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)
For today, I wanted to share with you “I Know My Mission“, a wonderful funky 70s Afro Soul Jazz Rnb from Ghana with Highlife reminiscences & great trumpet parts, taken from the 2nd LP of the mythical Ghanian band “Uhuru Dance Band” formed in the late 60s by former members of Broadway Dance Band, whom the trumpeter Sammy Obot.
With the time, the group featured some of the finest Ghanaian musicians of that era such as Ebo Taylor, Gyedu-Blay Ambolley, Joe Mensah & George Danquah not forgetting the Diva Charlotte Dada.
Ultra cool track driven by super catchy drums and – cherry on the cake, an awesome album art (so sad the artist wasn’t credited, any infos are welcome !) – Hope you’ll like it – Enjoy !
Uhuru Dance Band – I know my mission (Ghana, 1975, Agoro Records)
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)
For today, I wanted to share with you “Ewo Fiessou“, a beautiful deep Afro Latin Soul Jazz track from Ivory Coast with sweet Calypso & Highlife flavors, taken from an early single recorded at the end of the 60s/early 70s by the Ivorian band “Orchestre De Bouaké” on the legendary record label “Safie Deen“,
This orchestra was originally founded by Djibo Sounkalo (former mayor of the city of Bouaké) in the 60s, composed by 12 talented musicians and leaded by the composer & musician Louis Pierre.
Really Sweet EP from start to finish, hope you’ll like it – Enjoy !
Orchestre De Bouake – Ewo Fiessou (Ivory Coast, 1960s, Safie Deen / Philips)
You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/RmvjZhDj7sY
Following this previous article, I wanted to share with you for today “Bajala Malé“, a mesmerizing beautiful 70s Afro Jazz Soul Folk gem from Mali with gorgeous horns, taken from the second album of the legendary Malian band “L’Orchestre Rail Band du Buffet Hotel de la Gare de Bamako” (also known under several names as “Rail Band de Bamako”, “Orchestre Rail Band”, “Rail Band” or “Orchestre du Buffet Hotel de la Gare”), recorded in 1973 on the local record label “RCAM” (Rail Culture Authentique Mali).
State-sponsored by the national railroad Malian Company (it explains the name of the band), Le Rail Band was the most powerful Malian orchestra, that released more than ten LP’s and many 7′ from the 70’s to the late 80’s.
The Rail Band’s leader was the great Tidiani Koné, an outstanding musician who was also a griot (a kind of religious leader/ influent personality), who decided to give his chance at this time to a young albino singer, Salif Keita, that would become world famous in the future.
Really beautiful song, my favorite from this holy grail masterpiece, ultra hard to find – Enjoy !
Rail Band – Bajala Malé (Mali, 1973, RCAM Rail Culture Authentique Mali)
For today, I wanted to share with you “Eyi Su Ngaangaa“, an outstanding 70s Afrobeat Soul Funk from Ghana with Highlife flavors & killer horns, taken from the 2nd album recorded in 1978 by the mythical Ghanian Band The Sweet Talks.
The Sweet Talks were one of the most famous band from Ghana, formed in December 1973 by Jonathan Abraham, proprietor of the Talk Of The Town Hotel in the city of Tema.
They recorded more than fifteen albums, toured all over Africa but also in America (Los Angeles in 1978), where they recorded their biggest selling record, “Party Time In Hollywood“.
One my favorite Ghanaian track from that era, hope you’ll like it – Enjoy !
The Sweet Talks – Eyi Su Ngaangaa (Ghana, 1976, Philips West African Records)
For today, I wanted to share with you “Atis-A-Tis “, an astonishing 70s Psychedelic Afro Fuzz Soul Folk Funk track from Gambia, taken from the first Lp recorded by the mythical Gambian band “Ifang Bondi” (“Be Yourself” in Mandinka, variant of the Mandingo language spoken in Gambia, Senegal & Guinea-Bissao), formed in 1973 after the disband in 1970 of the 60s group “The Super Eagles” (more infos & sound here ).
Following this previous article, I wanted to share with you “Massane Cisse“, one of the numberless version of this all-time Senegalese standard, interpreted here in a really deep psychedelic Afro Folk Soul Fusion version with Afro Latin flavors by the legendary “Star Band De Dakar” orchestra, including some of the best Senegalese musicians of that era such as Cheikh Tidiane Tall & Idrissa “Idy” Diop (previous members of “Le Sahel” Band)
The version presented here is my favorite by far, hope you’ll like it too – Enjoy !
Star Band De Dakar – Massane Cisse (Senegal, 1980, Sonafric)
For today, I wanted to share with you “This Hustling World“, an incredible bouncyAfro Soul Funk with Afrobeat flavors, taken from the 1st album of the legendary Ghanaian composer & musician Gyedu-Blay Ambolley, that used to play with the finest orchestras & band of the country such Uhuru Dance Band, C.K. Mann Big Band & Apagya Show Band. It was produced by Deroy Ebow “Ebo” Taylor, another Ghanaian legend (the two artists are still touring today !).
Recorded in 1977 on the mythical record label “Essiebons” founded in the 60s by Dick Essilfie-Bondzie, the his album features some of the greatest Ghanaian artists of that era, such :
Composition, Production, Arrangements, Lead Vocals : Gyedu-Blay Ambolley ;
Producer : Ebow Taylor ;
Backing Band : The Super “C” Sounds ;
Bass Guitar, Vocals : Ralph Karikari ;
Claves, Vocals : Tony Mensah ;
Congas, Vocals : Willie Sam ;
Cowbell : Paul Willie ;
Drums : Sammy Essilfie ;
Lead Guitar : Frank Wireko ;
Maracas : Joe Ghansah ;
Organ : Nana Yaw Boakye I ;
Rhythm Guitar : Paul Kumi ;
Saxophone, Flute : Bobby Asiamah ;
Trumpet : Kofi Acheampong ;
One of the best albums out from that decade in Ghana, ultra hard to find holy grail record nowadays especially in that decent condition, and that comes with super cult cover art – Enjoy !
Gyedu-Blay Ambolley – This Husting World (Ghana, 1975, Essiebons)
Following this previous article, I would like to share with you for today “Hombre Mysteriously”, a killer uplifting Afro Latin Soul Salsa Fusion Mbalax Jazz track, recorded in 1978 by the legendary Senegalese Orchestra “Etoile de Dakar” that included great names as the mythical musician & composer Youssou Madjiguène Ndour (this album was his first ever credited appearance as a singer !).
This track was originally composed by the Dominican musician Cuco Valoy and his brother Martin as “Los Ahijados“.
This album, as many of the greatest early Senegalese ones (such as Orchestra Baobab ones), was recorded at the well-known Jandeer Night Club in Dakar(Senegal), one of the only few places musicians could lent at the times all the musical instruments & equipments they didn’t have themselves – Enjoy !
Etoile de Dakar – Hombre Mysteriosoy (Sénégal, 1978, M. Diaw)
