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

Martin Brothers - The World Of Music (Nigeria, 1978, Hobby Records)

The Martins Brothers were a musical band from Port Harcourt (Nigeria), who released 4 albums in 70's and a few singles.

The track presented here, "The World Of Music", is taken from my favourite album from them - What an amazing sleeve design, isn't it ?

Martin Brothers - The World Of Music

 

Best regards,

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

Segun Bucknor's Revolution - Who Say I Tire (Nigeria, 1972, Polydor Nigeria)

Small update today, with this devastating early 70's Afrobeat single from the Nigerian musican Segun Bucknor !

Segun Bucknor's Revolution - Who Say I Tire
 

Sincerely yours,

Armand

Mary Afi Usuah - Tenkim Kpoho (Nigeria, 1978, Clover Sound)

Following to this article, I decided to present you "Tenkim Kpoho", an afro soul track the second album from the Nigerian Diva Mary Afi Usuah, out in 1978 on the "Clover Sound" record label and backed by the afro funk band "Akwassa".

Mary Afi Uuah - Tenkim Kpoho

Have a nice sunday evening,

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

Eddy Pollo - Money (Nigeria, 1978, EMI NIGERIA)

Nee Quaison-Sackey was a Nigerian studio guitarist, who played on many albums between the 70's and the 80's.

He played for Tony Grey, Manu Dibango, Christy Essien, Melvin Ukachi and many other artists.

The song I want to present you today, Money, is taken from is one and only album, released in 1978 on the mythical EMI NIGERIA record label, and engineered by, as always on the good NEMI albums, Kayode Salami and Monday Oki.

You'll notice the typical moving bass playing style of the great Kenneth "Kenny" Okulolo on the track !

Eddy Pollo - Money

Best regards,

Armand

Colomach - Sweet Sounds From Colomachi (Nigeria, 1974, EMI NIGERIA)

 

Out in 1974 on the mythical "EMI Nigeria" record label, this album is the one-and-only from the band Colomach, led by the Togolese Gneni Mamadou.

This is one of my favourite Nigerian albums, because this band didn't try to copy American Funk ; it includes 10 tracks from very different musical genres, from deep traditionnal Sahel sounds to Fuzzy Zambian Afro Rock Style !!

I decided to present you my favourite track from the album, may you bewitched by this beautiful Sahelian flute !

Colomach - Sweet Sounds From Colomachi

Best Regards, 

Armand

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

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

Voices Of Darkness - Bonjour cherie (Nigeria, 1974, Decca)

 

Picture courtesy of Voodoofunk / Superfly

The "Voices of Darkness" was a band created in the early 70's in Douala, Cameroon, and composed of 6 Nigerian and Cameroonian musicians :

Joe Brown (the leader of the band) on the Organ, Lead Guitar, Vocals, Rhythm Guitar 

Cel Anderson on the Bass and Vocals

Emmanuel Ovo on the trumpet and Congas

Paul Mony on the Drums

Emmanuel Ebot on Congas, Timbals and Vocals

Dennise Kenneth on the Percussions and Alto Saxophone

"Bonjour Chérie" (Hello Darling) the track presented here is taken from their one and only LP, recorded in 1974 in Nigeria.

This album never had a properly release, it was mispressed in France with an Ebenezer Obey LP (check the picture of my personal copy at the end of this article), on DECCA, the French divisionary of the Afrodisia label, and never had a cover..

Beautiful Afro Soul Ballad, this track relates a phone conversation between a man (Cel, the bassist of the band) and his ex-girlfriend, who raised alone their child - Enjoy !

Voices of Darkness - Bonjour Cherie

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

Prince Nico Mbarga and Rocafil Jazz - Sickness (Nigeria, 1978, Roger All Stars)

 

Nicolas "Prince Nico" Mbarga, with his Nigerian band the Rocafil Jazz, was one of most famous African musicians (or THE most), who released more than 20 albums.

Prince Nico, children born in 1950 of a Cameroonese father and a Nigerian mother, became a PanAfrican celebrity in 1976 with his interplanetary hit "Sweet Mother".

His music, easy identifiable, is a mixture of Highlife, Slow Afrobeat and Congolese Rhumba.

Nicolas left music in the early 80's, became a businessman and died of a bike accident in 1997 in Nigeria.

I decided to present you tonight "Sickness", an Afrobeat song with very sweets guitar parts in it - Enjoy !

Prince Nico Mbarga and Rocafil Jazz - Sickness

Thank you,

Armand

Bongos Ikwue and The Groovies - Woman Made The Devil (Nigeria, 1977, EMI NIGERIA)

 

Mixture of American folk music and Nigerian roots, this track - by the very prolific Nigerian singer and guitarist Bongos Ikwue (his last album came out in 2012 !) - is perfect for this hot monday summer !

Close your eyes, and relax..

Bongos Ikwue And The Groovies - Woman Made The Devil

 

Take care of you all,

Armand

Ikenga Super Stars of Africa - Soffry Soffry Catchy Monkey (Nigeria, 1977, Roger All Stars)

Coming from Nigeria, the Ikenga Super Stars of Africa was one of the very popular band in the country back in the 70's, who got their start as members of highlife superstar Osita Osadebe's backing band.

They played mostly Highlife music, recorded more than 15 albumsand have tourned in many African countries, but also in Europe (London).

The track presented here, "Soffry Soffry Catchy Monkey", is taken from their one and only Afrobeat record, out in 1977 on the famous "Roger All Stars" (or R.A.S.) record label (this record was also issued in France on the DECCA record label).

Ikenga Super Stars of Africa - Soffry Soffry Catchy Monkey

Sincerely yours,

Armand

The Identicals - Akwa Kayi Ji Bia Nuwa (Nigeria, 1977 , EMI NIGERIA)

The Identicals was a Nigerian band composed by two twins brothers, Peter (Bass) and Paul (Guitar), who played around Lagos clubs and studios (as backing members for other musicians) back in the 70's.

The song presented here, "Akwa Kayi Ji Bia Nuwa" is taken from their one and only album, "Rock Exponent".

The title of this song could be translated (in Igbo language) as "We Come Into This World Crying" - Enjoy !

The Identicals - Akwa Kayi Ji Bia Nuwa

Sincerely yours,

Armand

The Apostles - Battery Rock (Nigeria, 1973, BEN)

 

Down Down The Valley / Battery Rock is the very first single from one of the best Nigerian Afro-rock band from this era, The Apostles.

The Apostles was a band composed by members from Aba, a city in the east of the country, in the Abia state.

The Apostles recorded 6 albums (or more, who knows ?), several singles and backed many other artists during between the 70's and the early 80's.

Very rough track, furiously funky with acid psychedelic influences, "Battery Rock" is a very precursor and innovative track for the period - Remember we were only in 1973, Nigeria..

The Apostles - Battery Rock

All the best,

Armand

This one is for you Uchenna ! Thanks..