Dig Deep: Chakachas – Chakachas – Avco (1972)

Chakachas – Stories
Chakachas – Soledad
Chakachas – Push Together

To the best of my knowledge this is the second record from this European based latin group featuring Nico Gomez. If it’s not actually their second record, at least it’s the second record they put out in 1972. The other record from that year, Jungle Fever, is significantly more well known, because of the massively funky and oh so very salacious title cut as well as a couple of other choice latin soul tracks on that record.

When I first picked this one up, I wasn’t particularly impressed with it. Maybe it’s because this record’s such a mixed bag, not nearly as consistent as Jungle Fever, with a couple of nice funky songs and a couple of cool latin numbers, but then maybe 5 or 6 other songs that barely even feel like the same group. Since that initial disappointment, this record’s grown on me, (which come to think of it, was the same case with Jungle Fever when I first picked that one up…) with it’s saving grace almost exclusively being the sound of the drums on this record.

Ever time I think about getting rid of this record, as soon as I listen to the drums at the beginning of “Stories,” which I think can rightly be seen as a thematic follow-up to their big hit “Jungle Fever,” my inner B-boy just melts. The drums are also a major part of my satisfaction with the other two tracks I’ve provided here “Soledad” and “Push Together.” “Soledad” is a really solid, mellow groover, with just the name (or is supposed to be the sentiment, i.e. soledad = solitude or lonliness?) as the only lyric, sung slightly sultry throughout by a chorus of female voices. “Push Together” is pretty silly, I’ll admit it, but it does have a pretty tasty little break and I’ll tolerate a silly song if it’s got some nice drums and a decent break.

Cheers,

Michael