Various - Caribbean Soul (2015)

01 - king stitt - sauvett (dance hall '63)

02 - the mighty sparrow & byron lee - try a little tenderness

03 - esso steel band - killing me softly

04 - lennie hibbert - twilight zone

05 - hopeton lewis - funky kingston

06 - tnt band - musica del alma

07 - the latin blues band feat. luis aviles - lay an oz on me baby

08 - jamaica's groove band - shaft

09 - the comancheros steel orchestra - shaft

10 - jackie mittoo - elenor rigby

11 - byron lee & the dragonaries - east to west

12 - the chosen few - people make the world go round

13 - harold butler - out of bondage

14 - the now generation - it's too late

15 - jimmy london - just my imagination

16 - jo jo bennett - canteloupe rock

17 - inner circle - jah music
18 - tommy mccook - sauvitt (bonus track)

Compilation of mostly mellow & soulful Reggae songs from Jamaica - and a bit of steels drums and Boogaloo thrown in for good measure. I made this compilation after Caribbean Soul, an old mixtape from Lars Vegas (with special guidance by Dagmar ''Dig A Little Deeper'' - who introduced me to a lot of good & new music through her record shop ''Dig A Little Deeper'' - first in Cologne - and later in Berlin). Hopefully this post marks the return to updating this blog more regularly. I'm not making lofty promises, but I would love to be more active on the site! Stay tuned & enjoy this mellow breeze of of Caribbean Soul, Summer & Sunshine!

DubMe

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

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 #4 (January 2012)

Here finally is my January 2012 Beatz & Carrots #4 compilation. Some good songs in here, old and new. And it also flows quite nicely when you listen to the compilation in its entirety. Beatz & Carrots #5 is already compiled as well. Just need to write a few lines, upload it – and it should then be shared on this blog within the next few days. Until then – keep yourself busy with this tracklist:

01 - dedy dread - go miller

02 - sono rhizmo' - mambocito mio

03 - benny berigan - caravan

04 - little walter - up the line

05 - restless leg syndrome - hornrace

06 - nynfus corp. - yetti

07 - le grand orchestre de paul mauriat - vole, vole farandole

08 - tenoshi - monsta monche (tenoshi version)

09 - phyllis dillon - perfidia

10 - unknown - cumbia (soundcloud)

11 - stretch - why did you do it

12 - the electric sideshow soundsystem - give me your number

13 - culture - we a boss

14 - the soul session - root down

15 - discotech - the boss

16 - brooklyn shanti - rani rani

17 - the soul session - horse with no name suite (desert intro)

18 - the soul session - horse with no name suite (horse with no name)

19 - the soul session - horse with no name suite (out of the rain)

20 - ahmad zahir - che kelaf sar zad az mah

21 - dj catalist - everybody

22 - pan di-hua - midnight kiss

Giving some credits to all the artists and musicians out there who are enriching our lifes with grooves, musical sunshine and love everyday – The first song is Go Miller by Dedy Dread, which he shared as a little Christmas gift on his soundcloud page last year. Beautiful song – which seems to get better every time I listen to it. The intro is one of the best out there: "Hello and Greetings to all those Punks out there... 'coz I am the King of the Punks (What kind of records to you play for your own pleasure – as it were?) Generally I play Soul music, Jazz music, I love Calypso music. I love all type of music (inaudible). Generally listening to Jazz..." - "Generally listening to Jazz"... Ahhh! That line kills it for me. Beautiful! „Mambocito Mio“ - the second song is a tasty beefed up Latin/Mambo Groover by Sono Rhizmo'. That song got released on Resense records (# 004) back in 2007. But somehow I missed it. Resense records, which seems to be a sub-label (!?) of the equally great Agogo Records (check them out on soundcloud) is one of the top labels out there releasing groovy, funky, swinging, soulful music with all of our favorite artists out there! The third song Caravan by Benny Berigan is a brilliant take on the Jazz standard "Caravan", originally composed by Juan Tizol and first performed by Duke Ellington in 1937. That song (and its various covers) has always been a favorite of mine – and Benny Berigan definitely adds his own twist to it - making it a dirty whirling desert groover – or as someone on soundcloud put it "I feel like Alibaba traveling the desert at night!" - Jaaa! The next song "Up The Line" by Little Walter from 1963 was another surprice find. What a groover. While I was listening to this compilation a few times I caught myself wondering "What song is that?!" - having as much swing and raw power as Brenda Boykin's Hard Swing Travellin' Man – only to find out every time that it is that Little Walter song way back from 1963. Song #5 keeps the groove and the swing – going Cumbia: Restless Leg Syndrome – Hornrace and their version of "Cumbia en do menor" by Lito Barrientos – one of my Top 10 Cumbia songs of all time: heavy percussion, stomping horns, tropical madness! You can download the whole EP "name your price" on their bandcamp site. The remaining 17 songs are equally great and eclectic – but I now ought to do some more compiling - finish compiling questions for a survey on "Vegetarianism in China" which I need for my thesis.

The "cover" or rather image I shared with this compilation is a picture of a German "Sex" record called "St Pauli Nachrichten" on the Porno Records label (St Pauli being the Red Light District of Hamburg) which I bought many many years ago when I "got into" collecting "sex records". I can still remember when a friend first told me that he, beside collecting Exotica and Incredibly Strange Music records, also collects sex records. I was like "eh?!" - what are Sex records? Well, basically in the 50, 60 and 70... until we had Super 8mm film and video cassettes more generally available – records where still the format of the day – and so "Porn" was sold on record to some degree. I assume. It was a huge surprise when I first heard dialogues like "F##k me harder" on a German record from the 60ies. Don't know – maybe I was under the impression that people back then didn't have Sex or whatever... After this first "introduction" I surrendered myself to the mission of finding all these Sex records. And it was no easy task finding the real ones – or could you imagine your grandmother going to a second hand record shop saying "I here have some old records which me and my husband bought in the 60ies". But over the course of the years I found some records which were incredibly great and funny: sex plays with hilarious dialogues (who wrote them?!), 60 minutes of moaning over some African percussion, a record with just the sounds of a squeaking creaking bed, a porn version of Kafka's "The Trial" - which was so kafkaesque that I wanted to trash it after listening to it the first and only time... bahh! And records which just had great covers or other gimmicks – like the one I used for this post. Stay tuned and find out how the amazing 4x gatefold cover of this record opens up and reveals a secret place during the next few Beatz & Carrots posts...

DubMe

...Roots Music can never die: „Jamaican Harmony Trios - The Jewells“

01 - jewells - jah i (extended mix)
02 - porti - one lick
03 - jewells - i believe in love
04 - jewells - my little dream love
05 - jewells - dream love
06 - jewells - singing sweet harmony
07 - version - drum & bass (flabba & style)
08 - jewells - slave trade
09 - jewells - love and livity
10 - jewells - love & livety version
11 - big youth - political confusion - jewells - love & livity dub (extended)
12 - jewells - black is the highest culture
13 - the survivors - live out the 70s
14 - the survivors - leggo badness
15 - gladstone manning - prophesy call
16 - gladstone manning - prophesy call dub
17 - the palm threes - step it out version
18 - the palm threes - step it out
19 - the immortals - can't keep a good man down
## - bonus track - the immortals - can't keep a version

Jamaican Harmony Trios - The Jewells

Some 8-9 years ago I listened to the radio show Hidden Gems - The Jewells by the Australian Reggae website firecorner.com - introducing the Jamaican harmony trio „The Jewells“. I had to that point never heard of that band, but as a huge lover of deep 70ies roots music I was immediately struck by the beauty of their songs, the heavy roots riddims which set the background to their weaving harmonies (which were very much influenced by the Rocksteady style), the baritone of their lead singer Glasford Manning, their spiritual as well as provocative lyrics – as well as some of their more mellow, lovers rock influenced songs ridding drum and bass riddims in an early 80ies rub-a-dub style fashion! Beside the podcast about „The Jewells“, which is still available for download on the Firecorner website (plus many other great podcasts – well worth checking out!) - and the article „The Jewels In The Crown“, which Penny Reel wrote in 1985 for the NME, there was no other information on the Jewells available on the Internet or elsewhere at that time. I was lucky to find two 7inches by the Jewells, as well as a few songs which I found on Niney The Observer compilations. Beside that I digitally tracked down all the Jewells songs I could find on various blogs, soulseek – or which some nice reggae enthuasiast and collectors shared with me. While I am just now writing this blogpost and putting together the tracklist for this post – I discovered the very detailed article/interview Black is the Highest Culture –The Jewells by Peter I on his very nice website reggae-vibes.com. Good stuff – and according to the interview with Glasford Manning it seems that Leggo who ran Cash & Carry and Leggo Sounds records is still sitting on songs by the Jewells worth two albums! Lets hope there is gonna be a release of their songs some day – they deserve to be heard! Here is a copy of the Penny Reel article (which doesn't seem to be online on the Firecorner website anymore):

"The Jewels in the Crown" - by Penny Reel (NME / 9 November 1985)

The handful of records from The Jewels released towards the latter part of the '70s are among the final flourishes of a long standing tradition in Jamaican popular music.

The vocal group is a constant in the island's recorded music that extends back as far as the pre-ska Jiving Juniors and The Maytals, though it is during the rock steady era in the mid-'60s when the style comes properly into its own and provides much of the more memorable sounds of the time. Similarly, during the Ras Tafari resurgence of the '70s, the style is adapted by former rock steady outfits like The Wailers, Gladiators, Ethiopians, etc and newer groups such as the original Burning Spear, Culture, The Abyssinians and many more. With the advent of the dancehall genre in the '80s the solo singer has moved back into the ascendant and the vocal group all but vanished from the scene.

The first of the Jewels collection is itself a solo effort: Prophecy Call recorded by Glassford Manning, produced by the Sir Niney and issued in JA on the Observer imprint is a sufferers plaint rendered in the manner then favoured by the Freedom Sounds roster of artists operating out of Greenwich Farm in Kingston.

When I later ask Niney for details concerning this obscure side, he tells me that Manning is the lead singer of a vocal group, The Jewels, he has been recording, and shortly after this the first of the group's waxings surface in the London pre outlets: Jah I, credited to The Jewels and again released on Observer.

This first group effort is an ehortation in defence of Ras Tafari propelled along by the double drumming recently popularised by Sly. "Although the wicked they try to cramp 'gainst I and I", Manning warns, "they shall stumble and fall." The fourfold rhythm is expounded to even greater effect on the dub I Jah as performed by The Observer Wild. The song duly forms the A-side of their sole UK issue, on Observer discomix through the auspices of Count Shelley's Third World centre, and couple with a further Jewels title unissued in Jamaica, called Black Is The Highest Culture.

Their next and final three releases mark the group's sudden shift of allegiance from Niney to Leggo Beast's Cash and Carry label. The first of these, Love and Livity, is the Jewels' single gem. Penned jointly by B. Davis (presumable Bobby Davis, former singer with The Sensations rock steady vocal group) and Glassford Manning, the song is a lilting, humanitarian hymn with weaving harmonies, which harkens back to the rock steady style. Big Youth was moved sufficiently to toast a version.

Dream Lover Babe, which followed, was again evidence of the group's gentler side, and once more its debt to rock steady is marked in both use of harmonies and production. A dignified piece.

Their last was Slave Trade credited to just Jewels and released in 1979 on a new Cash and Carry imprint, with some polemic detailing inquity under the yoke as its title suggests. "They treated us with brutality, and they treated us with no humanity," are the last words from The Jewels as the song fades. Since when a silence.

Except for a single footnote: a solo effort released in 1981 on the Beast's eponymous Leggo Sounds label from one Porti Jewel entitled Staring At Me Girl, a further G. Manning composition. Are Porti and Glasford one and the same man? The vocal suggests as much.

The style of vocal groups like The Jewels may be obsolete in the current dancehall runnings but their message remains intact. (end of Penny Reel article)

As I only have 60 minutes of music by the Jewells – I added a few songs by other great Jamaican harmony trios that I believe suit this compilation. AND! If any of you dear readers got some more info or songs by the Jewells, please please please let me know, leave a comment and share it/them with us all :)

DubMe

~ a month in tunes 25.0 (2012 shai'li) ~

ambassadeurs - m.o.p.e

anthony hamilton - oh lord (the apple scruffs edit)

betty green - he's down on me

butch clancy - russian lullaby

citizens! - true romance

cunninLynguists - lynguistics

deloris ealy - deloris is back with jerome and his band

devendra banhart - shabop shalom

django django - default

electric guest - american dream

emiliana torrini - jungle drums

frankie lymon - itty bitty pretty one (prince of ballard edit)

freqnik & wdre - beatnuts off the books vs j rawls

hansi edit - hot pants road

hansi edit - humdinger

joder - palov ft ang.angelides (instr)

little sonny - the creeper returns

paul whire - doldrums

perrion - fire ant

phyllis dllon - perfidia

ralph mcdonald - the path

sir victor uwaifo - iye iye oh

the debonaires - in the rain (remix)

the decoders - hey there lonely boy ft coco owino

the montclairs - hung up on your loveeeeeee

twit one - do bem

twit one - tereza

wankelmut - one day

Here finally is another ~ a month in tunes 25.0 (2012 shai'li) ~ selection by my friend and fellow music/photo/picture/love/fun/art/life blogger Duendiness, who also shared the nice picture I used for this post. After I got back from my six week long holiday in Thailand and Malaysia – I was looking forward to Shai'li's latest musical discoveries – especially after he mentioned that he found a musical goldmine! And woah! quite some mighty tunes and other surprises in here. Let me share a few with you - the ones that hit me straight – love on first listening – yeah!: „In the Rain (remix)“ by The Debonaires, an old Harry Mudie production I have never heard off! It was originally released on a Tobin 7inch someday in the 1970ies. Who made the remix? Not much info available – but this song is a real gem – that just comes – keeps floating along – and then goes... Harry Mudie is one of my most favorite Jamaican producers (among the many other great producers!). His riddim tracks, often recorded at Studio One, are always heavy and strong - but at the same time also very melodic and well crafted. He is also responsible for some classic and often versioned Jamaican Riddims. Besides that he worked with some of the best Jamaican vocalists like John Holt, Dennis Walks, the Heptones, Ebony Sisters, The Eternals, Lloyd Jones and the late great Slim Smith - a sure win combination! After I listened to this song for the first time – I thought it sounded somewhat familiar – and yes! Its a cover of The Dramatics In The Rain from 1971 which some of you readers might also know. Another sweet surprise was the song „The Path“ by Ralph McDonald, which I think Beatconductor used for his song/edit/remix „Caribbean Path“. Its always nice when things begin to connect musically – and everything makes meaning on a deeper level. Next are two great edits/reworks by MPM producer Twit One. The first one „Do Bem“ is an edit of O Caminho do Bem from Tim Maia, an Brazilian artist worth checking out for his many great great songs – probably my biggest favorite is his often (!?) sampled 15+ minute long spiritual anthem Rational Culture from the album „Racional' Seroma“ (1974). „Tereza“ - the second tune by Twit One is an edit of another Brazilean Song: „Tereza Guerreira” from Antonio Carlos & Jocafi. Good sexy Latin music to play on your Sunday afternoon Bar-B-Q. Also check out Twit One's mixtape Discoe Cultura on soundcloud or his beatcamp site for more songs. Another favorite is „Shabop Shalom“ by Devendra Banhart. After I played this song twice today, my girlfriend kept humming it all the time – so this one is definitely a song for the ladies :) Should take my time to make a „Lady Mixtape“ sometime – which one of my favorite musical Bloggers out there - „The Prince of Ballard“ - did I while ago. Check out his „Lady Mix“ here. The intro of the song „Shabop Shalom“ reminds me a bit of Donavan's intro to his song Atlantis – a song my father had on one of the many mixtapes he played at home when I was still a little boy. The rest of the song „Shabop Shalom“ is equally great – sweeter than Elvis, Doo Wop(er) than Doo Wop... Did I just mentioned the „Prince“ somewhere? Well, I was lucky to find one of my most favorite songs of the last few months available for a free download on his soundcloud page a while ago – and if that isn't enough – Shai'li shares it again with us! I am talking about the Prince of Ballard edit of „Frankie Lymon - Itty Bitty Pretty One. This edit has been driving me crazy. Sooo sweet, sooo deep, sooo good... Not only my girlfriend was humming it for hours every time I played it. I didn't know that an edit can add such depth to a song! Hopefully there will be many more edits from the Prince of Ballard in 2012! Its seems to be impossible to post anything on my blog without mentioning the mighty Soundway label. This time it's the sweet song „Iye Iye Oh“ from the legendary Nigerian Guitar giant Sir Victor Uwaifo, which was released in 2008 on Soundways Sir Victor Uwaifo: Guitar Boy Superstar1970-76 album. Pure niceness – listen yourself! I am going to end my own list of favorites with the electronic, minimal and very soulful groover „Wankelmut - One Day“. And now you can download Shai'li's latest discoveries – and share your very own favorites in the comment section with us ;-) AND! This is only the January selection – I will hopefully get Shai'li's musical favorites from the month of December 2011 during the next few days – and share it here as well. Enjoy! DubMe

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...

~ a month in tunes 23.0 (2011 shai'li) ~

Its December 2011 – and here is another ~ a month in tunes 23.0 (2011 shai'li) ~ selection by fellow blogger and music lover shai'li. At the beginning of every new month he shares some of his latest musical discoveries with us - exiting music from all four corners of the earth. Some of these sweet grooves you can also find on his blog Duendiness. Beside having an ear for good music – he also seems to have a good eye and open mind to take some beautiful pictures – have a look at the photography he shares on his blog. I just „stole“ one of his pictures for this post. 
 

There are 41 songs in this months selection. This time I included a tracklist – so you can have a rough idea about the manifold selection of music - as well as a little anticipation for some of the songs included in this download. A few songs I really like: Bill Withers - Lovely Day (Copycat's Slight Re-Edit) – beautiful song! Sweet & Soulful. Here given a little edit treatment – basically making it more dj friendly – by the man DJ Copycat. He shares some amazing edits & remixes on his soundcloud page. But you gotta be quick to grab one of them. Usually the 100 free downloads are gonne within a day! 'Kids' is another song which was a nice surprise. A laid-back bluegrass/string band version of MGMT's 'Kids' by Dr Fox's Old Timey String Band from Ireland. This is what shai'li himself says about the song „don't laugh...i love this (bless me I'm just getting old,give me a break!)“ - well – maybe I am also getting old - but maybe so far we have been able to stay open-minded, freeing ourselves from musical genres and definitions. HIT ME WITH MUSIC! Poncho Warwick's „Tainted Jazz“ is another song I dig. I haven't done any googling on this song yet – but everything with „Tainted“ in the song title must be good – or? „Screamin' Jay Hawkins – I Put A Spell on You (Jeremy Sole's Zombie Stomp Remix)“ is a song I have been listening to for a while. But I think this remix deserves to be mentioned more then just one time. Jeremy Sole, along Quantic or Mister Scruff is one of my favourite DJ's out there – and also some of his remixes are amazing and beautiful. Muddy Waters - Worried Mind (Jeremy Sole Remix) is one of my favourite remixes by him – but unfortunately this song isn't available anywhere. Another great song is his remix of Tom Waits - Step Right Up. I like what Jeremy Sole said about remixing songs in a discussion on his soundcloud page: „Just like an original song is, a remix is a work of art. Art is always best understood in context, BUT can be just as fun (and fulfilling) when taken out of context too. (...) I personally love the challenge of not only re-working songs that I can easily improve on, but taking songs that I already think are perfect, and carefully enhancing certain elements for maximum effect on modern day sound systems. When the sub speakers are independent from the tweeters. Adding low tones and cleaner highs can literally re-introduce a song to a whole new generation. THAT is something too important to me to remain a purist about the original sound quality.“ - Nicely said! More on shai'li's latest selection - its nice to see shai'li sharing some strong Reggae sounds with the classic song „Bredda Gravalicious“ by the Wailing Souls. I actually have been trying to compile some of my Wailing Souls favourites for a while – hopefully I will share it here soon. This blog needs more good Reggae. Talking about Reggae – Daydrum „Window Seat“ was a real surprise to me! Nice little blend ina Reggae Style – Erykah Badu riding the mighty Real Rock riddim – and its the original riddim as it got laid down in Jamaica's Studio One by the Sound Dimension - one of the most popular, most versioned, and most familiar reggae riddims ever! Staying in a Reggae Style - „Panta Move (instrumental)“ is another nice track. Its from the remix album „Dub Kweli“, produced by Max Tannone, featuring the lyrics of Talib Kweli and the music of dub reggae. You can download the whole album for free here. „Panta Move“ uses the riddim from Lee "Scratch" Perry's "Black Panta" (which can be found on „Upsetters 14 Dub Blackboard Jungle“). Another Reggae and Lee "Scratch" Perry track included in this months selection is „Lee Scratch Perry & Amp Ari Up Meet Subatomic Sound - Hello, Hell is Very Low (7mix)“ - let me quote what Supatomic Sound say about this song on their soundcloud page: „The “Hello, Hell Is Very Low” vinyl 45 features a dub and vocal take of a rootical dubstep reflip of the rare and classic “Underground Roots” riddim, known to have been used by Studio One’s Sir Coxsone Dodd’s sound system to lay waste in Jamaican sound clashes (typically played back to back with the only known vocal version, a closely guarded special rumored to have been done for Coxsone by Junior Byles). On this 45, Subatomic Sound System dubs the riddim up proper with maximum respect to the tradition of the masters, Lee Perry & King Tubby, while also turning out the low end, delivering drums and bass big and bad enough knock out even a modern day dubstep club crowd.“ This song was also the first collaboration between Lee “Scratch” Perry and Ari Up, front woman of English punk band the Slits. Sadly Up died „after serious illness“ October this year. May she R.I.P. - I liked some of her Slits songs which were produced and mixed by Dennis Bovell. One favourite of mine is their take on I heard it through the Grapevine – which has some thundering bass and percussive spaciousness. Three more nice songs worth mentioning: „Gimmy Flamante - Time (Duendiness Friendly Refix Edit) - - - a nice laid back dubby hippy hop sounding tune that has a bit of a far-eastern feeling. „JJ – Still“ – I know that riddim from somewhere – who can give me a hint? And last, but not least the nice scorching soul burner „Nick Waterhouse - I can only give you Everything“. Download link is in the comments selection – check the tracklist below - and enjoy the music:

azealia banks - 212

bill withers - lovely day (copycat's slight re-edit)

daft punk - something about us (cherokee remix)

daydrum - window seat (real rock)

dj yogstar - 2000 got to be black (ft. fela kuti & roy ayres)

dj yogstar - california soul (ft. marlena shaw)

dorothy back - miracle man

dub kweli - panta move (instrumental)

frootful - slowtime (loa remix)

generationals - when they fight, they fight

ghostfunk - make it n.y.

inell young - what do you see in her

jimmy flamante - time (edit)

jj - still

kids by mgmt bluegrass cover by dr fox's old timey string band

kuhn - quiet nights (original mix)

kuhn - slime beach

lee scratch perry & amp ari up meet subatomic sound - hello, hell is very low (7mix)

locksmith - devil's lasso (prod. by ski beatz)

logic - all i do (instrumental)

logic - all i do

nick waterhouse - i can only give you everything

peter, bjorn and john - dig a little deeper

poncho warwick - tainted jazz (original mix)

preacherz - bad characterz (home session, oct. 2011)

rebecca fergusson - nothing's real but love (acoustic version)

rye rye ft m.i.a. - sunshine

sbtrkt - wildfire (remix ft. drake & little dragon)

sibylle baier - tonight

solomon burke - im going back to my roots

solomon burke - i'm going back to my roots

screamin' jay hawkins - i put a spell on you (jeremy sole's zombie stomp remix)

suff daddy - kicks

suff daddy - on & on & on

suff daddy - splim

suff daddy - the big hit

the belle brigade - losers

the physics - the recipe (ft. craig g)

theophilus london - girls girls

twin sister - all around and away we go

wailing souls - bredda gravalicious

Peace; DubMe