Friday’s first groove. This one has been a favorite for most of my life.
Soul Makossa by Manu Dibango has an interesting history. Check the Wikipedia entry which notes that the track is the most sampled African song in history. Manu Dibango was from Cameroon.
It was released as a single in 1972 in France by the Fiesta label.
1972 an incredible year for music in the US… Radio playlists in NYC were really eclectic. While Soul Makossa started to get noticed in 1972, it charted in 1973 after Atlantic released it in the US. It’s been covered extensively and even reworked and re-recorded by the artist himself. If You Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ comes to mind, you’re right. Read the Wikipedia entry 😅
The groove is relentless and irresistible…and Dibango’s sax plays an unforgettable hook.
Some say it’s a proto disco track. The two-handed 16th note hihat part certainly is a foundation of disco drumming, but the kick drum part feels more like funk as it’s not playing straight quarter notes. Just listen and enjoy. Thank me later if it’s new to you 😃
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