|
|
Cachao y su Orquesta: El Manicero
From 7″ (Maype, 1968)
Johnny Sedes: El Manicero
From Mama Calunga (Fonseca, 1969)
Ranil and His Tropical Band: El Manicero
From Ranil’s Jungle Party (Masstropicas, 2010)
“El Manicero (The Peanut Vendor)” is easily one of the best known Cuban compositions in the world, covered many many many times over yet it is a tune I never, ever seem to tire of. I’ve been lax in actually showing proper love even though my intentions have been there for a while: both Cachao and Sedes’ versions [...]
Continue reading FRESH PEANUTS FOR SALE
 
Marius Cultier: The Way It Should Be
Nathalie
Ochung
Zouk
From My Way (Magidisco, 1976)
Grupo Los Yoyi: Banana
Paco La Calle
From S/T (Egrem, 1977)
This is easily one of the most extraordinary albums I’ve come across in a long, long time. Cultier represents one of those ultimate examples of transnational musical mastery – a pianist born in Martinique but recorded in both Canada and France and sounds like he’s from everywhere and nowhere at once. Even though My Way is [...]
Continue reading MARIUS CULTIER + GRUPO LOS YOYI: CARIBBEAN CRAZINESS
Allen Toussaint: Soul Sister
Fingers and Toes
From Life, Love and Faith (WEA, 1972)
i originally posted this song almost exactly five years ago, albeit under very different circumstances. At the time, it was following the Katrina disaster and I was mentally and emotionally spent and I posted a few of Toussaint’s songs as both homage and salve.
Five years later and I was at the Groove Merchant this past weekend and Cool Chris was playing “Soul Sister” and I remembered how fucking great this song is (pardon mon français). It’s funny because I recently [...]
Continue reading ALLEN TOUSSAINT: FOR THE SISTERS
Stevie Wonder: Hey Love
From Down to Earth (Motown, 1966)
Seriously? How the f— have I never posted this before considering it’s pretty much one of my favorite Stevie Wonder songs of all time which is another way of saying it’s one of the greatest songs of all time. Perfect pop song: under 3 minutes long, killer hook, a beat that you can’t help but smile at and Stevie at his finest, vocally.
Lately, I’ve gotten my wife hooked on the song after she heard it at a wedding I went to. Her and [...]
Continue reading MAY I HAVE A WORD WITH YOU?
It’s my birthday today (that’s right, me, Sean Penn and De Niro, motherpluckers). Since I’ve already given myself a birthday gift, I wanted to share one with all of you.
Before me and Wil’s weekly party at the Short Stop ended, we had planned on making a mix-CD together, dedicated to all slow jams. Alas, we never managed to put that together before the night ended but I still have my half of it. The zip file has 10 songs individually saved but the whole thing goes together in a mix.
Boogaloo 2: The Slow [...]
Continue reading HAPPY SLOW JAMS TO YOU
(Editor’s intro: I first met Lauren Onkey at the EMP Pop Conference where she gave this incredible paper on Black bands in Liverpool and all I could think was, “ok, I need to meet this person.” Since then, I’ve come to value both her knowledge and passion and I’m glad that someone as capable as she is working at the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame. I was overdue in getting her to write a summer song post for us but here she is, talking about that “Sweet Sticky Thing.” –O.W.)
The Ohio Players: Sweet [...]
Continue reading SUMMER SONGS 2010: LAUREN ONKEY
Phirpo y sus Caribes: Comencemos (Let’s Start)
Y Esa Pava Que?
Oye Coma Va
From Parrilla Caliente (Phillips, 1973)
I recently blew past my standard “ceiling” for record purchases in order to lay my hands on “the Phirpo album” (thanks Beto and Adam!). If you recall my previous discussion of record “Holy Grails,” there are certain criteria a Grail has to meet, including, but not limited to: obscurity, difficulty of purchase (based on price and/or rarity), quality. And on all those levels, the Phirpo LP completely meets or exceeds.
It is, in [...]
Continue reading ONE GRAIL DOWN
|
gigs No gigs currently scheduled. I am available for private parties such as weddings, et. al. |
chatter