THE SANTA ANA SOUNDTRACK

You wouldn't know it from looking at them but after years of listening to the Budos Band, I can't help but associate them with the beach, the walk home after a swim during Santa Ana weather conditions (warm and dry, offshore winds). Something to do with when I first started listening to them, they were on heavy rotation at home that year the water and weather stayed nice well into November. They don't look very beach-y, particularly in the video below. The funny thing is, now twenty years in, they look like half the people in my neighborhood (which is the beach). In other words, they look a little scroungy. Their sound has gotten harder as well. I wasn't crazy about the more in-your-face sound a few years ago but after seeing the video below, I'm re-thinking that. The video is great. Filmed this past August. There's a handful of their early stuff down there too so you can see what a couple decades of evolving does.

~ NOTE: ALL MEDIA IS HOSTED BY THE BLOGS & SITES NAMED BELOW ~

Listen:
The Budos Band - King Kobra mp3 at Internet Archive
The Budos Band - Unbroken, Unshaven mp3 at Internet Archive
The Budos Band - Origin of Man mp3 at Internet Archive
The Budos Band - Monkey See, Monkee Do mp3 at Internet Archive

The Budos Band - Budos Dirge mp3 at Internet Archive

DID YOU GET ALL OF US?

I was just dorking around trying to think of something to post. It occurred to my that it had been some time since the Budos Band had been thrown your way. Then I looked, roughly seven years. It's about time. Their music has a certain vibe. This is smoky hazy music, for kicking back, barbecuing, reading, hot tubbing, heavy petting. It has a good beat and you can dance to it. Sorta.

These are all from their first few LPs. They later went a little more metal. I dig this vibe more. There's planty of good metal out there but not much of whatever this is. Afro-beat-Ethio-jazz-pass-the-bong.

~ NOTE: ALL MEDIA IS HOSTED BY THE BLOGS & SITES NAMED BELOW ~

Listen:
Budos Band - Budos Theme mp3 at Aurgasm
Budos Band - T.I.B.W.F. mp3 at Aurgasm
Budos Band - Ride or Die mp3 at Rock Town Hall
Budos Band - His Girl mp3 at Rock Town Hall
Budos Band - Unbroken Unshaven mp3 at Aurgasm
Video:
The Budos Band - Rite of the Ancients (Live on KEXP) at YouTube

AGAIN WITH THE SWEATERS

You know what I like about the Budos Band? I like that I don't know why I like the Budos Band. But I do, a lot, and they always come to mind for no particular when there's a slight heat wave, which there has been the past few days (high 70s). I don't know why, I just go with it. So there, it's Budos night. I hear that moaning in the back. Yes, Budos again. If you can't be bothered. you can go ahead and start prepping for New Years.

~ NOTE: ALL MEDIA IS HOSTED BY THE BLOGS & SITES NAMED BELOW ~

Listen:
The Budos Band - Budos Theme mp3 at Aurgasm
The Budos Band - Origin of Man mp3 at Ear It Now
The Budos Band - Black Venom mp3 at Acid Conga
The Budos Band - Budos Rising mp3 at Ear It Now
The Budos Band - Unbroken, Unshaven mp3 at Aurgasm

HOW THE HELL DID HE SNEAK IN?

How could a remix of a David Bowie song possibly get my attention?  When it's not really remixed, but recreated with all new backing tracks.  Yeah, I know, that's still kind of ho-hum, but hold on.  The backing tracks were recorded by members of the Budos Band, the Dap-Kings, and the Menahan Street Band.  Looking better?  The story behind it is that EMI asked four DJs from KCRW (in Santa Monica, CA), to remix it, to commemorate some deluxe reissue.  One of the DJs, Jeremy Sole, went all out, taking it with him to Dunham Studios in Brooklyn, which astute Dapheads will recognize as the studio for Daptone Records.  Here's what he had to say:

 "My plan was to not remix, but re-play the song in a full live setting, as if in 1975 Bowie recorded the original and then flew to Brooklyn (or even Jamaica) to cut another take with “my” players. Everything was recorded 100% analog to 2” tape. All equipment that was available before 1975. My approach was to take influence of the Jamaican musicians (and recording styles) of the mid-seventies, and their infatuation with American Soul music."
  

Check it out.  Whether or not you think it has any sort of Jamaican sound to it, it is sort of interesting.  There is a little dub in spots.  Personally, I think it could use a little more chunka-chunka guitar, but I'm an admitted armchair record producer, so my opinion usually has a little blowhard in it anyways. 

~ NOTE: ALL MEDIA IS HOSTED BY THE BLOGS & SITES NAMED BELOW ~

Listen: 
David Bowie - Golden Years (remix) mp3 at Club Cortez
Bonus:
The Menahan Street Band - Home Again mp3 at Caipirinha Lounge
The Menahan Street Band - Montego Sunset mp3 at Caipirinha Lounge
The Menahan Street Band - Karina mp3 at Caipirinha Lounge
Related:
The Budos Band - Other posts
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings - Other posts

MY KIND OF SURF MUSIC

Walking home from an evening dip earlier, it was one of those rare cynicism free moments. I'd gotten off early, and on my way down to the beach, I ran into a friend with all six of her kids, from the ages of five to fifteen, all half fish, as is their mom. A block later I ran into Gary, the guy who's always down on the wall by the beach handing out dog eared second hand bibles to any takers, sermon free. A hundred yards later, Larry, known to locals as "the guitar guy." He sits on the same rock, playing the same barely audible songs, that he has for going on twenty years. Larry lives in his van, but is a man with unbroken spirit, always appreciative of his real home, a rock by the sea. By the time I reached the water I was already on a familiar fall high. (Excuse me for getting wordy.) Heading home, saturated with warm weather, warm water, and total locals, I was thinking about what type of music would be most fitting for the last couple hours of daylight on a nearly perfect fall day. I had the Budos beat. The Budos Band is my go-to fall soundtrack, and after thinking about it, just as fitting for a surf movie soundtrack as Bud Shank was fifty years ago, and just as valid as Dick Dale and his mob.


Not entirely what I had in mind, but this almost works.

An interesting coincidence: When I looking for some songs, the first blog I landed on, This Bonus Track, began their Budos Band post thusly: "You’re driving along the edge of a cliff. It’s sundown and there’s an ocean next to you..." There's that damn ocean again.

~ NOTE: ALL MEDIA IS HOSTED BY THE BLOGS & SITES NAMED BELOW ~

Listen:
The Budos Band - Ghost Walk mp3 at This Bonus Track
The Budos Band - Unbroken, Unshaven mp3 at This Bonus Track
The Budos Band - Chicago Falcon mp3 at This Bonus Track
The Budos Band - Natures Wrath mp3 at The Cargo Culte
The Budos Band - Mas O Menos (streaming) at Our Vinyl With a good interview

HOLY SHIT! ALREADY?

Ten years of Daptone Records. Unbelievable. How does that happen? They're too good. Weren't they supposed to have been squashed? It just goes to show you, if you put out a good product and don't overextend yourself, you can make it work. Remember, that's how record labels used to do it. And, like Stax, Chess and Sun, they have their own studio, so they control the sound; and what a sound it is. Have a listen, all of the stuff below was recorded in recent years (with the exception of Pax Nicholas, a rare reissue), yet every one is timeless. Once you get to know the roster, you'll be giddy every time you see the label; like you used to dream about happening again someday (when you were shuffling through your Stax and Motown thrift store finds). It's some most excellent shit friends, and it's high time to start paying attention again, if you haven't already.

~ NOTE: ALL MEDIA IS HOSTED BY THE BLOGS & SITES NAMED BELOW ~

Listen:

Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings - Just Dropped In To See What Condition My Condition Is In mp3 at Passion of the Weiss
The Sugarman Three - Soul Donkey mp3 at The Frump
Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens - What Have You Done mp3 at Sonny Venice
Charles Bradley - Golden Rule mp3 at Musicalicious
Menahan Street Band - Montego Sunset mp3 at Grayson Stebbins
The Budos Band - Budos Rising mp3 at Ear It Now
Pax Nicholas & the Netty Family - Ataa Onukpa mp3 at Other Music
Video:
Daptone Records Celebrates Ten Years at YouTube
Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings - Let Them Knock (Live) at YouTube
The Budos Band - Unbroken, Unshaven at YouTube
Charles Bradley featuring the Menahan Street Band - The World (Is Going Up In Flames) at YouTube
Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens - What Have You Done at YouTube
The Daptone Records channel at YouTube
Visit:
Daptone Records
Soul Reviver - Good profile from the New York Times Magazine
Soul Sides - Today's reminder came from here

DO YOU FEEL THE BUDOS BEAT?

Ahh, the Budos Band. Try as I might to refrain from posting the same band over and over, I was just chomping at the bit, looking for an excuse to throw some more Budos up here. (It came in the form of a Daytrotter session.) There are a number of reasons why I dig them, not the least of which is that they're playing something few people are; timeless stuff, hypnotic grooves, with an abundance of percussion, keyboards and horns. It's hard to pin down, this sound of theirs, though their seems to be a little Mulatu Astatke influence. Regardless, it's probably better not to dissect their music too much, and just go with it. Which brings me to the video below.

This guy is my hero. Dancing is something I'm not particularly adept at, and a big reason is that it's hard to lose my inhibitions. This dude has no problem, despite the onlookers chuckling at him. He has the Budos beat. I'll admit, it looks rather comical in broad daylight, but you can bet this guy has the gals gaping in the dark environs of his local night spots. Like I said, hero all the way. You go beanpole hipster!

~ NOTE: ALL MEDIA IS HOSTED BY THE BLOGS & SITES NAMED BELOW ~

Listen:
The Budos Band - Chicago Falcon mp3 at Rollo & Grady
The Budos Band - Unbroken, Unshaven mp3 at Rollo & Grady
The Budos Band - Budos Rising mp3 at Ear It Now
The Budos Band – Adeniji mp3 at Rollo & Grady
The Budos Band - T.I.B.W.F. mp3 at Aurgasm
The Budos Band - Budos Theme mp3 at Aurgasm
The Budos Band - Up From the South mp3 at Scissor Kick
The Budos Band - Ride or Die mp3 at Rock Town Hall
The Budos Band - Origin of Man mp3 at Die Monster
The Budos Band - His Girl mp3 at Rock Town Hall
The Budos Band - Unbroken, Unshaken (Daytrotter) mp3 at Rollo & Grady
The Budos Band - Black Venom (Daytrotter) mp3 at Rollo & Grady
The Budos Band - 4 song download (with email address) at Daytrotter
Video:
The Budos Band - Golden Dunes (live) at YouTube
The Budos Band - Black Venom (live) at YouTube
The Budos Band - Volcano Song at YouTube
Visit:
The Budos Band official site
The Budos Band at Daptone Records

EBO, MEET BUDOS

The release of a new Ebo Taylor long player is causing near riots over here at Bacon Street (that is, if one person moving around like an ape without equilibrium constitutes a riot). Regardless of the vintage, it's timeless African high life/afrobeat stuff, so much so, you could be forgiven for thinking "Love and Death" is a reissue; only the fidelity really gives it away. It reminded me of another favorite around here, the Budos Band. The similarities are in the grooves, but these two are separated by an ocean (Taylor's from Ghana, the Budos Band is from Brooklyn) and about thirty years of recording experience. Taylors earlier stuff (the fourth and fifth mp3s below, taken from compilations) are roughly 30 years old. The Budos Band has only been around about a half dozen. But, the other worldly feel is remarkably similar. This is stuff to drink *OB Speedballs with.

~ NOTE: ALL MEDIA IS HOSTED BY THE BLOGS & SITES NAMED BELOW ~

Ebo Taylor - Nga Nga mp3 at American Athlete
Ebo Taylor - Victory mp3 at Mixtape Riot
Ebo Taylor - Mizin mp3 at Mixtape Riot
Ebo Taylor - Twer Nayame mp3 at Passion of the Weiss
Ebo Taylor - Atwer Aroba mp3 at American Athlete
The Budos Band - Rite of the Ancients mp3 at Undomondo
The Budos Band - Black Venom mp3 at Undomondo
The Budos Band - Unbroken Unshaven mp3 at Aurgasm
The Budos Band - Chicago Falcon mp3 at Noise Narcs
The Budos Band - Budos Rising mp3 at Quarterlife Party

*OB Speedballs: n., pl., a regional cocktail originating in Ocean Beach, California, in the late 1980s. Devised as a two fisted morning alternative to Bloody Marys, it is made with a cup of hot coffee, and a cold beer, drank alternately, until the right mixture of energy and "fuck it all" is achieved.

ANOTHER HUMDINGER FROM DAPTONE HQ

A laid back Afro-funk vibe, perfect for a summer evening BBQ mix, on one of those after beach sunburn-nursing nights. The Budos Band is a horn heavy twelve-piece, made up of different Daptone band members. Can you dig the Budos beat? I know that you can....

.

The Budos Band - The Proposition mp3 at Silence is a Rhythm Too

The Budos Band - Adeniji mp3 at Rollo and Grady

The Budos Band -Chicago Falcon mp3 at World's Fair

The Budos Band at Daptone Records