Happy Thoughts

Some of that true school, mellow-hype, boom-bap rap. Smart, tight rhymes, but not overly academic either. Real stuff, but not just early-90s copy catting. Flavor. Shout out to Savannah, GA. Dope Sandwich. 

 

Slim Aarons Mix, Volume 3

The third installment is complete. This ongoing series of musical homages to the photography of Slim Aarons is always one of my favorites. A mix of lounge, exotica, Latin, African and jazz, among other sounds, from the mid-50s up through the mid-70s, just like much of Aarons' best work. Grab a cocktail and a seat by a pool for this one.

Tracklist: 

1. Elisabeth Waldo Group – Malaguena
2. Joseph Mattera & His Orchestra – Say Si Si

3. Los Indios Trabajaras – Maria

4. Puanani Alama – Keep Your Eyes on the Hands

5. Andiamo – Jerry Vale

6. Eloise and her Goombay Trio – Similau

7. Sarah Vaughn – East of the Sun

8. Martin Denny – Paradise Found

9. Les Baxter – The Left Arm of Buddha

10. Ken Griffin – Marea Baja

11. 101 Strings Orchestra – Tropicana

12. Boogaloo Joe Jones – The Mindbenders

13. Yvonne Baker – Eyes

14. Los Hacheros – Desastre

15. Los Indios Trabajaras – Maran Cariva

16. Miriam Makeba – Hamba Naye

17. Ely Camargo – Taieiras

18. Segun Bucknor – Smoke

19. Enoch Light – Hushabye Mountain

Download a copy of the mix  (media fire)

Go back for Volume 1 and Volume 2 as well. 

Vintage Africa, part one

Something new. Lots of deep cuts from 1960s-70s.  Download the mix and unmixed versions here. 

Vintage Africa Mix, part one by Classyindividual on Mixcloud

Tracklist:

Hugh Masekela - Afro Beat Blues

Pierre Antoine - Alaca Noun Min

Lijado Sisters - Life’s Gone Down Low

Martial Droubly & L’Ivoiro Stars - You Dji N’indje

P.R.O. (People’s Rock Outfit) - Blacky Joe

Orchestral Baobab - Aduna Jaral Naawo

Charlotte Dada - Don’t Let Me Down

Royal Band de Thies - N’dongo Dara

Wali & The Afro Caravan - Hail the King

Le Diamono - M’diane Kandiourane

Bola Johnson - Lagos Sisi

Roger Damawuzan - Wait for Me

Keyboard - Tomorrow We Can’t Say

Ogyatanaa Show Band - Disco Africa 

The Hygrades - Rough Rider

Marijata - We Live in Peace

Segun Bucknor - Smoke

Merry Christmas

The funky side of Christmas.

Have Yourself a Funky Little Christmas by Classyindividual on Mixcloud

Tracklist:
James Brown - Let's Make Christmas Mean Something This Year
Carla Thomas - Gee Whiz It's Christmas
Otis Redding - Merry Christmas, Baby
Booker T & The MGs - Winter Wonderland
Charles Brown - Please Come Home for Christmas
Joe Tex - I'll Make Every Day Christmas (For My Woman)
Staples Singers - Who Took the Merry Out of Christmas?
Earl Grant - Silver Bells
Binky Griptite - Stone Soul Christmas
Dilinger - Hi Fashion Christmas
The Heptones - Christmas Time is Here
Soul Saint Orchestra - Santa's Got a Bag of Soul
James Brown - Santa Claus Goes Straight to the Ghetto
Clarence Carter - Backdoor Santa
Rufus Thomas - I'll Be Your Santa, Baby
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - Ain't No Chimneys in the Projects
Otis & Carla - New Year's Resolution

Idaho Ghost Towns

Took a trip to Idaho over Labor Day weekend. In the ghost town of Custer, a ways north of Stanley, one of the remaining houses had walls lined with layers of newspaper — part insulation, part decoration. Someone lived in the house for a long time without upgrading, because the newspaper layers were every 20 years or so. You could see a layer from the early 1950s over a layer from the late 1930s and a layer beneath that that wasn't visibly dated. However, the town itself started to close down much earlier. Mining (the reason a town of a couple hundred popped up in a remote valley in the first place) stopped much earlier.

The DJ set by Boca 45 for the opening of Banksy's Dismaland. Dope. 

 

A Futuristic Spaghetti Western Soundtrack Interpretation

Just finished this mix. I've been working on gathering the songs for a while. Hard to find tunes that fit the vibe. Hope you enjoy it. 

A Futuristic Spaghetti Western Soundtrack Interpretation by Classyindividual on Mixcloud

If you do, grab the download here. 

"Bushido Blades and Blunt Guts"

The debut album from this Savannah, GA-based rap duo is a gritty, anxious, boom bap jewel. Dope Sandwich in the house. Dope KNife on the beats. 

Qknox x Beyonce

Denver's Qknox (1/3 of the GirlGrabbers) laces up a handful of Beyonce remixes that run from smooth jazz keys to this post-post take on "End of Time." A super slow build of vocals and strings gives way to some sweet bleeps, sweeps and beats.

Open Mike Eagle x Gold Panda

This song is dope. Futuristic smart rap. All sorts of cameos in the video, too. Including Hannibal Buress, Jean Grae, Quelle Chris and more. 

 

Get it from iTunes.

"Masters of Deception"

Working on a feature about Skyrider and his new album, Ghost Dance. We spent the afternoon chatting in his backyard and he mentioned this song, which I'd never heard before. This was the single off of his first album, from way back in the mid-00s, with vocals from Jim Wurster. It's lyrics ring as true today, even though it's a cover of a Reagan-era tune. Shit doesn't change. Wurster would later put out an album backed by the Skyrider Band called Hired Hand, which is recommended if you've ever enjoyed one of Nick Cave's murder ballads. 

High Risk

Something really smooth for your ears. Shigeto joins forces with trumpeter Dave Douglas and a couple other players for a new project called High Risk. The full length drops 6/23.