TH#116 - Illusion [Graham's Selection Summer '26]

1 Steve Zuckerman – Lower Case n (Sesame Street)

2 Nina Simone – In The Morning (live)

3 Lijadu Sisters – Life's Gone Down Low

4 Penina O Tiafau – Fa'ala'itiiti

5 Bertha Tillman – Oh My Angel

6 Jimmy 'Preacher' Ellis – Since I Fell For You

7 The Exciters – He's Got The Power

8 Linda Martell – Color Him Father

9 Thee Sacred Souls – Future Lover

10 Miramar – Salida

11 The Orient Express – Train To Bombay

12 Steve Zuckerman – Capital I (Sesame Street)

13 Daryl Hall & John Oates – She's Gone

14 Norma Tanega – Illusion

15 Dia Prometido - Hey Al-lah

16 The Orient Express – Asaar

17 The Status Quo – Pictures Of Matchstick Men

18 Duke Pearson – Christo Redentor

19 Alex Maas – Paint You In The Sunshine

20 Elderberry Jak – Forrest On The Mountain

 

Thanks to Booty, Flavien, and special thanks & big up to Alana, Shaun, Helen & Derya – most tunes were shared or discovered during our North American trip this June !

What's interesting to mention about this sunny comp/mixtape ? Miramar is a great bolero/soul band from Richmond, Virginia, who released this "Salida" single on the legendary Daptone label. Steve Zuckerman wrote a pair of surrealistic alphabet tunes for the TV show Sesame Street when he was 19 (check out the animation shorts that go with them!). Dia Prometido was a Hispano-Iranian duet who recorded this funky "Hey Al-lah" pro-peace song in the mid 70's, while the Orient Express were a Franco-Belgio-Iranian trio who recorded their self-titled LP in California in '69. A string of iconic female artists performing the best folk, jazz, country, soul, r'n'b and funk : Norma Tanega, Nina Simone, Linda Martell, Bertha Tillman, the Exciters, and the amazing Lijadu Sisters from Nigeria. Philadelphia's 'Yacht-rock' legends Daryl Hall & John Oates with the soulful "She's Gone". Alex Maas' (from the Black Angels) "Paint You" song from his Levitation sessions. What else ? Samoan folk duo Penina & Tiafau with a groovy tune called "Fa'ala'itiiti" ; Jimmy Preacher Ellis's Hammond-lead r'n'b hit "Since I fell for you" ; jazz pianist Duke Pearson's haunting "Christo Redentor" ; US psych rock band Elderberry Jak and UK psych rock band The Status Quo ; Daptone's power-soul-trio Thee Sacred Souls... All set for your summer's road trips !

TH#115 - Stella Marina [Graham's Selection Spring '26]

 

 

1 Lena Lim feat. The Stylers - ?

2 Orhan Gencebay – Hatasız Kul Olmaz

3 Afet Serenay – Maden Dağı

4 Trio Mocotó – Não Adianta

5 Sun Ra Arkestra – Everything Is Space

6 Jabula – Harvest Part II

7 The Scorpions & Saif Abu Bakr – Nile Waves

8 The Paragons – When The Lights Are Low

9 Slim Smith – Sitting In The Park

10 Charif Megarbane – Stella Marina

11 Salma El Assal – Salaam

12 Peter Moss – Satyam Shivam Sundaram

13 Sven Libaek – Misty Canyon

14 Lena Lim feat. The Stylers - ?

15 Milt Buckner – The Beast

16 Odetta – Hit Or Miss

17 Jabula – Ithumeleng Ba Mamelodi

Thanks : Piero, Benny, Derya, Roady

 

A sunny springtime journey awaits you on this comp/mixtape, starting with Mandopop singer Lena Lim backed by the kings of Singapore's 60's guitar bands The Stylers. Orhan Gencebay, ambassador of Turkey's 'Arabesk' genre, is followed by folk song 'Maden Dağı' sung by Afet Serenay. Samba legends Trio Mocotó's hit 'Não Adianta' links to jazz and afro-jazz, with Sun Ra (a rare 80's recording), South African group Jabula, and the Sudanese Scorpions with Saif Abu Bakr (reissued on Habibi Funk).

The haunting ballad 'When The Lights Are Low' by the Paragons (penned by John Holt) brings us to a reggae mood : Slim Smith's version of 'Sitting In The Park', Lebanese composer Charif Megarbane's 'Stella Marina', Sudanese singer Salma El Assal's 'Salaam'. A couple of groovy instrumentals follow : Peter Moss's synth freakout 'Satyam Shivam' (a Bollywood cover) and Australian TV composer Sven Libaek's 'Misty Canyon'. Finally, a couple of Blues/jazz classics with Hammond hero Milt Buckner and blues/gospel legend Odetta. Enjoy !

 

TH#114 ~ RED ROSE ~ Luke's Spring 26 Tape

 

Here's our new seasonal selection of gems from all around to fit onto a C60 musicassette - hope you dig it! If for personal reasons you don't listen to cassettes yet you'll find the streamable form below.

Side A
01 - Kwami et son Orchestre - B.B.B.
02 - Mundanda Antoine - Mwana Aboyi Mama
03 - Burt Blanca & The King Creoles - Taboo '69
04 - Kabangu Raphaël - Pete Na Mosapi
05 - Artur Nunes - Uaué Mua N'gola
06 - Queen Orete - Iyanume
07 - Chico Buarque & Ennio Morricone - Funeral De Um Lavrador
08 - Abdou El Omari - Layali Fass
09 - Indian Cultural Pageant of Trinidad & Tobago - Salina Ali

Side B
10 - Brother Resistance - Tonite Is De Night
11 - Ebo Taylor - What Is Life
12 - Khadiija Axmed (Jiijo Jeesto) - Galad (Victory)
13 - Kid Baltan & Tom Dissevelt - Orbit Aurora
14 - Annie Rae - Bang Bung Ranggaek
15 - Cheba Wahida - Jrouli Jrouli

TH#113 - In A Man's Life [Luke's X-Mas 25 Mixtape]

Seasonal treats to fit onto a C60 musicassette right > here as a zip - or below in a streamable form. Much caribeean goodness on this one.

A
01 - Lancelot Layne - Song For Music
02 - The Gladiators - Sonia
03 - Tony Wilson - Hangin' Out in Space
04 - Lancelot Layne - In A Man’s Life
05 - Sister Sledge - Thinking Of You
06 - Os Kiezos - Comboio
07 - Embryo - Soca (It's Soul Calypso)

B
08 - Mighty Sparrow - Bongo
09 - Tony Wilson - New York City Life
10 - Rino De Filippi - Benessere Industriale
11 - Dave Pike Set - Raga Jeeva Swara
12 - Bunnie & Skitter - Lumumbo
13 - Karl Bryan & Count Ossie - Black Up
14 - Tassos Chalkias - Dirminitsa (The Bride’s Dance)
15 - Bill Laurance - Mantra

 

 Thanks Graham Paul Wiel Polo Banzzai.

TH#112 - The Ship That Sails To The Sun [Graham's Selection X-mas '25]

SIDE A 

1 Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons – You're A Song (That I Can't Sing)

2 Jimmy Cliff – The Harder They Come

3 Mulatu Astatke & Hoodna Orchestra – Major

4 Tootard feat. Lynn Adib – Al Qamar

5 Zohra – Badala Zamana

6 Hany Mehanna – Damat Alam

7 Tang Lan Hua & Universal Big Band - from 'Flying to the Moon'

8 Wu Gang - Deep Hearted Person

9 Esin Afşar ve Kurtalan Ekspres – Güneşe Giden Gemi

10 Norma Tanega – A Street That Rhymes At 6am

SIDE B

11 Surprise Chef – Spiky Boi

12 Clarence Reid – Miss Hot Stuff

13 Leon Thomas – China Doll

14 Madlib – Slim's Return

15 Hany Mehanna – Al Qina' Al Za'ef

16 Lijadu Sisters – Come On Home

17 Florence Adooni & El Michels Affair – Say Goodbye

18 Leon Thomas – Love Each Other

 

Thanks : Tomy, Alana, Helen, Derya ! 

Photo 'Güneşe Giden Gemi' by Ak Sakallı Dede

X-mas come early once again, with this comp / mixtape I couldn't wait to share with you all. The title 'The Ship That Sails To The Sun' is the translation of 'Güneşe Giden Gemi', written by Turkish rock legend Bariş Manço and sung by Esin Afşar. Of course I also had to pay tribute to the late Jimmy Cliff who just passed away aged 81, with the title song to the amazing Perry Henzell movie 'The Harder They Come'.

What else ? A joyful criss-cross of groovy soul tunes and African / Arabic pop, helped by masters like hip-hop genius Madlib and spiritual jazz singer Leon Thomas. Cool hits by the Nigerian Lijadu Sisters and Algerian popstar Zohra (also known as Dihya). A beautiful lullaby by Arabic-pop combo Tootard, sung by Lynn Adib. More contemporary 2020's tunes by Florence Adooni teaming up with El Michels Affair, and by Australian instro-group Surprise Chef. Hany Mehanna's beautifully dreamy and cinematic compositions, a recent track by Ethio-jazz pioneer Mulatu Astatke, little-known Californian folk singer Norma Tanega... 

And thanks to the help of two listeners/followers (see in comments below - thanks so much btw!) we've found out about Taiwanese pop star Tang Lan Hua and her "Flying to the Moon" album, as well as Singapore singer Wu Gang, both featured on this mixtape !

 

va - Commandant Coustou Songbook - Caribbean Originals

While the Commandant Coustou crew finish working on a brand new EP here's a mixtape of the caribbean originals that the band has been covering for the past decade.

ps : if you fancy a beautiful glittery C80 musicassette come and see us at one of our shows! 

A tribute to Lalo Schifrin [Graham's mixtape]

A master of Latin jazz, pioneer of soul-jazz, architect of cinematic funk : Lalo Schifrin just left us, aged 93. Many quality radio programs and press articles have paid tribute to his memory and work, but I just couldn't not do anything about the loss of the man who gave me the very first impulse and inspiration towards composing and arranging music. Friends of my parents' made me a cassette compilation of the Dirty Harry soundtracks when I was about 12, and that was a big revelation.

So here you go : an hour of Schifrin's music on a streamed mixtape. I chose not to include the famous themes (Mission:Impossible, Bullitt, Enter the Dragon...) but some lesser-known tracks that have always been some favourites of mine !

Zipped up here.

The Snake's Dance (1961) - Dirty Harry's Creed (1971) - Secret Code (1968) - The Cat (with Jimmy Smith, 1964) - The Shadow (1968) - Jim on the Move (1966) - Haunting (1970) - Headset Jazz (1973) - Theme From Medical Centre (Single version, 1970) - Danger (1966) - Hotel Daniels (1968)- Mission Blues (1968) - The Venetian Affair (1967) - The Wave (1962) - Life Insurance (1968) - The Danube Incident (1968) - Dirty Harry Latin Soul (1971) - Agnus Dei (1973) - Illya (Hugo Montenegro orch., 1966) - Lap Dance Club (1975) - The Ape Shuffle (1974) - Black Widow (1976) - Theme from Starsky & Hutch (1975) 

TH#111 - Door Of The Cosmos [Graham's Selection Summer '25]

 

Summer time's here ! This selection will joyfully accompany your road trips and summer parties. Estonian composer Misha Panfilov's "Together" opens and ends the journey with its magical theme. A couple of South African funk numbers, all-time legends Nina Simone, Bob Marley and Sun Ra ; Neapolitan disco gems, a couple of 60's curiosities (France Gall's "Néfertiti" penned by Gainsbourg and arranged by Goraguer, Trovajoli & Orlandi's "Ariana" penned by Morricone himself, Jean-Jacques Perrey's answer to Pierre Henry "E.V.A.")... And more contemporary artists like Italian pop songwriters Giorgio Poi and Calcutta, Frenglish band Morningstar Music Club, French-Italophile band Mazalda, and finally "Serious Drug" by Freddie Cruger & Anthony Mills a.k.a. Wildcookie. Groovy!

A

1 Misha Panfilov – Together Part 1

2 Nina Simone – It's Be That Way Sometime

3 Jabula – Jabula Happiness

4 St Vincent Latinaires – Roasted Or Fried

5 Wildcookie – Serious Drug

6 Nina Simone – Blackbird

7 The Beaters – Thiba Kamoo

8 Sun Ra – Door Of The Cosmos (edit)

9 Bob Marley & the Wailers – Hypocrites

10 The Silvertones – Tear Drops Will Fall

B

11 Calcutta – Coro

12 Morningstar Music Club – Spiritual Guide

13 Donatella Viggiano – Napule Canta E More

14 Mazalda – Otto Mata

15 France Gall – Néfertiti

16 Jean-Jacques Perrey – E.V.A.

17 Oro – Sasa'

18 Armando Trovajoli & Nora Orlandi – Ariana

19 Giorgio Poi – Uomini Contro Insetti

20 Misha Panfilov – Together Part 2

 

Thanks : Helen, Molly, Ned, Cam Cam.

Stream below, DL available soon !

TH#110 - Chains Of Love [Luke's Summer 25 Mixtape]

110 mixtapes later, this blog is still running and slowly forming a giant Chain Of Love around the world - this warm selection to fit on to a C60 musicassette is the newest link in the chain.

Side A
01 - Piero Piccioni - Chains Of Love
02 - Ennio Morricone - Il grande silenzio
03 - Junior Byles - Curly Locks
04 - Boo And The Tru Tones - I Just Can't Reach You
05 - Etubom Rex Williams - Kukpong Mi Obong
06 - Andre Tanker Five - Lena
07 - Ñanda Mañachi - Llaki Shunkulla
08 - Kuku Sebside - Belibe Godana (On My Heart's Road)

Side B
09 - Bolivia Manta & Ñanda Mañachi - Medley
10 - Willamu Osale - Usimalize Mali
11 - Henri Bembele And Orchestra Tinapa - Stanleyville Putulú (Stanleyville is Dusty)
12 - Olmedo Torres - Diablo Huma
13 - Graham Mushnik - Octopus Dance
14 - Yishak Banjaw - Libey Ma'aduley
15 - Chelique Sarabia - Barlovento
16 - Black Flower - O Fogo
17 - Steve Waring - Sedona

TH # 109 - Stand By Woman [Le Major's mixtape • April '25]

Oh Ha ! Here's a bunch of new tunes to dive into Spring. You'll mainly find sunny and soulful vibes, though hypnotic and mysterious numbers remain. Happy listening !

A Side   1. Shuggie Otis - Aht Uh Mi Hed • 2.  Ann Peebles - Stand By Woman • 3. Wanderléa - Kriola • 4. Nino Nardini - Tropicola • 5. Con Funk Shun - Now & Forever • 6. Armando Trovaioli - Black Pearl Necklace • 7. Ginger Bamboo - Stinlo • 8. Rozi Plain - Quiz 

 

B Side   9. Dawn - I’m Afraid They’re All Talking •  10. Los Zheros - Cuarto Oscuro • 

11. Aurita Castillo - Puya Tropicana • 12. Love Joys - All I Can Say • 13. Ranking Ann - Stop Romance Inna Dance • 14. Ibrahim Heswani  - Watany Al Kabir • 15. Cheikha Djenia & Yacine Abbassi - Chet B’Ainia • 16 Peki Momés – Göç Mevsimi • 17. Forest Law - Balm

thanks: The Şimşeks + Gérard 

TH#108 - A Different Sunset [Graham's Selection Spring '25]

 

A

1 Fikret Kızılok – Leylim Leylim

2 Ananda Shankar – The River

3 Meral Atakök ve Üç Hürel – Masa Üstünde Testi

4 Taci Özmen - Çekilmez Bu Dünya

5 Gülsüm Kamu ve Ergun Özer Ork. – Aliyi Gördüm Aliyi

6 The Ghetto Brothers – Viva Puerto Rico Libre

7 New Colony Six – Elf Song (Ballad Of The Wingbat Marmaduke)

8 Syd Barrett – Golden Hair

9 Bruce Haack – Cherubic Hymn

10 Fikret Kızılok – Gözlerinden Bellidir

B

11 Hümeyra – Onu Bana Sakla

12 Zümra Aycan – Bilemedim

13 Augusto Martelli – Berjl's Tune

14 The Ghetto Brothers – You Say You Are My Friend

15 Cici Kızlar - Gencim, Yaşamı Severim

16 Gülcan Opel – Gavuşmak Hayal Oldu

17 Arif Sağ - Bizim Şarkımız

18 Ali Rıza Binboğa - Dost Kazanmak Kolay Değil

To welcome Spring, here's a trippy and folky selection, in the spirit of 'Voyage Sans Retour' and 'Bees & Things & Flowers'.

This time, a big half of the tunes are Anatolian / Turkish 7''s that I recently got in Ankara, Istanbul, and through my friend Ilker. Fikret Kızılok (left on the photo) and his unique voice opens the voyage with his hit 'Leylim Leylim', and the trip continues with Indian composer Ananda Shankar's 'The River'. A handful of great Anatolian folk songs follow – Meral Atakök accompanied by the young Hürel trio, protest singer Taci Özmen, and a haunting bossa-nova version of an ancient Alevi poem, 'Aliyi Gördüm Aliyi', sung by actress Gülsüm Kamu.

NYC's obscure Latino garage band The Ghetto Brothers come in with their anthem 'Viva Puerto Rico Libre' and lead the way to a more freaky psychedelic moment with New Colony Six, Syd Barrett and Bruce Haack. Then, back to Türkiye with Fikret again - and some interesting pop tunes by Hümeyra, Zümra Aycan and the trio Cici Kızlar. The latter perform in a 'Quarteto Em Cy' style (singing « I am young, I love life » in Turkish) on a cool boogaloo beat, which links with Augusto Martelli's groovy 'Berjl's Tune' and another Ghetto Brothers song. On 'Gavuşmak Hayal Oldu', Gülcan Opel teams up with bağlama master Arif Sağ , who (unusually) sings in Arabesk style on the following tune 'Bizim Şarkımız' ; and finally, Ali Rıza Binboğa concludes the adventure with the epic 'Dost Kazanmak Kolay Değil'.

Thanks : Ilker, Ethem, Helen.

 

Captain XXI presents: DOUCES FRANCOPHONIES [French-Speaking Female Singers From The 60's & 70's]

 

Douces Francophonies is Captain XXI's newest hot selection of rare 7-inches ripped and mixed on to a C60 musicassette for your listening pleasure. He says:

"Along my discoveries and through my work as a DJ I always had in the back of my mind the desire to make a compilation that would highlight french-speaking female singers, thus opening up my research to several continents and making me travel musically to numerous countries. Throughout this mixtape the 60’s and 70’s atmosphere is predominant. Those decades left a strong mark in music history in general and french music in particular, thanks to the creativity and productivity of artists and producers of that time. This selection covers a wide range of genres : psychedelic rock, soul music, acid-folk, Occitan disco, Brazilian music, jazz… and a sprinkle of early 80's productions.
Many years were necessary to collect these songs and mix them up into this playlist of 20 cherry-picked tracks.
After releasing “Hunt Down” in 2018, putting together this new selection was the next obvious step. This way I strive to bring you plenty of exciting music by forgotten artists, obscure songs and oddball productions from half-a-century ago."