Mazouni | Mamadou (Oasis)

Mohamed Mazouni was born in Blida, Algeria (Leblida in Tamazight), and moved to France in 1968. It is likely that this 45 RPM was recorded the next year or in 1970, although Discogs does not date the release. (A single on the same label with a catalog number two digits lower than this one was released in 1969.) Thanks to Karim on Twitter (@BoomerDZ), we can safely say that these these two tracks are sung in Algerian Arabic, or Darja. 

Born Bad in France has put together a terrific compilation of Mazouni's singles; neither track from this record is on it. That said, Un Dandy en Exil is a wonderful two-LP set with a decent amount of background information in the liner notes -- and not ridiculously priced.

Back to the record at hand. The first track, "Mamadou," may be of non-Algerian origins -- Discogs contains a note for this disc, reading, "Great Mazouni with an African or Reunion flavor on Mamadou." It does not sound like any of the other tracks we've heard by this artist.

(Listen to "Mamadou")

Once again, however, we're far more intrigued by Side B than Side A. "Eddaha Eddaha" opens with a soft drum shuffle similar to "Mamadou," but that's where the two tracks depart. Whereas "Mamadou" features a quickly strummed guitar backing, "Eddaha Eddaha" features a groovy guitar lick followed by a chorus of women that leads into an infectious call-and response -- it'll have you emphatically bopping your head around, if not getting up off of that thing and dancing 'til you feel better.

(Listen to "Eddaha Eddaha")