The Cultures of Soul Podcast: Recent Episodes
Deano Sounds
Welcome to the Cultures of Soul Podcast! We'll be sharing the stories, history, and culture behind many of our releases. Episodes feature interviews from the artists, musicians, producers, DJs, record collectors, compilers of our compilations, as well as many interesting characters that make these releases happen.
Cultures of Soul is a Boston based record label. We specialize in unearthing rare and interesting music from all over the world and releasing it on vinyl.
After a little break we are back with another podcast. This time with Andre Evons a.k.a. Evans Pyramid! Over a series of interviews with Andre, we explore the world of Evans Pyramid. Researched, narrated, and edited by Uchenna Ikonne.
Noah Schaffer travelled to Jamaica last summer to speak with Major Jackson about being the singer for Zion Initation and what the Boston reggae scene was like at the time. Next Noah visits local record store fixture - Taurus Records to speak with Taurus, the former Zion Initation band manager and owner of the last reggae specialist store in the city.
You can find more info on Take Us Home - Boston Roots Reggae here -
https://culturesofsoul.com/collections/all/products/take-us-home-boston-roots-reggae-from-1979-to-1988
Doug Herzog was a central figure to the late 70s / early 80s Boston reggae scene with his legendary radio show on WERS - Strictly Rockers. His show was the conduit for many being introduced to reggae at the time. The show had many local and international guest artists including Mikey Dread, Horace Andy, Fred Locks, and Zion Initation. Sit back and listen as Doug brings back many of the irie vibes from the past. Don't forget to listen to last week's show featuring a live performance of Zion Initation on Strictly Rockers from 1979. Also tune in next week to hear from Zion Initation vocalist - Major Jackson and local record shop entrepreneur / former Zion Initation manager - Taurus.
You can find more info on Take Us Home - Boston Roots Reggae here -
https://culturesofsoul.com/collections/all/products/take-us-home-boston-roots-reggae-from-1979-to-1988
Zion Initation and WERS Strictly Rockers were critical to the Boston Reggae scene in the 80s. Strictly Rockers founder and host Doug Herzog dug up an old tape of the original broadcast of the near legendary live in the studio performance from April 21, 1979. Tracks include covers of Bob Marley's Natural Mystic and 400 Years as well as originals by the group and a special guest performance with Fred Locks of his hit "Black Starliner." Stay tuned for next week's episode when we interview Doug Herzog about his radio show and the Boston reggae scene.
You can find more info on Take Us Home - Boston Roots Reggae here -
https://culturesofsoul.com/collections/all/products/take-us-home-boston-roots-reggae-from-1979-to-1988
Special guest Uchenna Ikonne hosts our first podcast of 2020. This episode features legendary South African producer, composer, and musician Don Laka. Don talks about his 47-year-long career in music and his many accomplishments. Along the way he tells the history of modern music in South Africa, starting four decades ago and following the development of bubblegum and Kwaito, and it's influence on the music of Africa today.
Listen to Bredda David talk about his musicial background and the creation of his music. Also hear live edits of Bredda David's music from LA club night Heatwave.
Track List: 1. Bro David - "Dancin'" 2. Soul Creations - "Funky Jive Pt. 1" 3. Bro David - "Belize" 4. Bro David - "Sunshine" 5. Bro David - "Cungo Music" 6. Bro David - "Experience - DJ Duckcomb Edit" 7. Bro David - "Cungo - Heatwave Version"
You can find more info on Bro David - Modern Music From Belize here -
https://culturesofsoul.com/products/bro-david-modern-music-from-belize
Credits: Producer - Deano Sounds. Guest interviews with Bredda David, Patrick Billard, and Heatwave DJs
Listen to Greg Belson talk about his early influences and his quest for finding the rarest gospel music as well as how Divine Disco 2 came together. Also take a virtual visit to In Your Ear to learn about record digging in Boston, MA.
Track List: 1. Calvin B. Rhone - "I Believe" 2. Third Guitar - "Baby Don't Cry" 3. Universal Jubileers - "Childhood Days" 4. Harrison Jones & The Voices Of Harmony - "On That Other Shore" 5. Prophets - "Take It To the Streets" 6. Wisdom - "Let The Lord Come In Your Life" 7. Evans Pyramid - "No I Won't" 8. The Sinclayr's - "One And One Are Two " 9. Royale - "I Want Your Body"
You can find more info Greg Belson's Divine Disco - Obscure Gospel Disco - 1979 to 1987 here - https://culturesofsoul.com/blogs/news/record-store-day-exclusive-greg-belsons-divine-disco-vol-2
We'll be selling records for Record Store Day at the Brighton Music Hall as part of the Do617 Pop-Up Record Shop.
Here is a special Spotify playlist created from the music featured in this podcast - spotify:user:culturesofsoulrecords:playlist:6qLalLwIMc39Y4T8BMk67T
Credits: Producer - Deano Sounds. Guest interviews with Greg Belson and Reed Lappen.
Download MP3 (44MB)
Listen to Brother Cleve talk about his discovery and travels in the music of South Asia.
Track List: 1. Mohammed Rafi - "Jaan Pehechaan Ho" 2. Sharda - "Hotel Mein Botal" (Film - Papi Pet Ka Sawal Hai) 3. Asha Bhosle - "Aye Naujawan Sab Kuchh Yahan (Apradh)" 4. Usha Uthup & Chorus - "Hari Om Hari" 5. Asha Bhosle & Chorus - "Koi Lutera" - (Film - Wanted) 6. Kishore Kumar & Chorus - "Aaya Sanam Aaya Deewana Tera" (Film - Bade Dil Wala) 7. Asha Bhosle - "Jab Chhaye Mera Jadoo" (FILM - Lootmaar)
You can check out the Bombay Disco compilations here -
https://culturesofsoul.com/collections/all/products/bombay-disco-volume-1
https://culturesofsoul.com/collections/all/products/bombay-disco-volume-2
Credits: Narrator - Brother Cleve. Producer - Deano Sounds. Guest interview with Bappi Lahiri.
[Download MP3 (44MB)]
Interviews and narration with stories behind the four releases in our special LP subscription series.
Track List: 1. Space Cats - "Mother Earth" 2.Septimus - "You're A Mind Blower" 3. Septimus - We Want A Piece of the Pie - Reprise" 4. Septimus - "Take Love Where You Find It" 5. Thing - "Road Through the Wall" 6. Yoruba Singers - "Abiola" 7. Yoruba Singers - "Fighting For Survival" 8. Yoruba Singers - "Drums Make the Round Go Round" 9. Space Cats - "Dead of the Night" 10. Space Cats - "Forever and Always"
You can subscribe to our LP Subscription Series here - https://culturesofsoul.com/products/lp-subsciption-series
Credits: Narrators - Deano Sounds and Uchenna Ikoonne. Producer - Deano Sounds. Guest interviews with Anthony Brown, Eze Rockcliffe, and Themba 'T-Rex' Mzwakali.
[[Download MP3 (31MB)]