PINOY GROOVE EXPERIENCE (Philippine Popular Music Revisited):
Barrabás - “Sexy Lady” (1976) from Watch Out
Barrabás was a Spanish band formed by drummer Fernando Arbex in the early 70’s. The band also featured Ignacio Egana on bass, Juan Vidal on keys, Tito Duarte on percussion and two Filipino brothers named Ricky and Miguel Morales on guitar and vocals. They were originally more of the funkier Spanish version of Santana but eventually gained underground attention after Disco pioneer David Mancuso discovered their first LP at a record store in Amsterdam and began regularly playing “Wild Safari” and “Woman” at his legendary Loft parties during the embryonic stages of Disco in New York.
“Sexy Lady” is a track written and sung by, although not the main lead singer, Miguel Morales. From their 1976 record Watch Out. It’s a honey of a mid tempo groover with a relentless Herbie Hancock-esque hook and sweet falsetto vocals by Morales.
Don’t know much more about the Morales brothers, but it’s another example of Pinoys contributing to music scenes across the globe. Even if they get stuck in the shadows (see pic below of the Morales brothers in the back row on the right)
Barrabás - Wild Safari (LP Back Cover) - 1972
