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

One of my friends gave me a present that made me very
happy. It is volume 2 of “The Afrosound of Colombia” which
appeared on Vampi Soul recently ( small pic ). It contains
songs by various artists of Colombian origin, all great stuff.
Track #4 of the compi is a song that comes from this here
album by Peregoyo y su Combo Vacaná. It’s called ‘Sabor
de Vacaná’. I was quite sure I posted it already quite some
time ago but just maybe I’m mistaking. One way or the
other, it is about time I bring you this absolute treasure
you would not want to miss. Peregoyo’s music is
something different, styles like currulao, abozao
chocoano, aguabajo I never heard anybody else
play. Bomba, porro cumbia, porro, descarga,
guaracha and son montuno are more
familiar to us. Get it, spread it,
listen and enjoy !

tracks;

1 Rio de juaji ( caldo de piangua )
2 La palma de chontaduro
3 Asi es mi tierra
4 Mi buenaventura
5 Descarga vacaná
6 La pluma
7 Ola de agua
8 Chechudino
9 Martha cecilia
10 El canalete
11 Sabor de vacaná

The more I listen to it, the more I love it. Vallenato with
it’s jumpy basslines and sweet accordeons, impossible
to ignore. Lucho Beltran has a good strong voice, his
songs are full of character, with the brightness we hear
in Lisandro Meza’s music, just to make a comparison.
Listening to this lp I was sold straight away, I find
it irresistible, how about you..?

tracks;

1 Sodoma y gomorra
2 El tiempo te cobro
3 Dando y dando
4 El gallo canillon
5 El limpiabotas
6 Donde te metes tu
7 La burra
8 Cumbia sin cadena
9 Me quede sin una
10 15 años

It is from 1974, Rio de Janeiro Brasil, on the Equipe label
and quite something different than one would expect.
Osvaldo Nunes was here before with a straight samba
album but the one we have here today has a much more
poppy sound. It is samba but with more guitar and organ,
mostly we hear a more accoustic sound with violão,
cavaquinho and cuíca and such. Osvaldo Nunes and
the Pop’s really rock ! Give it a spin, listen
and make up your own mind..

tracks;

1 Ta’ tudo aí !
2 Cateretê
3 Outro amor de carnaval
4 Você deixa ?
5 Guerra santa
6 Tamanqueiro
7 Dendeca
8 Dôce canção
9 Cascata
10 Mulher de malandro
11 Chorei, chorei
12 Canto da sereia

I love this record. The band gets the audiance in the right
atmosphere from the first minutes. The group is only still
being introduced when the crowd starts cheering already.
A live registration from 1971 for their 10th anniversary,
one can hear these guys were extremely popular,
with the late and great Aboubacar Demba
Camara. Rumba-Guinée is the word..,
how sweet it is.

tracks;

1 Introduction
– Temtemba
– Wouloukolo
– Lefa
2 Camara mousso
– O.E.R.S.
– Doni doni
– Bembeya
– Festival national

I was in the mood for some salsa and after checking a
couple of lp’s from the top of the pile, Michi Sarmiento
came out as today’s winner. Forget about the album’s
awful cover and turn straight to the music, it does not
compare. Michi’s sound was one of the most popular in
Colombia and this slice of salsa brava from 1983 does
not make an exception. Vocals by Felipe Sembergman
on tracks; 1,4,7 and 9, Hernando Perez on tracks; 2,5,
8 an 10, Michi Sarmiento on tracks; 3 and 6.
Get it & spread it as usual..

tracks;

1 Antonia
2 Tu lo sabias
3 Fidelina
4 No te vayas
5 San andres
6 Caiman gallinazo
7 La vecina
8 El taconazo
9 El manantial
10 El boton

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

Parranderos were travelling musicians, taking their instruments
under the arm and going ’round from bar to bar to play their songs
for the public and earn a few bucks this way. The lp we have for you
today is one by Efrain Gonzalez y sus Muchachos, it is his first
appearance here at the GG but it’s a good one. Singers are Esteban
Salas, Agustin Polo and Buitraguito.( we’ve seen him before ) On
the obscure ‘Bambuco’ label, as usual they forgot to put a
year of release on the label or backsleeve, if
anyone should know, can you tell us ?
Meantime, just get it, play it and
tell your friends about it..

tracks;

1 El burrito
2 La camisa por fuera
3 Vana espera
4 La puerca
5 La burrita de ño manue
6 Marquesa
7 La pata pela
8 Ron y cerveza
9 Las golondrinas sincelejanas
10 Solo tu negro
11 El guayabo
12 El cuento

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

..wanna get some harddubbing roots..? smokin’ pumpin’
rubbadub by the hardest of dem all ? King Tubby’s
went to England and made his islandsound in the
cold for a change, obscure record with blanco
backsleeve, on Tad’s records, if you know
a year of release, can ya tell us too ?
..gimme some feedback if it hits ya..

p.s.
about the tracklist, label claims 5 numbers on
each side but b-side only has three. I am only guessing
that the longer track #8 is in fact numbers 8,9 and 10.

tracks;

1 King tubby’s special
2 Tad’s special
3 Winter dub
4 Raving dub
5 Dread dub
6 Eastwood dub
7 General saint dub
8 Ranimo dub
– Dub up dub
– Nkrumah dub