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Gal Costa – Gal (1969) (Mono mix)

  June 7, 2021 , ,

Gal Costa – Gal 1969 Philips R 765.098 L The great Gal Costa released two classic Tropicália records in 1969, and this one is widely known as the mind-bendingly psychedelic monster of the two.  The version presented here is the original mono mix and not the stereo mix that appeared on the Gal Total boxset and later in a Polysom reissue.  Gal has always surrounded herself with musical heavyweights but she was keeping particularly heady company at this time: this … Continue reading

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Tim Maia – Disco Club (1978) (2018 Mr. Bongo reissue)

  May 31, 2021 ,

Tim Maia – Disco Club 2018 Mr. Bongo MRBLP156/ Original release 1978 Atlantic (Brazil) I am making this blog post on May 31 so that it cannot be said that the first six months of 2020 did not have any Brazilian content whatsoever from Flabbergasted Vibes.  I guess I have been kind of ‘down’ on Brazil lately – fascism has run / been running amok there and the Covid situation is just heartbreaking.  Something’s got to change.  But today is … Continue reading

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Joe Cuba Sextet – Wanted Dead Or Alive (Bang Bang! Push Push Push!) (1966)

  May 26, 2021 ,

Joe Cuba Sextet – Wanted Dead or Alive (Bang! Bang! Push, Push, Push) 1975 Fania/Tico Repress SLP-1146, Mono mix |||  1966 (Original release) You can’t really talk about the Latin boogaloo without mentioning the song “Bang! Bang!”. The Joe Cuba Sextet had been around the flourishing New York scene for a while by this time, and had a bunch of records under their collective belts, so you can’t exactly call this a ‘breakthrough album.’ But the song – allegedly written … Continue reading

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Ray Barretto – Barretto Power (1970) (2020 Craft Records)

  May 22, 2021

Ray Barretto – Barretto Power (1970) Original release, Fania Records This reissue, 2020 Craft Recordings CR003300 Have I mentioned how fantastic it is that the Fania catalog is finally being curated with the respect and attention to quality and detail that the music deserves?  After decades of crap CD remasterings, brick-walled for iTunes, Concord records has acquired the rights along with the family of labels Fania acquired when they bought out their competition (e.g. Alegre, Tico) and has been contracting … Continue reading

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Marion Brown – Porto Novo (1969) (2020 RSD Org Music)

  May 14, 2021 ,

Marion Brown – Porto Novo Original release 1969 as Polydor 583 724 Reissued in 1975 as Arista/Freedom AL 1001 This reissue, 2020 ORG Music / Freedom (ORGM-2149) I thought a change of pace was warranted here to correspond with a new chapter in my life.  Marion Brown played pretty “free” but he could still swing as well as squonk.  He made this album a few years after moving to Europe in the late 60s.  It’s hard at times to believe … Continue reading

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Joe Cuba Sextet – Vagabundeando (Hangin’ Out) (1964)

  April 28, 2021 ,

Joe Cuba Sextet – Vagabundeando! (Hangin’ Out) 1964 Tico Records SLP-1112 1990s CD reissue (undated) The Good Doctor has been busy shaping young minds and maybe some hearts in recent days, toiling away on a class where I hopefully provoke them to think about music in different ways than they had before.  And while there is almost always a soundtrack involved, I have precious little time to share it with you all.  Here is another offering from the Joe Cuba … Continue reading