Jerry Ella and The Sparklings - Why Can't You Party Down (Nigeria, 1985, Acn Ltd)

Jerry Ella was an obscure musician from Nigeria, who released only one album in 1985 with his band "The Sparklings", composed of Nigerian and Cameroonian musicians - No more infos on this one, sorry !

I decided to present you the track "Why Can't You Party Down", a perfect afro soul boogie stepper track to enjoy the beginning of this summer !

Jerry Ella and The Sparklings - Why Can't You Party Down

You can also listen to this track on my youtube channel here : https://youtu.be/8I8RO47ddXE

Take care,

Armand

Admiral Dele Abiodun and his top Hitters Band - 1000 Miles (Nigeria, 1982, Adawa Super Records)

Dele Abiodun is one of the most important figures of the Juju scene, a musical genre from Nigeria between Jazz, Highlife and Traditionnal music.

He was born in 1948 in Sobe (Nigeria), a town on the boundary between West and Mid-West Nigeria.

He made his first steps in music as a drummer in his school band, and studied music has a teenager in Accra (Ghana) at the Young Pioneer School of Music.

In 1970, he founded his band, Prince Admiral Dele Abiodun and His Top Hitters Band (influenced by musicians such as Cardinal Rex Lawson or I.K. Dairo), and recorded more than 20 albums from the 70's to the 90's.

He stills lives and performs in Nigeria today and he's the president of Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria.

For today, I decided to presend you "1000 Miles", an incredible track showing that Juju music can sometimes be as bouncing as Afrobeat does - Enjoy !

Admiral Dele Abiodun and his top Hitters Band - 1000 Miles

See you soon,

Armand

Theadora Ifudu - Four In A Tangle (Nigeria, 1980, Theagart Records)

Splendid Afro Soul track to finish this beautiful sunday by the Nigerian Diva Theadora Ifudu - Enjoy !!

Theaodra Ifudu - Four In A Tangle

See you next week,

Armand

Segun Bucknor - The Price Of Your Love (Nigeria, 1975, Afrodisia)

Following to this article, I wanted to make you rediscover for this sunday another high level afrobeat track by the Nigerian master Segun Bucknor, who greatly influenced Fela Kuti at the time, but who was unfortunately less known.

Segun Buknor - The Price Of Your Love

All the best,

Armand

Rick Asikpo - Feel Fine (Nigeria, 1982, Cross Waves)

Rick asikpo was an obscure Nigerian musician (Vocalist, Guitar and Piano player) who recorded a few albums (you can count them on one hand !) on his own private record label "Crosswaves", full of Afro Fusion tracks.

I decided to make you discover "Feel Fine", a cool Afro Pop / Fusion track taken from my favourite album, "God's Gift" !

Rick Asikpo - Feel Fine

Take care,

Armand

The Lijadu Sisters - Amebo (Nigeria, 1976, Afrodisia)

Originated from Ibadan (Nigeria), Taiwo and Kehinde Lijadu are two identical twin sisters who where very prolific from the 1960s to the 1980s in the Nigerian musical scene.

They recorded 5 albums and a few 7 inches, and were also famous in the United States, made several concert there and in Europe and are now living in New York.

I decided to make you discover one track, "Amebo", a slow psych afro rock / reggae track taken from their 2nd LP (my favourite, full of winner tracks !), recorded in 1976 !

The Lijadu Sisters - Amebo

Have a really nice sunday evening,

Armand

Etubom Rex Williams and his Nigerian Artistes - Satan Ke Mbiet Owo (Nigeria, 1974, Philips)

 

Born in Etinan, in Akwa Ibom State in the 1930's, Etubom Rex Williams is by far one of Nigeria's finest Highlife Trumpeters and bandleaders.

He started to play music in the early 1950's, playing the trumpet in the Salvation Army Band, and quickly began to perfom in hotels, leading Highlife bands, and quickly began to record his first albums.

From the early 70's to the late 80's, he have released more than 10 LP's and 7 inches.

The song presented here, Satan Ke Mbiet Owo, is a pure jewel, mixture of deep Highlife and slow Afrobeat music - Enjoy !

Etubom Rex Williams and his Nigerian Artistes - Satan Ke Mbiet Owo

 

Best regards,

Armand

Question Mark - Love (Nigeria, 1976, EMI Nigeria)

Composed by 5 musicians, Question Mark (or "The Questions") was a psychedelic Nigerian band that recorded their one and only album in 1976.

The Band was composed of 5 musicians :

Frank Izuora : Lead vocals and organ

Amehl Izuora : Bass guitar

Chyke Okafor : Drums

Uzo Agulefo : Percussion

Victor Egbe : Lead guitar

Their album is full of winner tracks, and I decided to make you discover "Love", my favourite one, a hip hoppy reggae track with awesome drums and wonderful psychedelic electric guitar parts.

Question Mark - Love

With Love,

Armand

New Selection - Nigeria Soul Sisters (Feat Mary Afi Usuah, Christiana Essien, Theadora Ifudu..)

Hi dear readers,

After a long time of searching, selecting, mixin and editing, I'm very proud to present you my new compilation !

Here are the best mental cuts of the best four (for me) Nigerian divas :

- Christiana "Christy" Essien

- Taiwo and Kehinde Lijadu, the twins Lijadu sisters

- Theadora Ifudu

- Mary Afi Usuah 

 Please listen this selection until the end to really enjoy this mix - Hope you'll like it !!

Armand de Preseau - Nigeria Soul Sisters

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

The next Selection will be Ghanaian or Arabic !

Sincerely yours,

Armand

New Selection : Nigerian Afrodeapness (feat. SJOB, Ikengas, Etubom Rex Williams..)

Hi dear readers !

As promise last week, here comes the new selection I've prepared for your little ears !

A selection of 6 afrobeat tracks taken from 6 veeery hard to find Nigerian records, especially in this condition !

I know that for many people "Afrobeat" word is mainly connected with the work of Fela Kuti, so I wanted to make you discover other, and deeper artists - Hope you'll enjoy this mix !

Armand de Preseau - Nigerian Afrodeapness

 

You can download the selection here (as always, right clic and "Save as")

See you soon, and don't hesitate to leave some comments if you liked the selection !

Sincerely yours,

Armand

New Selection : Nigerian Disco Grooves - My Definition of The Nigerian Disco Inferno (blo, ofege, ipa..)

Hi Everyone !!

Today, we come back to Nigeria, with a Disco Oriented Selection of 6 tracks. Short but good, I truly hope you'll enjoy this 23rd selection (yes, this is the 23rd !!).

Armand de Préseau - Nigerian Disco Grooves

You can download the selection here (as usual, right clic on the link, "save as")

Take care, don't hesitate to leave a comment if you liked this selection !! See you soon for another selection !!

Sincerely yours,

Armand

Selection of the Week : Take Me Back To Lagos, Nigeria (Mansion /Celebrant / Identicals / Visitors / Mary Afi Usuah / Super Wings..)

Hi dear readers !

It's been a while since the last time we met ! This week, we travel to Nigeria, this strange and continuously moving country, with a few tracks from several well known Afro Rock / Funk and Disco bands back in the 70's ! Hope you'll enjoy this selection, it took me some time to prepare it, because those LP's are reaaally hard to find nowadays, especially in such exceptional condition !

See you really soon for another Selection !

You can download the selection here (as usual, right clic, "save as")

Armand de Preseau - Take Me Back To Lagos

Tracklist :

1 - The Visitors - Togetherness

2  - Mansion - Devil Woman

3 - The Identicals - Akwa Kayi Ji Bia Nuwa

4 - The Celebrant - Funky Music

5 - Mary Afi Usuah - What's A Woman to Do

6 - Clement Djimogne - Africa

7 - Etubom Rex William - Disco Baby

8 - MFB - Boredom Pain

9 - Super Wings - Men of the People

Sincerely yours,

Armand