Time Capsule 1 – Blues & Soul 1985

Having a rewind selector on the big pile of magazines I’ve just moved from boxes in the loft into my “music” room. They really do stand for a great time capsule of an era. Sneaking a read whenever I get a quiet moment, which normally consists of sat on the lavy!! as if you need to know that. Catching up with old soul stories when confronting nature, best place to not be disturbed I have to add.
Here are some articles, chart lists, stories, record shops, gigs going on from an issue of Blues and Soul from the year 1985.
Been a real pleasure reading back through for notes for this article. Brings back memories, missed tunes which I been checking on Youtube and reading forgotten stories from great artists.
Lots of chat about Washington DC’s Go-Go scene which was hitting pretty heavy at the time.
The main articles in the contents were from Junior, Rockwell T.C Curtis and Sade which I must of had the lovely lady posted on my bedroom wall and the centre spread has disappeared! I did have a big crush on the gal.

Blues and Soul (Incorporating Black Music and Jazz Review)
No 427 March 11-24 1985 all for a nice price of 70p for the UK

On the cover is a night shot of a rather slick Junior sat on the a bonnet of a Jag with a copy of The Standard newspaper in his hand!

NEWSFLASHES

Melle Mel had confirmed a London date at The Camden Palace on the 10th of March and you could go see him for £3.

The group Change had got signed up by Chrysalis Records for their Cooltempo label.

Mille Jackson added four tour dates to her UK tour with Dublin Stadium, Edinburgh Playhouse, Manchester Apollo and of all the places right on my doorstep of Poole Arts Centre!

The Dazz Band and Second Image were live and direct at the Pink Elephant in Luton.

TOP BRITISH SOUL SINGLES

Here’s a few choice picks from the top 50 which I think are brill and a young Mikey would of been listening to at the time.

3] Who Comes To Boogie – Little Benny and The Masters
5] Hangin On A String – Loose Ends
7] Anything – Direct Drive

20] Operator – Midnight Star
24] Bustin Loose – Chuck Brown and The Soul Searchers
27] I Didn’t Mean It At All – Sass
36] Movin and Groovin – Redds and The Boys
37] I’m In Love With You – Koko Pop One of my favourite soul tunes.

42] Freaks Come Out At Night – Whodini
46] Drop The Bomb – Trouble Funk

SOUNDCHECK SINGLES

They get the Single Of The Week spot on.

Loose Ends – Hangin On A String/A Little Spice

“Having provided us with one of the finest albums of 84, this hugely talented trio serve notice that they are about to do the same in 85. Taken from their forthcoming album “So Where Are You” which is superb, this single has more than enough style to suggest that a big hit is just around the corner.
Once again we find Nick Martinelli at the production controls, providing this extremely classy item with splendid clarity and a luscious feel. And Jane, Eugene and Macca display their cultured, soulful vocals on a very potent melody which is highlighted by a wickedly infectious chorus. The backing is provided by a delightful, sophisticated, midtempo rhythm that is so neatly constructed and is joined later in the track by a hookable, heavy synth line. Make no mistake, 85 will be the year of Loose Ends – and they couldn’t have started off in finer style! A Monster (Rating: 9)” by Justin Lubbock

ZULU MESSAGE
Tim Westwood’s Hip Hop Column

The Go-Go scene was in full effect and hitting our shores nicely around this time.
A nice little piece on the meaning of the label DETT.
“There’s a lot of depth to the Go-Go scene and that’s the one thing that a lot of people are forgetting about. As Max Kidd of DETT explained, the meaning of these initials, which previously had been kept secret within their inner circle, as “D” is for Determination, “E” is for eternal dedication, because we work with one another and the brothers and sisters that come in contact with us during our earthly trip. “T” is for trust, because without trust, there is no honour and with the respect that we have for one another and the blessings we received from Almighty Creator, there is honour and trust amongst us. “T” is for tolerance because we understand the value of compassion and patience!”Kidd reverses the initials for the label TTED to “keep the funk separate as TTED is for the “smooth wave” compared to DETT’s. The bands on TTED are Chuck Brown and The Soul Searchers, Slim, Johnson and D, Rumours and Snap. Artists on DETT included Trouble Funk, Arcade Funk, Hot and Cold Sweat and the Go-Go Allstars.”
Well thats cleared that up LOL.

THE BEAT BOX CHART

Def Jam/Cold Chillin In The Spot – Jazzy Jay
Dedication – Fearless Four
Daryll and Joe (Krush Groove 3) – Run DMC
Tommy Boy Megamix – 3D
Girls, Girls (Ah, Ah, Hi) – Solo
Live It Up (Dub) – Imperial Brothers
Life’s A Bitch – DR B.S
Groovin With You – Bert Reid http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAi1xW-Kxw0
Zero One – Universal Funk
Movin and Groovin – Redds and The Boys
Bustin Loose – Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers
Waiting For Your Love – Sweet G
I Wonder If I Can Take You Home – Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam and Full Force
Rap-O-Matic/Little Red Hood – Dumb Guys
Check It Out – Sugar Style
Beat Me Girl – Force MD’s
Wild Boys Rapp – G Q G & Slick Sheik
Larry’s Dance Theme – Grandmaster Flash
Boogie Down (Remixed and Relimed) – Man Parrish
Hard To Love (Dub) – Marla Adler

SOUNDCHECK ALBUMS

Streetsounds Electro 6 hits the streets. I remember picking this straight up from Our Price records.
Two of my favorites from the comp.
Captain Rock – Cosmic Blast

Roxanne Shante -Roxannes Revenge

It got a rating of 6 out of 10 with the footnote of
“Overall, I would say that this set uses rather more specialist material than previous ones and as such I’m sure that it will go down very well with all the permed kids who hang around the streets of our larger cities – but to be honest, I can’t really see this album achieving the same kind of mass appeal as it’s predecessors”

STREET NOISE
The Mouth’s Fortnightly Foray On Fax, Fads, Fallacy N Fun

This was always a fun section where the anonymous Mouth word rant and tell behind the scenes gossip on the what ever had happened in the week. This issue he/she, I’m assuming it is a guy, has a pop at Prince at the BPI Awards (British Phonographic Industry Awards later became what we now know as the Brit Awards). “My experience of overblown egos is substantial enough, I’m afraid, but even I was not prepared for the conceit and weirdness of Prince at the crashingly dull BPI Awards Show” He goes on to say about the show “The most incestuous of events where the awards are determined by the record companies, after all the behind the scenes lobbying has been carried out!”.

Also a piece about who the D.C All Stars where? What with their Bustin Loose 12″ coming on Streetwave. Was this a direct cash in on Chuck Brown’s original which was re released at the same time. Two quotes where ” A cheap recording of an enthusiastic sound” and “merely bandwagon jumping”. Advertised on the cover of the 12″ with a Washington DC stamp, rumours of the identity of the band where flying around and it was hinted that it was indeed HI-Tension! a comment from one of the Mouths spies “Washington, Pah!! it sounds to me as if it was recorded in Tottenham”

Another little section made me laugh about Chuck Mangione. “Did you catch super hippy flugel horner Chuck Mangione making a marvellously poor job of his six syllables on Magnum PI the other weekend? Chucky boy should of kept his trumpet in his gob and let the PI with the rat under his nose cock up the thespianism as he does perfectly well each week!” Haha

CITY SLICKERS
These was always the chart to look at in Blues and Soul. This was a compiled chart of 12’s and LP’s from some of the big record stores around. With the likes of Bluebird, Groove Records, City Sounds, Hot Waxx, Record Shack, Lending the lists of what was flying off the shelves, hitting the dance floors etc.
Here’s just a few of the goodies.

Rockie Robbins
Jeff Lorber – Step By Step
Fatback – Girls On My Mind

David Simmons – Love Tonight
Samson & Delilah – I Can Feel Your Love Slippin Away

LO-REN-ZO, She Just Might Be An Angel
Mtume – Tie Me Up
Tom Browne – Secret Fantasy (TUNE)

IMPORTS
The lastest 12″ and LP reviewed.

Lonnie Hill – You Got Me Running (rating of 7)
I have the lp and admit to not really listening to that much. I got it for Galveston Bay and did not venture further after flicking through and not being grabbed by anything. I really should dig it out for a another listen. They recommend “Keep On Dancing” and the before mentioned G Bay. They go on to say “Two tracks which spoil the album open each side respectively “You got me running” and “Something special to me” which are noisy rock numbers with plenty of that guitar!!!!” That is probably what put me off on my first listen.

Alex Malheiros – Atlantic Forest (rating of 7)
The bass player from the sublime Azymuth first solo lp. A great expansion to add to your Azymuth collection. Keeping the vibe going. Best track has to be the brilliant Papaia. “Without a doubt, the best track has got to be Papaia – an infectious mid-tempo instrumental driven by solid drums and bass then flavoured by with some scat vocal, trickling guitar and some dreamy synth work” Yeh that sums it up. Great tune. I quite like Traveling Through Your Body brilliant brill title! Smooth mellow jazz.

RECORD SHOPS

JIFS
Jazz Funk Soul Records.
I always wanted to visit this shop. “The One Stop Funk Shop”
This was up in Chadwell Heath, Romford and I never got to go! Was too young and I guess it shut down at the end of the 80’s? Did you used to visit? Would love to know what it was like.

RECORD VILLAGE
Walthamstow.
Don’t think I ever got to this one. Used to go to Hit And Run and the over big one across the road, what was that called? Sounds Familiar records?

MUSIC POWER RECORDS
Harringay.
“H and Nick invite you to North London’s BEST soul shop”

GROOVE RECORDS
Greek Street W1
“The Ultimate shop for Electro – Funk – Disco – Jazz – Soul”

BLUEBIRD RECORDS
Paddington Green W2
“We’ve got your soul under control” Great tag line.

CITY SOUNDS
Holborn WC1
Featured Dave’s Dozen top picks on the advert.

HITMAN RECORDS
2 Lexington Street W1
“Import Specialists”

JOCKS RAPP
Bob Killbourn reports on what going on in clubland around country.

Was always sad to read the South West section. Was too young to go to anything BOO. especially as when you read ” Tragic news to report the demise of what had become one of the UK’s very best soul clubs “Upstairs At Eric’s” Anyone who caught Eric’s will know what i’m raving about, but if you missed it, it looks like you won’t get another chance.”

A rather funny picture of Chad Jackson. Not sure where he was performing but the caption made me laugh.
“Chad Jackson continues to bring the deejay fraternity into disrepute with his silly attire Tch Tch”

You also got the playlists of deejays and club nights here. I won’t list them all but will pick one.

Baz Fe Jazz: Rock City – Nottingham
Fever – Peggy Lee
Sambop – Cannonball Adderley & Bossa Rio Sextet
Noa Noa – Sergio Mendes @Brazil 65
A Giant Step – Charlie Palmieri
Brazilian Jazz – Lalo Schifrin
Kenya – Machito & Afro Cuban Jazz
BJ’S Samba – Barney Kessel
Batucada – Marcos Valle
Barbarbitiri – Willie Rosario
Afro Jaws – Eddie Lockjaw Davis

BACKCHAT
At the back of the mag you have reader mail and the pen pals wanted section. Which were always worth a read.

A guy called Mussy aged 18 into Gwen Guthrie and Stevie Wonder was looking for any Mama’s around his age and ended his message “If you dig my rap, mama, then please write”

Of the letters, Maze gets a praise for not selling out for more dollar with adding rock guitars to all their tunes.
A gay guy wants help finding a good gay club playing soul as he detests Hi-Nrg being played everywhere he goes. Surely he could of just gone to the “straight” clubs and had a good time! I know what he’s saying about the Hi-Nrg though!!

And the best one I thought was a guy having a pop at Chris Hill and Pete Tong for predicting GO-GO was gonna be big in 85. “Where have these people been for the last two years?” “Come on guys stop bandwagon jumping! The best London warehouse parties have been rocking the GO-GO since 82. It’s not new and can you really imagine those suburban wedgeheads dancing away to “Do The Whop” in Washington fur hats whilst snorting angel dust. WOW what would Lonnie Liston Smith say!!”
I have to say I’m not too sure what he’s saying but funny none the less.

Hope you have enjoyed the trip down memory lane.
Let me know your memories on the time. Did you go to any of the club nights, record shops.
Been great going through the mag for this.

All the best
Mike

Hubert Eaves – Esoteric Funk – A Digging Story

Hubert Eaves – Esoteric Funk – Inner City Records – A Digging Story.

Uncle Barry’s was a junk shop filled to the ceiling with bric a brac, secondhand tat and numerous other kinds of stuff you would see at a car boot sale. The shop was in Kinson near Bournemouth on Wimborne Road. Not really a place we would go but always being on the hunt for new records, these places sometimes held treasure.
Who was the mysterious Uncle barry? Not sure we ever saw him but I can imagine he looked like Carl from Aqua Teen Hunger Force

Here’s Uncle Barry’s right on the corner! Can’t believe someone has taken a photo of it. This is 1993 just before it shut down I think.

My good friend Jamie noticed what we were  there for, the box on the floor filled with those sweet dusty records. A man on a mission in he went, a box filled with rubbish after rubbish until he hit this white cardboard blank sleeve with these finger flicking stopping words written on it ESOTERIC FUNK in biro. Well that a name to get your attention and excitement going. Pulls the record out and it’s this curious label called Inner City and an artist by the name of Hubert Eaves. Something like 20p later we were heading back home to Parkstone eager to hear what the funk of Esoteric Funk would sound like. Obviously side one was first with Call To Awareness and this beautiful mellow jazz starts but 2 minutes in the mood changes with this twist of dark, haunting, eerie almost sounds which were filling the speakers. I was so jealous I didn’t get in there first but had the most respect for our Jamie picking up this incredible record of music. It was some time until my turn came and when it did the spontaneous orgasm of seeing it in a record shop for £2.50. So happy I must of been in a daze as I can’t remember where I picked it up from which is very unlike me. Every good record has a place in your heart and this one is buried in there deep. Was out having a few beers with Jamie this weekend and chatted about it again. Both agreed how special this recording is. Every track so well thought out, blissfully arranged and lovingly put together. You have killer jazz fusion then soft touches of pure tranquil bliss. Song For Marlene is an exquisite piece with bubbling bass noises and gorgeous Rhodes electric piano. A delicate jazz ballad Under Standing sang by Cheryl Alexander to the funky as hell Painful Pleasure which goes right off on one in the second half. Crazed synthesizer funky groove, I’ve played that one out on a few occasions. Then there’s another graceful chilled mellow jazz tune in the form of Slow Down. I think because I always went for Song For Marlene poor Flead Dancing got a little neglected. Still a brilliant tune but maybe the weakest from a very strong set of recordings.

Hubert Eaves only solo recording but this guy has worked with, written and arranged so many amazing projects through his career from the likes of D Train, Gary Bartz, Mtume and his name appears on many soul tunes throughout the eighties.
Recorded in 1976. I believe Esoteric Funk was first release in Japan on the East Wind label 77/78 before getting to the US via the Inner City label in 1979. The Japanese copy is near on impossible to find but I’m sure if you dig enough and have the spare cash you’re find it. Best bet is to go for the Inner City one. I reckon if your patient a copy for around £15 would come your way though you could pick one up in excellent condition for around the £20 plus mark. Dude, it’s worth every single penny.

**Here’s something very special to add to the story. There is an interview with the great man himself HERE by DJ Soulswede on Soulinterview.com (Takin it deeper). I’ve never heard of the site before but I’m looking forward to going through the archives. How brilliant to have an interview with Hubert on his career. Big respects to DJ Soulswede.

Hubert Eaves – Call To Awareness

Song For Marlene – Hubert Eaves

Two sample IDs.
Dr Octagon sampled Call To Awareness on his track Waiting List and Rakim sampled the vocal from Under Standing on his Show Me Love tune.

Tracklist
Side One
1 Call To Awareness
2 Painful Pleasure
3 Slow Down
Side Two
1 Flead Dancing
2 Song For Marlene
3 Under Standing

The Players of Instruments
Hubert Eaves. Acoustic Piano, Fender Rhodes, Hohner D-6 Clavinet, ARP String Ensemble, Micro Moog Synthesizer, Vocal on “Slow Down”
Reggie Lucas – Electric Guitar
James “Fish” Benjamin – Electric Bass
John Lee – Elecrtic Bass “Slow Down”
Howard King – Drums
Mtume – Congas, Percussion
Rene Mclean – Reeds, Flute
James Stowe – Trombone
Malachi Thompson – Trumpet
Cheryl Alexander – Vocal “Under Standing”

Recorded May 15,16, 1976
Here at Minot Sound Studio
Bizarrely it still seems to be going.

I have to say a big thank you to Uncle Barry and whoever sold/gave away and wrote those words on that white card sleeve.

Thanks for reading.
What’s your thoughts on the record. Any info to add. Please feel free in the reply box.
Big love

Mike Mongos

Wheedle’s Groove – Seattle Funk and Soul Doc

Wheedle’s Groove – The Story Of Seattle’s Forgotten Soul And Funk Scene Of The 1960’s And 1970’s

This is looking like a first-rate documentary on the Seattle sound. Check the trailer. Pure hot firing raw funk sounds coming out of this rocking scene. Loads of interviews, some fine looking old footage, a guy surrounded by tons of vinyl, boxes of singles and a whole heap of stories. This looks right up my street.

Directed and produced by Jennifer Maas this documentary tells the story a city filled with funk. In 1972, a thriving Seattle soul music scene was on the verge of national recognition. In 1975, almost suddenly, the scene died and was quickly forgotten by the changing city. In 2001, after the chance discovery of a 45-record, a local DJ uncovers a rich past hidden in plain view. That Dj was DJ Mr. Supreme La Rock

Check the trailer HERE

More information can be found on their website here at Wheedles Groove Movie

** You can watch the full movie here on CRACKLE Not sure how long it will be available for though so watch it as soon as you can. I’m gonna watch this week and I can’t wait.

Check out Wheedle
“the worst mascot in the history of mascots ever!”
He’s kind of cute! But probably scared the kids.

You can buy the DVD and music from the film at the superb LIGHT IN THE ATTIC site. Plus there is a compilation of music to go with the film. There is sound bites on the site.

The Black On White Affair – Bold Soul Sister, Bold Soul Brother
Soul Swingers – Brighter Tomorrow
Cookin’ Bag – This Is Me
Ron Buford – Deep Soul (Part 1)
The Overton Berry Trio– Hey Jude
Misterholmes & The Brotherhood – Thrift Store Find
Robbie Hill’s Family Affair – I Just Want To Be (Like My Self)
Cold, Bold & Together – (Stop) Losing Your Chances
Broham – Nothing In Common
The Johnny Lewis Trio – Cissy Strut
Patrinell Staten – Little Love Affair
The Black On White Affair – A Bunch Of Changes
The Topics – Louie Louie
The Clarence Mack Express – Runaway Train
Annakonda – Wheedle’s Groove
Sharpshooters – Balek
Cookin’ Bag – The Song I Sing
Cold, Bold & Together – Somebody’s Gonna Burn Ya
Soul Swingers – Ca’-Ba’-Dab’
Patrinell Staten – I Let A Good Man Go
The Black On White Affair – Auld Lang Syne

I love this one from it.
Patrinell Staten – Little Love Affair

Annakonda – Wheedle’s Groove

Thanks for reading.
All the best and happy vibes

Mike Mongos

Old Flyers From Nights of Djing

On tidy my record room on orders today by the good lady, yep there are records everywhere. My very short attention span got very much distracted by an old cardboard box filled with years of memories. Flicking through all the photos, magazine articles, old record lists and flyers for nights, I came across a bunch of nights my friends and I used to do around the Bournemouth area. Here’s some of the ones I have found. They ranged from Soul Jazz Funk Nights to Reggae Roots Dub. A little bit of novelty history of the time. A big shout to my bros Jamie. Rik, Trev, Martin and Conrad. To be fair we did try our best getting nights going through the years but Bournemouth wasn’t really the place for it.

Hartleys Wine Bar – St Peters Road Bournemouth. A night of Jazz Funk and Soul on a Friday night. 1988/89

Hot House Night Club – Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth. A guy called Sleepy Dread had started this night back in 1988. Check out the beer prices Heineken £1.20 and Bacardi 60p a shot. We became friends and I played a few sets there. After he finished the night I took over for few months with the flyer below.

Hot House Night Club – Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth – My Dub Wize night. 1989/90 I wrote a little about the club HERE

Funky And Some – Grays Wine Bar – Kingland Road, Poole. Set up by my friends Paul Brown and Rik Alozdi. This great night turned into a super little hang out for us all taking turns to spin music we loved mainly for us. We used to rinse the happy hour. Featured funk and soul singles to acid jazz tracks of the time. 1989

Another Funky And Some Flyer this one with design by Trevor Loveys

Roots N Culture – Bacchus – Old Christchurch Road, Bournemouth. 1988. Bacchus was a great little bar we used to hang out. Always a place to score pot from, it was was on two floors with a great basement for dancing and it was perfect for reggae. Could get pretty rough at times in there but never saw any trouble on the reggae nights. I had my first night of djing at this bar and trial by fire it was. Decks were set up upstairs with a full house. The dj before me either did it for a laugh or was so stoned that he did it without thinking but he turned the 1210’s off! So I’m set up ready to go in the mix when nothing comes out. The whole place turns and shouts and boos. Being young and wet behind the ears I was pretty scared and nervous but kept it together and after the longest minute in history got it sussed and the dub started flowing. I didn’t get ripped to shreds by a crowd of dub loving zombies.

Charivari Revisited – Saucy Jacks Night Club – Hinton Road Bournemouth 1991. Have to say I never really knew what Charivari Revisited was meant to be. I just played a few sets and my friend Trevor Loveys did the flyer for them. Was a pretty hippy night and was much fun. Didn’t last for more than a couple of nights though which was a shame as it was a real nice change. Remember playing a mixture of organ funk and rock steady which went down pretty good.

Jah Love – Nobles Night Club – Old Christchurch Road, Bournemouth 1990 A great dark and dingy basement night club perfect for loud bassy dub. Really enjoyed playing there.

The Reels Of Dub. This was another one of my flyers I did but this one unfortunately didn’t happen. For the same club as above but after it changed hands to the Vibe Bar.

Jam Funky – Saucy Jacks Night Club – Hinton Road Bournemouth 1995. A host of nights put on my our friend Martin Howes. Really fun night with a great group of people.

Jam Funky – Downes Wine Bar – Lansdowne Road – 1996. Martin moved the night to this wonderful little family owned restaurant with a great basement bar down stairs. This was a super place with a happy vibe full of friends dancing and drinking. Was a real shame when it finished.

We all did many night over the years but these are the only ones I still have flyers or posters for.

Hope you like this little bit of memory lane.

Big Love
Mike

Mad Mongos Radio Soul – Excursions On A DC10 – Episode 23

Flying through the skies travelling throughout the continents on an old DC-10. Sexy air hostesses serving Bourbon and finger food. Everyone happy and smiling away.
This is the soundtrack of the journey.

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Mad Mongos Radio Soul – 23 – Excursions On A DC10 by Mad Mongos Radio Soul on Mixcloud

Tracklist

Wally Badarou – Theme From Countryman – Island [OST]
Tommy T – Eden – Easy Star Records [The Prester John Sessions]
Michal Urbaniak – Cameo – CBS [Fusion III]
Harold Butler – June Day – Dynamic Sounds [My Life Part One]
Lonnie Liston Smith And The Cosmic Echoes – Golden Dreams – Flying Dutchman [Reflections Of A Golden Dream]
Earl Rodney – Peace Pipe – Antillana [Friends & Countrymen]
Earth, Roots and Water – Lou Sent Me – Light In The Attic [Innocent Youths]
Count Ossie And The Rasta Family – Mystic Memories – Vista Sounds [Man From Higher Heights]
Keith Hudson – California – Basic Replay – [Playing It Cool & Playing It Right]
Third World – Irin Ajo – Island Records [Aiye-Keta]
Stone Alliance – Tribute To Afreeka – PM [Heads Up]
Assagai – Kinzami – Sounds Superb [Afrorock]
Jerry Peters – Kuri Monga Nuie – Mercury [Blueprint For Discovery]
Manu Dibango – Goro City – Decca [Gone Clear]
Negril – Lighthouse – Kilk [Negril]
Ural Thomas – Smile – Mississippi/Change Records 7″
John Klemmer – Walk With Me My Love And Dream – MCA Records [Touch]

DOWNLOAD MEDIAFIRE
DOWNLOAD SENDSPACE

Wally Badarou – Theme From Countryman – Island [OST]
The Chief Inspector Wally Badarou kicks off the proceedings with his track from the cult classic reggae film Countryman. A film about a Fisherman who uses his skills of the land and his way in the Kung-Fu to help rescue two Americans whose plane crashes in Jamaica during political unrest. Bit of voodoo magic chucked in along with a cracking soundtrack of classic names from the likes of Jah Lion, Rico, Aswad and a whole heap of Bob Marley and The Wailers. The film was made in 1982 and Wally Badarou had a few other cuts on the OST. Worth catching the film if it ever gets a screening on the telly.

Tommy T – Eden – Easy Star Records [The Prester John Sessions]
Thomas ‘Tommy T’ Gobena is an Ethiopian multi-instrumentalist, producer and songwriter who plays bass for an American Gypsy Punk Band from the Lower east Side of Manhattan called Gogol Bordello. Not really sure they are my thing but Tommy T went off and did this solo project fusing roots, dub, reggae with African sounds and jazz with a wonderful spiritual sound. It’s really works well, with some tracks sound like they are recorded straight from the 70’s. A very recommended project for jazz and reggae heads alike. A very talented guy. Wish there was more but I believe this is his only recording. Hope I’m wrong, please let me know. You can check the track The Eighth Wonder on Episode 4

Michal Urbaniak – Cameo – CBS [Fusion III]
Good old Michal Urbaniak. This Polish violin jazz musician has followed me through my teens. With my first purchase of Fusion, with that great cover of his head poking over the top of his electric violin. It was pretty radical psychedelic mash up of rock and jazz but it grabbed me and I picked up any record I saw of his. I have to admit though that I had totally missed the tune Cameo on first listens, skipped passed it I’m ashamed to say. But this is a good thing really as when recording tunes for this show I decided to have a flick through and low and behold, bam this amazing incredible tune. It’s rather beautiful. So very happy to be finding little gems on my old records. Note to self “Know your records Mike”!!

Harold Butler – June Day – Dynamic Sounds [My Life Part One]
The very talented Jamaican Harold Butler is a superb keyboardist, arranger, and producer. I had a special journey with this album of Harold’s and especially June Day. It’s such a blissful beautiful tune. I did an article about my love of it over HERE

Lonnie Liston Smith And The Cosmic Echoes – Golden Dreams – Flying Dutchman [Reflections Of A Golden Dream]
This man does have a wonderful collection of woolie hats. A wizard of the mellow electric piano and arrangement. Lonnie has such a talent for creating the most beautiful landscapes of enchanting sounds. Have always called this tune “Dream Girl” because of the vocal, this used to be a classic of our smoke sessions when I was a teenager. Brings back deep memories of being crashed unable to move from way to much weed and this tune would come on and float through your spirit. Who was this “Dream Girl”? Thinking how beautiful this goddess looked. An incredible deep and bliss record. Then Journey Into Space would come on and scare the poop out of you. Like someone trying to get in through the air lock. Never sure if it was on the outside or inside, creeping along tapping it’s fingers along the ship. Still a super tune mind hehe!

Earl Rodney – Peace Pipe – Antillana [Friends & Countrymen]
Earl Rodney is a steelband arranger and pan player out of the Barbados. Picked this gem of an lp up when I was about 16 and really wanted to love it but did struggle as I wasn’t a fan of steel drums at first but being a bit of a pot head at the time Peace Pipe was always going to shine. The rest of the album followed into my heart soon after. I still love listening to it till this day. It’s a great recording and the steel drums really set off the afro cuban jazz funk music. The title track is ace along with Conversation Of Love and the harder Junk Junk. Petty damn hard to pick up an original nowadays I would imagine but I do see that Japan re-issued it on CD not too long ago. I plan to do an article on this record so please pop back if your interested or mail me to let you know it’s ready.

Earth, Roots and Water – Lou Sent Me – Light In The Attic [Innocent Youths]
This is an unearthed Canadian roots reggae gem of an album by those great guys at Light In The Attic. Recorded out of Toronto in 1977 on Summer Records. This great piece raw and heavy sounds has quite a unique sound and style. Reverb percussion and echo to heartfelt vocals. I love the whole recording and if you can still get hold of a copy you get some super sleeve notes from Kevin “sipreano” Howes and a poster too. You don’t get that love with a MP3! I really love this record.

Count Ossie And The Rasta Family – Mystic Memories – Vista Sounds [Man From Higher Heights]
Jamaican drummer and bandleader Count Ossie famous for his chanting and rhythmic Rastafarian Nyabhingi drum style teamed up with this band of percussionists and players of instruments and formed Count Ossie and the Rasta Family. This recording has the novelty of having keyboards and Synths in the mix which sets it off from other Nyahbingi recordings. Love the contrast between raw percussion and the electric string sounding keyboards.

Keith Hudson – California – Basic Replay – [Playing It Cool & Playing It Right]
Keith Hudson was one hell of a talented musician. Jeez I love his raw sound so much. Deep and dark, meaningful conscious lyrics. I have his Flesh Of My Skin, Blood Of My Blood on Atra which is bonkers brilliant and an album very close to my heart. A righteous masterpiece. I picked up Playing It Cool, Playing It Right last year on the Basic Replay re release. I was never going to afford the original if it ever popped up. Really happy with it. More raw productions and a pleasure to have more Hudson back in my life. Unfortunately we lost this great musician in 1984. Would love to hear what other works he would of created. His back catalogue is getting reissued and I very much recommend picking them.

Third World – Irin Ajo – Island Records [Aiye-Keta]
Not to be confused with the classic reggae band “Now That We’ve Found Love” etc. This is a raw african project featuring Steve Winwood, Abdul Lasisi Amao and Remi Kabaka. Great cover with the guys hidden under traditional straw outfits. Another lp I’ve had for years and gets dragged out for a relisten every so often. It was a good excuses to go through it again for this mix. It’s a cheapy to pick up and is well worth adding to your collection. Afro Super, Shango, Happy Vibes, Black Beauty are all great afrobeat tunes filled with Synths, Moog touches, tons of percussion and hits of flute. It seems like there are a few different incarnations of the record with different covers and Third World being dropped from the title. Guessing to stop it being mixed up with the reggae group but I could be so wrong! and the group is Aiye-Keta?

Stone Alliance – Tribute To Afreeka – PM [Heads Up]
Wow this is a crazy tune. Beats and percussion just going total nuts with that woody sounding synth noise flying all over the place. Probably one of those love it or hate tunes. I love it hence it being on here and fitting in quite nicely sandwiched in between Irin Ajo and Kinzami. Three key members saxophonist Steve Grossman, bassist Gene Perla, and drummer/percussionist Don Alias lead the way through their first few lps but Steve Grossman seems to be missing from this LP’s lineup, their last recording I believe. There’s some great info on this link about them on PM RECORDS

Assagai – Kinzami – Sounds Superb [Afro Rock]
Assagai was an Afro Rock band original out of South Africa. Very heavy funky rock and funk, horn lead band who record in London for Vertigo Records. I think there are two album recordings floating around, one called Assagai, which I don’t own but for what I have heard is a super record and been on my “list” for sometime, and Zimbabwe. The one I have is Afro rock which is basically Zimbabwe released by the “Music For Pleasure / Sounds Superb” label. Picked it up in the late 80’s from a charity shop for 50 odd pence. For what I have researched some of the band members where from British progressive rock band Jade Warrior also signed to Vertigo at the time. It was a battle between Kinzambi and Sanga to make the mix this time. Kinzambi being the tune I’ve played the most out at clubs I went for that one. The quality mind is not the best but it kind of adds to the record.

Jerry Peters – Kuri Monga Nuie – Mercury [Blueprint For Discovery]
Absolutely love this record. It has everything. Soul Jazz Funky selections. It’s one of those records you can just leave on from start to finish. A real long player in the right use of the term. Not my favourite from the lp but its brilliant and fits just perfectly. Fav? Too hard to say but check Love Song and If You Leave Me Now just to name two. But it’s all good. Shame it seems it was his only solo lp. He did a soundtrack with Jerry Butler called Melinda I havent heard it. What’s it like?

Manu Dibango – Goro City – Decca [Gone Clear]
Great head boppin funky disco tune from Cameroon master saxophonist Manu Dibango. The Makossa man firing out afrobeat vibes to get you giggling your jives. Had a monster hit with his classic Soul Makossa. Make sure you check his New Bell tune from his 1972 album O Boso. Cracking piece of funk and a super recording through-out. I’ve got it on the Blue Elephant label release with the sexy lady in her lime green hot pants! The guy has been pumping out rhythms over countless lp’s for 40 plus years.

Negril – Lighthouse – Kilk [Negril]
This is quite an interesting record. A mix of jazz, reggae and funk tunes. A project by producer and arranger Eric Gale. This features mainly classic reggae artists like Peter Tosh, Cedric Brooks and Keith Sterling but also jazz guys Gale and keyboardist Richard Tee. Has superb cover art which is worth the record alone. Red Ground Funk is pretty good, so too Rasta and a credible version of I Shot The Sheriff. I believe Lighthouse to be the best tune on the lp. It keeps building and dropping off and building back up again but when it reaches the “climax” it is so good with psychedelic keyboards, synthesizer sounds and fuzz guitar. It’s quite relentless, a real funky head nodder.

Ural Thomas – Smile – Mississippi/Change Records 7″
Jeepers creepers man, this is one mellow tune with such a positive message. I quote this “Ural sends a positive message out to the world. Ural self pressed 300 copies of this way back when just to prove to the kids accompanying him on it that they can do anything they want if they put their minds to it. Its message rings true today.” This has been released by Portland label Mississippi label which is part of Little Axe Records. I don’t any of their catalogue so I would be grateful if you can give me the heads up of what to look out for. Thanks. Check them out here http://littleaxerecords.com/ looks like some real interesting sounds to be found in there. On the cover of the single he looks like some Kung-fu Shaolin Monk flying across the picture.

John Klemmer – Walk With Me My Love And Dream – MCA Records [Touch]
American jazz saxophonist, composer, producer John Klemmer has done tons of records. This one was a recent purchase from a couple of years ago. From a local record shop called Red Rose Records. I had heard the chilled Glass Dolphins before but was bowled over by Walk With Me My Love And Dream and couldn’t stop listening to it. A beautiful mellow ode to some lady I imagine. A wonderful tune to finish the show off.

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I really hope you enjoy this new mix.
Big Love
Mike Mongos