We are headed back to Columbia this week via the English producer/ DJ Richard Blair. After spending three years in the South American country producing and engineering various artists, Blair returned to England and started DJing under the name Sidestepper. He then met Iván Benavides and together they put some musicians behind his moniker.
​
“Campo” is a prime example of the “electro cumbia” sound; a sound that borrows from salsa, drum and bass, and one that these two producers are considered originators. For me this track really takes shape from 2:12 onward, especially when it falls into a funky trancelike state at 3:08. It’s a spicy, busy track, played with pace, from an outstanding album (More Grip). 

Ronald James “Dio” Padavona began his well-traveled musical career in 1957 with several buddies in Cortland NY. His groups would change their names from The Vegas Kings, to Ronnie & The Rumblers, to Ronnie and the Redcaps, to Ronnie Dio & the Prophets. They would release several singles (one on Atlantic in 1962) but would change their name three more times, starting in 1967 to the Electric Elves, The Elves, and finally Elf.
​
Although Dio was known for his own solo work and time with Black Sabbath and Richie Blackmore’s Rainbow, it was his time with Elf that might have been his most creative. This track is a prime example. Recorded in 1972, it features Dio’s fantastic vocal range, musical depth, and a childhood drenched in Italian opera. It is also quite notable that this song was recorded a year before Queen’s first release and three years before “Bohemian Rhapsody”.

One of my best friends owned this album, and as young skate punks we adored this track. It was catchy, a little funky, and although we didn’t have girlfriends, it would have been the perfect song for a mixtape. The trouble of course was getting that song from album to cassette…

The Offs were a fixture in the San Francisco underground music scene in the late 70’s, releasing a semi-controversial 7 inch single “Everyone's a Bigot” (1978) on the now defunct, but influential 415 Records. They then moved to NYC in 1980 and released this 7 inch on Max's Kansas City Records. Four years later "You Fascinate Me" would be re-released on David Ferguson’s CD Presents record label.  It was the lead track from The Offs First Record, and featured the cover art of Jean-Michel Basquiat.
 
Unlike former label mates Romeo Void who found some success with "Never Say Never" and "A Girl in Trouble (Is a Temporary Thing)," this track fell through the cracks. I think it’s a classic 80’s song and one that deserves more attention.