Cheikh Boutaiba Saidi | Faida Fi Mahanti (Bahiphone)

Let's get the obvious out of the way: This is simply the grooviest 45 RPM single cover we've ever seen -- that alone might be enough to warrant our ripping the tracks to share on this blog. That said, in this case, the book, as it were, lives up to its cover. These two 6+ minute-long driving raï tracks are solid fire icon x 5. 

 

We have at least a couple dozen Algerian 45s we would share with you; however, not many of them are in terrific shape. This record is a happy exception.

We know next to nothing about Cheikh Boutaiba Saidi other than the fact that he has nearly 50 singles catalogued on Discogs and appears in half a dozen CD compilations -- so he obviously hasn't been forgotten. 

And, no wonder. This is rock-solid, hard-hitting, pre-synth, traditional raï with gasaba, handclaps, and a drum of some kind (we don't hear the rbaba on either track, but this may be a defect of our aging ears).

(Listen to "Faida Fi Mahanti")

(Listen to "Jite Nazdam")