Le Grand Maître Franco Luambo Makiadi passed in 1989. In 1990 le Grand Père Bozi Boziana and his group Anti-Choc released this hommage. Quite different from Franco's sound, but an absolute delightful album. I'm so sorry I don't understand Lingala, I'd love to know the words in 'Hommage à Franco'. Maybe someone can translate for[...]

This is a Sonodisc cd from 1994 on which we find five songs. They say 'en compagnie de Sam Mangwana', but we do not hear him on every track. Track #3 is called Batela makili na ngai, we know it as 'Sadou' of course. Dear Franco specialists, please listen to see if the other titles[...]

Today we celebrate our fourteenth anniversary with you and an album by Franco lee Ezute and his Harmony Kings Int. Band. My choice was inspired by Jillem's post at HTD yesterday. A few links point to other records. On side one of this elpee we sadly find some nasty pops, a shame, but I still[...]

A couple of days ago I posted Youlou Mabiala with some messed up files. I received messages that made me remove it. Some of you downloaded it, but today dear visitors we've got the correct files of that album. It was donated to us by our dear blog friend Nick Beddow. Thank you so very[...]

More than 11 years after the first half of the double album we finally have the second half. There was some discussion in those days whether the record stood on its own or belongs to a double release. I'm glad we can put the two together at last. Mostly double albums come in double sleeves,[...]

01 - Luambo Makiadi - Belela authenticite na congres ya mpr 1er 02 - Franco et Josky Kiambukuta du T.P.O.K. Jazz - Missile 03 - Le T.P.O.K. Jazz - Testament ya bowule 04 - Franco et le T.P. OK Jazz - Pesa position 05 - Franco et le Tpok Jazz - Kimpa kisangameni 06 -[...]

01 - Massu 02 - Cherie okamuisi ngai 03 - Layile 04 - Likambo ya somo lumbe

01 - Tailleur 02 - Katebe 03 - Belle mère 04 - Tuti

01 - Bimansha 02 - Ilousse 03 - Mamba

01 - Toujours O.K. 02 - Cherie B.B. 03 - Bowane choc 04 - Proces

In navolging van Worldservice, op 12 oktober j.l. was het 30 jaar terug dat Franco overleed. Zoveel mooie platen, zoveel verhalen, de bron is onuitputtelijk. We hadden al veel van zijn platen maar deze dubbelaar op Edipop uit 1982 heb ik nog niet hier of bij de diverse collega's gezien. Ik kan je niet zoveel[...]

One year after the sad passing of 'le Grand Maître' Franco Luambo Makiadi, a group of friends and associates came with this tribute. The list of Franco records at the GG is long. Dig in and discover a treasure. Much can be said about the life and works of this great Congolese music master. Here[...]

It's been almost a year since we had this record by The Harmony Kings with General Franco Lee Ezute, our friend Nick added a nice video afterwards. About a week ago fellow blogger Jillem of Holland Tunnel Dive also had a good release. Today another one of their records. This one is from 1990 and[...]

Van de grote Franco kunnen we er altijd nog wel een plaatje bij hebben. Zijn oeuvre beslaat enkele honderden elpees en gelukkig duikt er zo nu en dan nog eens een op die we nog niet hadden. Deze is uit 1980 maar de muziek erop is vele malen ouder. Hier en daar klinkt het wat[...]