JOE BATAAN – RIOT! / FANIA 1968
OK…real talk right here. If anyone objects to anything I say from here on out, please feel good about yourself and come see me. In getting to brass tax, one the main reasons why MJQ Wednesday nites is bangin’ like Brooklyn right now, is because myself and long time cohort Rob Wonder came in and put it down. Don’t get me wrong, Wednesday’s has been a staple in ATL since the old MJQ. But when Cafe Confidential got situated it became an institution within The Institution. Once again if anyone disagrees leave a comment…with your real name. No bitchassness.

For me one of the highlights of every set was actually when the lites came on and the smoke cleared, Kid Wonder and I would always trade vinyl. 45’s, 12’s or full LP heat, we always walked away w something new. It sort of buffered the fact that we only got paid 100bucks…that we split. This is the last joint that Rob gave me before his pilfrimage to Orlando. Incase you didnt know, the cats at Fania Records always wanted the label to be The Mowtown of Latin music. If such was the case Joe Bataan was the Smoky Robinson. Honestly, I was never a fan of Bataan’s early bebop sounding material, but when he decided to quit being a dusted gang banger so he could create timeless music, thats when i got hooked. This album is a prime example of latin soul. A must have in your FANIA Catalog.