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

Smail Chaoui - Ya Habib (Algeria, 197?, Oasis)

Smail Salhi, aka Smail Chaoui, is an Algerian singer, born in 1946 in Ain M'lila.

He began his musical career very early, and released a couple of 7 inches on Oasis, the great Algerian record label.

Later, he decided to quit music, and made a successful career in hotels and tourism.

Smail Chaoui - Ya Habib

 

Sincerely yours,

Armand

Le Kene Star de Sikasso - Fitiriwale (Mali, 1977, Mali Kunkan)

 

Le Kene Star de Sikasso was one of the regional Malian Orchestras (such as "L'Orchestre Kanaga de Mopti" or "L'Orchestre Sidi Yassa des Kayes") back in the 70's.

The group was composed, among others, by François Ballo, Mamadou Touré, Mamadou Diakité and Cheick Sadibou Diabaté, former members of "L'Orchestre Regional de Sikasso", who released one album in 1970.

The track I've selected, Fitiriwale, is taken from their 1977 album, released in France thanks to the mythical "Kiosque d'Orphée" label.

This song is about wedding, and the ingratitude of the husbands towards their former wife and the good things they did for them.

Le Kene Star de Sikasso - Fitiriwale

 

If you're into Malian sound, you can check here (and download !) a Malian selection I did in 2013 !

Have a really nice sunday,

Armand

Gnonnas Pedro - La Musica En Verite (Benin, 1980, Ledoux Records)

 

 Awesome slow deep Afrobeat / Pachanga track from the Beninese King of Salsa, Mister Gnonnan Sossou Pierre Kouassivi, alias "Gnonnas Pedro"!

This track is taken from the original "La Musica En Verite" LP, out in 1980 on the great "Ledoux Records" Label, owned by Abou Sylla Ledoux, one of the greatest Producer in african music history.

Gnonnas Pedro et Ses Dadjes - La Musica En Verite

All the best,

Armand

This track is dedicated to my cousin Jean. I will never forget those good times, listening to this record together, again and again and again.. Miss you, little brother.

MFB - Beware (Nigeria, 1979, EMI NIGERIA)

 

MFB was a a Nigerian band, composed of 3 members (as the same as BLO, one letter for each member of the band) :

Melvin Noks : Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar and Percussion

Franck Ikpefuran : Drums, Percussion and Vocals

Soca Benson : 

They released their one and only album, "Where Are Our People", on the famous EMI NIGERIA (NEMI) label, back in the end of the 1970's.

One of my former selections, "Take Me Back To Lagos", (link here) included one of the track of this record, "Boredom Pain", a nice Afro rock track.

For now, I decided to present you "Beware", the last track of the LP, an Afrobeat ballad.

MFB - Beware

Sincerely yours,

Armand

Jeeraphan Wiraphong - Num Kangfu Khorong (Thailand, Around 1976, Chor Chor)

 

Hi everyone !

A short travel to Thailand again today, with a cover of a very well known song again in our Western countries... Will you manage to guess what ?

Jeeraphan Wiraphong - Num Kangfu Khorong

Sincerely yours,

Armand

Nutchanad Nuntana - Rusputin kaownaew (Thailand, Release date unknown, Aur Ari)

 

Hi everyone !

For this article we stay in the sweet Land of Smile, with a quite special song, out one of my favourite Thai record label, Aur Ari. 

Hope you will recognize the cheesy cover of this famous European Song !!

Nutchanad Nuntana - Rusputin kaownaew

All the best,

Armand

Francis The Great Mbarga - Ravissante Baby (Cameroonese Afro Disco Fusion)

Hi Everyone !

This week I decided to make a very special article on a Cameroonese artist, Francis "The Great" Mbarga, who released two Afro Disco records in 1977 ("Ravissante Baby") and in 1978 ("Crazy Tube"), at the age of 7.

Those two records were released on his father's label, "Cinafric Contacts", when the Mbarga family lived in Paris (France).

I decided to make you (re)discover one song taken from his first record, "Look Up In The Sky", an epic 13 minutes long afro disco track sung in English and French by the Mbarga kid, with some pychedelic synth moments - Enjoy !!

Francis The Great - Look Up In The Sky

 

Also, I had the greeeat chance to meet Mr. Mbarga ! So, as a BIG Bonus, here is the 45min long interview (sorry, it's in French..) I had with this great, interesting, nice, funny, natural and sincere man.

Thanks for all !!

Armand