Alton Ellis & The Heptones – Mr. Ska Bean´a (1980)

One of the first vocalists to enter the Jamaican music business, Alton Ellis was generally revered as the greatest and most soulful singer the country ever produced — that is, until Bob Marley came along. Ellis had his first hit during the ska craze, but made his true lasting mark as the definitive solo singer of the rocksteady era. Sweet, smooth, and deeply emotive, Ellis was equally at home on Jamaican originals or reggae-fied covers of American R&B hits.

This collaboration with the Heptones was produced at Black Ark and Channel One and was released in 1980 on the Cha Cha label.

Alton Ellis & The Heptones – Mr. Ska Bean´a (1980)

(192 kbps, front cover included)

Alton Ellis & The Heptones – Mr. Ska Bean´a (1980)

One of the first vocalists to enter the Jamaican music business, Alton Ellis was generally revered as the greatest and most soulful singer the country ever produced — that is, until Bob Marley came along. Ellis had his first hit during the ska craze, but made his true lasting mark as the definitive solo singer of the rocksteady era. Sweet, smooth, and deeply emotive, Ellis was equally at home on Jamaican originals or reggae-fied covers of American R&B hits.

This collaboration with the Heptones was produced at Black Ark and Channel One and was released in 1980 on the Cha Cha label.

Alton Ellis & The Heptones – Mr. Ska Bean´a (1980)

(192 kbps, front cover included)

The Fugs – Virgin Fugs

“Virgin Fugs” collects outtakes from the April 1965 and July 1965 sessions that yielded the Fugs’ first album.

It does, however, contain some barrier-breaking (in terms of subject matter) compositions of note, such as “Coca Cola Douche,” “CIA Man,” “The Ten Commandments” (credited to GOD and Tuli Kupferberg), and “I Saw the Best Minds of My Generation Rot,” which is Allen Ginsberg prose set to music by Ed Sanders.

Several of the songs were given far more professional, full rock arrangements on the live album “Golden Filth” (recorded in 1968), if you want to hear them in less grating contexts. View this album as comedy, or as a political message, and not as outstanding music. Of course, this album is brilliant, enjoyable, and listenable again and again. Simply don’t expect Hendrix – these guys aim to offend. And listen with a smile…

The Fugs – Virgin Fugs (2005 Reissue)
(192 kbps, ca. 47 MB)

The Fugs – Virgin Fugs

“Virgin Fugs” collects outtakes from the April 1965 and July 1965 sessions that yielded the Fugs’ first album.

It does, however, contain some barrier-breaking (in terms of subject matter) compositions of note, such as “Coca Cola Douche,” “CIA Man,” “The Ten Commandments” (credited to GOD and Tuli Kupferberg), and “I Saw the Best Minds of My Generation Rot,” which is Allen Ginsberg prose set to music by Ed Sanders.

Several of the songs were given far more professional, full rock arrangements on the live album “Golden Filth” (recorded in 1968), if you want to hear them in less grating contexts. View this album as comedy, or as a political message, and not as outstanding music. Of course, this album is brilliant, enjoyable, and listenable again and again. Simply don’t expect Hendrix – these guys aim to offend. And listen with a smile…

The Fugs – Virgin Fugs (2005 Reissue)
(192 kbps, ca. 47 MB)

Stahlnetz – Wir sind glücklich (1982)

Why this synth and drums duo didn’t make much of an impact is anybody’s guess. With unabashedly catchy melodies, clever arrangements, witty lyrics plus a dose of quirky artiness you should think that they would have appealed both to the underground crowd and the masses. Instead they didn’t find success with either audience: although the single “Vor all den Jahren” was a minor hit in 1982, their album bombed and Stahlnetz disbanded.

Today, “Wir sind glücklich” is one of the rarest and most sought after German new wave records. (Which is actually pretty strange, considering that it was released on the major label Arista, you’d think there must be quite a few copies floating around.) Anyway, what you get here is beautiful, clean-sounding, metronomic synth-pop that blends the Kraftwerkian influence that goes with the genre (those post-Romantic triads!) with a sort of stripped-down, Teutonic take on Human League/Heaven 17-style pop and ironic references to German cabaret songs and Schlagermusik of the thirties and forties. Oh yeah, and Conny Plank produced.
(from: http://square-dancing.blogspot.com/)

Stahlnetz – Wir sind glücklich (1982)
(192 kbps, cover art included)

Stahlnetz – Wir sind glücklich (1982)

Why this synth and drums duo didn’t make much of an impact is anybody’s guess. With unabashedly catchy melodies, clever arrangements, witty lyrics plus a dose of quirky artiness you should think that they would have appealed both to the underground crowd and the masses. Instead they didn’t find success with either audience: although the single “Vor all den Jahren” was a minor hit in 1982, their album bombed and Stahlnetz disbanded.

Today, “Wir sind glücklich” is one of the rarest and most sought after German new wave records. (Which is actually pretty strange, considering that it was released on the major label Arista, you’d think there must be quite a few copies floating around.) Anyway, what you get here is beautiful, clean-sounding, metronomic synth-pop that blends the Kraftwerkian influence that goes with the genre (those post-Romantic triads!) with a sort of stripped-down, Teutonic take on Human League/Heaven 17-style pop and ironic references to German cabaret songs and Schlagermusik of the thirties and forties. Oh yeah, and Conny Plank produced.
(from: http://square-dancing.blogspot.com/)

Stahlnetz – Wir sind glücklich (1982)
(192 kbps, cover art included)

Male – Clever & Smart (7´´, 1979)

The german punk band Male was found in December, 1976 in Düsseldorf by Jürgen Engler, Bernward Malaka and Stefan Schwaab.

Male was one of the first punk rock bands with german lyrics and a prototype of the arising “Neue Deutsche Welle”.

Here´s their single “Clever & Smart”, recorded in 1979 at Rondo studio in Düsseldorf.

Male – Clever & Smart (1979)
(192 kbps, complete cover art included)

Male – Clever & Smart (7´´, 1979)

The german punk band Male was found in December, 1976 in Düsseldorf by Jürgen Engler, Bernward Malaka and Stefan Schwaab.

Male was one of the first punk rock bands with german lyrics and a prototype of the arising “Neue Deutsche Welle”.

Here´s their single “Clever & Smart”, recorded in 1979 at Rondo studio in Düsseldorf.

Male – Clever & Smart (1979)
(192 kbps, complete cover art included)

Them Mushrooms – Kazi Ni Kazi (Tribute To Bob Marley)

“Them Mushrooms” is by now an institution in Kenyan popular music.

The band started already in 1972, at that time with Osibisa and Black Blood as musical models. The founders were the Harrison brothers: Teddy Kalanda, John “Bishop” Katana, George Ziro and Billy Zarro. They have kept the band going ever since. First 12 years in the tourist hotels in Mombasa and then in Nairobi. As many other bands in East Africa they didn’t own any instruments. They were dependent on hotel owners to provide instruments, a situation that very much restricts the freedom of bands in Africa.
In 1976, however, Them Mushroom had managed to save enough money to buy their own set of instruments and become independent.

In 1981 Them Mushrooms issued their first album with CBS Kenya Records, named “Mama Afrika” after the title song, which was the first local reggae song recorded in East Africa. Their inspiration was Bob Marley. The album didn’t sell very well. The general local audience was not ready for reggae at that time. The following years Mushrooms played mainly benga music from Western Kenya and chakacha from the coast and other local popular styles, but kept reggae as their secret love. In 1985 they introduced the style “reggae on benga”, a fusion of reggae and benga which was a success. This beat has since been copied all over East and Central Africa. It is similar to soca from Trinidad or souk from the French Antilles.

In 1987 Them Mushrooms moved their headquarters to Nairobi playing at the Carnivore Restaurant. They also started to tour abroad and opened up their own recording studio “The Mushroom’s Sound Lab” with John “Bishop” Katana Harrison (with dreadlocks on the photo above) as sound engineer and producer. This studio has been responsibel for a number of very successful releases with Them Mushrooms and other bands.

Like many other African musicians Them Mushrooms have been exploited. Teddy Kalanda Harrisons song Jambo Bwana has been an international hit recorded by Boney M and others, but Teddy never recieved any copyright money. Them Mushrooms have managed to learn their lesson and have gradually created their own production resources and record label. They are now in a position to indepentently direct their own activities. They are a postitive role model for other bands.

Today the lineup of Them Mushrooms is:
Henry Ndenge Saha drums and vocals, Freddy Awalla Onyango guitar and vocals, Dickson Owour Onyango trumpet and vocals, John Katana Harrison keyboards and vocals, Billy Sarro Harrison bass guitar and vocals, Teddy Kalanda Harrison tenor sax and vocals.

Them Mushrooms – Kazi Ni Kazi (Tribute To Bo Marley)
(192 kbps, ca. 102 MB, front cover included)

The Best Of Chess Rock´n´Roll (1989)

“The Best of Chess Rock & Roll” gives a good portrait of the seminal record label’s massive contributions to rock & roll.

Not only are landmarks like Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode” and Bo Diddley’s “Bo Diddley” covered, but cult favorites like the Moonglows and the Students are also featured. With “Johnny B. Goode,” “Maybelline,” “Who Do You Love,” “Ain’t Got No Home,” “Rocket 88,” and “Susie Q”, it is one of the most essential single-disc rock collections ever assembled.
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The Best Of Chess Rock´n´Roll (1989)

(192 kbps, full cover art included)