This sweet soul inspired double header harks back to Panama in the late 60’s, a time when musicians fearlessly combined and brilliantly executed styles that reflected their multicultural environment.

‘Moving Grooving’ and ‘Hiko Iko’ are both ultra rare hand clapping, foot stomping soul workouts courtesy of the Greaves brothers, Frankie and Franklyn. ‘Moving Grooving’ is featured on Soundway Records’s third release in the Panama series titled Panama! 3, compiled by Quantic and Roberto Gyemant AKA Beto.

Both tracks were originally served up on a super limited 45 on Segraves Records in 1969 and and highlight the massive influence of American soul music on musica Panameña during and after the black power cultural movement in the US. A reference to the early work of the godfather of soul, James Brown, may seem a tad lazy but it’s about as honest as it gets.

‘Moving Grooving’ is featured on Soundway Records’ latest album:

Panama! 3 – Calypso Panameño, Guajira Jazz & Cumbia Típica on the Isthmus 1960–75

Little Francisco Greaves

A. The Soul Fantastics – El Mismo
B. Los Silvertones – El Baile De la Araña

Both tracks featured on this very rare and limited release offer a glimpse of the unique tropical music created in Panama during the fertile decades of the 1960s and ‘70s.

The choice of tracks was heavily influenced by the collectors, DJs and Latin music aficionados that Roberto Gyemant, compiler of the Panama!2 album, met during his digging through dusty Panamanian warehouses and visiting of old radio stations in the Panamanian outback. These tracks are near impossible to find on original vinyl!

The Soul Fantastics flute driven track “El Mismo” is a dancefloor driven soul workout with heavy influences from the States. Jazz flautist Felix Wilkins leads the charge and therein takes the track to a huge crescendo lending itself to the same school as the 1971 stone cold b-boy classic ‘Burning Spear’ by S.O.U.L. The original breaks and beats of Panama!

Los Silvertones do their thing with their “spider dance”, ‘El baile de la Araña’ – a bossa funk driven jam, sure to provoke some heavy hustling in the discotecas.”

The 7” release coincides with the latest CD/DLP album on Soundway Records:

Panama!2, “Latin Sounds, Cumbia Tropical & Calypso Funk on the Isthmus, 1967-77”

£4.99