this is great.

The founding fathers of Zimpop are presented here in all of their original glory, with the added bonus of some much-needed remastering. While most of Zimbabwe was still singing Western pop covers with a bit of rhumba mixed in, the Hallelujah Chicken Run Band were changing the sound of the country. Under the guidance of guitarist Joshua Hlomayi Dube and singer Thomas Mapfumo (in his earliest years), the band was replacing pop songs with traditional ideas -- the guitar being given a staccato sound to mimic aspects of the mbira, and Mapfumo's vocals mimicking its sounds as well. At the same time, lyrics were at least occasionally made political and rebellious, and sung in Shona, a major issue given the political climate of Rhodesia at the time. Here, some of the best recordings from the band's run are presented, including a handful from a very early session with Teal Records that launched the band nationally. The work is always excellent, and the band has far more coherence and ability than one might expect from a ragtag group of performers, barkeeps, part-time farmers, and the like. This album is an excellent piece both for those interested in the development of Zimbabwe's sound and those who are simply fans of Mapfumo. Additionally, it's just a mighty good listen.

I'm digging these two discs a lot:

The In-Kraut, Hip-Shaking Grooves Made in Germany 1967-1974 (Vols 1 and 2)

Whoa, what are these like?

A mindblowing little set -- and a massive overview of soul music in Spain during the late 60s and early 70s, filled with incredible tunes we've never heard before, all supported by great notes in both English and Spanish! The Spanish soul groove is a bit rougher than that of the US -- kind of a reworking of familiar ideas (and sometimes familiar songs), played by artists who really love the music, but sometimes come from more rock or beat group sides of the musical spectrum. Yet as the Spanish soul movement progressed, things definitely tightened up a fair bit -- as local acts were joined by visiting singers and musicians from North and South America, fertilizing the scene with new styles and ideas! The 2CD set features 37 tracks in all -- nearly all of which were fresh to our ears, and made the collection even more amazing than we might have thought. Titles include "Tabasco" by Los Pekeniques, "Respect" by Circulos, "Ven Conmigo" by Finders, "Trying To Get You" by Z 66, "Black Cat" by Los Dixies, "It's My Thing" by Presidents, "Golden Soul" by Conjunto Nueva Onda, "Black Bird" by Henri Vidal Y Su Grupo Pop, "Todo Gira" by Los Impala, "Woovy Groovy" by Los Buenos, "I Will Pray" by Conexion, "Melenas Club" by Frank Miller & Hispania Soul, "I Felt For Your Love" by Calibre 38, "Family Affair" by Jimmy Stone, and "Beggin" by Duo Inter.