New Selection - Au Pays des Merveilles

Hello everyone !

 

Here is a Soundcloud link to a PanAfrican vinyl only selection I did with my mate Adrien Michel for our Macabo Crew !

 

A 1h30 musical travel through the African dust - Enjoy !

Armand de Preseau & Adrius - Au Pays des Merveilles

Tracklist :

1 : Union de Douala - Champion 1976 (Cameroun)

2 : Joey Etondey - Africa (Vocal Version) (Cameroun)

3 : Mike Kounou - Klos Bivindi (Cameroun)

4 : Sweet Mary - Congossa (Cameroun)

5 : Mongo Ndouan - Okala Le Cri de La Rigueur (Cameroun)

6 : Eskill et Vicky - Ecoute Ma Melodie (Benin)

7 : Manuel Guysso - Bot Bua (Cameroun)

8 : Clement Djimogne - Africa (Cameroun/Nigeria)

9 : Los Camaroes - Boo A Nun Muna (Cameroun)

10 : Tjaps - O a (Cameroun)

11 : Esa - A Muto (Cameroun)

12 : Sweet Breeze - Igbaraka Bilum (Nigeria)

13 : Bongos Ikwue - Woman Made The Devil (Nigeria)

14 : Stora Stora - Stora Stora (Cap Vert)

15 : La Maison des Merengues - Abandon (Martinique)

16 : Africa Tentaçao - Fantaisia Do Tchingange (Angola)

17 : Anne Marie Nzie - Yeh Ye (Cameroun)

18 : Ziskakan - Zordi La Pli (La Réunion)

19 : Patrick Victor - Emmanuelle (Les Seychelles)

20 : Mary Afi Usuah - Ima Mma Uyem (Nigeria)

21 : Ahmed Malek - Omar Gatlato (Algerie)

22 : Alain Peters - Rest La Maloya (La Réunion)

All the best,

Armand

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

Jerry Boifraind - Natto Messiah (Armand De Preseau edit) (Nigeria, 1981, Clover Recording Organization)

Hi everyone !

Here is a short edit I did on one of my favourite songs from the most funky reverend from Nigeria, Mr. Jerry Boifraind !

He relased a few LP's back in the end of the 70's / early 80's before giving his entire life to his church - enjoy !

Reverend Jerry Boifraind - Natto Messiah (Armand De Preseau edit)

Have a nice day,

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

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

Mary Afi Usuah and the SES Cultural Centre Band - Ima Mma Nyem (Nigeria, 1975, SESCULT)

Mary Affiong - Afi - Usuah is originating from Oron, a town near Calabar, in south east of Nigeria.

Considered as one of Nigeria's best divas, Mary studied Opera in a prestigious music conservatory in Rome the 60's.

She released a few 7 inches there, and came back to Nigeria in the early 70's and continued to play and record music.

The track presented here, "Ima Ma Nyem", is taken from the album she recorded in 1975 with the famous trumpeter Daniel ‘Satch’ Asuquo from the Atomic 8, and with the South Eastern State Cultural Centre Band of Nigeria.

It was produced in very small quantities by the State, and is really, really hard to find in any condition.

Im really, really proud to present you this sublime album, loaded of spitirual Afrobeat and mental Jazz tracks, hope you'll like it !

Mary Afi Usuah and the South Eastern State Cultural Centre Band - Ima Mma Nyem

As a tip to this article, I compiled also one track of her other album from 1978 in one of my former selection here, have a look !

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