brother Williams in fact was none other than producer Frank Williams, who made several records himself with his group The Rocketeers. Jazzman Gerald once told me that there’s knowledge of only one (1) original copy worldwide, very probably residing in a well-known U.K. deejay’s box…
+The 13th Amendment - “The Stretch”
This great 7” originally came out on the Slave label, and it stands as one of my alltime favorites when it comes to instrumental funk. Wah-wah guitar, stabbing horns and wailing organ… it has the lot. Needless to say it’s rare as hell but fortunately for us funk-collectors it was reissued some years ago (on a bootleg that’s to say…).
+Tickled Pink - “Reach Out (and give me your hand)”
Fantastic funky 7” outta Texas that was originally released on the Knip label, and which can easily be labelled as the funk collector’s wet dream. Incredible tight playing featuring a driving wah-wah guitar that keeps on going, and mixed male/female vocals. The girl singing/screaming on this monster makes Tina Turner sound like a sedated softie… Oh, and a great breakbeat-intro too for all you head-nodders.
+The Chocolate Glass- “Soul Climate”
Other than they were very probably from Texas, very little is known about this mysterious group. They made two great little sevens on the Judnell label, which also housed artists like Bubba Thomas and The Lightmen. Tight playing again on this, their second 7”: great rhythm guitar, stabbing horns and a haunting organ – what more can you ask for?
“Selected at random because there are thousands of tracks that could make it onto my top ten…”
