Quite often, I compile songs for the heck of it, and of course, for my listening pleasure at home or while cruising on the streets of Los Angeles. Most of the time, though, my compilations takes place at Samaka Studios where I create all the beats before the sound engineers and production crews arrives for the normal evening jam sessions. Compilations doesn't take much, that is, if you are not mixing sounds to produce entirely a different kind of vibe depending on the program and sofware one is using.
However, it came to my mind to do some crazy stuff. I mean, being a music enthusiast and one who has a lasting passion for good vibes dating back to the good ol' 70s when series of music categories were coined to catch up with the rhythms of African beats. It was then that Afro Beat, Afro Rock, Ikwokirikwo and the rest came into being. In this case, I coined my compilations 'Jungle Beat' and had selected five legendary African performers - Fela, Hugh Masekela, Manu Di Bango, Osibisa and Brenda Fassie - who aren't the best of them all, but who, in my own assessment have left a mark in the world music scene.
Fela's 'Expensive Shit' album was number one on my list and I had selected "Water No Get Enemy" as the first track of this compilation. The album was first released in 1975 and I first heard the vibe popping up from a neigbor's house during which time Fela had begun to showcase his talents in playing series of instruments entertaining his audiences at the Shrine.
There are ten tracks in this compilation of legendary African musicians and bands of which five recording artists were involved. Fela at number 0ne, six and 10 makes the compilation a masterpiece. Masekela at number two, seven and nine would make one wanna holla hearing these beats pop up from the jungle. Manu di Bango, the Cameroonian music maestro and legendary saxophonist took number three spot with the track, 'Oh! Koh!' Osibisa, my childhood heroes features at number four and number eight with the tracks 'Che Che Kule,' 'Happy Children,' respectively. The Queen of African Pop, Brenda Farsi with the track 'Vul'ndlela' at track five concludes my picks as the best of my 'Jungle Beat' compilations. All a mind-blowing sensation.
TRACK LIST:
1. Water No Get Enemy - Fela Anikulapo Kuti
2. Excuse Me Please - Hugh Masekela
3. Oh! Koh! - Manu di Bango
4. Che Che Kule - Osibisa
5. Vul'indlela - Brenda Fassie
6. Sorrows, Tears and Blood - Fela
7. The Boy's Doing It - Masekela
8. Happy Children - Osibisa
9. Mama - Masekela
10.Expensive Shit - Fela
Absolutely, there is a message in the music!
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