7th Wonder

Artist: 7th Wonder

LP: Thunder

Song: "The Tilt"
[ listen ]

A friend and colleague from work left on vacation to the Middle East this week. She'll be stopping by Egypt to see The Great Pyramid of Giza—the only one of The Seven Ancient Wonders of the World still in existence today! According to Wikipedia, The Great Giza Pyramid is actually Ancient Wonder #2 though, and not the 7th one as this 1980 funk LP would have us believe. 

With all the other six Wonders wiped off the face of the planet (earthquakes, you know), it makes sense from a tourism standpoint to assemble a new list of Wonders that people can actually still visit to buy t-shirts, key chains, and other souvenirs. In November of 2006, USA Today and Good Morning America did just that, unveiling a revised list of Seven Wonders selected by a panel of six judges, with an Eighth Wonder tacked on a while later based on viewer feedback. Inspired, I've thrown together my own list of things that make me Wonder. The group photo from the back of this LP ended up at number five.

[ 7th Wonder ]

Laila Matar

Artist: Laila Matar

LP: Cairo! The Music of Modern Egypt

Song: "Ishtagnalak Wallah (Part 2)"

[ listen ]

This Capitol Records various artists LP presenting "modern" Egyptian music to a Western audience was something I picked up last summer in Dayton, Ohio of all places. Along with Laila Matar, the record features tracks from Nagah Salamar, Tariq Abdul Hakim, and Ahmed Jabor. I've included an album review here from the May 5, 1956 edition of The Billboard magazine, and the LP's liner notes, which offer a range of tantalizing tips and ideas for your own Egyptian vacation, are included below. Personally, I'd like to spend a relaxing evening at one of Cairo's still-gay cafes!

Tarik Bulut and His Ensemble

Artist: Tarik Bulut and His Ensemble

LP: In An Egyptian Garden

Song: "Cifte Telli"

[ listen ]

Now that Egyptians have toppled the corrupt and repressive government of President Hosni Mubarak, it won't be long before the women of Cairo will be found lounging in sensuous abandonment in the city's public gardens, dressed in golden bikinis and eating seedless grapes by the bunches. For info on talented Turkish musician Tarik Bulut, click here.