Lodekka, once a brand of double-decker bus used around the UK, is now the pseudonym of Stuart Dace, whose self-titled debut EP has jazz and dub in its soul.
U-Roy / Natty Rebel
Soul Rebel is the title of the original track by The Wailers but I love U-Roy’s jaunty chatting on his version, Natty Rebel. It sounds effortless, like he pulled it out of the bag in one take. I like to play my melodica along to this one.
Eddie Harris / Funkorama
The late, great Eddie Harris, fantastic musician, electronics pioneer and endless experimenter. He stuck a trombone mouthpiece on a sax and invented the Saxobone and played the trumpet with a reed mouthpiece. You get the idea. This track has an extended Varitone (electric) sax intro that gets me every time! The band join in, Eddie takes a simple musical motif, and just runs with it, plays it one way, then another and then turns it on its head. To me, it’s such a joyfully funky sound.
Small Faces / Lazy Sunday
Some of London’s finest. I can’t help myself, I have to join in with this good humoured, chirpy sing-along. Aroo de do de do, aroo de do de di day.
Eek-A-Mouse / Wa-Do-Dem
Ah, the unmistakable sound of Eek-A-Mouse with his ’singjay’ (singer/deejay) style. His completely individual scatting in what sounds like his own language always brings a smile. This is the title track of his 1982 album. It’s a tale of Eek out and about with his girl. A classic.
Dr. John / Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya
The album Gris-Gris is as smoke filled, psychedelic and swampy as one could possibly want. This track begins with an eerie, lo-fi horn line, then The Night Tripper lists his potions and wares and tells of their effects. Soulful backing singers join in to sell the chorus, all underpinned by a deep, rolling groove. Great artwork too. Looks exactly how the album sounds. Magical.
Wayne Smith / Under Mi Sleng Teng
I remember hearing this when it first came out. It sounded so ‘digital’. The infectious rhythm was created on the Casiotone MT-40 home keyboard. Before long there were whole albums full of versions. This one’s my favourite.
Don Air / Joy Dub
From the Carpenters’ Delight album, this track is a spacious groove that takes drums, bass, bass clarinet, a pinch of choral vocals and a skank, mixes gently and simply lets it roll. Never ever fails to get heads nodding.
Rahsaan Roland Kirk / Make Me A Pallet On The Floor
I think that this track sounds happy and sad at the same time. It’s from his last album, Boogie-Woogie String Along For Real. There’s a wonderful, curly clarinet solo and characterful lead vocal from Rahsaan on this foot tapping ditty about a man who’s just looking to rest his head. We all know that feeling!
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What a selection!
Tunes to lay a man down,raise him up and make him move with a smiling foot step:-)