The Apples - Mind Twister (Nigeria, 1978 , EMI NIGERIA)

"The Apples" was an high school band of 4 Nigerian teenagers, composed of :

Frank Ikpefuran : Drums / Vocals / Percussions

Vieira Georges : 1st Guitar Lead / Vocals

Clifford Nadi : 2nd Guitar

Gerard Nadi : Bass Guitar

They recorded one a only album in 1978 in Lagos, that was remixed at the mythical EMI Abbey Road Studios in London.

The Apples - Mind Twister

Best regards, 

Armand

Amara Touré 1973 - 1980 (2015, Analog Africa)

 

In anticipation of the forthcoming compilation "Senegal 70" that will be out at the end of the month on "Analog Africa", I decided to make you (re) discover the last compilation of this well known record label.

Out in last June, this superb compilation gather many songs from Amara Touré together, taken from his one and only LP and from some of his 7 inches.

Amara Touré, native of Guinea (Konakry), is the best representative of the Cuban-influenced music in Africa, brought in the early 40's by Cubanese sailors who stopped over in the country.

Amara, known for his crystal voice, played with the bests Orchestras through Africa, with the Star Band de Dakar in Senegal, L'Ensemble Black and White in Cameroon and L'Orchestre Massako in Gabon.

Highly, highly recommended, this compilation - limited to 1500 silk screened copies - comes in a Deluxe packaging with a superb booklet, that includes beautiful pictures and comprehensive liner notes and a nice screen printed poster.

You can buy it in a LP, CD or digital format here, for a very cheap price considering the amazing work that Analog Africa did on this superb compilation !

Get ready, close your eyes and let your mind fly to these mesmerising songs..

Amara Toure et l'Ensemble Black and White - Lamento Cubano

Milestone - Mighty Man (Dominica, 1975, Disques Debs)

 

Soulful funky track from this well known band originated from Dominica, a small island in the French Antilles.

Milestone - Mighty Man

Sincerely yours, 

Armand

Elias Rahbani - Lover's Lane (Lebanon, 1974, Parlophone Voix de L'Orient Series)

 

Following to my former article on Elias Rahbani (here), I decided to make you (re)discover a perfect song on this sunday evening, taken the second volume of his "Mosaic Of The Orient" masterpiece !

Elias Rahbani - Lover's Lane

The cover art is, again, designed by Nabil Mourani, who designed my favourite Oriental record covers !

Have a really good sunday evening,

Armand

Orchestre Les Sympathics de Porto Novo - Benin To (Benin, 1978, Albarika Store)

  

The Orchestra "Les Sympathics de Porto-Novo" was a band created in 1972 in Porto-Novo, Benin, by Herman F. Laleye, the former leader of the very well known "Black Dragons Orchestra".

They recorded a few LP in the 70's (three as far as I know), and also backed other artists such as Singer Nahounou (Amédée Pierre).

The band was composed by :

Herman Laleye : Lead Vocals, Bass Guitar

Armand Pognon : Lead Guitar

Jean Apithy : Bass Guitar

Camille Zannou : Organ

Bonheur Gangbo : Vocals

Georges d'Assomption : Tumbas

Olivier Boke : Tumbas

Marc Laleye : Drums

Epiphane Zinsou : Drums

 This LP was recorded in Lagos, Nigeria, at the mythical EMI Studios, and was engineered by Mister Ayo and Mister Kayode Salami, great names of the Nigerian musical scene at the time.

I decided to make you discover "Benin To", a splendid slow Afrobeat and Sato Vodoun rhythm song !

Orchestre Les Sympathics de Porto-Novo - Benin To

 

Regards,

Armand

New Selection - Orient In the Flesh (Feat. Omar Khorshid, Ziad and Elias Rahbani, Farid El Atrache, Omar El Shariyi, Ihsan Al Munzer, Hassan Abou Seoud... )

Hi dear readers !!

As promised (for a long time..), here comes my brand new selection !

 We're traveling to Middle East this time, with several dope Belly Dances songs taken from Lebanese and Egyptian records of my collection ! 

Hope you'll like it, don't hesitate to leave some comments !!

Armand de Preseau - Orient In the Flesh

 

 You can download this new selection right here (as usual, right clic, "save as").

See you very soon,

Armand

Mammane Sani et son Orgue - Tunan (Niger, 1978, Niger Minister of Culture)

 

One of the greatest musicians of Niger, Mamman Sani Abdoulaye was one of the pioneers of Electronic music in Africa.

Guitarist and singer, he discovered electronic music in 1974, when he was employed as a musician for the UNESCO, during which he traveled to Europe.

During one of the UNESCO meetings, a delegate from Rwanda had brought along his Italian “Orlo” organ model. Mammane, captivated by the sound, convinced him to sell it.

This Organ was the first in Niger.

Then, he recorded his first and only album of instrumental electronic songs in 1978, only released on a few tapes in coordination with the Minister of Culture.

He played over 30 years, and is still playing music today.

I decided to make you discover one of his hits, Tunan, taken from his one and only album.

Mammane Sani et son Orgue - Tunan

Sincerely yours, 

Armand