Clasicos del Ska Mexicano (Classic Mexican Ska)

When the genre of Ska comes up the two countries that most people instantaneously think of are Jamaica and England. Jamaica being the birthplace of this music and England were it reached a wider audience. However there is one country that unfortunately has been largely forgotten in the history of Ska and that is Mexico. As any Mexican can tell you Mexico is a very diverse country with influences from just about every corner of the globe and the music is a prime example of this. Now looking at the music industry of Mexico and Jamaica in the 1960's both shared one crucial similarity and that was that record labels were all competing trying to put out the best "sounds" be it things influenced from the rock n' roll scene in the US and in Britain or homegrown stuff. In 1965 though a musician by the name of Toño Quirazco traveled to Jamaica and brought back the beats and sounds of Ska making it a huge hit in the country and also making Mexico one of the first countries outside of the Caribbean to start playing the new music genre. Unfortunately many of the artists and Ska songs from this era are almost impossible to find as the majority of people and even some record labels had no idea of their Jamaican heritage and thus just labeled them under the generic rock or tropical music genre labels making any mention of Mexican Ska in the history books almost non-existent.
Here I have put together a small compilation of some of the best of early Mexican Ska with a main focus on
Toño Quirazco who is the one that brought the genre to Mexico. For anyone who is familiar with this style of music you will be able to see in these songs some major influences from classic Jamaican bands like The Skatalites and Toots & The Maytals.
If you are a fan of ska, reggae, Jamaican or Mexican music than I highly recommend you give this a listen as you will not be disappointed 

1. Pily Gao - Mi Novio Esquimal (My Boy Lolipop)
2. Toño Quirazco - Merida Ska
3. Toño Quirazco - La Familia (Shame And Scandal)
4. Jorge Querol con Los Go-Go - Rudi Enamorado (Rudy's In Love)
5. Toño Quirazco - Jala De La Cuerda (Monkey Man)
6. Mayte Gaos - Susi La Coqueta (Runaround Sue)
7. Toño Quirazco - La Mucura
8. Las Misioneras de La Montaña (Monjitas A Go-Go) - Sonreir
9. Toño Quirazco - Ska de Los Santos
10. Toño Quirazco - Xalapa Ska
11. Toño Quirazco - Estambul Ska (Freedom Sounds) 

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Various Artists - Afro-Rock Volume 1

For your consideration today I have a great little compilation album that I picked up at a record store a few years ago. Afro-Rock Vol 1 is one of many great releases by Strut Records who for a long time have put out some great compilations focusing on music from around the globe. This particular album has some great material that truly stretches throughout the whole continent of Africa from Nigeria to Zaire (Congo). The thing that really makes this album standout is that while all tracks have some killer rhythms and beats no two sound even remotely alike. Also many of the tracks on here would be a rare find even in Africa as they were unreleased demos or tapes that have long been forgotten about. Personal favorites of mine on this album are Steele Beauttah's "Africa" and Envy No Good by Mercury Dance Band. If you are even remotely interested in Afro-rock or just rock and funk in general then I highly recommend downloading this album as it will have you hooked for a long time to come.

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Francoise Hardy - The Vogue Years

It has been a long time since I posted anything from one of my favorite artists.....the French music and beauty icon Francoise Hardy so I thought I would share one of my favorite compilations of her work.
The Vogue Years compiles some of the work from Francoise's early career (which in my opinion is her best) and puts it together in one great compilation. These are the songs that brought her to stardom making her an international icon and making everyone from The Rolling Stones to Bob Dylan wish they could call her "their girlfriend". For anyone who has never heard any of the great music Francoise or 60's French pop and ye-ye in general have to offer than this album will make a great introduction. Likewise this album is great for anyone who may already know Francoise Hardy and her music but just want to have it compiled in two great CD's.  
        1    Tous Les Garcons Et Les Filles
    2    J'Suis D'Accord           
    3    Le temps de l'amour       
    4    Ton Meilleur Ami           
    5    La Fille Avec Toi          
    6    L'Amour S'En Va           
    7    Je Pense A Lui           
    8    Qui Aime T'il Vraiment          
    9    Le Premier Bonheur du Jour       
    10    Va Pas Prendre un Tambour           
    11    J'Aurais Voulu       
    12    Le Sais Tu         
    13    L'Amour Ne Dure Pas Toujours       
    14    Pourtant Tu M'aimes       
    15    On Se Quitte Toujours          
    16    Tour E Ramene Toi          
    17    Apprends le Moi          
    18    C'Est le Passe          
    19    Je N'Attends Plus Personne           
    20    Pas Gentille           
    21    Et Meme           
    22    Je Veux Qu'il Revienne           
    23    Mon Amie la Rose    
    24    La Nuit Est Sur La Ville           
    25    Nous Etions Amies       
    26    Dans Le Monde Entier           
    27    Dis Lui Non           
    28    Le Temps des Souvenirs           
    29    J'ai Bien du Chagrin       
    30    Bout de Lune


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Something From Asia and Something From The Middle East

As I was looking through the blog I realized I have really neglected to present any music from Asia or from the Middle East so I thought today we would fix that. First off we have a great album called "Cambodian Rocks".  I'm sure the last country that most people think of when they think of rock n' roll is Cambodia however before the years of the Democratic Kampuchea and the Khemer Rouge there was actually a fairly large rock scene in the country. One of the most notable artists from this era was Ros Sereysothea who was known as "the lady with the golden voice" and who truly produced some amazing work. Tragically her fate once Pol Pot and the Khemer Rouge came to power was much the same as that of many other Cambodians (including the majority if not all of the artists on the Cambodia Rocks compilation). People were labeled enemies of the state and either executed right then and there or were overworked in death camps. Highly recommend this compilation album as this truly is some great music that very few people outside of the Cambodian community have heard of. 

Yol Aularong :: Jeas Cyclo “Ride Cyclo”
 Ros Sereysothea :: Chnam Oun Dop-PramMuy “I’m 16″
 Ros Sereysothea :: Tngai Neas Kyom Yam Sra “Today I Drink Wine”
 Yol Aularong + Tuk :: Sou Slarp Kroam Kombut Srey “Rather Die”
 Sinn Sissamouth :: Srolanh Srey Touch “I Love Petite Woman”
 Pan Ron :: Rom Jongvak Twist “Dance Twist”
 Pan Ron :: Knyom Mun Sok Jet Te “I’m Unsatisfied”
 Liev Tuk :: Rom Sue! Sue! “Dance Soul! Soul!”
 Ros Sereysothea :: Jam 10 Kai Thiet “Wait 10 More Months”
 Ros Sereysothea :: Jah Bong Ju Aim “Old Sour & Sweet”
 Samouth + Sothea + Ron) Maok Pi Naok “Where From?
 Sin Sissamouth :: Phneit Oun Mean Evey? “What Does Your Eyes Has?”
 Yol Aularong :: Yuvajon Kouge Jet “Broken Heart Man”
 Meas Samon :: Jol Dondeung Kone Key “Going to Get Engage”
 Ros Sereysothea :: Kerh Songsa Kyoum Thay? “Have You Seen My Boyfriend?”
 Ros Sereysothea :: Chnang Jas Bai Chgn-ainj “Old Pot, Tasty Rice”
 Ros Sereysothea + Seang Vanthy :: Kone Oksok Nas Pa “We’re Very Bored Dad!”
 Ros Sereysothea :: Kom Kung Twer Evey “Don’t Be Mad”
 Ros Sereysothea :: Penh Jet Thai Bong Mouy “I Like Only You”
 In Yeng + Pan Ron :: Sralanh Srey Chnas “I Love Mean Girl”
 Samouth + Meas Samon :: Komlos Teng Bey “Three Gentlemen”
 Ros Sereysothea :: Retrey Yung Joup Knea “The Night We Met”
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We covered Asia now we move on to the Middle East specifically to Algerian artist Rachid Taha and his 2004 album Tekitoi. Taha has a very unique style combining many styles of music including the traditional Algerian pop known as "rai" and often singing in various different languages. Legend has it that while attending a Clash concert in Paris in 1981 Taha ran into the band shortly before the concert started and gave them a tape with some of his work on it. Some think that this is where The Clash got the inspiration to write the song "Rock The Casbah". Taha himself did a cover of this song (Rock El Casbah), I really recommend this one as Rachid Taha really does produce some very good music and does an excellent job of mixing various music styles which is something that only a few artists seem to be able to do with success.



    1      Tekitoi? (Who Are You?)
    2    Rock el Casbah  
    3    Lli Fat Mat (What Is Past Is Dead and Gone)
    4    H'asbu-Hum (Ask Them for an Explanation)
    5    Safi (Pure)
    6    Meftuh' (Open)
    7    Winta
    8    Nah'seb (I Count)
    9    Dima (Always)
    10    Mamachi
    11    Shuf (Look)
    12    Stenna (Wait)
    13    Ya Rayah See
    14    Voila Voila (Here It Is, Here It Is)
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Joe Strummer's London Calling (All Shows)

After doing a whole lot of searching through the internet I have found all (or at least a good majority of) the London Calling shows that Joe Strummer did for the BBC starting in the late 1990's. These shows contain just about every music genre imaginable from rock to rumba, cumbia, reggae, and everything in between. Joe had an immense record collection that he built up as he traveled around the world and he did an excellent job of sharing it on his show. Where else could you find a radio show that would play Nancy Sinatra, Wu Tang Clan, and Jules Allen (one of the oldest recorded country western artists out there) all one after the other?
If you are reading this I highly recommend you download these shows as there honestly really is something for every music taste here and I can guarantee you will find something you like in these shows you just might not know it yet.

Show 1
This first hour of an eight-part series begins with a 30-minute feature about Joe Strummer live and his diverse interests, followed by the first of his music shows originally produced and distributed by BBC World Service on Aug 31, 1998.
PART 1 - INTRODUCTION (29:00) __
Rock the Casbah - Rachid Taha Omotepe - Joe Strummer _
Black Sheep Boy - Tim Hardin _
Minuit - Earnest Ranglin & Baba Maal _
This Is Radio Clash - The Clash _
Nervous Breakdown - Eddie Cochran _
To Love Somebody - Nina Simone _
Trash City - Latino Rockabilly War _
Willesden to Cricklewood - Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros __
MUSIC BED BREAK (1:00) _Armagideon Time - The Clash __
PART 2 - AUG 31, 1998 (29:00) __
This Land Is Your Land - Trini Lopez _
Small Axe - U-Roy _
Minuit - Earnest Ranglin & Baba Maal _
Lokoko - Thu-Zahina _
Long As I Can See The Light - Monkey Mafia _
Martha Cecilia - Andres Landero (y sus conjuntos) _
Symbolic Language - Pacou

Show 2
Radio One - Mikey Dread _
Lawdy Miss Clawdy - Elvis Presley _
Ah, Ngai Nzambe - Luyeye Gaston _
Daddy - Dust Junkies _
Da Camino a la Vereda - Buena Vista Social Club _
Carrick Fergus - Brian Ferry _
La Gaita - Orquestra Emisoras Fuentes _
Sandpaper Blues - Radar
MUSIC BED BREAK (1:00) Hitsville UK - The Clash
PART 2 - SEP 14, 1998 (29:00) __
Know Your Rights - The Clash _
Groovin - Young Rascals _
Natty Rebel- U-Roy _
Jullandar Shere - Cornershop _
Colours - Donovan _
To Love Somebody - Nina Simone
Day-O - Harry Belafonte _
Izinkomo Zombango - Mzikayifani Buthelezi _
Ba Boo La La - The Lion

Show 3
Radio One - Mikey Dread _
Amazimuzimu - Dilika _
La Cumbia Primero - Fiesta En Mi Pueblo _
Domino - Van Morrison _
Try A Little Tenderness - Otis Redding Boy In The Bubble- Paul Simon _
Take Me With You My Darling, Take Me With You - Master Musicians Of Jajouka (Recorded By B. Jones) _
Fever- Horace Andy _
Over The Rainbow/Wonderful World - Israel K. _
La Vaca Vieja- Rufo Garrida Y Su Orquestra _
It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels - Kitty Wells __
MUSIC BED BREAK (1:00) _The Magnificent Dance - The Clash __
PART 2 - JAN 9, 2000 (28:30) __
The Killer - Big Youth _
Hang on Sloopy - The McCoys _Nvule N?Delela - Brenda Fassee _
Little Old Wine Drinker Me - Dean Martin _
Y Su Conhuntos - Andres Landero (y sus conjuntos) _
Starting a New Cycle (Starting a New Life) - Van Morrison _
Sala Molende - Tabu Frantal

Show 4
Radio One - Mikey Dread _
Hit the Road Jack- Big Youth _
Fire in Soweto - Sonny Okosun _
Nursery Rhyme - Bo Diddley _
I Got Life (Ain't Got No Home)- Nina Simone _
Crawfish - Elvis Presley _
Rez - Underworld __
MUSIC BED BREAK (1:00) _I Fought The Law - The Clash __
PART 2 - JAN 23, 2000 (30:00) __
Cool Breeze - Big Youth _
Stairway to the Stars - Ella Fitzgerald _
Not Fade Away - Rolling Stones _Up Around the Bend - Creedence Clearwater Revival _
Jeeny- Afel Bocoum _
Castles Made of Sand - Jimi Hendrix _
Shoba - A Sambe Siye E Goli (Let's Go to Joburg) _
Swingtown - Steve Miller Band _
Junco Partner - The Clash

Show 5 (The first part of this broadcast will show up under the name "2007 strummer3" in download)
Radio One - Mikey Dread _
Blitzkrieg Bop - Ramones _
The Freedom Fighters - The Upsetters _
Tous Les Garcons et Les Filles – Francoise Hardy _
Gwandir - Nasha _
Corinna Corinna - Bob Dylan _
Syncopate- The Astronauts _
Nguellel - Baba Sek _
Public Enemy 1 - Max Romeo __
MUSIC BED BREAK (1:00) _Straight To Hell - The Clash __
PART 2 - FEB 6, 2000 (29:00) __Ghetto Defendant - The Clash _
Mon Amour, Ma Cherie - Amadou & Mariams _
Do It Again - Beach Boys _
Baby, What You Want Me To Do - Jimmy Reed _
The Man Who Sold the World - LuLu _
Romal - DJ Gino's Gangsters featuring Surjit Bindrakhia _
Chimta -Tariq Lohar _
Mehabooba - Ravi Bal

Show 6
Radio One - Mikey Dread _
Feeling Time - Joy White _
Azara Al Hay – Rasha
Tippy Toes - The Meters _
Cumbia Saramuya – Los Corraleros De Majagual
Wang Dang Doodle - Koko Taylor _
Tumbling Dice - Rolling Stones _
Hatisi Tose - Bhundu Boys __
2. MUSIC BED BREAK (1:00) _Clampdown - The Clash __PART 2 - JUNE 24, 2001 (29:00)
Top Ranking - Johnny Clarke _
The Sunnyside of the Street - The Pogues _
Some Velvet Morning - Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazelwood _Sanga Mbele Mbele - Thu Zahina _
Gravel Pit - Wu-Tang Clan _
Long Side Of The Old Santa Fe Trail - Jules Allen _
Pennsylvania 6-5000 - The Brian Setzer Orchestra
Free, Single and Disengaged - Huey Piano Smith and His Clowns

Episode 7 includes one more great hour of Joe Strummer's favorites, as they originally aired on BBC World Service in July 2001. __PART 1 - JULY 1, 2001 (29:00) __
Radio One - Mikey Dread
Rock and Roll Music - The Beatles
Couchie – Yellowman
Umfaan - Ricardo Bornman _
Siwuhambile Umhlaba – Amaswazi Emvelo and Mahlathini _
Nervous Breakdown - Eddie Cochran
Tell It Like It Is - Nina Simone
Cinderella - Eric Monty Morris _
Long Hot Summer Night - Jimi Hendrix __

MUSIC BED BREAK (1:00) _English Civil War - The Clash __
PART 2 - JULY 8, 2001 (29:00) __
Not Fade Away - The Rolling Stones _
Unza Unza Time - Emir Kusturica and The No Smoking Orchestra
Noisy Place - U-Roy _
Raise The Alarm - Big Dog _
Check Your Bucket - Eddie Bo _
Gotta See Jane - R.Dean Taylor
Can I Get A Witness - Marvin Gaye _
Co-operation - Franco & Sam Mangwana

Show 8
Radio One - Mikey Dread _
Global a Go-Go - Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros _
Good To Be On The Road Back Home Again - Cornershop _
Peno - Saban Bajramovic
La Bamba - Ritchie Valens _
Roots and Culture - Shabba Ranks
Aida Baoury - Orchestra Baobab – N Wolof
Beat on The Brat – The Ramones

MUSIC BED BREAK (1:00) _Train In Vain - The Clash __
PART 2 - EPILOGUE (29:00) __
London Calling - The Clash _
Armagideon Time - The Clash _
Washington Bullets - The Clash _
The Magnificent Seven - The Clash _
Johnny Appleseed - Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros _
Omotepe - Joe Strummer _
Rock the Casbah - Rachid Taha _
Keys to Your Heart - The 101'ers

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Various Artists - Bloodstains Across Yugoslavia

Anybody who follows the blog will know that I am a very big punk rock fan being that bands like The Clash and The Ramones are some of my all time favorites. So I thought I would post some punk rock that is probably unknown to most people. The "Bloodstains" series compiles and releases punk rock from across the world. Bloodstains Across Yugoslavia gives you a chance to listen to some great punk music from the 1970's and 1980's which could easily rival any of  the more well known stuff from the UK and the US.
What one most also consider is that in Yugoslavia like most other East European countries at the time being a "punk" wasn't just a label it was something that could potentially get you in a lot of trouble with the authorities. Overall a great record definitely worth checking out for anyone who likes this genre of music.

1. Pekinška Patka - Bolje da Nosim Kratku Kosu
2. Pekinška Patka - Ori Ori
3. Pankrti - Lepi in Prazni
4. Paraf - Moj Život je Novi Val
5. Prljavo Kazalište - Majka
6. Problemi - Graz Izobilja
7. Termiti - Vremenska Prognoza
8. Kuzle - Smej Sei
9. Kuzle - Ostan Idiot
10. Kuzle - Vahid
11. Buldogi - Vkoto Sveta
12. Indust Bag - 100 dB
13. Lublanski Psi - TV (Veèerna Revolucija)
14. Pekinška Patka - Bila je Tako Lepa
15. Prljavo Kazaliste - Ja Sam Mladic u Najboljim Godinama
16. Paraf - T' Kao Krava
17. Pankrti - Kruha in Iger
18. Pankrti - Jest Sem na Liniji
19. Pankrti - Sedemnajst
20. Paraf - Visokotiražni Mir
21. Pekinska Patka - Kratkovidi Magarac
22. Pekinska Patka - Kontracepcija

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Prince Buster - Fabulous Greatest Hits

Prince Buster the king of ska and also one of the greatest musicians to come out of Jamaica. He was one of the first Jamaican artists that I listened to after being introduced to his music by the British 2-Tone bands of the 1980's like The Specials and Madness who covered some of his songs. Until fairly recently he was still doing live tours however Prince Buster's heyday was in the 1960's as he was a pioneer of both ska and rocksteady music. He is known for his often comedic lyrics just have a listen to "10 Commandments" (which has got to be a feminists worst nightmare) or "Big Five" (which at the time was considered extremely crude and thus censored by almost all radio stations in Britain and Jamaica). This album has some great tracks everything from fast paced ska that will make you want to move along to the beat. To the slower and sweeter sounds of rocksteady. I really recommend this one if you want an introduction to one of the greatest musicians to come out of Jamaica or simply just want some great music to add to your collection

 1. Madness
2. Al Capone
3. Wash Wash
4. God Son
5. It's Burke's Law
6. 10 Commandments
7. Blackhead Chineman
8. 30 Pieces of Silver
9. Hard Man Fe Dead
10. Earthquake
11. Judge Dread
12. Ghost Dance
13. Take it Easy
14. Too Hot
15. My Girl
16. This is a Hold Up
17. Shaking Up Orange Street
18. Big Five
19. Rough Rider
20. Wreck a Pum Pum
21. Julie On My Mind
22. Pharaoh House Crash
23. Tie the Donkey's Tail
24. Finger

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