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

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

Ebo Taylor and Uhuru Yenzu - You Need Love (Ghana, 1980, Essiebons)

Instant feel good track by Ebo Taylor, one of the most important and prolific musician, arranger, composer from Ghana.

He relased dozens and dozens of singles and albums with Ghanaian bands and by himself, from the 60's up to now, and is still touring today all over the world and releasing albums and compilations.

This track "You Need Love", is taken from his 5th album, "Conflict Nkru", which is my personnal favourite.

Ebo Taylor and Uhuru Yenzu - You Need Love

 

Have a nice sunday evening,

Armand

Itadi - Ayala (Togo, 1977, Sonafric)

Itadi K. Bonney was a singer and guitarist, born in Anonoe village (Togo) in 1948.

This track, Ayala, is a pure gem of afrosoul, taken from his first album, recorded live in Ghana in 1977.

In the early 1990's, he has to flee Togo for the United States because of a song he recorded, "Mayi Africa", that was against the political situation in Togo.

He recorded there several albums on his own record label "Bonney I. Productions", and toured in the United States, West Africa and Europe.

He died in 2013 in Washington DC.

Itadi - Ayala

Have a nice sunday,

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

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

Dan Ian and his Spades - She's A Monarch (Nigeria, 1976, Go Gay Records)

 

Happy New Year to everyone !!! Wish you the best !!

It's been a long time without any articles but, now, I'm back for your ears only !

Let's begin this new year with a Nigerian living legend, Dan Ian !

Born in the village of Umuezeawala in the early 50's, Dan Ian Mbaezue is a guitarist and a singer, who began his musical career in the early 60's.

He played in many well known Nigerian bands, such as The Wings, Wrinkar Experience and with other big names (Sonny Okosun..).

He recorded many singles, and a few albums through the 70's and 3 LP's with his own band, Dan Ian Spades.

He still lives today in his village.

I decided to make you discover "She's a Monarch", one of the songs taken from of his third album, accompanied by The Friimen Musik Coy, a very cool Afro Rock track !! 

Dan Ian and his Spades - She's A Monarch

Best regards,

Armand

Afro Train - Ode To Hendrix (Ivory Coast, 1973, Société Ivoirienne du Disque)

 

Afro Train was a studio-composed band, who released only one 7 inches back in 1973 on the famous "Société Ivoirienne du Disque" record label.

The band, reunion of Ivorian and Cameroonian musicians, was composed of :

Vincent N'Guini : Lead Guitar

Jean Ndjoh - Bass

Keith Banvo - Drums

Mohamed C. Cherif - Organ

Greg Skelton - Sax Tenor

Roger Nahum - Sax Alto

Harry Forson - Trumpet

Jean-Claude Kongnon - Tumba

I decided to make you (re)discover the A Side of this beautiful record, a tribute to the American Voodoo Guitarist Jimi Hendrix !

Afro Train - Ode To Hendrix

Sincerely yours,

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

Light and Sound Of Mogadishu (2015, Afro 7 records)

 

Very innovative, the highly recommended compilation "Light and Sound of Mogadishu" is the first release of the "Afro 7" record label (you can check this superb website here), specialized in Kenyan music.

This compilation is the very first of its kind, that deals with Somalian tracks from legendary bands such as Sharero band, Faadumo Qaasim, Magool or Ahmed Abukar, taken from some impossible to find 7 inches.

Limited to 1000 copies, it comes in a deluxe packaging, with inner sleeve, beautiful hand made illustrations and pictures and background informations of the songs, the artists and the bands.

You can buy it in a LP or CD format here, for a very cheap price considering the amazing work that Afro 7 did on this superb compilation !

Sharero Band – Caashooy

   

Clelment Melome Et L'Orchestre Poly Rythmo De Cotonou

Hi there,

This week no mix, but a deep song from a great benineese artist, Clément Mélomé, leader of "L'Orchestre Poly Rythmo de Cotonou" (that will become later "Le Tout Puissant Orchestre de Cotonou") formed back in the 60's.

This track, a cover from a well known American standart from Brian Hyland, "Sealed With A Kiss",  was recorded on a tiny Benineese Label (there was hundred labels like this one at the time), "Disques Sachey", probably in the mid 70's.

This Song is dedicated to my cousin and my brother, Jean.

Repose en Paix, mon frère.

Clément Mélomé et L'Orchestre Poly Rythmo de Cotonou - La Fin de L'Ete

The Super Eagles Of Gambia - Love Is A Real Thing

"The Super Eagles" was a band of 8 Gambian & Senegalese musicians that joined together in 1967. They recorded a few LP on the English label DECCA (Gambia is an ancient British colony, Senegal is an ancient French colony and, more in the in the past, Senegal and Gambia formed only one country but the story is what it is..).

More, they recorded a few 7 inches (I know only 2 of them) on a tiny Ghanaian label, "Ghana Film", maybe i'll share them later.

I decided to make you discover one beautiful track taken from their first LP, recorded during an tour of England, "Love Is A Real Thing". Nothing to add, the instrumentation, the voices, everything seems just as it should be in this track, perfect.

This one is for my beloved Soum.

The Super Eagles of Gambia - Love Is A Real Thing

 

 Enjoy,

Armand