Check out this hypnotic groove from Mandrill.   This African-influenced funk band put out a number of wild albums in the 70s.   Hang Loose was one of their bigger hits and their live performances of it were pretty great.   Check out this footage from Soul Train.   Other great Mandrill tracks...

Hawk’s Ugly Burger.  If you don’t have fresh hamburger buns on hand, first of all, shame on you, and secondly, use the ends of a loaf of bread instead.   Ugly and fabulous. Fresh mango.  One of both Alexandra and I’s favourite snacks.   She ate most of it.  Hmph. Poaching is...

War!! This eclectic band put out some amazing stuff during their decades-long career (they still perform today) but their work from the early 70s is arguably some of their finest.   Starting with Eric Burdon and War’s 1970 semi-hit “Spill the Wine”, they put together a...

Back in 1996, a friend of mine took my future wife and I to an Ethiopian restaurant in Toronto.  I didn’t have a clue what to expect be we fumbled through it with the guidance of our more Ethiopian-experienced friend. We ordered our dishes and a couple of drinks, then minutes later, out...

Years before Cherish, before Ladies Night, long before Celebration and long before Get Down On It, Kool and the Gang were actually really cool.  This group of super talented and funky musicians led by bassist Ronald “Kool” Bell, put together some amazing funk spanning from their...