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

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

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

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

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 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

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

Tres Impoli was one of Franco’s biggest hits. The second song,
Tu vois ?, seems to be connected with it somehow. I love that voice
with vibrato in track 2 and 3, I think it’s Simaro, can you confirm ?
Just three songs, 38 minutes of pure joy, don’t be tres impoli!

tracks;

1 Tres impoli
2 Tu vois ?
3 Temps mort

Today’s LP truly deserves the name, African Party. Opening
with Docteur Nico and African Fiesta, what can go wrong.
Next, only treasures here, Johnny Bokelo, O.K. Jazz, and
Grand Kalle’s African Jazz. All beautiful. Tracks #s 6 and 8
could have used a little remastering but in 1969 they did
not have the same tools we have today I guess. Great comp.

tracks;

1 Orchestre African Fiesta – Tu más deçu Chouchou
2 Dr. Nico & l’Orchestre African Fiesta – Kiri kiri mabina ya sika
3 Don Pierro & l’Orchestre Conga 68 de Johnny Bokelo –
– Nalinga ya ngai cherie
4 Samy & l’Orchestre Conga 68 de Johnny Bokelo – Mabala ya Kinshasa
5 Johnny Bokelo & l’Orchestre Conga 68 – Ndeko na ngai okeba
6 Orchestre Vox-Africa – Mado
7 Johnny Bokelo & l’Orchestre Conga 68 – Tambola na mokili
8 Dewayon & l’Orchestre Cobantou – Tangana
9 Orchestre O.K. Jazz – Regina-Regina
10 Kalle & Orchestre African Jazz – B.B. 69

The founder of Vis-à-Vis Dance Band made this side-project
with the Wire Connection in the same period. Superb Ghana Highlife.

tracks;

1 Papa Akwasi
2 Meko a enko
3 Mensonomu
4 Onipa animuonyam
5 Akwantfi owuo