Shaken, Not Stirred: The Surf Champlers and "James Bond Theme"

Osaka-born and Okinawa resident Kenji Yano and his project The Surf Champlers bring us today's random tune, which is a cover of the James Bond Theme. The Surf Champlers use traditional Okinawan music such as min'yo and slow it down and use traditional Okinawan musical styles such as min'yo. That's about as much information as I could find on The Surf Champlers. You can hear their version of the James Bond Theme on slightly redundantly titled The Rough Guides Music Rough Guide: A Guide to the Rough Guide Music Series (2001).

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Source: https://getsongbpm.com/artist/the-surf-champlers/3lQnM

In the Merry Month of May; Riccardo Tesi and Banditaliana with "Maggio"

Today's song is by award winning folk musician Riccardo Tesi of Italy and his group Banditaliana. With his diatonic accordion, Tesi plays music in the traditions of Tuscany mixed with hints of the Mediterranean, a touch of jazz and innovative songwriting. He has founded and participated in a number of music groups including Ritmia as well as releasing several solo albums. This song, Maggio, can be found on the Riccardo Tesi and Banditaliana album of the same name, released in 1998. It can also be found on the 2000 various artists compilation Rough Guide to the Music of Italy.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riccardo_Tesi; http://www.riccardotesi.com/

It's a Wonderful Life: Wal Santana and "Que Vida É Essa (Que Pega Pega No Pé)"

Feeling psychedelic? Our random tune is just the thing for you! Que Vida É Essa (Que Pega Pega No Pé) is by Wal Santana. Information on Wal Santana is scarce but I was able to piece together that this song was his first single. He played music in styles such as Música popular brasileira (or MPB: a style which revisits Brazilian styles such as samba and regional music and combines them with foreign influences like jazz or rock), funk and disco. You can find Que Vida É Essa (Que Pega Pega No Pé) on his debut album of the same name (1973) and on the compilation album Rough Guide to Psychedelic Samba (2015).

Living the Highlife: Celestine Ukwu and "Igede"

Today's random tune is in honor of Mike's mother Shirley Hess, who turns 85 years old today. The song is called Igede, and is performed by Celestine Ukwu and his band. A Nigerian highlife musician, he began his career in the 1960s with the Paradise Rhythm Orchestra, then launched his own band called the Music Royals. The Biafran War caused the band to go on hiatus for three years, but in 1970 they resurrected themselves as the Philosophers National, and became known for several songs in the early and mid-1970s. His music is generally described as softer and more laid back than most highlife music, and he tended to feature piano, vibraphone and pedal steel guitar. The songs that his band played were generally around the topics of social evils and the need for peace. Celestine Ukwu tragically died in an automobile accident in 1977. Igede can be found on the 2003 compilation album Rough Guide to Highlife. The song is based in Igbo folklore, and was a smash hit in 1971.