Putumayo Presents World Hits - Putumayo,Mick Jagger,Youssou N'Dour Album Review

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Album Review

Careful selection of tracklisting since its inception in 1993 has made Putumayo a resounding success in terms of promoting World Music. This is no exception, as Putumayo lives up to its motto,

guaranteed to make you feel good.

One of the major highlights ( for me anyway ) was the brilliant Youssou N'Dour singing 7 Seconds at Live 8 on July 2, 2005. It peaked at 3 in the UK, German and Swedish charts, but topped the French chart . Another personal favourite appears - Oye Como Va ( loosely translated as Hi How Are You ) by Santana, was originally done by Latin jazz legend Tito Puente in 1963. It appeared as track 3 on Santana's breakthrough album Abraxas that hit number 3 in 1970. Lyrically there's nothing to it, but the Latin rhythms, repeated like the original, make it a sonic delight with Carlos's guitar and Gregg Rolie's keyboards being it's main feature. It was never released as a single in the UK, but we all know it. Senagal's all -brother band Toure Kunda ( elephant family ) was formed in 1979 by siblings Amadon, Ismaila, and Sixu Tidiane. They moved to Paris, experimented with new instruments and expanded the band, but it's just Ismalia and Sixu now. Their reggae fuelled MOR signature tune and first single E'mma was lifted from their 1980 album E'mma Africa.

Other well known 'hits' are Watermelon Man by jazz's post-bop architect and member of Miles Davis ' second great quintet' Herbie Hancock,though Cuban musician Mongo Sanatamaria's 'crossover' hit gets the nod here, losing none of the original's verve. Others include Bamboleo, a UK entry included on 1994's Hits Medley for French mass ensemble the Gipsy Kings. Hailing from Arles and Montpelier in southern France, who were born to Spanish parents, the music of five Reyes and three Baliardo brothers is a brisk derivative of Rumba Catalana, a sort of pop orientated version of traditional flamenco known as Rumba Flamenca. It remains a party favourite across the UK with glorious happy -go- lucky chorus and flashes of Spanish guitars. Jamaican James Chambers aka Jimmy Cliff is regarded as the finest reggae crossover artist after Bob Marley. Despite never making it in the UK, The Harder They Come was released in the USA in 1975. It was part of the film soundtrack of the same name in 1972 which helped popularise reggae across the globe. Lambada hit Britain like a whirlwind in 1989, with everyone doing the saucy moves provided by French outfit Kaoma. Less well known songs like Miriam Makeba's Pata Pata, was an apparent international hit in 1967, though her danceable version was recorded in 1977. If funky jazz rhythms are your thing then look no further than Manu Dibango's soul Makossa. Makossa is style of music from the urban areas of Cameroon. It's similar to Soukous, except it includes strong bass rhythms and prominent horn section which began in the late 50s, but Dibango popularised it to the world with this song, which was apparently sampled by Michael Jackson on Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'.

By far the most interesting inclusion is rock legend Mick Jagger and ex-Wailer Peter Tosh who paired up in the studio after meeting at the 1978 One Love Peace Concert in Kingston. They had a minor UK hit with a cover of the Temptations' ( You Gotta Walk ) Don't Look Back.