Let Me Rai [Rhythm Safari]

• Artist: Cheb Mami
• Rating:
• Release Date: January 09, 1998
• Total Time: 37:48
• Genre: World

Review

In the 1980s and '90s, much of Algeria's rai music made extensive use of electronic instrumentation and Western elements. Cheb Mami's Let Me Rai is especially pop influenced. This inviting CD was recorded in Los Angeles, not Algeria, and the singer's music has an even stronger pop orientation than that of other Algerian rai stars. While "Maandi" has an overtly Middle Eastern groove, cuts like "Douha Alia," "Yo Yo," and the reggae-influenced "Let Me Cry" are essentially pop music sung mostly or entirely in Arabic. Quite often, Mami's harmonic sense recalls American pop and pop/rock of the early '60s. The John Coltrane-influenced jazzman Ben Clatworthy is employed on sax, though he doesn't stretch out or improvise. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Yo Yo	Cheb Mami, Traditional	Cheb Mami	(3:35)
Haoulou	Cheb Mami	Cheb Mami	(4:12)
Let Me Cry	Cheb Mami, Hilton Rosenthal	Cheb Mami	(3:49)
Douha Alia	Cheb Mami	Cheb Mami	(4:16)
Fatma	Cheb Mami	Cheb Mami	(3:45)
Rah Eddani	Cheb Mami	Cheb Mami	(4:30)
Khalihoum	Cheb Mami	Cheb Mami	(4:40)
Maandi	Cheb Mami	Cheb Mami	(4:51)
Manimane	Cheb Mami, Traditional	Cheb Mami	(4:10)

Credits

Hilton Rosenthal (Programming), Hugh Burrows (Bass), Hilton Rosenthal (Arranger), Hilton Rosenthal (Keyboards), Cecilia Noel (Vocals (Background)), Cheb Mami (Accordion), Cheb Mami (Vocals), John Oliva (Percussion), Cheb Mami (Keyboards), Hilton Rosenthal (Vocals (Background)), Wally Traugott (Mastering), Frederico Ramos (Guitar), Benn Clatworthy (Saxophone), Sandy Solomon (Engineer), Tom Regis (Vocals (Background)), Hilton Rosenthal (Producer), Pierre Terrasson (Photography), Tom Regis (Vocals), Cheb Mami (Percussion), Freddy Ramos (Guitar), Juanito Oliva (Percussion)