While watching a movie on cable (would you think less of me if the film was Dodgeball?) I nearly freaked out for a song I hadn't heard in years, The Sugarhill Gang's version of the 60's classic Apache. Of course, I immediately pulled my Sugarhill cd out and played it loud.  I had always known it was a cover, but not much else, so I did a little research.  It's interesting to look and listen to the evolution of the song Apache.

Originally recorded by The Shadows, Cliff Richards' original backup band, Apache was an instrumental hit that the bands solo career. They never achieved as great success as with Apache and played for Richards until 1968 and stayed active until disbanded in 1990.

The next incarnation for the song was by The Incredible Bongo Band.  TIBB was a revolving-door group of studio musicians led by bongo player Michael Viner. Their funky version of The Shadows' Apache become one of hip-hop's earliest breakbeat staples and one of the most sampled tracks in hip-hop history. First-generation hip-hop DJs Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash came to rely on its percussion breaks to get block parties moving.

Label mates to Grandmaster Flash, Sugarhill Gang, completely reworked Apache and forged memorable grooves exploring the funk side of rap/hip-hop. Sugarhill Gang was named after their record label, Sugarhill Records (founded by Sylvia Robinson), Sugarhill Gang is known today mainly today for their groundbreaking sampling (Chic's Good Times) hit Rapper's Delight.

Lastly, a decade later, in 1992, the band Senseless Things reworked the tune for Ruby Trax: The NME's Roaring 40, the must-have British indie covers project (and benefit for The Spastic's Society). This version is sadly not good and bespeaks what was wrong with 90's music and included here for evolutionary purposes more than anything else.

The Shadows - Apache (1960)
The Incredible Bongo Band - Apache (1973)
Sugarhill Gang - Apache (Jump On It) (1982)
Senseless Things - Apache (1992)

This past year I have been listening and dj'ing a lot of sixties and seventies soul; and one of my favorite artists has been Marlena Shaw.

Marlena successfully fused her Jazz background with the Soul, Rhythm Blues and laid back Funk of the Sixties and Seventies into some amazing recordings. Check out the two tracks here for a sample of her magic.

Discovered in 1966, she orginally recorded for the Chess Records' imprint, Cadet, and then later moved onto Bluenote and Columbia. Her stuff is hard to find in stores, but it's worth the effort.

Marlena Shaw - Liberation Conversation
Marlena Shaw - Woman of the Ghetto

After the jump is Marlena's Biography (courtesy of the discomuseum) and Discography.

Swedish pop star Robyn bust onto the music scene in the States with the radio sensation, Show Me Love, and then really hasn't been heard since. At least in the States.

Six albums later, in 2005, she recorded a self-titled album, Robyn, on her own Konichiwa label. Released only in Sweden, the album will finally see a release in the UK on April 2, 2007. No word yet on a US release.

This release sees Robyn, no longer stuck to her bubblegum pop beginnings and she brings a certain Swedish pop view of contemporary Brit and Euro pop. Hearing her 'rap' with a slight Swedish accent makes me smile with joy. It's so awesome.

Robyn resources online: official website, label, myspace, itunes.

Robyn - Cobrastyle
Robyn - Konichiwa Bitches

Check out her video for Konichiwa Bitches after the jump.