Joe Bataan – Es Tu Cosa (It’s Your Thing)

By , May 3, 2012 1:25 pm

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Joe Bataan (center)
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Listen/Download Joe Bataan – Es Tu Cosa (It’s Your Thing)

Greetings all.

The end of another week is upon us, and it behhoves me to remind you that the Funky16Corners Radio Show takes to the airwaves of the interwebs this and very Friday night at 9PM on Viva Radio, followed the next day, posted in MP3 form right here at the blog.

The tune I bring you today is a very groovy, very laid back slice of Latin soul.

I will go ahead and assume that you’re all familiar with the mighty Afro-Filipino singer and bandleader Joe Bataan.

He has appeared in this space a few times in the past (vocally and instrumentally) and is unquestionably one of the kings of the classic era of Latin soul.

Today’s selection is a particularly interesting number as it touches on a few different musical strands (if you will).

‘Es Tu Cosa (It’s Your Thing)’ is (and isn’t) a ‘cover’ of the hugely influential 1969 single by the Isley Brothers.

Though it bears no musical relation to the Isley’s tune (it sounds a lot closer to the laid back groove of Willie Bobo’s ‘Fried Neckbones and Some Home Fries’), it does pretty much quote the lyrics of that song’s chorus.

The lyrics do eventually diverge from the Isley’s tune, and the overall effect suggests an after-hours club in Spanish Harlem, replacing the lively funk of that song with a relaxed soul.

When I first got my hands on this 45 I gave it a fair amount of thought.

As I said before, the Isley Brother’s ‘It’s Your Thing’ was a huge hit in the Spring of 1969, going to #1 R&B and making it to #2 Pop.

It’s influence can be seen not only in the long list of outright covers of the song, but also in the list of homages to it as well, in records that borrow the main riff (like Clarence Wheeler and the Enforcers ‘Doin’ What We Wanna’) or “answer” the OG (like Marva Whitney’s ‘It’s My Thing’).

It’s not out of the question that Bataan felt that the refrain…

It’s your thing, do what you wanna do
I can’t tell you who to sock it to

…had transcended its roots as a lyric and emerging as something much bigger, the kind of statement that would find its way on to t-shirts and spray-painted onto city walls.

Either way, it is a very, very groovy record, perfect for the coming of summer weather.

I hope you dig it and I’ll see you all on Monday.

Keep the faith

Larry

 

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4 Responses to “Joe Bataan – Es Tu Cosa (It’s Your Thing)”

  1. James says:

    Wow, very nice Latin groove Larry!

    And thanks, as always, for contextualising the tune besides The Isley Bros., Marva Whitney, and Clarence Wheeler (another new one to me).

    While we’re talking about ‘Its Your Thing’ allow me to plug this awesome slice of greasy soul-funk from the Jazz Crusaders:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkR1yq7AYcc

    Keep the faith Larry!
    James
    x

  2. Mavre says:

    Larry –

    Ugh. I have so much to learn. Thanks for droppin’ the knowledge my way!

    To James – Great slice from Blue Note!
    The Hammond B3 IS the greatest invention of the 20th century!!

    Peace!

  3. […] Page Elliot Yamin – Let’s Get to What’s Real via ThatEricAlper Soundcloud Page Joe Bataan – Es Tu Costa (It’s Your Thing) via Funky16Corners Bodies of Water – Like a Stranger via Icarus & Occident Dolly Parton […]

  4. […] Page Elliot Yamin – Let’s Get to What’s Real via ThatEricAlper Soundcloud Page Joe Bataan – Es Tu Costa (It’s Your Thing) via Funky16Corners Bodies of Water – Like a Stranger via Icarus & Occident Dolly Parton […]

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