_{Cymande – (early 1970s) from cymandeofficial.com}

Today, we’re taking a listen to a fantastic tune from the seventies that unfortunately we’d have to classify as a hidden gem. Sure, you can hear “Play That Funky Music” or “I Shot The Sheriff” on the radio now and again, but when’s the last time you caught a Cymande tune? Our loss.

Cymande (pronounced Sah-Mahn-Day and meaning “dove”) are a British band originally from a variety of nations including Jamaica and Guyana. Their 1972 self-titled debut LP contains a wealth of wonderful grooves, but today, let’s open our ears to “The Message.” No, not the 80s blockbuster – this is the original “Message,” damnit.

Cymande’s “The Message” hit #22 on Billboard‘s Soul chart and #48 on the Hot 100 in early ’73. Spin it!

Cymande, “The Message” (1972)