Letta Mbulu - What Is Wrong With Groovin' (1967)

Letta Mbulu - What is Wrong With Groovin'

This one, written by Hugh Masekela, is an old favorite track of mine that I used to play weekly at Local 16 on U St in DC.  I'm not even sure where this track first appeared, but it was recorded in 1967 and thanks to Jazzman Gerald Short of Jazzman Records, it was re-released in 2001. I got it off this comp called Ouelele - Another Collection of Modern Afro Rhythms, off of Comet Records.

Letta Mbulu was born and raised in South Africa. In 1965 she left for the States and went on to work with David Axelrod, Cannonball Adderly, and Harry Belafonte. 

Farid - Crowd Control (2000)

I checked in with Farid and got his approval to post these two tracks off his Crowd Control EP. This was an exciting time for DC underground music. I was happy to finally find this record probably about five years ago. I was djing at the Lounge one night and as usual, Farid was in the house. When I showed him my recent find, he told me he didn't even have a copy of it on vinyl, and asked me to buy it if I ever saw it again. Of course I ran into another copy a couple months later at CD Game Exchange at 18th St and Columbia Rd NW in Adams Morgan. Coincidentally, the album cover art was shot at an old electronics shop that used to be right there on the other side of Columbia Rd.

Many thanks to Farid for these great tracks.

Farid - Pit Stop

Farid - DC Masala

DJ Day - Four Hills (2007)

DJ Day - Four Hills (2007)

This record stayed in my bag and in my sets for at least a full year right in and around the time I transitioned to Serato. I was glad to be able to tell him this when he came to DC to play at Eighteenth Street Lounge last month. His set was all encompassing, educating and motivating the dancefloor while maintaining a high standard with straight classics old and new. I still need details on the 1950's, 1960's R&B power set that happened 2/3's into his set. It hurts just thinking about my ignorance of that heat. Thanks for permission to post this beautiful track.

Hutchy - Gas Prices/Dub Prices (2008)

Michael Hutchinson aka Hutchy aka Song Writer of the year 2007 DC Reggae Awards Sponsor by Jamaica National produced these videos here in DC about a year ago. Hutchy recruited friends to make these videos happen. He had serious help from our friend Robin Bell http://bellvisuals.com/ who shot and edited these videos. Hutchy was going relevant on this track addressing gas prices and the economy. His 2007 album, My Time hit the Billboard charts in the UK. You can also find him on early Thievery Corporation albums, namely Sounds from the Thievery Hi-Fi. Hutchy also performed with Thievery Corporation at 930 Club in DC in January, 2009.

DJ Dolores - Salvo! [The Preacher] (2007)

Many thanks to Mike G who put me onto this track when we met in Rio a few weeks back. He was playing this compilation at the flat we rented for the week, and this track jumped out at me. This is not recorded off vinyl, but who cares. DJ Dolores aka Helder Aragão is from Recife, Brazil. As far as I know, he's still over there, but has performed with the band Apaerlhagem in NYC at SOB's as recently as July, 2007.

DJ Dolores - Salvo! [The Preacher] ( 2007)

Liquid People feat Heidi Vogel - Don't You Go Away (2003)

This is a great track off the Yellow Productions record label. The label was started in 1993 in Paris by DJ Yellow and Chris LeFriant aka Bob Sinclair. The UK's Liquid People are Dan Smith (Cambridge) and Conan Manchester (Colchester). Heidi Vogel is from London and has performed, recorded and toured with countless artists including The Brand New Heavies, Zero DB, Cinematic Orchestra, and Kindred Spirit.  

Liquid People feat Heidi Vogel - Don't You Go Away

Belleh - Friday (ca. 2008)

Belleh is from Liberia and once again, there's very limited info on them on the cd, and no info on them online... until now. This album (CD) has a self titled song, which is one of the strongest songs on the album. I had to include a few others because they're too good. 

Belleh - Belleh

Belleh - Mublee

Belleh - Popo Wlee

Belleh - Shay Deeway