A native of Benin, Theophile Do Rego (a.k.a. El Rego) is a towering figure in African soul music. Fusing traditional rhythms with modern instrumentation, he created a sound encompassing many styles, including Afrobeat (“Zon Dede,” “Kpon Fi La”), Afro-Cuban (“Do Do Baya”), and hard, James Brown–inspired funk (“Djobime,” “Hessa”). All this is augmented by El Rego’s howls and shrieks. Backed by the ferocious band Ses Commandos, El Rego's gritty, powerful voice erupts amid propulsive bass lines, searing guitars, and undulating percussion. In addition to being a bandleader, he was a famous club owner as well; each track here has what it takes to pack a dance floor. Selected and remastered by DJ Frank Gossner and Daptone Records (home of Sharon Jones, Charles Bradley, The Budos Band, and other groove-oriented artists), this collection represents a dozen of El Rego’s best singles from the late '60s and early '70s. It's a must for connoisseurs of African soul and funk.