Sunny Adé and his African Beats – in London
Sunny Alade Records 1977
Tonight’s album is for the juju lovers among us. Sunny Adé, without
King in those days, has always been one of the most popular juju
artists in the field. I have no idea how many records he made through
the years but this is No. 16 here already. Being from 1977, this is one of
the older Sunny Adé’s here. The master mixed and produced it himself so
I suppose we can say it sounds exactly how he meant it to.
tracks
1 Emi agbadura
2 Igbagbo ndupe
Oriental Brothers International – Anyi Abiala Ozo,Afrodisia 1987
Yesterday no post, today two. Oriental Brothers International are
back with a short but fine album at the GG. These guys really love
one another, photo’s didn’t lie back in those days. The brothers Satch,
Dan, Godwin and Warrior scored hit after hit during the 70’s. This ’87 LP
is, if you count Warriors albums aswell, their eighth album here.
I’ve always had a certain weekness for this oriental highlife.
tracks;
1 Onye egbula nwanne ya
2 Anyi abiala ozo
Simon Chimbetu & the Orchestra Dendera Kings -Boterekwa, Gramma 1989
If you collect worldmusic it is like exploring unknown terrain all
the time. One is learning new names and forms and remains
a student forever. I first learned about chimurenga through the
music of Thomas Mapfumo and fell for it straight away. Then slowly
I started to discover artists like Four Brothers or Oliver Mtukudzi
and Jonah Moyo. Only recently I learned about Simon Chibetu & his
Orchestra Dendera Kings. When I visited Gent in Belgium last week,
I found this LP and some other interesting Zimbabwean music to be
posted soon. To be honest I have not found the difference between
the Zimbabwean styles yet. There’s chimurenga, jit and mbira. The
music of Simon Chimbetu, being Congolese, is also called party rumba
or Zim Rhumba. What coincidence to find my collegue posting this
same time. I guess it was meant to be, enjoy.
tracks;
1 Usandisiye
2 Future
3 Musoro wachena
4 Pakati pegungwa
5 One way
6 Bvuma mukwasha
Gardner Lalanne – a New York
avec Les Loups Noirs, Macaya 1972
The weekend’s here, another cold week with lots of snow lies
behind us, who said it wasn’t going to be winter like it used to
anymore? It’s annoying on one hand but good to see on the
other. Maybe the world is not heating up as much as lots of us
thought it was. At least right here it isn’t.
Tonight’s LP is another sweet album of compas, the music of Haïti.
Gardner Lalanne et les Loups Noirs are true ambassadors of this
typical style. These guys rock like no other,
danse avec Gardner Lalanne et les Loups Noirs a New York !
tracks;
1 Conception pa’m
2 Bienfait perdu
3 Ananas
4 New York compas
5 La sirene
6 Moliendo cafe
7 Belle Martiniquaise
8 Tu voz
L. Diatho & Joe Mpoyi – 100 – 1,Maïkano 1983
This here LP brings together two Congolese singers with impressive
CV. They appeared in loads of great bands throughout the years. Back-
sleeve shows you exactly where they played, complete with years and
a list of the tracks they wrote. A few names; Veve de Verckys, Somo Somo,
and the legendary OK Jazz. On this album they sing two songs by each
of them accompanied by some of the biggest. Bopol on bass, Dizzy Mandjeku
and Dally on guitares with Manana. Ringo Moya, Bento, Kabongo Wetu and Anany.
Enjoy Dialu Antoine Dit Lukoki Diatho and Joe Mpoyi Kaninda.
tracks;
1 100 – 1
2 Vava
3 Lubuela
4 Kansebu
Four Brothers – Rudo Chete,Gramma Records 1988
One of my favourite bands from Zimbabwe is this group. The
Four Brothers made their chimurenga very nicely balanced.
Just the four of them, Marshall Munhumumwe – drums and lead vocals,
Never Mutare – bass and vocals, Aleck Chipaika – rhythm guitar and vocals,
Frank Sibanda – lead guitar and vocals. Just strings, drums and voices, sweet.
tracks;
1 Rudo chete
2 Ngatipindukewo
3 Vabereki
4 Wakazvarwa sei
5 Kutambura chete
6 Munondizvidza
7 Chenjerera ngozi
8 Nhamo
Sir Victor Uwaifo and his Titibitis of Africa – Jackpot,Makossa International 1981
If you listen to African music some time, take Nigerian music.
You know Juju, Highlife, Fuji, Apala, and then you hear Sir Victor
Uwaifo. I had never heard anything like his music, every song has
something new, original, with surprising instrumental touch. It is
supposingly highlife but with an unusual poppy flavour.
Victor Uwaifo was a professional wrestler in 1960 and
hitmaker in 1970 with ‘Joromi’, and his own
studio and art-laboratory.
tracks;
1 Iranm’ iran
2 Ovbialeke bolozo
3 Ewere noyoyo
4 Kpomokpa nagan bie
5 Ogiobo
6 Sakpaide special
Super Salsa Singers – Various Artists
Fania Records 1977
After this weeks Fania post it seems a good idea to honour
this remarkable salsa label a bit more. This LP brings us 11
superb Fania songs by 11 different artists, mixed for us by Richard
Pampinella. An outstanding compilation of typical salsa brava.
And how about the artwork by Jorge Vargas ? Stunning..
tracks;
1 Ismael Quintana – Mi debilidad
2 Bobby Cruz – Sonido bestial
3 Celia Cruz – Quimbara
4 Ismael Rivera – Mi negrita me espera
5 Santos Colon – Ay cariño
6 Justo Betancourt – Pa bravo yo
7 Pete ‘Conde’ Rodriguez – Los compadres
8 Adalberto Santiago – Alma con alma
9 Ismael Miranda – Asi se compone un son
10 Cheo Feliciano – Anacaona
11 Hector Lavoe – El todopoderoso
Docteur Nico & l’Orchestre Afican Fiesta
l’Afrique Danse No. 8, african 360.011, 1969
Nicolas Kasanda, one of the founders and Orchestral leader of
African Fiesta, was given many different names, such as, Nico Mobali,
Professeur Nico, Dieu de la Guitare or le Guitariste Hawaïen. His career
started in 1953 with African Jazz, with whom he made several recordings
in Studio Opika and Esengo. This one on african is from 1969
with l’Orchestre African Fiesta, great material for your
lazy sunday afternoon, enjoy it.
tracks;
1 Biantondi Kasanda
2 Nakokoma
3 Caroline Caroline
4 Exhibition dechaud
5 M. Felie
6 Tokei koyekola
7 Mamu wua mpoy
8 Alphonsine
9 Mwamba wa mamu
10 Merengue president
Fantastic Tchico – Afro Festival
Sonodisc 1979
This is the seventh LP by the great Pambou Tchicaya Tchico that I post
with a variation of the same cover. Recorded in the Decca Studio’s,
these are the Nigerian productions by this Congolese artist. Very good
without exeption. Do not miss out on Fantastic Pambou Tchicaya Tchico.
tracks;
1 Operation Soukous 1978-1980
2 Parent love
3 Goodbye confidential
4 Afro-Festival
Scientist, Maxie & Barnabas
3 The Hard way
Silver Camel 1981
Early eighties, dub music was hot. There was Prince Jammy, Mad Professor,
Scientist. Less known names but just as good, Maxie and Barnabas,
Crucial Bunny and Mikey Dread, all masters in dub.
At King Tubby’s Studio, produced by Al Campbell, we find this
champion with Scientist, Maxie and Barnabas. Have you ever
seen a cover with so much impact ? These three dub the hard way.
tracks;
1 Barnabas – Prophecy in dub
2 Barnabas – Murder
3 Barnabas – Cool rock
4 Barnabas – Bionic skank
5 Maxie – Master piece
6 Maxie – Blood light
7 Maxie – Ganja syrup
8 Scientist – Cultured dub
9 Scientist – The winner
10 Scientist – Feed back dubstyle
Tito Puente – Best of the Sixties,Caliente/Fania 1988/1969
I received an e-mail of the people of Fania, they have something
special coming out. A special release with old Joe Cuba recordings.
They asked me if I want to use their videoclip, which is really super.
As you can see I didn’t want to let them down, au contraire, I am honoured
to be asked to do so. To accompany it I was looking for a Joe Cuba LP but
I haven’t got one. Instead I found this LP by Tito Puente, they have a few
things in common. Both were born in New York and played conga’s. They both
made some records with Fania, this one was originally released by Fania in
1969. So enjoy this album of boogaloo by Tito Puente after listening to
Joe Cuba, have fun.
Thank you Fania and lots of sales to Joe Cuba, great stuff.
tracks;
1 Vete pa’la luna
2 Fat mama
3 Ay cariño
4 Ran kan kan
5 Fancy feet
6 Timbalito
7 Babrabatiri
8 Cuando caliente el sol
9 T.P.’s Shing-a-ling
10 Caramelos
11 A Noro Morales
12 Azukiki
Prince Nico Mbarga & Rocafil Jazz – Music Line
Rogers All Stars 1981
Prince Nico Mbarga must have been so hot in those days.
On more then one of his covers Nico shows off his high heeled
boots, one leg before the other, sophisticated look. No but serious,
ever since he made ‘Sweet Mother’, Prince Nico was very popular
throughout Western Africa and beyond. As far as I’m concerned, his
cool looks are completely justified and this is one of his better albums.
tracks;
1 Music line
2 Oh ! Death
3 Welenga
4 Rocafill
5 Stella
Cortijo – Caballo de Hierro
Coco Records 1977
A while back we had an album of Cortijo on which Fe Cortijo
did a few songs, on this one she does’em all.
Backing vocals by Adalberto Santiago,
Ismael Quintana and even Tito Puente. Great Puerto Rican rhythms.
tracks;
1 Mapaye
2 Bomba carambomba
3 La otra
4 Songorocosongoro
5 Lloralo, lloralo
6 Guariquiten
7 Guaracha de mayo
8 Bomba merengue