Okay Kwabena, let’s do one with the funky highlife field
marshall, Tony Sarfo composed and arranged all songs
on this album. He is backed by the Afrosibi gang in which
also Sammy Cropper plays his part. This time he does the
Bass guitar. Voice over by Tony Mensah of Kumasi and
Tony Sarfo. Track #1, little angel, was his biggest hit in
1983, but too sweet for me. Today’s album contains a
song called ‘Mensu’ just like yesterday’s record by Vis
a Vis. Same song, different version? I wonder
was it written by Tony Sarfo?
tracks;

1 Little angel
2 Momma yendo yenho
3 Obi de ba anopa
4 Mensu

“Tops
It’s Vis a Vis again in a different mood altogether.
This album of the group will ensure fans that they
were truely the creaters ‘Kyenkyen Bi Adi Mawu’.
Now, all the songs on this album were written,
arranged and directed by Sammy Cropper, the
lead guitarist and assistant leader of the group.
And to know the hands on this album, let’s start
from the leader who is the person of superstar.”
( backsleeve notes )

This lp is from 1979 on Brobisco, it has been played
a lot and sounds a little dusty. The backsleeve speaks
of only two tracks but the lp’s label gives us one title
on the a-side and three on the b-side. Love the rhythms
on track #4 myself, give it a spin and
see what you think..

tracks;

1 Kalabule
2 Mensu
3 Enkobesie
4 Mankra yie

Hello groovers, yesterday I made a little trip to Belgium.
I visited my friend Kali, he is a collector too and uses to
travell to Africa to find lp’s. We had a nice afternoon
listening to, and talking about music. I came home with
some fresh posting material amongst which this here lp
by a very popular musician. Ebo Taylor is here first time
with ‘Twer Nyame’. The albums a-side is from 1978 and
b-side from 1977. A very nice piece of highlife, give
it a spin and agree, wonderful stuff,
get it & spread it..

Let me show you Afri Kali on Youtube, we see him
searching through dusty and dirty lp’s in Ghana,
take a look and subscribe to his YT channel..
..scratchy but cool..

tracks;

1 Twer nyame
2 Peace on earth
3 Atwer abroba

Aboudou Lassissi

The sleeve is taped together but the lp itself is in
fine condition. I heard you guys talking about the
Cutlass Dance Band of Ghana and pulled one out
for ya. It was released in Cote d’Ivoire on Sacodis
and off course produced by Aboudou Lassissi.
Before this lp they made five in Ghana and this
must be the first of two albums produced outside
Ghana. Listen to Osenkafo I.K. Annin and
his Cutlass Dance Band of Ghana.

tracks;

1 Asamandze ye secret
2 Odo meka bi a tie
3 Yen abebrese yi
4 Fa no saara
5 Obra ene woara
6 Okro mouth
7 Sekan ho wo mfasod

I have no idea what our guest of today is talking about
at the beginning of this album. Only tell me if you think
I would want to know. I’ve told you before, sometimes
we just better listen without wondering. I hadn’t heard
of Scarpview’s Band until I found this lp at the fair
recently. The highlife sounds nice, the album is
clean, for Ghanaian lp’s from the era this is a
rare thing, unfortunately the frontsleeve is
damaged a little bit. Listen to ‘Si No Pi’
and let me know what you think..

tracks;

1 Mmoborowa
2 Enkyekye wo n’afe
3 Yeaba na yen koro mu
4 Si no pi
5 Afeda ben
6 Asomaniwa

Hello groovers, yesterday I received some really nice
feedback from one of our visitors. Obiora Obikwelu from
Minnesota USA is from Nigerian descent and grew up with
the Nigerian Highlife of Oliver de Coque, Oriental Brothers
and such. He started his own little group inspired by the
music of his ancestors and sent us some copies of their
songs to share with you. Let’s see what happens.

To begin with, some more studying material from Nigeria.
Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe is back with an album I did
not post yet. Other blogs have brought it but to complete
our Osadebe discography ( some fine day ) I didn’t want
to keep it from you and today is a good day to do so.
It’s frontsleeve is damaged quite bad but I did not find
a solid replacement. It is what it is. The rhythms
however are just breathtakingly wonderful..

Thank you Obi for your mail and it’s fantastic to hear what
came out of your Nigerian hat. I want to ask you visitors to
check youtube for their other songs, they have a few more
there to listen to. Listen to Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe
and lend an ear to the Okwute Melody Makers of Africa
as well, hope you like’m..

tracks;

1 Nne di mkpa
2 Onye aghana nwanne
3 Chukwu di uso
4 Obiajulu

When I found this lp by the Happy Stars, it was my first
encounter with the group. They started out in 1956 but
only gained succes after their second revival in 1960.
The highlife on this album is played in, as they have
called it, ‘osibi tune’. I do not know what makes it
osibi but think it sounds very nice. On side one
all songs are melted together as one, on side
two they are seperated, enjoy..

tracks;

1 Nakwa ayebi
– Se manware no a mewu
– Onipa ne dabre mu
– Asante kotoko
– Asuo yaa
2 Maame abenaa
3 Senketenkete
4 Dada yi ara
5 Ankonam
6 Wano asem pii

Our buddy Kwabena asked me if I had any Kumapim Royals and it just
so happens I had this lp waiting for it’s turn to get posted.
So here it is, sooner then planned but why not. Akwasi Ampofo Adjei,
A.A.A. or the Shining Star or Dada Thick, call him how you like, his
music is simply wonderful. Kumapim Royals Band, ‘Band of the Year’,
the album is from 1981. I just wish I knew them in those days but
better late then never I guess. Interested ?
Download ‘Sika ye Pena’, listen and enjoy..

P.S.
The record ends kind of abrubt, that’s just how it is..

tracks;

1 Sika ye pena
2 Madam fo wa
– Menam okwantuni
– Katapilia kwankwan
– Monhwe nanimma
– Nkaboa
3 Oduro kwaku
4 Wada bia nyane
5 Berepa beba
6 Gyae ma onka

For the lovers of Ghanaian highlife we have an album
by Dan Amakye Dede and his Apollo International Band
of Ghana. It was recorded in Nigeria in 1984 and sounds
a little noisy. It is always difficult, should I keep this album
from posting because it is crackly or continue without holding
back ? I guess I’d rather choose the second option.
Guitar-highlife from Ghana but made in Nigeria is one
of the most popular styles at our page, so if you forget the
noise I’m sure this one will also find a happy listening ear..

tracks;

1 Taxi driver
2 Yen hunu bi da
3 Woa nnare mea membotwo
4 Tun tum black
5 Nye wonko
6 Odo sambe wa mi

Today’s lp comes with a request. I have asked before if there
would be anyone to help us out here. This album by One of
the most respected highlife artists is so crackly, it is a shame.
Can someone run it through a good filter to take away the
noise and then throw it back at us? the album really deserves
it. K. Gyasi’s Noble Kings Band of Ghana is one we do not
encounter on a daily basis. This lp is made with my favourite
Ghanaian guitarplayer, Eric Agyemang and vocalist Paa Thomas
Frempong. It is from 1976, launched just after their European
tour and recorded at the Island Recording Studios, London.
The tour was supposed to last for six weeks but went on for
five months, july to november 1975. They visited all the major
cities in England, Belgium and Germany, no Netherlands
unfortunately, however, in those years I wasn’t aware of
the greatness of this type of music yet. I must say,
the album sounds quite dusty during the first two
or three songs but gets better further on,
b-side same story, I hope you can help.
get it, spread it and more important,
listen and dance away..

tracks;

1 Me dofo san bra
2 Nkrabea aduro
3 Me ne wo bewu
4 Babia me do wo
5 Nsem keka adooso
6 Odor kor
7 Futuo mu nsem wonka
8 Ankonam agyanka
9 Obaatan pa behwe wo mma
10 Abena kwakyewa do