Hello good afternoon, yesterday and today are two crazy
days, loads of work, appointments, busy schedule in short.
In between all that work however there’s also nice things
to do. Two of my Amsterdam friends, also contaged with
original-music virusses invited me for their wednesdaynight
radioshow this evening. I’m happy to go and see what will
happen. I must admit I barely listen to any radio at all so
really have no idea. If you’re interested to listen, these
guys play the rarest tunes imaginable, you can join in
tonight from 22.00 to 24.00 hrs. Dutch time..

Salto Radio

Not long ago I was watching a documentary on Youtube about the
developement of reggae in the UK. I really liked it, the birth of two-tone
for instance, wonderful video which I added below. It’s a great piece of
history I enjoyed a lot. There is one group however of which I would
have loved to find some footage in the documentary. This lp by Merger
was a personal favourite in the early days and I think the group deserves
a place in that story. One way or the other, it’s never too late to give
them the attention deserved so here is 77 which is obviously their
1977 lp. It brings back memories, were you there..?
Get it & spread it..

tracks;

01 – 77
02 – Ghetto child
03 – Life song
04 – Exiles ina babylon
05 – Understanding
06 – African lady
07 – Have you heard ?
08 – Waterfalls
09 – Massa gana

Goodmorning groovers, thanks for your comments and for
appreciating the few poor words. Today I was in the mood
to record us a couple of singles from Ghana. It is the second
volume of highlife singles at the GG, I picked seven 45’s we
did not hear yet. Some of them are a little scratchy and
some not, I’ve put the best ones upfront and the worst
in last position. Labels are, in chronological order,
Ambassador, Executive, Decca, Aduna, Essiebons,
Ambassador and Rainbow. Hope you like’m..

tracks;

01 – Oko’s No.2 Guitar Band – Ebeye yie
02 – Oko’s No.2 Guitar Band – Owuo aye me bi
03 – Kakaiku No.2 Band – Odo afre me
04 – Kakaiku No.2 Band – Akyinkyin akyinkyin
05 – Yamoah’s Band – Sika ye de
06 – Yamoah’s Band – Saman me
07 – African Brothers Band – Meko nea obo wo
08 – African Brothers Band – Obra
09 – C.K. Mann and his Carousel ‘7’ – Ayaa mensuro
10 – C.K. Mann and his Carousel ‘7’ – Bo obra pa
11 – Kakaiku’s Guitar Band – Onua na eye
12 – Kakaiku’s Guitar Band – Sasabonsam fie
13 – African Brothers Band – Medee beba
14 – African Brothers Band – Manidaso asa

Making available almost forgotten music is fun and the main activity
on this blog. However, posting on a daily basis means writing some
lines every day as well. It is not always easy being original and telling
you something interesting. In fact I think my writing sucks, mostly I
don’t know anything about the artists. I know the music because I
listen to it but that’s it. Take Juancho Polo Valencia of whom an
album today, I know I like his voice and sound in general and
the lp’s I collected but to tell you something useful about him
I have to go online to find out. Maybe you can come back to
us with information this time, tell us what we don’t know.

tracks;

01 – Que sera que sera
02 – Mujer de adorado pelo
03 – Juanchito de la montaña
04 – El serenado
05 – Capullo de rosas
06 – Lejos de mi tierra
07 – Angelica maria
08 – La montaña
09 – El gorrero
10 – La coqueta
11 – Tres veces salia pasear
12 – Siete cartas

I saw some old merengue being downloaded this morning
and decided to post some. This is Trio Reynoso with Tatico,
they bring the authentic merengue from the Dominicans as
the title already suggests. Trio Reynoso made their merengue
using the acordeon and having a certain weekness for the
instrument, my choice was easily made. Give it a spin
and share it like always, enjoy..

tracks;

01 – El descrubidor
02 – La mamajuana
03 – La cama
04 – Las mujeres ajenas
05 – La agarradera
06 – Le sale un dulcito
07 – En tus lindos labios
08 – Amor todavía
09 – La mujer es una flor
10 – Agua de tu fuente
11 – La cuestión
12 – Si tatico se levanta

It must have been around 1981, the release of this album
I mean, taken the popularity of the syn-drum. It didn’t take
very long before the whole world got tired with it but here
we are still in the phase in which it was hot to use them.
It is slightly disturbing if you want but it’s also funny to
hear the stuff again. Nuff said, Shama-Shama was in-
troduced to me thru this album on the African label. I fell
in love with the voice of Mopera Wa Maloba straight
away. Warm cavacha sound you don’t want
to miss, get it & spread it..

tracks;

01 – Nasambue
02 – Mamisha
03 – Camarade n’dinga
04 – Fleur rose

Until now we had eight albums with le Prince Youlou Mabiala.
Use our search-bar to find them but first download this record.
It is another of his lp’s, from 1984 and on the IAD label. When
I find an lp like this, it is impossible to suppress a grin on my
face and I’m glad to bring it today, hope you like it like I do.
Get it & spread it the way you’re used to..

tracks;

01 – Le corps refuse
02 – 1 x 2 = mabé
03 – Ondolé léa
04 – Hardy josé

Some nice soulmusic to change the mood, today’s sound is
one that sticks. Once you’ve heard these tracks a couple of
times, there’s no turning back. They are in your head to stay.
It was only decades later I got to hear these songs again. In
2001 Luaka Bop Inc. came with the cd, ‘Inspiration Information’.
It was when I heard ‘Strawberry Letter 23’ again first time. In
1971 when it first came out it ran the charts in my little country
and when hearing it again, it brought back lots of memories of
those days. On this lp, Shuggie is accompanied by his father
Johnny Otis who also produced the album. Next we have
George Duke who died way to early age 67,in august 2013.
We find Wilton Felder on bass and Aynsley Dunbar on drums
to call a few. Wonderful atmospheric drifting off sounds,
Shuggie wrote Strawberry Letter 23 and played all instru-
ments on it, give it a try and you wont be sorry,
get it & spread it..

tracks;

01 – Ice cold daydream
02 – Strawberry letter 23
03 – Sweet thang
04 – Me and my woman
05 – Someone’s always singing
06 – Purple
07 – Freedom flight

Bonus tracks;

08 – Inspiration information
09 – Sparkle city
10 – Aht uh mi hed

tracks;

01 – Seconds away
02 – Straight left
03 – Upper cut
04 – Kidney punch
05 – Saved by the bell
06 – Right cross
07 – Jab
08 – One-two
09 – Below the belt
10 – Knock out

This lp is a strange one, Joe Mensah borrowed the
Sweet Talks Band, two members of Fela Kuti’s Africa 70
Organization and thanks Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey,
various styles and musicians mixed and scrambled until
this is what became of it, now you tell me..
file under..?

tracks;

01 – Medza menya yi
02 – Children children children
03 – Dimle dimle dimle
04 – Highlife beat
–      Sweet banana
–       Gede gede
–      Give me money