TH#117 - How The Story Ends [Luke's Summer 26 Mixtape]

I guess by now you know I'm a big fan of African and Caribbean music - well this new mixtape is full of my latest discoveries, including other-worldly singer Debbie Gaskin from Barbados, who recorded some tracks with the "Eternal Love Combo" in Toronto some years ago (it was released on Local Dish > check out!) - wonderful! Side B brings us some dope African reggae numbers such as Zig-Zag Band from Zimbabwe and a skanky raï serenade by the one and only Cheba Zahouania. The story ends with a great song by Lovers, performed here by german band The Notwist on their latest album.

Side A
01 - Andre Tanker - Jumbie Call
02 - Debbie Gaskin & Eternal Love Combo - What's That
03 - Addai's Band - Awisia Hye Den
04 - Black Truth Rhythm Band - Save D Musician
05 - Brothers Of Barbados - 9th Avenue
06 - Morton And The Uptights - Taurus
07 - Ali Chukwuma - Odi Ofele

Side B
08 - The Original Brothers - Black Out
09 - Debbie Gaskin & Eternal Love Combo - I Want Your Love
10 - The African Brothers - Lead Us Father
11 - Zig-Zag Band - Ndzirombi
12 - Chaba Zahouania - Bar Adjani
13 - Electric Taal Band - Bongo Shamshad
14 - The Notwist - How the Story Ends
15 - Andy Votel - Archipelagogo Theme

Thanks : Roberto, whoever you are, for the archive link, whoever put it together ; Louis "Hot Mule" Hautemule ; Paul Wiel ; fellow bloggers, diggers, archivers of killer music.

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 !