Following this former post, I’d like to share with for today “Life’s Gone Down Low“, a gorgeous hybrid slow 70s Afro Soul Reggae Funk track from Nigeria with catchy organ parts, composed by the Nigerian twin sisters Kehinde & Taiwo Lijadu better known as “The Lijadu Sisters”.

This song is taken from their 2nd album, recorded at the legendary “DECCA Studios” in Lagos city, and released in 1976 on the mythical Nigerian record label “Afrodisia“.

It includes the following musicians :

Kehinde & Taiwo Lijadu aka The Lijadu Sisters : Writtings, Arrangelments, Lead Vocals ;

Biddy Wright : Lead Guitar, Tenor Saxophone, Percussion, Bass Guitar, Producer ;

Felix Shittu : Alto Saxophone ;

Johnny Woode : Keyboards ;

Ade Jolaoso : Bass Guitar ;

Cherry on the cake : this beautiful artwork by the mysterious “Ideas Organisation” !

One of my favorite Reggae Soul track from the African continent, discovered though the excellent Afro Rock compilation “The World Ends: Afro Rock & Psychedelia in 1970s, Nigeria” released in 2010 by the renowned reissue label “Soundway”.

I’ve been lucky enough to find an original copy in pristine condition during one of my several record digging trop in Cameroon the same year, but that’s another story..

Hope you’ll like this song as I do, enjoy !

The Lijadu Sisters – Life’s Gone Down Low (Nigeria, 1976, Afrodisia)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/xQcmyqXWYvM

Check also my Soundcloud for exclusive mixes & selections : https://soundcloud.com/armand_de_preseau

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Feel free to support my action to preserve musical heritage & buy my vinyl & digital reissues here : https://nangabokorecords.bandcamp.com

Have a nice Sunday, see you next week for another musical rediscovery !

Armand de Preseau

For today, I wanted to share with you “Caution“, a groovy psychedelic funky 70s Afro Soul Rock track from Nigeria, taken from the only & ultra hard to find LP from the band “Voices Of Darkness“, recorded in 1974 in Lagos & released on the mythical Nigerian label “Afrodisia“.

Leaded by Joe Brown, the group was composed with the following Nigerian & Cameroonian musicians :

Organ, Lead Guitar, Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Piano : Joe Brown ;

Bass Guitar, Vocals : Celestine Nyam Anderson ;

Alto Saxophone, Percussion : Denise Kenneth ;

Congas, Vocals, Timbales : Emmanuel Ebot ;

Trumpet, Congas : Emmanuel Ovo ;

Drums : Paul Mony ;

The version presented here is the ultra rare misspress of the LP (pressing plant error !), released in the mid 70s in France with the (wrong) cover & labels of an (existing) album from the Juju & Highlife Nigerian master Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey, but hopefully with the same tracks as on the original “Afrodisia” press of the Voices Of Darkness album – Hope you’ll like it, enjoy !

Voices Of Darkness – Caution (Nigeria, 1974,  Ebenezer Obey’s Decca Misspress) 

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/AgQ5w4RiMsI

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Wednesday, see you on next Sunday for another musical (re)discovery !

Armand de Preseau

Following to this former article, I wanted to share with you for today “Roots“, an instant killer Afro Disco Boogie Boogie track from Nigeria, recorded in 1979 and taken from the fifth and last album of the legendary band “BLO“, named in reference to the initials of its founders :

Berkley “Ike” Jones (guitar)

Olaoluwa “Laolu Akins” Akintobi (drums) ;

Mike “Gbenga” Odumosu (bass) ;

Odumosu left the band later and was replaced by Lemmy “Otu” Udofa (also known as “Lemmy Jackson” in his 80s solo carrer !).

This song is always a dance floor burner when I play it in my DJ Set, hope you’ll like it and dance – Enjoy !

BLO – Roots (Nigeria, 1979, Afrodisia)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/wAQnJjznLnc

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Sunday, see you next week for another musical (re)discovery !

Armand de Preseau

For today, I wanted to share with you “Memeleyeme“, a splendid sweet Afro Highlife Folk Jazz track from Nigeria driven by sweet trumpet parts, taken from the third album of the composer & musician Charles Iwegbue from the Ukwuani people in Delta state, and backed by his “Hino Sounds“.

Cherry on the cake : this beautiful cover art by Laurie Richards.

One of my personal favorite of the genre, mellow as it gets, hope you’ll like – Enjoy !

International Charles Iwegbue & His Hino Sounds – Memeleyeme (Nigeria, 1975, Afrodisia)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/1hnI9GVX9xk

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Wednesday, see you on next Sunday for another musical (re)discovery !

Armand de Preseau

For today, and to festively close 2022, I wanted to share with you an edit I made of “Make Your Body Dance“, an instant feel-good & powerful dancefloor friendly Afro Disco Boogie track, taken from the fifth album of the band BLO, in reference to the initials of its founders :

Berkley “Ike” Jones (guitar)

Olaoluwa “Laolu Akins” Akintobi (drums) ;

Mike “Gbenga” Odumosu (bass) ;

Odumosu left the band later and was replaced by Lemmy “Otu” Udofa (also known as “Lemmy Jackson” in his 80s solo carrer !)

I wish you all the best for 2023, and sincerely hope that this forthcoming year will be as sweet as 2022 was for you, enjoy !

Blo – Make Your Body Dance (Armand de Préseau NYE 2023 Edit) (Nigeria, 1979, Afrodisia)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/FI9Q-g6U8B4

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Sunday, see you on next Wednesday for another musical (re)discovery !

Armand de Preseau

For today, I wanted to share with you “Danger“, an uplifting afro rock track with awesome psychedelic organ & fuzz guitar parts, taken from the second album from the twin sisters Kehinde & Taiwo Lijadu – Enjoy !

The Lijadu Sisters – Danger

You can also listen to this track on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/HuAkqbLs70Q

Have a nice wednesday,

Armand de Preseau

The Akaeze’s International Band from Nigeria was leaded by Eric “Showboy” Akaeze, a musician converted very early to the Afrobeat musical genre that he made his own version called “Ikoto Rock“.

Originally from the Delta State (Mid-West region of Nigeria), Akaeze moved to Lagos as a fairly young man and played for a while in Bobby Benson’s famous band and founded a few times after his first band, The Royal Ericos, and then recorded several albums with different groups as The Akaeze’s International Band or The Azagas.

The track I wanted to make you rediscover today, “It’s Tough To Be Rich“, is an awesome 9 minutes long kick ass deep Afrobeat track – Enjoy !!

The Akaeze’s International Band – It’s Tough To Be Rich

You can also listen to this track on my Youtube channel here : https://youtu.be/FXc_ehLYEjQ

Have a nice week,

Armand

Ofo & The Black Company were one of countless student band’s playing in Lagos during the 70’s. They became famous with their “Allah Wakbarr” first single, recorded and released in 1972 in London.

It was leaded by Larry Ifedioranma Jr. and composed of :

Larry Ifedioranma Jr. : Lead Vocals, Guitar, Bells, Whisltes and Percussion

Santana Otu Bassy : Lead Guitar and Backing Vocals

Johnson Hart : Drums, Marracass, Clavinet Piano and Vocals

Marcel All-Well Opara : Vocals and Organ

Eddy Cox : Bass Guitar and backing Vocals

Pappowei Daniel : Backing Vocals and Percussion

Koffibok : Congas

Felix Lebarty : Lead Guitar

They released 3 albums between 1972 and 1980, a few singles and toured several times in Europe in the 70s (they even played with Carlos Santana, student at the time, on stage during one concert, realizing after the gig – but too late – who he really was).

The track presented here, “Not Easy”, taken from their last album “People’s law”, is an awesome Afro Rock track with fuzzy guitar parts and catchy vocals – Enjoy !

Ofo Black Company – Not easy

You can also listen to this track on my Youtube channel here : https://youtu.be/YBtrp0tVYKI

Best regards,

Armand