Franco’s OK Jazz brought along a range of great artists. This is
Youlou Mabiala who used to sing with Franco for years. It is
the first LP with Orchestre Kamikaze, great vocals, great music.

tracks;

1 Connaissance
2 Karibuni ya sita
3 Kileba
4 Na yini kolinga

Saxophone player Kiamanguana Verckys was one of the members
of OK Jazz for years and later started his own Orchestre Veve.
This LP’s first side, with Orchestre Veve is recorded in 1969
if I’m not mistaking. B-side is from 1973 and so is this album.
Tracks 5,6,7 and 8 are with Orchestre Les Grands Maquisards.
What can I say? this is so beautiful, no words…

tracks;

1 Bankoko Baboyi
2 Mbombo eyenga
3 Nakomitunaka
4 N’dia
5 Dellya
6 Maria Mboka
7 Tokosenga na nzambe
8 Biki

As I promised, here is the first l’Afrique Danse.
A great compilation of 60’s Congolese music, enjoy.

tracks;

1 Orchestre OK Jazz – Quatre boutons ( Franco )
2 Orchestre OK Jazz – Savon reward chez Marsavco ( Franco )
3 Jean Bokelo – Bana conga baleli liwa ya Sinatra ( Bokelo )
4 Jean Bokelo – Mawa na biso basi ( Bokelo )
5 Orchestre OK Jazz ( Mujos ) – Finga mama munu
6 Orchestre OK Jazz ( Mujos ) – Revolver
7 Orchestre OK Jazz ( Vicky ) – Tonton
8 Orchestre OK Jazz ( Vicky ) – Quand le film est triste
9 Alberto & Orchestre Conga Succes – Semeki nde ndeko
10 Alberto & Orchestre Conga Succes – Alberto siempre conga
11 Orchestre OK Jazz ( Franco ) – Timothee abangi makambo
12 Orchestre OK Jazz ( Franco ) – Oyo mobali tapale

I have read the most funny story, recorded in Kinshasa in 1973,
the song ‘A.Z.DA’ was released without much notice in Zaire. After
some time it spread across Africa and Europe. Most people thought
it was a love song but in fact it was an advertisement. A.Z.DA was
the name of a Volkswagendealer with outlets in some 6 Zairian cities.
The song goes; Vay-way Vay-Way Vay-Way, and bought all 24 members of
the band a brandnew Volkswagen.

tracks;

1 A.Z.DA No. 1 & 2
2 Assitu 1 & 2
3 Minuit eleki lezi 1 & 2
4 Zando ya tipo-tipo
5 Lukika

This LP by Sam Mangwana is on the Nigerian RAS label, I am
not exactly sure but it seems to be a Nigerian recording.
Either way, it spins just fine. The title of this album
does not come from one of the tracks, does it mean
life goes on?

tracks;

1 Toboyi te
2 Chérie Magy
3 Afrique – Antilles = Un
4 A la Camerounaise

In the series l’Afrique danse, this is guitarist Dr. Nico.
A sublime artist who performs on this LP with the Orchestra,
African Fiesta Sukisa. They picked some songs from three
years, 1968,1969 and 1970. Sweet stuff.

tracks;

1 Sadi na boyi masumu
2 Kamunganzi ko
3 Ntumba
4 Mokili ya nzambe
5 Fanta diara
6 Echantillon ya pamba
7 Sizarine
8 Nazali se mobali na yo
9 Tu m’as deçu Chouchou
10 Bolingo ya sens unique

One of the most perfect Congolese albums I have ever heard
is this one by Papa Noel. He was one of the original members
of ‘Les Bantous de la Capitale’. I think his guitarwork on
this LP is simply impeccable. Unfortunately the backsleeve
doesn’t give one line of information about the rest of the
musicians, is that Malage doing vocals ? If anyone can tell
us, that would be great. In the mean time enjoy this
beautiful album.

tracks;

1 Selia Zozo
2 Madiabuana
3 Bel ami
4 Bon samaritain
5 Kizungu-zungu
6 Sisi

Although it does not sound that way, this LP was recorded
live at the 1-2-3. Tight stuff by le grand maitre like always.
With the ever great Lutumba Simaro, check it out.

tracks;

1 Tikaka kosenga
2 Tambou luntadila
3 Kabongo
4 Sema ya kinalo

I am not posting high tempo these days and this one
is to make up for it a little bit.

The Zaiko Langa Langa Orchestra concerned a large group of musicians.
Guitarist ‘Pela’ made this LP with two offshoots of the orchestra.
Uptempo Congolese Soukous, rhythm driven and great vocals.

tracks;

1 Zaiko wawawa
2 Maria Mea
3 Wele – wele
4 Doto

Last year I posted three different albums by ‘le Fantastic Pambou Tchicaya
Tchico’ with more or less the same cover as this one. Our friend and collegue
of Worldservice told me these are the Nigeria recordings. This is the last
one in my posession, does anyone know if there are more of them ?
There is something funny about the black and white picture of Tchico
on horseback. At first it looks kinda tough but if you look better
you notice they must have hoisted Tchico on the back of that poor mule.
With his freshly ironed white shirt and trousers he doesn’t really look
like he’s been riding, the immense shoes he’s wearing don’t even fit
in the horse’s stirrups. Maybe not a horseman but a truly great musician,
demonstrated by for one, the Cuban classic El Manicero, the Peanut vender.

tracks;

1 Brothers and sisters
2 Amie Clara
3 El manicero se va