Booker T. & The M.G.'s - McLemore Avenue (Stax - 1970)

Booker T liked so much The Beatles Abbey Road album that he decided to cover it entirely in Memphis with his M.G.'s pals (Steve Cropper, Donald "Duck" Dunn and Al Jackson), giving to the resulting album the name of the street were Stax studios were, McLemore Avenue. Of course, those guys were so talented that they completely appropriated the Fab Four songs to make them their own, mixing them in a 3 instrumental funky as hell medleys and a single track, Something. Only a tight band like Booker T. & The M.G.'s could mix Golden Slumbers, Carry That Weight, Here Comes The Sun and Come Together in a single song without sounding strange. The other medleys gathers Because/You Never Give Me Your Money and Sun King/Mean Mr. Mustard/Polythene Pam/She Came In Through The Bathroom Window/I Want You (She's So Heavy) with the same success. It's deep funk going pop with major success. Even the record cover is a cool pastiche of the Abbey Road original cover.

Download => Booker T. & The M.G.'s - McLemore Avenue

Traffic Sound - Yellow Sea Years - Peruvian Psych-Rock-Soul 1968-71 (Vampisoul - 2005)

When you think about Peru, you don't necessarily associate that country musical scene with psychedelic rock. But there is no reason that can explain that this small country would have not been touched by the 70's psychedelic wave. Traffic Sound was at first a covers band created in 1968 by Manuel Sanguinetti (vocals), Freddy Rizo-Patrón (rhythm guitar), Jean Pierre Magnet (sax), Willy "Wilito" Barclay (lead guitar), Willy Thorne (bass) and Luis "Lucho" Nevares (drums). They recorded their first album, A Bailar Go Go, in 1968. They then recorded three more albums but this time with original material: Virgin in 1969, Traffic Sound in 1971 and Lux in 1971. Traffic Sound music easily suffer comparison with its American or European counterparts of the times. They are not an exotic fade but a  strong band with tight songs shaped for worlwide acceptance and success. Even if they used English in their songs, their latin roots can be heard all over their music but in a subtle way especially in the percussion work or the use of the Afro fused saxophone. There isn't any real psychedelic band without their drug hymn. For Traffic Sound, it's the infamous Meskhalina, released in 1969. Making the music of this band available was necessary and we can thank Vampisoul to have selected the best tracks of their albums for this wonderful compilation.

Download => Traffic Sound - Yellow Sea Years

Hedzoleh Soundz - Hedzoleh Soundz (EMI - 1973?)

Another African gem reissued by Soundway. Hedzoleh Soundz were ailing from Ghana were they became quite famous as the Napoleon nighclub resident band. This were they met Masekela which used four tracks of their first LP, Hedzoleh Soundz, for his own record, Masekela Introducing Hedzoleh Soundz. Hedzoleh Soundz is characterized by its emphasis on traditional hypnotic percussions, catchy flute and guitar parts with a strong bluesy flavour. Truly original and never boring.

Download => Hedzoleh Soundz