Following to this former article, I’d like to share with you for today “Mbea“, an explosive Psychedelic Afro Funk Soul Jerk track from Gabon, taken from the Gabonese musician & composer Vyckos Ekondo and released on the mythical French record label “Pathé Marconi“.
Invisible & super hard to find nowadays, hope you’ll like it – Enjoy !
Following this previous article, I’d like to share with you for today “Disco Baby“, an monster dance floor friendly Cosmic Afro Disco Boogie Funk track with awesome bass line & synth parts, recorded in 1981 by the mythical Nigerian composer & trumpetist Etubom Rex Williams, who recorded dozen of albums & singles.
On this late privately pressed album, Etubom Rex Williams – known to be one of the masters of the Highlife musical genre – tries himself to the Disco Boogie genre, unusual but successful experience for him !
Under the name “Nato Funky Stars” band, this album includes the following musicians :
Etubom Rex Williams : Composition ;
Moses James Obot : Lead Guitar ;
Asuquo Udoh : Percussion ;
Felix Nsango : Drums ;
Willy Roy : Keyboards ;
Ultra hard to find album, one of my favorite of the genre when I’m invited to play some records in parties – Hope you’ll like it, enjoy !
Etubom Rex Williams & his Nato Funky Stars – Disco Baby (Nigeria, 1981, Nato Records)
For today, I wanted to share with you “Amor En Cha Cha Cha“, a storming Caribbean Cha Cha Cha Latin Guaguanco Soul track, taken from the first LP of the band “Ensemble Tropicana“, that begun as the live band of Michel Colas’ club “La Cocoteraie” in Martinique (French West Indies), formed in 1964 by the mythical Haitian composer & musician Felix Guignard.
Shortly after, the band moved to Guadeloupe (French West Indies) to play at Georges Brival’s club “La Bananeraie” under the name “Ensemble Tropicana de La Martinique”.
Recorded a few years later in 1967, this LP includes legendary musician from the French West Indies, such as Michel Desgrottes (arrangements) and Gary French & Joseph “Jo” Lavaud on the vocals.
Splendid LP from start to finish, a great example of the musical blend of musical genres in the Antilles during this era, especially the strong Cuban/Latin influences – Enjoy !
Ensemble Tropicana – Amor En Cha Cha Cha (Martinique, 1967, Disques Antibo)
Following this former post, I would like to share you for today “N’Ny”, an instant catchy Afro Boogie Soul Funk track from Guinea with gorgeous guitar & powerful horn parts, taken from the first album recorded in 1982 by the Guinean composer, arranger and musician (balafon and guitar player) Ousmane Kouyaté, born in 1950 in Dabola (Guinea Conakry).
He released 5 albums, and played with many mythical musicians & bands, such as Salif Keïta, Kante Manfila, Cheikh Tidiane Seck or Mory Kante (he played the guitar on the African hit “Mandjou” with the Malian band “Les Ambassadeurs”) and played in the very well known “Le Rail Band De Bamako” & “Les Ambassadeurs Internationaux” among with Salif Keïta (Mali) and Kante Manfila (Guinea Conakry).
This album features some of the best west african musicians of that era such :
Ousmane Kouyate : Writing, Composition, Arrangements, Lead Guitar, Vocals ;
Deyin Kassila, Mamadi Diabate : Vocals ;
Mamadou “Pacheko” Bagayoko : Bells ;
Moussa Cissoko : Tenor Saxophone ;
Doh Albert, Tom Diakité : Chorus ;
Traore Kabine “Tagus” : Trumpet ;
Djeli Moridjan Kouyaté : Balafon ;
Souleymane Doumbia : Drums ;
Banthini Koita : Rhythm Guitar ;
Cheick Tidiane Seck : Organ ;
Sekou Diabaté : Bass Guitar ;
Benjamin Diabaté : Congas ;
Released on the legendary Ivorian label “Sacodis“, this album is good from start to finish, but unfortunately too hard to find album nowadays (especially in that condition) – Hope you’ll like it, enjoy !
For today, I wanted to share with you “Kpalanuma“, a mind-blowing 70s Highlife Soul track from Nigeria with Afrobeat influences & instant catchy horn & synth parts, taken from one of the several albums composed by the very prolific Nigerian composer & musician St. Augustine Anwunzia backed by his “Rovers International“, recorded in 1978 on the Nigerian branch of the mythical label “Polydor”.
St Augustine’s albums are known to be upper-class Highlife, but that one remains my favorite, blending many genres as it contains outstanding Afrobeat, Highlife but also Reggae tracks.
More, it features some of the greatest Nigerian & Cameroonian composers of that era, as :
St. Augustine Anwunzia : Lead Vocals, Composition, Arrangements ;
Tony Bonny Wailer, Johnny Woode : Drums ;
Frankie Ntoh Song : Guitar Synthesizer ;
Fred Fisher Atalobhor : Trombone ;
Willie Nfor : Bass Guitar ;
Joe Chiejina : Maracas ;
Andrew Kisito : Vocals ;
Abi John : Lead Guitar ;
Jossy Egele : Congas ;
Sharp Mike : Trumpet ;
Killer album from start to finish, hope you’ll like it – enjoy !
St. Augustine & The Rovers International – Kpalanuma (Nigeria, 1978, Polydor Nigeria)
Following to this former article, I wanted to share with you for today, I wanted to share with you “Deliver Me“, a splendid bewitching Island Soul track from Guadeloupe (French West Indies) with Jazz flavors, taken from the first album of the Guadeloupean pianist, composer & arranger Roland Louis, and driven by Jocelyne Beroard’s angel voice (singer of the mythical West Indian band Kassav).
This now cult & ultra hard to find album includes some of the best musicians of that era from the French West Indies & France, such as :
Roland Louis : Keyboards ;
Jocelyne Beroard (from the band “Kassav”) : Vocals ;
Jean-Pierre Coco (from the band “Bozambo”) : Percussion ;
Serge Marne (from the band “Laser”) : Drums ;
Julien Tarquin : Bass, Vocals ;
Henry Bedin : Guitar ;
Cherry on the cake : this gorgeous artwork painted credited as from a mysterious “Joyce”… Maybe from Jocelyne Beroard herself ?
Hope you’ll like this new unearthed musical gem, Enjoy !
Roland Louis – Deliver Me (Guadeloupe, 1979, Productions RL)
For today, I wanted to share with you “Kourounougnon Watoro“, a mesmerizing balearic 80s Afro Mandingo Soul Boogie Funk Synth track from Mali with Afrobeat flavors, taken from the 2nd album of the band “Les Asselars“, recorded in Abidjan (Ivory Coast) in 1983 and composed with 4 musicians from Mali & Burkina Faso (formerly “Upper Volta”) :
Some great African musician are hosted on that album, such as the Ivorian Divas Chantal Taïba & Nayanka Bell and the mythical trumpetist Kabiné Traoré “Tagus” from the legendary Malian band “Les Ambassadeurs”.
The album presented today is really hard to find now, so it was important for me to share it with you to preserve them from oblivion, as those kind of songs are unfortunately not available on digital format (not digitized at the time), so hope you’ll like it – Enjoy !
Les Asselars – Kourounougnon Watoro (Mali, 1983, Sacko Production)
Following this former post, I wanted to share with you today “Oui Verckys“, an insane crazy 70s Afro Organ Funk Soul Mod instrumental track from Congo with catchy Organ parts & powerful horns, taken from an ultra hard to find single recorded in the early 70s by the legendary Congolese composer & musician Georges Kiamuangana Mateta aka “Verckys”, and backed by the almighty Orchestre Veve.
One of the heaviest & funkiest instrumental from Congo (and really hard to find too, unfortunately..), and one of my favorite track from the band, so hope you’ll like – Enjoy !
For today, I wanted to share with you “Ourika” (“اوريكا” in Arabic language, that could be readed as “Eurêka !“), a bewitching 70s Psychedelic Synth Pop Mod Instrumental track from Morocco, taken from the first release (and sole vinyl release) of the underground mythical moroccan musician, composer, keyboardist and producer Abdou El Omari (عبده العماري) considered by many as a musical pioneer, who managed to merge modern musical styles with traditional Moroccan music.
This LP, considered by many as one of the hardest to find Moroccon record, was reissued a few years ago but excluding that song, so I’m really happy to share it with you today in its full length original version, as a musical testimony of the past & in tribute to awesome Abdou El Omari‘s work.
For today, I wanted to share with you “A Chacun Son Problème “, an outstanding deep Afro Soul Synth Blues track from Mali with nice Reggae flavors, taken from the 5th album of the legendary Malian blind Duet “Amadou & Mariam“, composed with the spouses Mariam Doumbia & Amadou Bagayoko.
This album was composed by :
Amadou Bagayoko : Solo Guitar, Vocals ;
Mariam Doumbia : Vocals, Chorus ;
Mamany Keita : Chorus ;
Hawa Timbo : Chorus ;
Alain Tako : Bass, Synth
Jean Philippe Rikyel : Organ ;
Ahmed Sylla : Drums ;
Walde Baba Sissoko : N’Taman ;
Programming : Alain Tako.
The song presented here is a reinterpretation of one of their early songs, re arranged here in a catchy Synth way and taken from a now really hard to find K7 tape manufactured in Bamako in 1996 – Hope you’ll like it !
I’ve decided to share that precious gem in memory of Amadou Bagayoko, who past away last 4th of April in Bamako. Thanks for everything Amadou !
Amadou Bagayoko & Mariam Doumbia – A Chacun Son Problème (1996 Version) (Mali, 1996, Mali K7 SA)
