Congo, Tours de Force vol. 1 – Various Artists
During the past few weeks I have been going through
my Congolese files to pick out the most beautiful songs.
A proces that takes a lot of time and I ended quite some
evenings almost sleeping behind my PC. Today I am ready
to present you the first compilation. I have named them
‘Congo, Tours de Force’ and this is volume 1. A collection
of my very favourite tracks, hand picked for you, hope U like.
More volumes are about to follow.
tracks;
1 Franco & le Tout Puissant OK Jazz – Ku kisantu kikwenda ko
2 Orchestre Conga 68 de Jonny – F.C. Dragon
3 Verckys – Nakomitunaka
4 Trio Madjesi – Photo Madjesi
5 Vicky et OK Jazz – En memoire de Bayon
6 Bavon Marie Marie & Négros Succés – Libangana libumu
7 Fantastic Tchico – Mieux vaut tard que jamais
8 Orquestre Maquis du Zaïre – Na tango ya zala
9 Empere Bakuba – Numero Empire
10 Franco & Le Tout Puissant OK Jazz – Siluwangi wapi accordeon
11 Likembe Géant – Bika nzanga
Gentleman Mike Ejeagha and his Trio
Akuko N’egwu Original vol.1
Polygram 1983
Mike Ejeagha’s highlife is just what we need on a quiet
sunday afternoon. The rhythm is so mellow, it almost brings
one in a kind of trance, going on and on, hypnotising 1983
West African minimal sound.
tracks;
1 Onye ori utaba
2 Ka esi le onye isi oche
Merengues – Alberto Beltrán y su ConjuntoTípico, ‘El Negrito del Batey’,Ansonia SALP 1531, 1975
Some Merengue from it’s origination for you today.
Alberto Beltrán was one of the Dominicans who made
this music big. Great stuff for lovers of accordeon music
‘like me’ said the nutcase. Master voice, master sound.
This LP contains the song that gave Alberto his nickname,
‘El negrito del Batey’. A fast saturdaynight dance album, enjoy.
tracks;
1 Caña brava
2 La empaliza
3 La yuca
4 El hombre marinero
5 A bailar
6 Compadre Pedro Juan
7 El negrito del Batey
8 A lo oscuro
9 Siña Juanica
10 La cruz de palo bonito
11 La maricutana
12 El sancocho prieto
Orchestre Baobab – Baobab à Paris vol. 1
‘On Verra Ça ?’
Productions Ledoux 1978
Some Orchestre Baobab always brings comfort when
you long for summer times and warm evenings. From the
1978 Paris sessions, volume 1. Six songs that will make
you happy instantly and forget about winter, open up.
tracks;
1 On verra ça
2 Mi son
3 Sibam
4 Wane ma maguiss
5 El son te llama
6 Thiossane
Orchestre Sinza Kotoko – Basi-Bakeseny
Sonafric SAF 50041, 1977
Every song was written by another member of the group.
Next to the brothers Pierre and Kosmos Moutouari, this
band had some excelent writers. Fidèle Samba, Jean-Pierre
Mapounga, Daniel Fouilou, Jaques Kimbembé, Alphonse
Bahouka, Luc Kounkou, Anatole Bokasso, Gabriel Dianzolo
and Hyacinte Malonga. Beautiful names, great music, listen.
tracks;
1 Basi-bakeseny
2 Samba-mirita
3 Mamy-giro
4 Bakento
5 Qui vivra verra
6 Waba-kandi-tetoka
7 Doudou
8 Tchy-tchy
9 Loutina
10 Mouboyo
Atakora Manu – Disko Hi-life
Ambassador 1981
On Ambassador Records, this is LPAM 029. An album of
Ghanaian highlife by Atakora Manu. You might have heard
that track 11 on my recently made highlife compilation.
I found out about Atakora not so long ago but the more I hear,
the more I like his music. These three songs from an unknown
release-year are very much worth listening to, hope U enjoy.
tracks;
1 Palm wine seller
2 Self contention
3 Obiaa ne mre beba
Justo Betancourt – Pa Bravo Yo,Fania Records 1972
How sweet was the sound of Fania in the early seventies ?
Larry Harlow produced this spicey slice of salsa vinyl and
I think he did very well. Sparkling Fania recording with some
great songs by Justo Betancourt, smooth voice. To break the
routine it don’t hurt to have us some salsa, I should
do it more often, move your feet and wiggle your
hips to the latin beat, ..azucar..
Especially for my old buddie ‘Baldrick’.
Makes me think of café de Kroeg ?
tracks;
1 Pa bravo yo
2 Psicologia
3 Guajira sentimental
4 Una audiencia muerta
5 Caracas tiene su guaguanco
6 Oyeme cantar
7 Lagrimas y tristezas
8 Guaguanco ‘ta moderno
9 Adios felicidad
10 Catano
City Boys Band – Nya Asem Hwe,led by Obuoba J.A. Adofo’the Black Chinese’Scottie Records 1977
tracks;
1 Nya asem hwe
2 Nko nngya m’akyir
3 Osu a meresu
4 Ofie nipa see wo a
5 Akutiabo
6 Ankwanoma dede
7 Baabi dehyee
8 Nko besie
l’Unité Africaine vol.1 – Various Artists
Pathé Marconi / EMI 1978
I’m gonna tell you straight away, posting this album is a kind
of compromise. It contains a few things I would not post when
standing on it’s own. Nigerian reggae for instance, I think reggae
should be from Jamaica. And how about rock and roll sung in
wolof from Senegal. As a whole however I think it’s kind of funny.
The collector also contains some typical African styles, like on
the b-side, sweet benga by Victoria King’s Jazz for instance.
It’s a 1978 selection made by Blaise Fayette Mikano who used
to do a great job for Pathé Marconi. I think this LP with songs from
1975, 1977 and 1978 gives us a unique view on Africa’s taste
during the late seventies, listen and tell me what you think.
tracks;
1 Sonny Okosun – Rain
2 Konn-Konn – Sagak-sagak
3 Abeti Masikini – Mwana muke wa miso
4 M’baye Abdoul – Soko bouge
5 M’baye Abdoul – Douces douces filles
6 Victoria King’s Jazz – Rieko Magftich
7 Trio Ce.Pa.Kos – No title
8 Kouka Celestin – Veve na linga
9 Pamelo Mounk’a – Mabeyey
Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe – Onye Bili-Ibeya Ebili,Polydor POLP 058, 1981
An album a day keeps the doctor away. It becomes like a
kind of therapy after a while. Not posting is no option, it
feels like my day is not complete and leaves a big hole.
So first I pick an LP, I record and rip it and then I need to
make a solid picture of front and back-cover. Okay, all done.
But next after uploading the files I must write a few lines.
Anything useful to say about the album? Chief Stephen Osita
Osadebe’s albums are always good, no doubt. The most important
is listening to them. So I wont keep you up any longer, get it and
play it. ..oh, and screw my writing,…..it sucks..
tracks;
1 Agadi nwanyi na inine
2 Morning Star Social Club
Horace Andy – Exclusively
Solid Groove Records 1982
Every voice is like a fingerprint. Unique in every way, how many
people do we have in this world ? Every one’s different. Horace
Andy is blessed with a vocal instrument you can recognize from
thousands. Clear and bright with his special tremble, I love it.
This LP is recorded at Wackie House of Music, New York and
I must say producer Lloyd Barnes did a hell of a job, what great
sound. Songs like ‘Stop the Fuss’ and ‘Eating mess’ are dj tracks
I treasure since 1982. English formation ‘Massive Attack’ asked
Horace to participate on their album ‘Blue Lines’ in 1991, I added
the song ‘Hymn of the big wheel’ as a bonustrack, enjoy.
tracks;
1 Bob lives on
2 Stop the fuss
3 Love him
4 Good will survive
5 Take it easy
6 Eating mess
7 Musical episode
8 Live in the city
9 Live in unity
10 Lonely woman
extra
11 Massive Attack – Hymn of the big wheel
T.G. Lembe-Lembe du Zaïre,Sonafric SAF 61004, 1978
I saw it passing by at the back of some sleeves earlier
and then I found it at the fair. Again I can’t tell you anything
useful. It is a fine piece of 1978 Congolese music, that’s
a fact. Glad we can finally listen to it, catch !
tracks;
1 Naboi-Matata part 1
2 Naboi-Matata part 2
3 Bisengo-bia-ase-bikotikala part 1
4 Bisengo-bia-ase-bikotikala part 2
5 Masela part 1
6 Masela part 2
Okukuseku International Band of Ghana,Led by Chief Sammy Kofi -Black Beauty, Rogers All Stars 1983
Okukuseku International Band of Ghana led by Chief Sammy Kofi
had this recording made at Rogers All Stars Sound Studio, Okolo
Street, Onitsha, Lagos, Nigeria. I think it’s a tremendous album,
with that sparkling mixed sound of RAS but with Ghanaian highlife
and it’s typical flow. It is a bit crackly but still, don’t miss.
tracks;
1 Why you de run ?
2 Mahunumu
3 Nyame na onim
4 Black beauty
5 Maame a wawuyi
6 Okaniba kwantuni
African Kings Pili Pili,Pathé Marconi / EMI 19762 ( C062-15775 )
An album by a group I really don’t know much about.
Backsleeve tells us Loubassou Kifoueti Denis was born in
1948 in Brazzaville. He is guitarist, composer, singer and
arranger in this band. He started out in 1965 with a group
called ‘Congo Fiesta’. It lasted but a year and he moved on
with le Super-Tabé de Mindouli. This formation fell apart in
7 days but L.K. Denis did not get disencouraged and started
‘Manta-Lokoka’ with saxophone player ‘Pincky’ in 1967.
This orchestra lasted till 1971 when he formed ‘African Kings
Pili Pili’. It was in 1973 Loubassou Kifoueti Denis and his
African Kings Pili Pili returned to Congo from Libreville.
This LP is from 1976 and you don’t want to miss it.
tracks;
1 Abus de confiance
2 Milaudou
3 Pepe Pierrette
4 Sambela sambela
5 Limbisa ngai papa
6 Mouzeline
7 Phon phon