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...

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!

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!