After Youssou N’dour broke through European with ‘Bitim Rew Immigres’, I
decided to dig in to his past. Then I discovered Etoile de Dakar and Star
Band de Dakar. I had a kind of crush on this group, ever since the first
notes I laid my ears on. Absolutely great sound, so when I found this one
at the fair I was thrilled. Enjoy this lovely album and if you like it,
you can find more in the Afro-Cuban or Senegal section, below left.

tracks;

1 Sala bigue
2 Sénégal samarève
3 Mane kouma khole thiyove
4 Keleye teye
5 Digueté
6 Misterioso
7 Biquelo Lola
8 La ultima rumba

This casette is from 1988, a little jump through time today
with Youssou N”Dour et le Super Etoile de Dakar.
Number 14 out of 16 African casettes. Although the sound gets less
and less traditional and English phrases start blending in, I think
Youssou’s singing is outstanding on this tape. I love the way he bends
those high notes, what a great voice.

tracks;

1 Gaïndé
2 Bamako
3 Mol
4 Hey you
5 Fenene
6 Mercy

Second in line is Vol. 6, the line-up on this casette is different
from vol. 1. If any one can help us out here, we see Yamar Thiam
playing ‘Tama’ on vol. 1 and we see Assane Thiam playing ‘Tama’
on vol. 6. Assane we know, is Yamar his brother, or maybe himself ?
Overall, this is a great casette, I’ll quote the ‘Rough Guide’:

“Youssou N’Dour et Super Étoile de Dakar:

Vols 1 – 16 ( local casettes )

N’Dour and his trusted cohorts take Dakar street grooves
with strong Latin retentions to the portals of international
superstar collaboration, via some wild, wacky and continually
surprising routes. Vols 6, 7 and 10 are particularly strong.
Vol 8, heavily remixed, became the ‘Immigrés’ CD. But the music
works best as one extraordinary stream of consciousness.
Most of it is impossible to find, but a multi cd compilation,
planned for 2000, could become one of the great albums.”
( my copy of ‘Rough Guide’ is a reprint of the 1999 edition )

Well, didn’t know I was that lucky, but now you are too.

tracks;

1 Mbarguethe
2 Ferridigua
3 Alboury
4 Djamil
5 Yalla

One last thing, track # 5, ‘Yalla’, takes over 11 minutes
while the tape inlay says 6’39, a minor incident.

Back in the 80’s, I once bought me some casettes of Youssou
N’Dour. Later I found they are quite rare so I decided to
check them last week. I didn’t play them for maybe more than
15 years, so it was great to find out they still work.
Let’s start with vol. 1, ‘Ndeetel Weer Wi’ from 1986.

tracks;

1 Ndeetel weer wi
2 Diiñat
3 Jimaamu
4 Warale
5 Yéndi
6 Touba

For the lovers of Senegalese Mbalax, here’s the latest
Super Diamono de Dakar in my collection. It sounds quite a bit
more modern than the previous album we saw.
The music is modern and fresh, the singing of Omar Pene,
as sweet as always.

tracks;

1 Diaraf ( jaraaf )
2 Krumah
3 Soul
4 Bene
5 La mouche
6 Goune
7 Dou degne
8 Cheikh Anta Diop

This week we had such great response on Senegalese music, I
decided to spoil you Groovers a bit more.
After ‘People’ by Super Diamono de Dakar, this is ‘Mam”,a live
registration, recorded at ‘Flight Mobile Studio’ in Paris, in 1984.
Mostly I’m not such fan of ‘Live’ records, but again it was that
superb titletrack that pulled me in. Omar Pene’s sweet voice
is undeniable and touches you at heart.
So, from Reggae we moved on to Samba and via some Soul music
back to Africa, I rest my case !

tracks;

1 Rewu taax
2 Yoon wi
3 Dou wey
4 Ngem
5 Mam’

From over a decade later, this is ‘Super Diamono de Dakar’.
The group has at least two members of Super Jamano, Omar Pene
and Moustapha Fall. Mbalax grew quite a bit older and sounds
very modern here. I always loved track no. 8, live version
of ‘Mam’. Great guitarwork by ‘Lamine Faye’.

tracks;

1 Soweto
2 Mansani Cisse
3 Borom Darou
4 Lou Bax
5 Souboba
6 Artist
7 Mansani Cisse instr.
8 Mam

Okay, on special request some more old stuff from Senegal.
With a psychadelic touch this is another Mbalax group from
the Dakar 70’s, Super Jamano de Dakar. I found some discussion
on the internet about who is playing and singing on this LP.
I’ll tell you; on bass – Baila Diagne, solo guitar –
Papa Gasse, El Hadj Ousmane Diagne – Organ, Synthesizer and piano.
Aziz Seck – Drums, Omar Pene – African percussion,
Bassirou Diagne – vocals, Amadou Baye Diagne – backgr. vocals.
Cheikh H Sabidou Niasse – Trumpet, Moustapha Fall – trombone,
Ndiaga Samb and Tonia Lo on Alt Saxophone.
It was recorded at the Jandeer Night Club in Dakar, mid 70’s.
Enough talk, better go listen !

tracks;

1 Yamatee nee law
2 Indu waad
3 Cuur ngonee ngalang
4 Muugn
5 Manduleen
6 Geedy Dayaan

What we have here is something quite special.
Some time ago we had ‘Etoile de Dakar’, now an LP from
before that time. This is ‘Star Band de Dakar’, already with
Youssou N’Dour but for instance also ‘Laba Sosseh’ sings his part.
Funny thing, track #3, ‘Danguele Fasso’ was written by
Larry Harlow. Youssou N’Dour sings on track 4 & 5.
Fantastic playing by Assane Thiam on ‘Tama’.
I’m sure we got some happy Global Groovers right now !

tracks;

1 Adioupe nar
2 Laye laye kaïra
3 Danguele fasso
4 Bouna n’diaye
5 Kelendi
6 Vali n’diaye

Mbalax they call it back in Senegal and Youssou N’Dour is inventing it
on this LP. Do it like this,
Stand in the middle of your room, turn up the volume, close your
eyes, start # 1 and let the warm flow of Youssou’s sound
come over you, those drums, his voice, that baseline……

tracks;

1 Immigres / Bitim rew
2 Pitche mi
3 Taaw
4 Badou