The lightning fast guitar fluttering in the background of this marks it out as a distinctively African disco track. Released in Nigeria in 1980, the title track of Okotie’s debut album, the song is designed for the dancefloor. The lyrics aren’t complicated, and are delivered almost slurred, but without sacrificing the energy and exuberance needed…
28/12/2020: “Strandbar (Samba)” by Todd Terje
A four minute radio version of Strandbar appears on Todd Terje’s classic 2014 album, It’s Album Time. You can find this extended Samba mix on the Strandbar…
27/12/2020: “Country Air” by The Beach Boys
Wild Honey, the 1967 album which “Country Air” appears, was initially panned by music critics, which tells you all you need to know about the sheer…
26/12/2020: “Rude Boy” by Johnny Osbourne
Johnny Osbourne made the transition from old school roots to 90s dancehall very smoothly. Listen to this 1987 banger and you can see why. He’s…
25/12/2020: “Jingle Bell Rock” by Bobby Helms
It’s Christmas, and that means Christmas songs, on repeat, everywhere. It actually hasn’t been quite so all pervasive this year since everything is shut. So…
24/12/2020: “Santa Doesn’t Cop Out On Dope” by Sonic Youth
When Geffen Records released Just Say Noel in 1996, they probably didn’t have the Christmas number one in mind. Not with a track like this on, at…
23/12/2020: “Scenario” by A Tribe Called Quest featuring Leaders Of The New School
Rappers these days just don’t seem to revel in words and rhythms like the old school guys did. Everybody on this track just flows! The…
22/12/2020: “Wild Dog” by Stanley Clarke and George Duke
A collaboration between Stanley Clarke and George Duke was always going be obscenely funky. With Clarke on guitar and Duke on keys, this track blisters…
21/12/2020: “Peace And Love Dub” by Augustus Pablo
Augustus Pablo is usually associated with the melodica, but he was also a gifted dub producer. I’m not too sure what the bell sound on…
20/12/2020: “Soon-To-Be Innocent Fun/Let’s See” by Arthur Russell
Arthur Russell was a cello player. But I don’t want to do him a disservice – his creativity clearly went further than that. World Of Echo, released…