If you were anywhere near a dance club in 1993 you couldn’t escape this song. From hanging out in line at the doorway or grabbing a drink at the bar, the second the needle bore into that vinyl, the dancefloor was flooded.
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Dutch DJs René ter Horst (“DJ Zki”) and Gaston Steenkist (“Dobre”) originally released this track under the moniker The Good Men in 1992 for the independent record label Fresh Fruit. They perfectly combined house and bossa nova, sampling Sérgio Mendes’ “Fanfarra (Cabua-Le-Le)” and “Magalenha.”

After the Ramsey Lewis Trio scored a massive hit with their cover of Billy Page’s “The ‘In’ Crowd,” bassist Eldee Young and drummer Isaac “Redd” Holt left to create their own group. Pianist Don Walker was added, and the Young-Holt Trio was formed.

“Wack Wack” was their first single and a top 20 hit. Recorded and released in 1966 on the Brunswick label, it’s a soul-jazz classic, and established them as one of the top touring groups of the day.
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I’ve always loved this track and their upbeat take on Jazz. It’s also the perfect song for the chaotic back-to-school days of late summer.

I’ve always had a soft spot for Underdogs and Rainford “Lee” Perry epitomized the term. After leaving school and Kendal, Jamaica at 15, Perry made his way to Kingston and worked his way up from record seller to music producer for both Studio One and Amalgamated Records. Frustrated with his lack of creative control and low wages, in 1968, Perry formed Upsetter Records and scored several hits in the UK with his house band The Upsetters.

In 1973 he built Black Ark studio, a backyard shed of a space that Bob Marley, Max Romeo, The Clash and even Paul McCartney would record in. While there, he honed his craft, utilizing sampling, delay and scratching before he burned it down in a bizarre fit of eccentricity.

“Scratch the Dub Organizer” was originally recorded and released as “Dub Organizer” in 1973 and featured legendary “toaster” Dillinger. I love this version more. It’s thick, spacy and ahead of its time. You can also imagine Perry behind the mixing desk smiling as he rocks back a forth.
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We lost Perry last Sunday at the age of 85. He was an influential and legendary music producer for over sixty years, and he refused to play nice in a system that held his brilliance back.