El Rego – Dis-Moi Oui
Based on the recent reissues over the last couple of years from the Orchestre Poly-Rhythmo De Cotonou, it’s clear that Benin had some serious funk going on in the 1960s and 1970s. The godfather of all things funky in that country was Theophile Do Rego, better known as El Rego. Along with his group “The Commandos,” El Rego released some heavy heavy 45s that are now finally getting their proper due thanks to this fantastic collection from Daptone records. Upbeat burners like “Djobime,” “Cholera,” “Feeling You Got” and “Dis-Moi Oui,” the track I’ve selected here, show just how funky the man could get. Slower tracks like “Kpon Fi La” and “Ke Amon-Gbetchea” show the deep and soulful range of an artist everybody needs to get a little more familiar with.