Chris Rea - Josephine
label: Magnet
year: 1985
side a: Josephine
side b: Josephine (Edit-Remix-Version)
www.chrisrea.com

Yesterday's Lou Rawls single had something fi do with a man from my past, well, today's Chris Rea single is connected to that man's son. He was my best friend at school. His big sister was my first big love, which didn't sit very well with my friend, but hey, I was sixteen and hormones were raging uncontrollably. I think the single actually was his, I don't remember how it ended up in my collection. I certainly didn't buy it because I don't like it and I never did. The only reason I've held on to it over the years is because it reminds of my friend. That, and the fact that I never sell or throw away any of my vinyls.

Lou Rawls - Fine Brown Frame
label: Capitol
year: 1989
side a: Fine Brown Frame (w/ Dianne Reeves)
side b: Two Years of Torture
www.lourawls.com | www.diannereeves.com

I guess I bought this single because I didn't own anything by Lou Rawls at the time, and I wanted to. I think I got in a shop in Bruges where you couldn't listen to the records, for if I could have I wouldn't have purchased it. Not that it's bad, but it's not really my cup of tea. The thing is, I actually wanted to get only one single by the singer, "See You When I Git There", out of sentimental reasons yes, sentimental reasons. It reminds me of a man who had a big impact on my way of thinking when I was a teenager. "See You When I Git There" was his favourite song. So this was a surrogate or something. But it doesn't do the job for me. So I got a greatest hits album with the song on it instead.

The Rapture - W.A.Y.U.H. (People Don't Dance Anymore)
label: Vertigo
year: 2006
side a: W.A.Y.U.H. (People Don't Dance Anymore)
side b: I Still Love Rock n Roll
www.therapturemusic.com | www.myspace.com/therapture

I wonder when they're releasing some new stuff. Pieces from the People We Love was three years ago already. We need more Rapture.
Fun fact: "W.A.Y.U.H." is the official anthem of the New York Red Bulls.

Raphael - Yo soy aquel
label: Hispavox
year: 1966
side a1: Yo soy aquel
side a2: Es verdad
side b1: La noche
side b2: Hasta Venecia
www.raphaelnet.com

I was doubting whether I should post this one, seeing as here in Spain you can hardly turn on the telly or open a magazine without this guy staring you in the face. We even find Raphael in our soup, as they say in the beautiful Spanish language. But it's the next in line in these series, and befehl ist befehl so here it is.

I don't remember when I bought this single, but it was because of the sleeve and the memory of hearing Raphael sing once with the kind of drama you find in Almodóvar's films. He represented Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1966 with the title track of this single, and he might be the country's most internationally known artist after Julio Iglesias and, err, Los Del Río? As I said, he's all over the place these days, as he's celebrating half a century on stage.

The Jacksons - Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)
label: Epic
year: 1979
side a: Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)
side b: That's What You Get (For Being Polite)
www.michaeljackson.com

Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
label: Epic
year: 1982
side a: Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
side b: Rock with You

Re-post of the two Jackson 45s I own, from the time I had just started my record buying career. Michael Jackson was not yet called Wacko Jacko, new 7" were only five guilders and turntables were called record players. Ah, the good old days.

Some conscious tunes for your soul. Satta!

Playlist:
01. Original Survivors - Come Away Jah Children [Clappers]
02. Winston & The New Establishment - Creation Version [Studio One]
03. Cedric IM Brooks & The Light Of Saba - Lambs Bread Collie [Honest Jons]
04. The Abyssinians - Satta Massagana [Heart Beat]
05. Linton Kwesi Johnson - Di Eagle an' di Bear [Island]
06. Bullwackies All Stars - Dub to Jah [Wackies]
07. Upsetters - Cloak & Dagger Ver. 3 [Clocktower]
08. Joe Gibbs & The Professionals - Social Justice [Crazy Joe]
09. Bad Brains - Leaving Babylon [ROIR]
10. Oku Onuora - (Heathen) Let Wi Go [Blue Moon]
11. Black Uhuru - Youth of Eglington [Island]
12. Mutabaruka - The Leaders Speak [Shanachie]
13. John Holt - Police in Helicopter [Greensleeves]
14. Yabby You & Trinity - Jah Vengeance [Blood & Fire]

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Nardo Ranks - Skin out
label: Techniques
year: 1988
side a: Skin out
side b: Version
www.myspace.com/nardoranks1

"Stalag" is probably the most used reggae riddim ever, and Nardo Ranks' version is nothing really special, but it does the job. You can hardly go wrong with this riddim, can you?

Dugsy Ranks - Move
label: Techniques
year: 1988
side a: Move
side b: Version
www.myspace.com/dugsyranks

"Stalag" is probably the most used reggae riddim ever, and Dugsy Ranks' version is nothing really special, but it does the job. You can hardly go wrong with this riddim, can you?

Ricky Ranking & Roots Manuva - Doogoo Machine
label: Banana Klan
year: 2005
side a: Doogoo Machine
side b: Doogoo Machine (Instrumental)
www.myspace.com/rickyranking | www.myspace.com/rootsmanuva

Got this one from Dewey's Killa Cutz. Veteran MC Ricky Ranking teams up with the mighty Roots Manuva for this second release on Roots' label, a kind of minimal ragga track. Instrumentation is sparse, a bit eerie even, but it makes me bounce anyway.

Tom Trago - Voyage Direct [Rush Hour] (www.myspace.com/tomtrago)
One of Amsterdam's finest beat smiths - check his numerous (contributions to) releases on Kindred Spirits and Rush Hour - goes all out on the 4/4. Deep, rich, soulful and funked-up house for dancing, driving and chilling. Ace.

video for "Voyage Direct"

Various Artists - Dirty French Psychedelics [Born Bad] (www.d-i-r-t-y.com)
Dirty posse unleashes a trunk of French psychedelics, folk, poetry without even including a single Gainsbourg track. This is a gem. If you're fast you can get a vinyl copy but there are very few left. It's worth it though, even though it has one track less than the CD.

Dirty feature on Arte

The Phenomenal Handclap Band - The Phenomenal Handclap Band [Friendly Fire/Tummy Touch/Lovemonk] (www.myspace.com/phenomenalhandclap)
Yeh, I know, shameless self-promotion but fuck it, we love this record and that's why we're releasing it in Iberia. Psychdiscorockprogsoulfunkhop is the shit these days. It will mos def be in my top ten of this year's album list schmist. And in many others', because there's a lot of people out there believing the hype. You should, too.
(out in June in the USA, July in the UK/Europe and September in Spain/Portugal)

video of "You'll Disappear", live

Quantic And His Combo Bárbaro - Tradition in Transition [Tru Thoughts] (www.quantic.org)
It's Will Holland's new project and it's fine, ooh, so fine. He got together with a group of great musicians from all over the place in Cali, Colombia, and together they make sweet sweet music the way Holland has been doing over the years with all of his bands. Truly fantastic.
(out in July)

trailer of Tradition in Transition - Postcard from Cali