Soul Makossa by Manu Dibango

[Rab]

Was anyone else into this song? The base was incredible, that repetitive, pulsing beat, offset with the saxophone. This song was really distinctive, I'm wondering how many other disco songs were similar with this heavy African theme. My understanding was, this guy was mainly a jazz artist. I think he was from Cameroon?

[BrunoRepublic]

Was anyone else into this song? The base was incredible, that repetitive, pulsing beat, offset with the saxophone. This song was really distinctive, I'm wondering how many other disco songs were similar with this heavy African theme. My understanding was, this guy was mainly a jazz artist. I think he was from Cameroon?

Yes, he is Cameroonian.

Some would tell you that Soul Makossa is what really kicked of disco in the first place. There were countless covers and soundalikes when it came out, and years later, there are still songs which either sample it or were clearly inspired by it (such as Michael Jackson's "Wanna Be Starting Something").

From what I've read, Manu Dibango has long been a superstar in many parts of Africa, and was one of the founders of the genre which is now known as Afrobeat. He was already famous there by the time "Soul Makossa" (originally a b-side!) came out, and he's still active today, at almost 80 years of age.

[Disco Funk]

I could be wrong, but in spite of Manu Dibango's Cameroon roots, the musicians playing on Makossa, and many of his funk tracks from that era, were non-Africans, maybe Americans. I don't have an LP handy right now, so I'm just saying that off the top of my head.

There were a lot of cover versions. To me it doesn't sound like disco, but a lot of songs that don't sound like disco to me (disco as we know how it developed) probably got a lot of disco play back in the day. I'm more biased towards Philly soul as being the source of disco, as far back as 72, but that's just me.

Here are some other great funk jams Dibango did around that '72 to '74 period









Disco Funk

[Disco Funk]

To answer your african disco question, there were a lot of African artists who put out disco tunes. They didn't sound exactly like disco, but I imagine they were popular with the DJs. Here are some examples





and my favorite african disco group, Black Soul (unfortunately, their best cut Black Soul Music, isn't on Youtube)



Buari was an African artist, but I think the musicians were American or European session guys.



Disco Funk

[Disco Funk]

Here's another one by Buari that sounds like Costandinos could have produced it! The audio was slightly altered by the person who posted the song.



Disco Funk

[needlefingers]

There was also Fela Kuti, who was very popular and political...







A Broadway show just opened about his life. I saw it and it is very good. It is done as a concert in his homeland. It's made to look like the above video "Fela in performance" with the band on stage.

Afrobeats on Broadway!

FELA! The Most Original New Musical On Broadway

Fela! Broadway at Eugene O'Neill Theatre - Tickets and Discounts

[Jay Negron]

What a great classic.
I remember BITD the import 45 being SO hard to find.

I also remember Atlantic Records dragging it's heels on securing it and finally releasing it.

That's part of why there were so many cover versions back in '72-'73.
(another reason was that it was a great song)

When Atlantic released it it had to put on the label:
SOUL MAKOSSA (THE ORIGINAL VERSION)
because the amount of cover versions being sold.
manu dibango1.jpg

My favorite mix is the extended 12" version from France that came out a few years later!!

manu dibango2.jpg

[Bernie]

I could be wrong, but in spite of Manu Dibango's Cameroon roots, the musicians playing on Makossa, and many of his funk tracks from that era, were non-Africans, maybe Americans. I don't have an LP handy right now, so I'm just saying that off the top of my head.

Pulled out my vinyl album of "Soul Makossa" on Atlantic Records (US) and here are the musicians listed on the back cover:

1. Joby Jobs - Drums (Guadeloupe)
2. Manu Rodanet - Toumbaist (Guadeloupe)
3. Malekani Gerry - Electric Guitar (River Congo)
4. Freddy Mars - Percussion (River Congo)
5. Long Manfred - Bass (Cameroun)
6. Pierre Zogo - Acoustic Guitar (Country unknown)
7. Patrice Galas and Georges Arvanitas - Piano (France)

[Disco Funk]

Thank you Bernie for that information. I might have been thinking of the line up on Makossa Man, which was released a couple of years later, as being non Africans. Just looking at discogs, they mention that LP was recorded in France and some musicians had french names.

Disco Funk

[Disco Funk]

What a great classic.
I remember BITD the import 45 being SO hard to find.

I also remember Atlantic Records dragging it's heels on securing it and finally releasing it.

That's part of why there were so many cover versions back in '72-'73.
(another reason was that it was a great song)

That might explain the Paul Winley version released as The Mighty Tom Cats. It's actually the Manu Dibango version, but Winley put it under an alias. He also did that with Apache by Incredible Bongo Band, which he put out under the artist AKA Arawak All Stars.

Disco Funk

[Paulo]

SOUL MAKOSSA belongs to a time when it was possible to find african, spanish, french, italian and latin songs in the charts. It was a very open minded era.

Even before (in the 60's) it was easy to find italian, french and spanish songs in the charts... even japanese songs (sang in japanese!!)... like Sukyaky released around 1961 and recorded by Kyu Sakamoto... (much later remodelled in english by A Taste Of Honey).

If the DISCO movement hadn't happened, SOUL MAKOSSA would be just a SOUL song (as its name implies)... but since DISCO sprouted and evolved, it is correct to say that this song formed the basis of the disco movent along with hundreds of PHILLY SOUL songs, BARRABÁS' Woman and Wild Safari, George McRaes's ROCK YOUR BABY, Barry White's LOVE'S THEME, Marvin Gaye's WHAT'S GOING ON, Hues Corporation' ROCK THE BOAT, Isaac Hayes's SHAFT, Titanic's MACUMBA, SULTANA, RAIN 2000 and so on...

The elements on all these songs shaped DISCO.

SOUL MAKOSSA could be called proto-disco or very-early-disco and I think it is a great song. The brass is great, the melody mysterious.... and the fact that I can't distinguish a single word makes it even more misterious. To me it sounds like a VOODOO ritual.

I think Manu Dibangu's version is superior to Afrique's.

[Disco Funk]

I've got a few cover versions. My faves among them are by All Dyrections (AKA Skull Snaps), and this version by Nairobi Afro Band



Disco Funk

[Jay Negron]

SOUL MAKOSSA belongs to a time when it was possible to find african, spanish, french, italian and latin songs in the charts. It was a very open minded era.

Even before (in the 60's) it was easy to find italian, french and spanish songs in the charts... even japanese songs (sang in japanese!!)... like Sukyaky released around 1961 and recorded by Kyu Sakamoto... (much later remodelled in english by A Taste Of Honey).

If the DISCO movement hadn't happened, SOUL MAKOSSA would be just a SOUL song (as its name implies)... but since DISCO sprouted and evolved, it is correct to say that this song formed the basis of the disco movent along with hundreds of PHILLY SOUL songs, BARRABÁS' Woman and Wild Safari, George McRaes's ROCK YOUR BABY, Barry White's LOVE'S THEME, Marvin Gaye's WHAT'S GOING ON, Hues Corporation' ROCK THE BOAT, Isaac Hayes's SHAFT, Titanic's MACUMBA, SULTANA, RAIN 2000 and so on...

The elements on all these songs shaped DISCO.

SOUL MAKOSSA could be called proto-disco or very-early-disco and I think it is a great song. The brass is great, the melody mysterious.... and the fact that I can't distinguish a single word makes it even more misterious. To me it sounds like a VOODOO ritual.

I think Manu Dibangu's version is superior to Afrique's.

Spot On !!!!!!!

[C6 Vette]

I have a UK 12" of Manu Dibango "Soul Makossa" on the London label. Does anyone know when that London labeled 12" was pressed?

[Bernie]

I have a UK 12" of Manu Dibango "Soul Makossa" on the London label. Does anyone know when that London labeled 12" was pressed?

I have that London Records 12" single and I recall buying that new at Tower Records on Broadway around 1983-84 for the whopping sum of $3.99. It has excellent sound and a great addition to my collection. Hold on to that one!

[TheLordOfFlatbush]

I've Soul Makossa on 45 RPM 7" from Fiesta Records back in 1971 and it was one of my first singles from back in the days.

Excellent work, indeed!

[BrunoRepublic]

I have that London Records 12" single and I recall buying that new at Tower Records on Broadway around 1983-84 for the whopping sum of $3.99. It has excellent sound and a great addition to my collection. Hold on to that one!

What's on the flip? I've got the Fiesta 12" which has Big Blow on the A-side. I wasn't sure if this version of Soul Makossa was a re-recording, an extended version, or a re-edit, but I'm told it's the full-length version which was then edited down for the single. Much better sound than the Atlantic LP, which is still a great collection. "New Bell" is one amazing slice of funk.

[Bernie]

What's on the flip? I've got the Fiesta 12" which has Big Blow on the A-side. I wasn't sure if this version of Soul Makossa was a re-recording, an extended version, or a re-edit, but I'm told it's the full-length version which was then edited down for the single. Much better sound than the Atlantic LP, which is still a great collection. "New Bell" is one amazing slice of funk.

It has "Big Blow" on the flip. It's in the vault if you want to see more info about it: Manu Dibango Soul Makossa b/w Big Blow (12"): Vinyl Records @ DiscoMusic.com

[Disco Funk]

In addition to the various remakes of Soul Makossa, there were a few that borrowed elements of Soul Makossa under alternate titles. Headhunter by Mandingo was one. And this one



Disco Funk

[Jay Negron]

I've got the Fiesta 12" which has Big Blow on the A-side. I wasn't sure if this version of Soul Makossa was a re-recording, an extended version, or a re-edit, but I'm told it's the full-length version which was then edited down for the single.

I have the same one.
It is an extended edit, specially done for the 12" release of 'Big Blow'.
The LP/45 mix is the original full length version done in 1971.
The 12" Extended we have was done in '76, when the Disco Craze was in full bloom.
Peter Frost imported it for me from France (via Canada) at the time.

[TheLordOfFlatbush]

Great information, Jay!

[remicks]

****

For me the linkage in sound and feel between SOUL MAKOSSA and one of disco's biggest earliest hits is unmistakable :

THE DISCO COMPILATION CONSENSUS TOP 33
Chart #9:

12/21/74

1) --- EXPRESS - B.T. Express
(Scepter LP only) (46 total points/ charts ABCD) (last week: #2)

2) I'LL BE HOLDING ON - Al Downing
(Chess 45) (45/ABCD) (#3)
3) DOCTOR'S ORDERS - Carol Douglas
(Midland Intl. 45) (38/ACD) (#1)
4) LOVE DON'T YOU GO THROUGH NO CHANGES ON ME - Sister Sledge
(Atco 45) (31/ABC) (#5)
5) ESCAPE FROM TOMORROW - Lalo Schifrin
(20th Century 45) (25/BC) (#11)
6) YOU'VE GOT TO TRY HARDER - Ronnie Walker
(Event 45) (24/BC) #9)
7) NEVER CAN SAY GOODBYE - Gloria Gaynor
(MGM 45) (23/ABC) (#13)
8. TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT - Jimmy Ruffin
(Chess 45) (20/ABC) (#8.)
9) HAPPY PEOPLE - The Temptations
(Gordy 45) (19/BCD) (#16)
10) LADY MARMALADE/WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU - Labelle
(Epic 45/LP cut) (18/ACD) (#12)

markydefad

It was this time of year exactly ....thirty five years :icon_eek: ago ....back in the winter of 1974 ... that this was the disco song you wanted to play to hear a floor burst out with holiday cheers. :icon_biggrin::icon_mrgreen:



( I know I mentioned this elsewhere in another thread but thought it fit this topic)



*****

[remicks]

******

robert “kool” bell,
songwriter, bassist, founder, kool & the gang (“celebration,” “ladies night”):

our record company thought we needed a producer to help us come up with a “soul makossa” kind of record. We said, “wait a minute—we can write our own version of ‘soul makossa.’” so we went to a studio, rehearsed all day long, and came up with “hollywood swinging,” “jungle boogie,” and “funky stuff.” all in one day. We took that back to the record company, and, well, they didn’t mess with the gang no more.


february 2010: Lisa robinson on disco | vanityfair.com

*****

[Mixmachine]

What a great classic.
I remember BITD the import 45 being SO hard to find.

I've Soul Makossa on 45 RPM 7" from Fiesta Records back in 1971 and it was one of my first singles from back in the days.

here is the original fiesta 7" in the vaults, this copy was given to me by a departed DJ friend , he bought it in NYC or NJ at the dawn of the Disco craze..



Manu Dibango Soul Makossa (French 7") : Vinyl Recordings @ DiscoMusic.com

[Lefty]

Great thread. I grew up in BedStuy (Whats Up LOFB) and we were all influenced by that song.