Exciters - 1969 - The Exciters In Stereo

Exciters

1969

The Exciters In Stereo

01. Ojos Verdes (Danzón)

02. Exciters Theme (Soul)

03. Es Amor (Bolero)

04. Nunca En Domingo (Cha Cha Soul)

05. Prisioner Of Love (Soul)

06. Ese Muerto No Lo Cargo Yo (Típico Soul)

07. Yo, Que Nada Tengo (Balada Soul)

08. I Can't Turn You Loose (Soul)

09. Cocktel Español (Balada Soul)

10. Let Your Self Go (Soul)

The Pan-Caribbean workforce brought in to build the Panama Canal shaped the musical culture on the isthmus, and it became a hot-spot for new rhythms. Growing out of the combos nacionales scene, one of the most successful funk and soul groups of 60s and 70s Panama, Los Dinamicos Exciters (later The Exciters) was led by drummer Horacio ‘Ray’ Adams. Legendary in their day, the band were booked solid for years. Their core sound was Latin soul and funk (heavily influenced by James Brown) but they also played boogaloo, calypso and ska. The US Black Power movement struck a chord, especially in the Canal Zone, where Afro-Panamanians had long suffered discrimination. Co-founders of the Instituto Soul, the Exciters were the first to invite an African-American ‘soul queen’ to lead their carnival parade in 1971.

Hailing from Panama, Los Dinamicos Exciters (later known as just The Exciters) created a core sound that was centred around Latin soul and funk, but they also played boogaloo, calypso and ska! Led by drummer Horacio ‘Ray’ Adams, this band gained legendary status in their day and were booked solid for years! They took their what inspired them, blended it with their roots and what came out was a new strain of Latin funk!!

Issuing a handful of 45’s and a few LP’s in the late 1960’s-early 1970’s, today’s instrumental delight can be found on their self-titled debut, which was released in 1969 on Panamanian label, Loyola Records

Not every track on this record is is as heavy on the funk as Exciters Theme (more’s the pity), but it’s a pleasant listen and its definitely worth checking out the rest of their repertoire if you fancy digging out some more gems?

Exciters Theme is definitely a breed apart though, and has such a lovely contrasting softness/crispness between that striking horn melody and those slinky keys. It’s so sleek and silky!