VA - COMPAÑERO PRESIDENTE (1975)

Posted in September 2013:

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Chilean coup d’etat that ousted the constitutional president of Chile, Salvador Allende, from office and gave rise to the vicious dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet 11th September 1973. We would like to share some more music from Chile and Latin America to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Chilean human and social tragedy brought about by Pinochet’s dictatorship.

Thousands of people were tortured and killed, others ‘disappeared’ at the hands of the authorities, the secret police and more were illegally detained. Men, women and children were rounded up by the military and taken from their homes. Most were never seen alive by their families again. One million people were forced into exile.

The album "COMPAÑERO PRESIDENTE" was released in 1975 honouring Salvador Allende and the Unitad Popular and features songs by Inti-Illimani, Soledad Bravo, Andrés Jiménez, Daniel Viglietti, Ali Primera, César Isella, Quilapayún, Oscar Chávez, Angel Parra and Pablo Milanés.


Tracklist:
01 - Chile Herido [Inti-Illimani]
02 - A Salvador Allende En Su Combate Por La Vida [Soledad Bravo]
03 - Canción Al Presidente [Andrés Jiménez]
04 - Por Todo Chile [Daniel Viglietti]
05 - Canción Para Los Valientes [Alí Primera]
06 - Che Salvador [César Isella]
07 - Compañero Presidente [Quilapayún]
08 - A Salvador Allende [Óscar Chávez]
09 - Canción A Salvador Allende (Compañero Presidente) [Angel Parra]
10 - Yo Pisaré Las Calles Nuevamente [Pablo Milanés]

VA - Companero Presidente (1975)
(about 256 kbps, cover art included)

Sun Ra And His Astro Infinity Arkestra – Sound Sun Pleasure

The first half-dozen cuts on "Sound Sun Pleasure" (1970) are thought to have been documented between 1958 and 1960, during Sun Ra and his Astro Infinity Arkestra's residency in Chicago. Although Ra's arrangements are as intricate and involved as any from the era, the song list draws heavily upon standards. That said, it might be recommended as a starting point for parties not acclimated to the artist's later and exceedingly aggressive free and avant-garde leanings.

Hatty Randolph (vocals) joins the combo for a pair of refined vocals on the covers of "'Round Midnight" and "Back in Your Own Backyard." The Arkestra complement Randolph's full-bodied delivery with such finesse, it is a wonder there isn't evidence of more frequent collaborations like this. She adds a bluesy melancholia that nicely offsets the instrumentation. "You Never Told Me That You Care" - co-written by Ra and Hobart Dotson (trumpet) - stunningly demonstrates Ra's unmatched scoring and superlative sense of melody. The sweeping and languid tempo allows the tune to unravel organically. "Enlightenment" - another co-composition by the pair - is slightly more indicative of Ra's complex approach, as well as the style that would inform his later work, noted by the band's stridency around the comparatively progressive harmonics. When "Sound Sun Pleasure" was issued on compact disc in 1992, an additional seven selections were included. Chronologically, they are among the earliest known from Sun Ra, recorded at various times and locations between 1953 and 1956, yielding understandably sporadic sound quality. "Deep Purple" - from a session held in Ra's apartment -- features contributions by Stuff Smith, while Wilbur Ware (bass) duets on an emotive "Can This Be Love." Arthur Hoyle (trumpet) makes one of his first Arkestra appearances on the bouncy post-bop original "Dreams Come True" that also sports a rare Clyde Williams vocal.                

Tracklist:

1	'Round Midnight	3:55
2	You Never Told Me That You Care	5:37
3	Hour Of Parting	4:53
4	Back In Your Own Backyard	2:07
5	Enlightenment	5:09
6	I Could Have Danced All Night	3:11
7	Deep Purple	4:03
8	Piano Interlude	1:56
9	Can This Be Love	6:01
10	Dreams Come True	3:08
11	Don't Blame Me	2:53
12	'S Wonderful	2:18
13	Lover Come Back To Me	2:49

Sun Ra And His Astro Infinity Arkestra – Sound Sun Pleasure
(ca. 192 kpbs, cover art included)

Odetta - Christmas Spirituals (1960)

Wish you a peaceful Christmas!

This aren´t the Christmas songs you´ll hear in the malls or at the parades. No Santa Claus. No reindeer. No snow. But for me it would not be Christmas without this glorious album. (Although, to be honest, the music is so beautiful, I´ve put it on many times in mid-summer, and it doesn´t seem out of place.

Odetta's husky voice is often stunning, both in her a cappella performances and her songs with accompaniment. She says these songs are traditional spirituals, neither purely African nor American, but songs that emerged from the sufferings of slavery. Powerful stuff.                

Tracklist:

A1	Rise Up Shepard And Follow
A2	What Month Was Jesus Born In?
A3	Mary Had A Baby
A4	Somebody Talking 'Bout Jesus
A5	Virgin Mary Had One Son
A6	Go Tell It On The Mountain
A7	Shout For Joy
B1	Poor Little Jesus
B2	O Jerusalem
B3	Ain't That A-Rockin'
B4	If Anybody Asks You
B5	Beautiful Star
B6	Children Go Where I Send Thee

Odetta - Christmas Spirituals (1960)
(320 kbps, cover art included)

VA - Place Of Hope - Celebrating The New South Africa (1996)

"Place Of Hope" is an album with songs performed by musicians from the USA and South Africa. It was dedicated to the students of Funda Community College of South Africa. Founded in 1984, Funda is one of the oldest independent training institutions in the visual arts in South Africa, established in response to the inaccessibility of specialised training in the visual arts for black South Africans under apartheid. Built on land donated by the Urban Foundation and IBM, Funda continues to serve as a critical point of access to the visual arts sector for young black South Africans.

Tracklist:

1. Place Of Hope
2. One Love/People Get Ready
3. That's The Way Of The World
4. Place Of Hope
5. Now Or Never
6. Broken Wings
7. Thula Sizwe/I Shall Be Released
8. We Shall Overcome
9. Heal Our Land
10. Zulu Chant
11. Fragile
12. Now It's Your Turn
13. New South Africa
14. Shed A Little Light
15. Place Of Hope
16. Amazing Grace
VA - Place Of Hope - Celebrating The New South Africa (1996)
(256 kbps, cover art included)

Oscar Chávez – Nicaragua vencerá (1979)

Oscar Chávez was born in Mexico in 1935. He spent his early years studying theater at the Escuela de Arte Teatral del Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes, the Academia de Teatro del Maestro Seki Sano, and the Teatro de la Universidad. Chávez appeared in a number of films, including Los Caimanes, La Diosa de Plata, and El Heraldo. His film work led to opportunities in the emerging world of the telenovela. As an actor, vocalist, and director, Chávez participated in more than 200 radio plays for Radio Universidad.

Though a busy actor and director, his musical pursuits have earned him international fame, with more than 20 records to his credit. In his repertoire choices and compositions, Chávez has distinguished himself not only as an arranger and performer, but as champion of Mexican folklore. This preoccupation with preservation of tradition manifested itself throughout his work via the inclusion of not only traditional stories, but also protest songs. Viewing folklore as inherently political, Chávez would come to be known as the people's folk historian. Later in his career, Chávez added light political satire to his repertoire, including material that made light of current political situations and characters. Chávez continues to be an important player in the preservation of traditional Mexican music and culture.   

Here´s Oscar Chavez hommage to the Sandinista revolution against the Somoza dictatorship in Nicaragua.           

Tracklist:
01. Ya cayó Somoza
02. Con Sandino en Nicaragua
03. La Mama Ramona
04. Somos los libertadores
05. Dos palomitas blancas
06. Contra Moncada
07. Gratitud a Masaya
08. Caballo criollo
09. Corrido de Nicaragua
10. Hora cero-La Adelita

Oscar Chávez – Nicaragua vencerá (1979)
(160 kbps, front cover included)

Lee Perry - Megaton Dub Vol. 2 (1984)

Opinions (mine included) run hot and cold over this hard-to-find two volume set of Scratch dub. I don't think it is as excellent and crucial as many of its supporters claim, nor do I think it's as awful as its detractors insist. File it under odd and occasionally wonderful (but, ultimately not essential), especially if you like your Perry mix so loaded with echo it sounds as if it was recorded in a canyon. Extremely difficult to find.     - allmusic.com

More near nuclear versions, recorded at Black Ark Studio, Kingston, Jamaica. Maybe one should have no fear of atomic energy but this second round of word sound power plants deserve maximum respect. Upsetter at the apogee.
         
Tracklist:                                                     

A1	Traveling In Dub
A2	Fisherman Dub
A3	Zion In Dub
A4	Groovy Dub
B1	Dub Crisis
B2	Green Bay Killing
B3	Big Neck Dub
B4	Living In Dub

Lee Perry - Megaton Dub Vol. 2
(192 kbps, cover art included)