In The Trashcan Records
GARBAGE91
"It's
more than just "novelty"; also popcorn, exotica, soul and library tunes get
this Ungawa touch. All over the world they know this word, the sexiest in
rock 'n' roll history..."
Louie Ramirez aka Ali Baba recorded a lot of fine latin tunes (his Fania album "Ali Baba" is highly recommended!), but to me his most exciting recording is this one, a song about a girl from Mars named Ungawa. It took me a very long time to find this 45. I play this song to end my DJ set when I am the last DJ of the evening.
Another great instrumental selection for this volume. Was this written for a movie sequence? It’s better than any Kaempfert or Bacharach composition from that era. Halfway through the song this instrumental turns out to be a vocal tune: a female choir lifts this song up to an even higher level.
And here’s another Ungawa song. It’s no surprise I collect all songs with Ungawa references. Take half of the Tom & Jerrio couple (see vols 14, 46 and 86) and you get this great Afro Twist boogaloo tune.
In 1967 on Double Shot, this reissue on the Belgian Palette label was coupled with “I’m not afraid” on the A-side. It’s a poppy tune with fine snotty vocals, a fast pace and not so silly lyrics. This could have been a hit single, alas…
A 70s song by a band I don’t know anything about. I know that they recorded for Polydor and for Contact in the early 70s. I assume they were from the New York area. The b-side is “My own man”
Early 70s slow rock tune as B-side of “Queen of spades”. Were they a Danish outfit? I never heard of this five-piece before. A great psych guitar break in the middle makes this song a little bit longer than necessary, more than three and a half minutes.
And this is the b-side of the Ungawa song by Louie Ramirez aka Ali Baba. Almost four minutes long “Cooking with Ali” with Latin and boogaloo ingredients on the legendary Fania label.
It sounds like The Classics IV’s “Spooky” with different lyrics and some added spice. This B-side of “I wanna make it with you tonight” features two great soulful singers.
Don’t let the year of release fool you: this b-side of “Les chansons françaises” is better than that. Mix Jacques Dutronc with Les Poppys and Billy Ze Kick and you know what to expect.
There are so many versions of “Stronger than dirt”, but this version as b-side of “Apples, peaches, pumpkin pie” is one of my faves. The hardest must be the one by The Mummies. There are also a lot of instrumental renditions of this cool song. A great soul touch and a heavy guitar and that’s all I need to dance.
Oh yes, also this Jerryo platter has two fantastic sides. And it’s even faster than the flipside also on this volume. One year later it was also released on the JayBee label.
Blue eyed soul by a guy who only wants to dance and that’s what I’m doing right now! Parts of this song sound like “Quick Joey Small”, the classic Kasenetz-Katz tune. Bobby Bloom was also active in several bands of this producer duo such as The Music Explosion, The Archies and Captain Groovy & His Bubblegum Army.
Originally released on Tico 490, this b-side of “Oh Yeah!” is one of Joe Cuba’s finest dance tunes. Tropical fiesta por favor
On the B-side of this split single you find the previous selection. Layng Martine Jr aka Professor Morrison recorded several 45s for the White Whale label in 1968-69. This one was originally coupled with “Duba buba doo”. A fine teenyboppin’ bubblegum tune.
This is a later release of their “Wild weekend” and it has another flip. “Donkey twine”, a superb dancing instrumental with several breaks, a swirling organ and a fantastic fuzz guitar. I’ll play this at one of my next gigs. Even wheel chair aficionados will tap their toes.
And I end this volume with another big band soundtrack score, but the movie never happened. This great theme of the midem (what’s a midem?) is the perfect slice for this Ungawa compilation.
