Currently enjoying “Soul Makossa” by Manu Dibango

Manu Dibango may not be a well-known name these days, he said smugly, but his place in musical history is assured; the title track from his 1972 album Soul Makossa is widely considered to be the first disco record.

And listen, don’t let your preconceived notions about disco fool you. In its early underground days, the scene was full of great records – and “Soul Makossa” was one of the best.

David Mancuso, whose loft parties in New York City laid the foundation for the scene that followed, spun the track frequently. The response to this rare single was so positive that not only did the few copies in town get bought up overnight, but a slew of groups rushed to release their own cover versions in order to capitalize on its success. Supposedly, at one point, there were nine different versions of the song on the Billboard chart.

The most enduring aspect of the song is its vocal refrain; the phrase “ma-mako, ma-ma-sa, mako-mako-ssa” has been reworked and adapted into many subsequent tracks, the most notable of which was surely the Michael Jackson single “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’.”

And if you’re too young to remember that one, then let’s go with Rihanna and “Don’t Stop the Music.” Either one of them will do, especially since Dibango evidently filed a case against both of them.

The album itself seems to come in a number of variations, each of which offers more than the loose funk of “Soul Makossa” and more driving tracks like “New-Bell (Hard Pulsation).” There’s the laid-back rhythm of “Lily,” the insistent shuffle of “Dangwa (Three Points),” the sharp afrobeat sounds of “O Boso,” and the mellow and mournful jazz of “Hibiscus.”

Manu Dibango achieved international fame through a certain sound, and you’ll hear that sound on this record. But you’ll hear a lot more than that, and when you do, you’ll get a sense of the range and talent at the heart of a thriving career that continues to this day.

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