Rod

I've been able to find this album, and stopped trying a decade ago.

Research reveals that "Shake it Up (Do The Boogaloo)" was yet another top-10 success for Prelude Records on the roiled disco charts of late 1980.

Die-hard disco fans long ago canonized Prelude's hit catalog; somehow, except for this one. In 25 years on the dance floor, I have yet to groove to it.

Although I cannot say this is even my favorite 1980 Prelude 12" ("Body Music" nicks it), I am disturbed that this brilliant track has been forgotten.

To me it was the most clever response to rap that I have ever heard from a record company that was out of its depth. Rod, who I understand was from Cameroon, raps start to finish in a very melodic, never singsong style, in an extra-thick patois of English, possibly his native language, yet near a I can tell no French (which you might expect, given Cameroon's colonial history). It all may be beside the point, because Rod raps in a style that recalls the Kingsmen's slurred "Louie, Louie"; don't worry, the sound is clear and fully up to Prelude's high engineering standard, but the feel is unmistakable.

The music is equally ingratiating: slap bass over a full orchestra. The producer, Charles Ibgui, was responsible for Queen Samantha. This ai n't no eurodisco, but you can feel a bit of the influence in the disembodied (but strangely complimentary) string runs.

I cannot remember whether François K remixed this one, as he did most of Prelude's hits, but there is a brief (partly reprised) bridge that is as stereotypical of the label as you could ever expect. There's a trick involved, though, which I won't spoil except to say that it messes with your expectations. The record is not only on the one, but on the good foot. Mix it confidently with J.B or Bohannon, but especally in or out of transition with low-BPM string-heavy disco.