Update from Soundway - Mulatu/Panama Funk

[bedward]

This just in:
The bad news first -Soundway have had to shelve their Mulatu restrospective due to unresolved licensing issues.
The good news - The Panama Funk set is due to hit the stores 20th March

Tracklisting as follows:

CD- 1) Los Exagerados – Panama Esta Bueno y … Ma 2) The Exciters – Exciters Theme 3) Bush y Sus Magnificos – Nana Nina 4) Victor Boa y Sus Musica –Soy Solo Para Ti 5) Freddy y Sus Afro Latinos – Maltrato 6) Papi Brandao y Su Ejecutivos – Viva Panama 7) Los Silvertones – Old Buzzard 8) Los Fabulosos Festivals – El Mensaje 9) The Exciters – The New Bag 10) Bolita y Su Tentacion Latina – Descarga Tentacion 11) Los Caballeros de Colon – Con Los Caballeros 12) Los Dinamicos Exciters featuring Ralph Weeks – Let Me Do My Thing 13) Los Mozambiques – Viva Tirado 14) Maximo Rodriguez y Sus Estrellas Panamenas – Mambologia 15) Lord Cobra and Pana-Afro Sounds – Rocombey

Vinyl - SIDE A. 1) Los Exagerados – Panama Esta Bueno y … Ma 2) The Exciters – Exciters Theme 3) Bush y Sus Magnificos – Nana Nina 4) Maximo Rodriguez y Sus Estrellas Panamenas – Mambologia SIDE B. 1) Los Caballeros de Colon – Con Los Caballeros 2) Victor Boa y Sus Musica –Soy Solo Para Ti 3) Los Fabulosos Festivals – El Mensaje 4) Los Silvertones – Old Buzzard SIDE C. 1) Bolita y Su Tentacion Latina – Descarga Tentacion 2) The Exciters – The New Bag 3) Papi Brandao y Su Ejecutivos – Viva Panama SIDE D. 1) Freddy y Sus Afro Latinos – Maltrato 2) Los Dinamicos Exciters featuring Ralph Weeks – Let Me Do My Thing 3). Lord Cobra and Pana-Afro Sounds – Rocombey 4) Los Mozambiques – Viva Tirado

[bedward]

And more from the label:

Western musical connoisseurs have often overlooked the contribution of Panama. Even those specializing in Latin music tend to focus on the triangle of Cuba/ Puerto Rico/ New York or head further south to Brazil. This compilation aims to redress the balance and show that the music of Panama can stand up and be counted among the very best, whether it be saucy calypso, smoking funk or straight Latin fire.

This album represents an important departure for Soundway, being our first collection of music from outside the African continent. Just as with previous releases, the fruit of numerous trips to Panama and days spent digging through dusty basements is this selection of cuts never before released outside Panama sourced from long-deleted albums or obscure 45s. They have all been carefully licensed and re-mastered and sound as vibrant and relevant today as the day they were released.

The music of Panama reflects the melting-pot diversity of the country itself, ranging from the musica tipica (mestizo folk music) influenced by the cumbia and vallenato of Columbia to the South, through Afro-Cuban sounds such as the son, rumba, guaracha and guaguanco, to mento and proto-Calypso arriving from Jamaica and Trinidad. This rich mix was further enhanced with rancheras, boleros, foxtrots and military marches being brought South by Mexican soldiers and Afro-American jazz and gospel also filtered in from the port at New Orleans.

As with all our releases, the emphasis is on music that works on the dance-floor, rather than typically ‘world music’ authenticity, we look for fusions of local and international styles, crazy cover versions and rare and original sounds – just as long as they are heavy enough to make the people move. The album will be accompanied by a detailed and lovingly researched booklet featuring reproduced original artwork and rare photos of the artists at the time.

[jahspear]

bedward said:

The good news - The Panama Funk set is due to hit the stores 20th March

In the diary, they haven't let me down yet with their releases. Particular favourite is the Geraldino Pino release - Super Soco Soul Live. This is blistering stuff.