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!

Osiris

 Artist: Osiris

LP: Since Before Our Time

Song: "Consistency"

[ listen ]

Born and raised in Washington, DC in the 1950s, Osiris Marsh's career got started in high school when he performed with the doo-wop group The Stridells (who obliterated rival doo-woppers The Love Tones in the East High talent show, by the way). In 1977 his group Osiris rose from the ashes of The Family, another group he'd helped form just the year before. Osiris released their first LP in 1978, and their "Consistency" single peaked at #77 on Billboard's R&B singles charts. You can read more about Osiris Marsh on Miss Funkyflyy's website here, and go here for info on Osiris the Egyptian god of the afterlife, the underworld, and the dead. You can "like" Osiris Marsh on Facebook here and find photos, lyrics, and info from the "Since Before Our Time" LP included below.