Category Archives: world music classics

World music classic #34

[Youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=perVFDDy_xg&]

“Theme De Yo Yo” is a musical composition by American jazz band Art Ensemble of Chicago with vocals by Fontella Bass. The composition was part of the soundtrack to the 1971 French film Les Stances à Sophie and was first compiled on the 1995 Soul Jazz Records free jazz compilation Universal Sounds Of America.

AEOC recorded this album when they were staying in Paris in the early 1970s. Did they also record at that time “Comme à La Radio” (Brigitte Fontaine; Areski)?

Words to describe the track are: fierce.

Lullaby for friends

[Youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EAwTOujG-0&]

Tikiman, 1999

World music classic #32 is a nice and easy track by German producers Ernestus and von Oswald on their Basic Channel label. This one from 1999, from “Round One to Five”, a CD compilation which also featured more housey work by Ron Trent of Prescription Records.
If you want to find out more, follow the links from Tikiman.

Mas, mas … or, moaning and heavy breathing in popular music

More party music from Belgium = World music classic #32.

[Youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAmi1M2Vm0E&]

Jungle Fever (song)

“Jungle Fever” is a musical composition by Belgian band The Chakachas first published in 1972. It sold over a million copies in the U.S. and reached #3. In the UK# it fared less well: despite some airplay soon after release it was later banned by the BBC, who took exception to the moaning and heavy breathing heard on the record, first by a woman and later by a man as well. It peaked at #29.

The song was featured in the movie Boogie Nights, has been sampled by the likes of 2 Live Crew and Public Enemy and is featured on the Grand Theft Auto fictional radio station Master Sounds 98.3. A big shout-out to the musical consultant of the latter, he or she has very good tastes and it’s an invaluable job bringing this music to the younger masses, it’s probably the only way they would be exposed to it.

Mas, mas … is Spanish for more, more …

Got some cheeba cheeba?

It’s time for “world music classic #31,” which is the American track “Smokin Cheeba Cheeba” which first came my way via the 1988 CD compilation Rare Groove vol.1.

[Youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRyyoQo0qj4]

Smokin’ Cheeba Cheeba” was written by Paul and Ann Winley and performed by the Harlem Underground Band in 1976 on their only album on Paul Winley Records (a label known for its bootleg recordings of Malcolm X speeches, a series bootleg break beat compilations called “Super Disco Brake’s”, or, “Super Disco Breaks” and the legitimate Afrika Bambaataa‘s “Zulu Nation Throwdown Pt. 1“). “Cheeba” features jazz-guitar great George Benson, a lengthy harmonica solo by Buddy Lucas and the recurring “cheeba cheeba” theme sung by Ann Winley. In 1989, Tone Loc sampled this track for his own “Cheeba Cheeba.” The track was recently featured on the Grand Theft Auto soundtrack .

Enjoy!

Party music from Belgium

Been listening to the Lio track below for the better part of the week. It’s similar in structure to “C’est bon pour le moral” (see Rita Cadillac post).

[Youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtlq3lTHa3A]

“Sage comme une image” (1980) by Lio

The title translates literally as “good as a picture” (as in “pretty as a picture”). I showed the clip to my kids but they thought it was awfully slow and old-fashioned. Evident is the 1980s fascination with the 1950s (record player, polka dots skirt, etc…) which ruled popular fashion at that time (the Gaultier era). The record is a good introduction to the work of francophone Belgian producer, musician and radio personality Marc Moulin, whose early work with Telex is still influential to the electroclash scene; the track below, “Moscow Diskow”, being a staple for DJs Frankie Knuckles and Ron Hardy on the dance floors of late 1980s Chicago clubs that were instrumental in the development of Chicago house music, and house music as such. What is to be appreciated is that Telex had a great sense of humor – for example – one of their compositions was called “Temporary Chicken,” which invariably makes me smile when I think of it.

To this day, “Moskow Diskow” remains of one of my favorite records to dance to, I pronounce it wmc #30. And yes, all this is Belgian.

[Youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFWdobNIcPQ&]

“Moscow Diskow” (1979) Telex

I am the black gold of the sun

Splendor Solis (1532-1535) - Salomon Trismosin

Splendor Solis (1532–1535) – Salomon Trismosin

[Youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DR_NMtBEj4]

“I am the Black Gold of the Sun” by the Rotary Connection (Wmc#29)

While researching world peace in relation to Georges Bataille, I found Splendor Solis, which reminded me of Rotary Connection‘s “I am the Black Gold of the Sun” voiced by the late Minnie Riperton (of “Lovin’ You” YouTubefame).