Here We Go Again...Was Soul Makossa Disco? LOL

**Mario** · April 4th, 2004, 08:14 PM

I think I've started a "trend" here....

But I'm not sure if it's a good one or not, guys...As it brings out a "lot" of emotion from everyone...I'll leave Up In A Puff Of Smoke alone...For now... :lol: My question/comment for today is I really don't think that Soul Makossa was a disco record at all. Although, I've read earlier posts that it was a disco record...I realize that Soul Makossa has been featured on CD disco compilations...But I just know about that one...I think that Soul Makossa runs a close second behind Up In A Puff Of Smoke/Nathan Jones/Right Back Where We Started From...Alright guys...Where am going "wrong" with this...Let me have it...Bring it on, baby... :o Take Care, Guys...Mario

**efunk_adelic** · April 5th, 2004, 02:53 AM

I'll say that it's a great record Mario.... and a song to have in your collection... it's a must have..

**K-Bee** · April 5th, 2004, 02:59 AM

Disco or not...I've never been a very big fan of Soul Makossa alltogether. That is until I heard this very strange 15 minute version Manu Dibangu did in 1986 on his "Afrijazzy" album. Soul makossa with the inclusion of Herbie Hancock and the avant-garde jazz Funk stylings of Bill Laswell saves the track for me! Not all will agree, Im sure :roll:

**QUINNY** · April 5th, 2004, 03:23 AM

Soul Makossa was only disco in so much as it was played in discos at the time and was more of a club record than radio record. Here in the UK, I doubt if it had many plays at all on radio, 'cos small local stations were very few and far between and very pop orientated.

Pre late '74, almost any well played club record would not be disco as such. Just a good Soul/Funk/other dance record. There were records that must have pointed in the direction that disco eventually took, but to call them disco would be wrong IMO. Disco was all about something that occupied a certain time and a certain place. For me, it kinda just happened almost overnight.

BTW: Big difference between this and UIAPOS which was issued during the disco boom.

**efunk_adelic** · April 5th, 2004, 03:27 AM

Originally Written by QUINNY

Soul Makossa was only disco in so much as it was played in discos at the time and was more of a club record than radio record. Here in the UK, I doubt if it had many plays at all on radio, 'cos small local stations were very few and far between and very pop orientated.

Quinny, one of the reasons I was able to buy the record at the time was because... our local radio station played it... and played it enough that my young ears couldn't get enough of it. :) And this station was about as pop as you can get.. Now that I think of it... I found it very odd when they started playing OHIO PLAYERS - FUNKY WORM... :D

**QUINNY** · April 5th, 2004, 03:46 AM

EFunk: Yes, I know the US experience was very much different. Disco/Soul/Funk was always very underground music in the majority of the UK, with the exception of the big, big hits.

I was listening to a couple of my minidisc compilations, with the old funk toons on them last night and Funky Worm was one of the tracks. Now I can't imagine that would have recieved even one play on UK radio BITD.

However, my judgement is fatally flawed in some of my observations, 'cos I wasn't in the country at times. I remember when I did some radio shows in late '77 early '78, I went armed with lotsa good Soul, Funk and Disco and I was told in no uncertain terms that so much 'unknown content' wouldn't be tolerated. So, I still think I'm on fairly safe ground.

**efunk_adelic** · April 5th, 2004, 03:32 PM

Originally Written by QUINNY

However, my judgement is fatally flawed in some of my observations, 'cos I wasn't in the country at times. I remember when I did some radio shows in late '77 early '78, I went armed with lotsa good Soul, Funk and Disco and I was told in no uncertain terms that so much 'unknown content' wouldn't be tolerated. So, I still think I'm on fairly safe ground.

Quinny, what country are we talking about here...?

**Paulo** · April 8th, 2004, 07:55 PM

Soul Makossa played massively on the radio... to the point that it was even released here as a 7".

There was even a brazilian cover of the song. Unfortunately I can't remember it at all (neither the version nor the "artist's" name who covered it.

**Mario** · April 8th, 2004, 11:15 PM

Now there's something that I never thought about...What "language" is that anyway on Soul Makossa??

(I do know that "Up In A Puff " was sung in English... :lol: LMAO Just kidding, guys...I'm not going "there"... 8) Mario

**efunk_adelic** · April 9th, 2004, 01:35 AM

Originally Written by Paulo

Soul Makossa played massively on the radio... to the point that it was even released here as a 7".

There was even a brazilian cover of the song. Unfortunately I can't remember it at all (neither the version nor the "artist's" name who covered it.

I wonder if that is the same version as AFRIQUE? on mainstream 5542

**Stan** · April 9th, 2004, 08:02 AM

My question/comment for today is I really don't think that Soul Makossa was a disco record at all.

Mario, I have to agree with QUINNY here :roll: as YES it was played in the DISCOS but i think it was more of a FUNK record.

In the Leeds Mecca 1973 it was the
All Dyrections version Buddah 2011 178
that was very popular :D as played by DJ'S Hunter Smith & Rick Vaughn - where are they now?????????

"Puff of Smoke" just not in the same league as this

**Paulo** · April 10th, 2004, 05:22 PM

Marcio & efunkadelic:

It was a carbon copy of Manu Dibangu's version. I think Soul Makossa came out in 1972. As soon as it began playing on the radio, the other "cover" version appeared and for a while it almost outshone the original.

In the early 70's there were many brazilian singers who sang in english, but no one knew they were brazilians.

They did it because american music sold much better here than our own... Besaides, it was hip to be american.

So we had Terry Winter, Christyan, Nathan Jones, Alice Street Gang, Morris Albert, Mark Davis (who is Fabio Jr - a well known cheese brazilian singer), etc... These people sang original songs in english, pretending they were american acts.

But there was also the brazilian "carbon copy cover" versions of many famous songs. As soon as the original 7" began selling, the domestic cover would also be released, but they pretended it was done by an international artist.

TOP TAPE was the brazilian label who did it...

So we have our own version of ARMED AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS by someone I can't remember the name. We have our own PILLOW TALK (this one is really funny... rather ridiculous).

There was this cover of SOUL MAKOSSA. I was 12 or 13 at the time and I assumed then it was another brazilian cover.

But since efunkadelic said there was a real cover, maybe it was that one... I can't say. It was too long ago....

I have some of these "cover" versions on 7", if someone is interested... but they are really awful...

**efunk_adelic** · April 11th, 2004, 02:19 AM

Originally Written by Paulo

Marcio & efunkadelic:

It was a carbon copy of Manu Dibangu's version. I think Soul Makossa came out in 1972. As soon as it began playing on the radio, the other "cover" version appeared and for a while it almost outshone the original.

In the early 70's there were many brazilian singers who sang in english, but no one knew they were brazilians.

They did it because american music sold much better here than our own... Besaides, it was hip to be american.

So we had Terry Winter, Christyan, Nathan Jones, Alice Street Gang, Morris Albert, Mark Davis (who is Fabio Jr - a well known cheese brazilian singer), etc... These people sang original songs in english, pretending they were american acts.

But there was also the brazilian "carbon copy cover" versions of many famous songs. As soon as the original 7" began selling, the domestic cover would also be released, but they pretended it was done by an international artist.

TOP TAPE was the brazilian label who did it...

So we have our own version of ARMED AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS by someone I can't remember the name. We have our own PILLOW TALK (this one is really funny... rather ridiculous).

There was this cover of SOUL MAKOSSA. I was 12 or 13 at the time and I assumed then it was another brazilian cover.

But since efunkadelic said there was a real cover, maybe it was that one... I can't say. It was too long ago....

I have some of these "cover" versions on 7", if someone is interested... but they are really awful...

Paulo, thanks for writing back this interesting article.. :D I think hearing ARMED AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS by FIRST CHOICE would be cool... & SYVIA'S---> PILLOW TALK.... I'm sure they are hard to find on vinyl now...