Listen Here: Actor Yaphet Kotto’s Bizarre 1968 Spoken Word Single

Actor Yaphet Kotto (born on this day in 1939) is perhaps best known to today’s audiences from his role in ALIEN (1979), or perhaps from THE RUNNING MAN (1987), or the long-running ’90s show HOMICIDE, LIFE ON THE STREET. He also has unforgettable turns in Paul Schrader’s BLUE COLLAR (1978), Johathan Kaplan’s TRUCK TURNER (1974), the Bond film LIVE AND LET DIE (1973) and far more than I can, or should name here. He’s a great actor, and a great presence.

In 1967, when Kotto was making a living from the stage and stray screen gigs, he recorded this spoken-word single for Hugh Masakela’s Chisa  Records,  “Have You Dug His Scene”/”Have You Ever Seen The Blues?” It’s a weird, ahead-of-its-time record, bearing some similarities to the work done subsequently by the Last Poets and Gil Scott-Heron.

By the way, if you decide to hit Discogs looking for this Yaphet Kotto record, be aware that there was also a ’90s-00’s punk band by that name.

Enjoy!