Flash a flashlight
I will confess that I’m not the biggest disco fan. Now, I do like me some house music, especially in the right room on the right sound system, and David Mancuso is certainly one of my DJing heroes. But the stuff that was on the radio in the 70s, and the thousands of reissues over the last few years? That’s a big “No” from me, dawg.
Here’s what does do it for me in the world of disco: Bubblegum, the South African version of the genre that’s a predecessor to all that country’s subsequent electronic dance styles: kwaito, gqom and now amapiano. It’s immediately recognizable as South African with direct links to earlier styles like mbaqanga, marabi and kwela, but it has disco’s relentless four-on-the-floor rhythm and devil-may-care ethos.
Inspired by a terrific new bubblegum compilation called Yebo! Rare Mzansi Beats From Apartheid’s Dying Years, the whole second hour this week is ten or so of my favorite bubblegum tracks in a more platter, less chatter dance mix that you might want to crank up and share with your neighbors. Just sayin’ ….
Also this week (Sunday July 9, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards at wrir.org/listen, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site): it’s an all-African episode this time featuring a trip to Mali, two of today’s best desert blues bands in brand new live recordings, and the irresistible dance sounds of Congolese soukous.
Podcast: radio4all.net/program/115856
All the podcasts: radio4all.net/series/Global%20A%20Go-Go
Show archive
Playlist
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Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros, “Global a Go-Go”
from Global A Go-Go
BMG Rights Management (US) LLC - 2001
England UK
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Nyboma & L'orchestre Les Kamalé Dynamiques du Zaïre, “Doublé doublé”
from Doublé doublé
MAIKANO - 2018
RD Congo, 1982
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Obed Ngobeni & Kurhula Sisters, “Ku Hluvukile Eka "Zete"”
from Yebo! Rare Mzansi Party Beats From Apartheid's Dying Years
BBE - 2023
South Africa, 1983
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Om Alec Khaoli, “Make Me Your Lover”
from Say You Love Me - EP
The Gallo Record Company Vault - 1984
South Africa
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Nomuntu & Chimora, “Being Bitchy Is My Kind Of Fun”
Gallo Record Company - 2002
South Africa, 1989
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Benjamin Ball, “Flash a Flashlight”
from Boogie Breakdown - South African Synth Disco: 1980 to 1984
Cultures of Soul Records - 2016
South Africa, 1983
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Chicco, “We Miss You Manelow”
from We Miss You Manelow
Universal Music (Pty) Ltd. - 2015
South Africa, 1987
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Tools & Figs, “Blackout”
from Yebo! Rare Mzansi Party Beats From Apartheid's Dying Years
BBE - 2023
South Africa, 1991
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The Angels, “Johnny Boy”
from Yebo! Rare Mzansi Party Beats From Apartheid's Dying Years
BBE - 2023
South Africa, 1985
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