For today, I wanted to share with you “Ain’t No Sunshine“, a splendid cover of Bill Withers‘ timeless hit, reinterpreted here in a beautiful & ultra groovy Island Soul Jazz way by the Dominican Diva Ophélia Olivaccé-Marie, taken from her only live album recorded in 1981 in Paris at the Theatre de la Renaissance concert hall.

One of my favorite version of this classic, hope you’ll like it – Enjoy !

Ophélia Olivaccé-Marie – Ain’t No Sunshine (Live Version) (Dominica, 1981, Apia)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/lDqClDbNLdU

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Sunday, see you on next Wednesday for another musical (re)discovery !

Armand de Preseau

For today, I wanted to share with you “Latin Parang“, a sweet balearic Island Latin Soul Funk track backed with bewitching voices, one of its kind blend of Calypso, Soca, Disco & Folk flavors, taken from a very hard to find double sider recorded in 1980 by the mysterious composer & musician Colleen Grant (any infos are welcome !).

This title is referring to Parang music, a style of Folk music from Venezuelan and Colombian immigrants that came to the Caribbean, and evolved to include elements of Latin music, Disco and Soca. Although traditionally used to be played during the festive season in Trinidad and Tobago, Parang Music continues to heat up dancefloors all year round.

Hope you’ll like it, enjoy !

Colleen Parang – Latin Parang (Barbados, 1980, RH Productions)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/aAYThyfXALM

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Sunday, see you on next Wednesday for another musical (re)discovery !

Armand de Preseau

For today, I wanted to share with you “Avia Hilalao“, a super sweet Pop Soul Jazzy Folk track from Madagascar (Indian Ocean), taken from a single recorded in 1958 by the Madagascan duet “Les Barijaona“, composed by Barijaona & O’Suzy (Odette Suzana).

While they were giving some concerts in France in the early 60s, this song was plagiarized by Frank Sinatra‘s entourage, the composer & producer Clarence Carson Parks. Lawsuits took place, but the artists lost, and the song “Something Stupid” was released shortly after by Carson Parks in 1966 (credited as its original writer & composer !), and then released again the following year by Frank Sinatra & his daughter Nancy, and became an international hit.

One of a kind jewel from the Red Island, another historical & musical testimony of the wealth of this island – Enjoy !

Avia Hilalao – Les Barijaona (Madagascar, 1958, Ossian)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/NFRRXoLbkRQ

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Sunday, see you on next Wednesday for another musical (re)discovery !

Armand de Preseau

For today, I wanted to share with you “Choual Dam Ba Lad“, a fantastic deep rootsy frantic Cadence Folklore Biguine with a psychedelic swing, one of the multiple versions of the Haïtian Traditional song “Zanmi Camarade“, interpreted here by an Haitian Folkloric Troup leaded by Pierre Benedict Joseph, and recorded in 1974 during a trip of the band to Paris (France).

The band included :

Pierre Benedict Joseph : Leader, Flute, Saxophone ;

Louis Larose : Organ, Piano, Accordion ;

Dieujuste Dorlette : Bass Guitar ;

Ednor Cherisme (Percussions) ;

Mrs Louis Larose, Helene Joanis : Vocals, Chorus ;

Different & really hard to find beautiful LP from start to finish, hope you’ll like it !

Pierre Joseph & La Troupe d’Haïti – Choual Dam Ba Lad (Haïti, 1974, Song Records)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/P6yQwv0t8wM

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Wednesday, see you on next Sunday for another musical (re)discovery !

Armand de Preseau

For today, I wanted to share with you “Caramba“, a storming Tropical Cadence Latin track, recorded in the 70s by the Haitian band “Les Masterful d’Haiti” and only available on a compilation released on the legendary Guadeloupean record label “Disques Debs” (French West Indies).

Leaded by the composer & musician Pierre François Belony, the band included many great artists such as :

Leader, Bass : Pierre François Belony ;

Saxophone : Ernest Napoléon ;

Solo Guitar : Daniel Acloque ;

Rhythm Guitar : Sylfrid Roche ;

Organ, Vocal : Garçonnet Syllas ;

Drums : Sylvain Roche ;

Tambour : Yves Touzin ;

Gong, Vocal : Hugues Neconte ;

Vocals : Henry Demant ;

Cherry on the cake : this ultra cute cover art – Enjoy !

Les Masterful d’Haïti – Caramba (Haïti, 1970s, Disques Debs International)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/caSVCP54uow

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Wednesday, see you on next Sunday for another musical (re)discovery !

Armand de Preseau

For today, I wanted to share with you “Doudou Créole“, an instant catchy breezy Island Zouk Boogie Soul track with Reggae flavors, taken from the only maxi single of the ephemera band “Milton“, that featured the best musicians from the French West Indies of that era, including several members of the mythical band “Kassav” from Antilles & Guadeloupe :

Arrangements : Jean-Claude Naimro ;

Lead Vocals : Patrick Saint-Eloi ;

Piano : Jose Bedin ;

Written-By : Eddy La Viny, Jean-Pierre Rascas ;

Summer anthem sweetness, recorded in 1988 in Paris (France) by the legendary French engineer Dominique Blanc-Francard at Continental Studio – Enjoy !

Milton – Doudou Créole (Martinique/Guadeloupe/France, 1988, IBO Production)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/tA8XIik2vZI

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Wednesday, see you on next Sunday for another musical (re)discovery !

Armand de Preseau

For today, I wanted to share with you “Berlioz And Fela“, a mesmerizing Island Synth Soul Jazz Funk from Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean, named in tribute to Ti-Fock’s two major influences, Hector Berlioz & Fela Kuti and taken from the 1st album recorded in 1985 at Saint-Pierre (city of Reunion Island) by the composer & musician Jean-Michel Fock, better known as Ti-Fock. It was released on the local label “102 Productions“, founded by a free radio hosts group in the mid 80s in the south of the island.

Arrangements, Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar : Michael Fock ;

Backing Vocals : Betty Boristene, Josette Pagnes, Maggie Fock ;

Percussion : Joël Gonthier, Jean-Claude Quipandié ;

Synthesizer : Christian Moutoussamy ;

Keyboards : Pascal Raymond ;

Lead Guitar : Teddy Baptiste ;

Bass : Jean-Michel Pouzet ;

Drums : Bernard Filo ;

Cherry on the cake : this gorgeous cover art by Padie, that also exist in an alternate white & green version !

Really beautiful LP from start to finish, highly recommended – Enjoy !

Ti Fock – Berlioz And Fela (La Reunion, 1985, 102 Productions) :

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/036Is_DGLi8

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Sunday, see you on next Wednesday for another musical (re)discovery !

Armand de Preseau

For today, I wanted to share with you “Syka“, an amazing uptempo catchy Island Soul Jazz Synth instrumental track with crazy synth, piano, horns parts, taken from the sole album privately recorded & released in 1980 by the composer & musician “José Manclière” (former drummer of the band “Les Kombass“), along with the finest musicians from the French West Indies :

Leader, Drums, Percussion, Electronic Drums, Vocals, Producer : José Mancliere ;

Alto Saxophone : Germain Cécé ;

Bass : Jocelyn Otto-Curier, Pierre-Édouard Décimus ;

Congas, Percussion : Jean-Robert ;

Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Synthesizer : Ramon Pyrmé ;

Flugelhorn : Herbert “Happy” Lewis ;

Guitar : Gilbert Coco ;

Piano : Patrick Jean-Marie ;

Strings : Ramon Pyrmé ;

Synthesizer : Philippe Dambury ;

Tenor Saxophone : Roland Gallas ;

Trumpet, Bugle : Roger Coco ;

A really beautiful album from start to finish, hard to find gem nowadays, hope you’ll like it – Enjoy !

José Manclière – Syka (Guadeloupe, 1980, JMD)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/C4nOUFtPz8E

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Sunday, see you on next Wednesday for another musical (re)discovery !

Armand de Preseau

Following this former article, I wanted to share with you for today “Misik A Gwo Ka“, a splendid deep Gwo Ka Funk Synth Fusion Folk instrumental track with catchy DX7 Synth parts, recorded in 1983 by the legendary guadeloupean composer & musician Erick Cosaque backed by his 80s band “X7 Dimension”.

One of my fave album from the French West Indies, perfect blend of a lot of musical influences, taken from a super hard to find album nowadays, as most of Erick Cosaque’s ones. Hope you’ll like it !

Cherry on the cake : this gorgeous cover art by Jean Raison – Enjoy !

Erick Cosaque & X7 Nouvelle Dimension – Misik A Gwo Ka

 

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/XA_fBNzSZnA

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Wednesday, see you on next Sunday for another musical (re)discovery !

Armand de Preseau

For today, I wanted to share with you “Tango Boo Gonk “, a cover of the Soul classic composed in 1971 by Kentucky’s native band “Nite-Liters“, reinterprated in 1972 in a warmer & heavier Funky Calypsoul B-Boy Beat way by the Blue Rhythm Combo from the Barbados in their holygrail debut album recorded at the mythical local Rec Studios.

This band produced some of the heaviest Funk records to come out of the Caribbean in the early ‘70s – crossing the local Spouge rhythm with a heavy dose of American styled funk and soul.

It was composed with Bert “Panta” Brown, Clarence Thompson, Don Allamby, Jeff Grannum, Kurt Dallaway, Leroy William, Tony “Boo” Rudder, Tony Grazette & Winston Blackett.

Instant Tropical dance floors stormer, hope you’ll like it – Enjoy !

Blue Rhythm Combo – Tango Boo Gonk (Barbados, 1972, Island Series)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/E-dX8vZDXao

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Sunday, see you on next Wednesday for another musical (re)discovery !

Armand de Preseau