Following this former article, I’d like to share with you “Wollou“, a sublime deep psychedelic 70s Afro Manding Fusion Soul Synth Folk track from Gambia, taken from the second album (my fave one !) of the mythical Gambian band “Guelewar Band of Banjul“, founded by composers & musicians brothers Laaye & Moussa N’Gom, and that included some of the bests Gambian & Senegalese musicians of that era as :

Laaye N’Gom : Leader, Keyboards, Piano, Vocals ;

Moussa N’Gom : Lead Vocals ;

Njok Malick Mike Njie : Bass ;

Moussa Njobdi Njie : Guitar ;

Adu Sallah, Alive Badara Cham N’Gom, Koto Sunu Icoto N’Gom : Percussion ;

Laaye Sallah Ombor : Tenor Saxophone ;

Bas Lo Fara Biram : Alto Saxophone ;

Recorded in 1980 in Dakar (Senegal), this album (“Tasito”, or “self-sufficiency” in Mandinka Senegambian langage) is one of the very firsts produced by Ibrahima Sory Sylla, who’d become later one of the most prominent figures of African music, and would pave the way for the emergence of West Africa’s greatest groups and artists (Gnonnas Pedro & Africando, Orchestra Baobab, Gets de Dakar or Ismaël Lô) though is label “Syllart Records”.

This album was released at the time on both labels “Productions Jambaar PJ” (for Senegalese market distribution) & in France on “Le Kiosque d’Orphée” (famous Paris-based record manufacturer/label, where every artists could pay to get a number of pressings, making it an alternative for a private press autoproduction)

Cherry on the cake : this gorgeous cover art by painter Senegalese Djibathen Laye Sambou, one of my personal hero when it’s about African album sleeve design (remember Orchestra Bawobab Gouye-Gui de Dakar & Ousmane “Ouza” Diallo ones ?) – Hope you’ll like it, enjoy !

Guelewar Band of Banjul – Wollou (Gambia, 1980, Productions Jambaar)

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

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

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

Following this former post, I’d like to share with you for today “Ego-Ibo“, a deep 70s Afro Psychedelic Soul syncopated track from Benin, taken from the 2nd LP recorded in 1979 by the Beninese band “Les Sympathics de Porto-Novo“, leaded by the composer & musician Happy Ruffin and that was very active as a studio backing band in the late 70s & early 80s and who played for big Beninese musicians & composers of that era.

This album was released on the mythical Beninese record label “Albarika Store“, and included the following musicians :

Happy Ruffin : Composition, Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writings ;

Jean-Louis Avognon : Backing Vocals, Guitar ;

Herman F. Laleye : Bass Guitar, Leader ;

Armand Pognon : Lead Guitar, Organ ;

Georges d’Assomption : Congas ;

Marcellin Laleye : Drums ;

Highly recommended LP, killer from start to finish – Hope you’ll like it, enjoy !

Les Sympathics de Porto-Novo – Ego-Ibo (Benin, 1979, Albarika Store)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/dP67GYkWIGI

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’d like to share with you “Aonte” (“Yesterday” in Cape Verdean Portuguese), a killer Afro Coladera Disco Synth Funk from Cabo Verde with a nice Funana twist & violin parts, taken from an album recorded in 1986 in Paris (France) by “Tabala“, an 80s band of legendary African & West Indian musicians based in Paris who recorded 10 albums under the management of Cameroonian television presenter and businessman Contsy Eka.

Mythical musicians Abel Lima (from Cabo Verde, Africa) & Gordon Henderson (Dominica Island, West Indies) are in charge of this 8th volume of the series for the composition + lead vocals (Abel Lima) & arrangements (Gordon Henderson).

Tricky to find album nowadays that contains several dance floor gems as this one – Hope you’ll like it, enjoy !

Tabala (Abel Lima & Gordon Henderson) – Aonte (Cabo Verde, U.S.I. Production Distribution, 1986)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/NdUOkQB5wDY

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

Following to this former article, I’d like to share with you for today “Mbea“, an explosive Psychedelic Afro Funk Soul Jerk track from Gabon, taken from the Gabonese musician & composer Vyckos Ekondo and released on the mythical French record label “Pathé Marconi“.

Invisible & super hard to find nowadays, hope you’ll like it – Enjoy !

Vyckoss Ekondo – Mbea (Gabon, 1977, Pathé Marconi)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/F9AEerASnlI

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/

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

Armand de Preseau

Following this former article, I wanted to share with you “Djamban“, an incredible mesmerizing 70s Afro Mandingo Jazz Soul track from Mali with gorgeous horn & guitar parts, taken from one of the first albums recorded in 1975 by the mythical Malian band “Rail Band” (also known as “Orchestre Rail Band” or “Orchestre du Buffet Hotel de la Gare de Bamako” because the band played there twice a week) leaded by the legendary Malian composer & saxophonist Tidiani Kone (who also played for with Beninese kings from the “Orchestre Poly Rythmo de Cotonou”).

Pressed in Nigeria, this album is part of the very well known “Rail Band Series” (this one is the 4th volume), and features some of the bests Malian & West African musicians (Gambia, Senegal, Mauritania, …) from that era as :

Tidiani Kone : Leader, Saxophone ;

Djelimady Sissoko : Vocals ;

Djelimady Tounkara : Lead Guitar ;

Cheick Traoré : Bass Guitar ;

Moussa Koné : Bongos, Trumpet ;

Abdouramane Koumané : Congas ;

Mamadou “Pacheco” Bagayoko : Drums ;

Dielly Moussa Kouyaté : Guitar ;

Mory Kanté : Lead Vocals ;

Alfred Coulibaly : Organ ;

Maitre Lédy Youla : Sopranino Saxophone ;

Really hard to find album nowadays, that I found a few years ago during a record digging trip in Nouakchott (Mauritania). I had the great honor to got it from Mr Mohamed Vall, one of the very few record collectors from the country, who used to run “Le Saphir D’Or”, the only record store in Mauritania opened in the 1979 until the early 2000s (for more informations, I interviewed him here).

And cherry on the cake : this sublime artwork – Hope you’ll like it, enjoy !

Rail Band – Djamban (Mali, 1975, RCAM)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/PhCD9gPmtm8

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 rediscovery !

Armand de Preseau

For today, I wanted to share with you “Mama“, a killer bouncy syncopated Afro Salegy Funk Soukous from Madagascar with frantic guitar parts, taken from the first recording of the mythical Madagascar composer & musician Roger Georges who begin his career in the 70s with the band “The Smokers”, and out on the legendary Madagascan record label “Discomad“.

Instant feel-good track, perfect to continue this summer – Hope you’ll like it, enjoy !

Roger Georges – Mama (Madagascar, 1980s, Discomad)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/0XBc0LnDrEw

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 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

For today, I wanted to share with you “Metalik Funk“, an instant catchy downtempo 70s Afro Soul Boogie Funk Rock track from Nigeria with ultra groovy Synth parts, taken from the first album of the band “Mighty Flames“, formed on the nucleus of the former Port-Harcourt “Flames” band, and that recorded three albums in Nigeria in the 70s.

The band was composed with the best Nigerian & Cameroonian musicians of that era, as :

Willy Nfor : Bass Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Vocals ;

Vincent Ekedi : Drums, Congas ;

Didi Lead : Lead Guitar ;

George Achini : Lead Guitar, Vocals ;

Frankie Ntoh Song : Organ, Piano, Tambourine, Vocals ;

Emma “Wah-Wah” Baloka : Rhythm Guitar ;

Stormy Jimmy : Vocals, Percussion ;

One of my favorite song of the band, hope you’ll like it – Enjoy !

Mighty Flames – Metalik Funk (Nigerią, 1977, RTS)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/WstDhiALvw8

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 “Mind Searcher“, a deep Psychedelic Afro Rock Soul Funk track with mesmerizing horns & organ parts, taken from the 5th and last album of the Nigerian band “One World“.

Produced by the legendary Orion Iruoje, recorded by the famous engineers Kayode Salami & Monday Oki and released in 1978 on the mythical Nigerian record label “EMI Nigeria“, this album includes the following musicians :

Acoustic Guitar, Lead Guitar : Anii Hofnar Umebuani ;

Bass Guitar : Samuel Ifeanyi Eze McKing ;

Congas : Tony Francis ;

Drums : Geoffrey Omodhebo ;

Engineer : Emmanuel Odenusi ;

Guitar : McPharson Aguta ;

Liner Notes : Tony Amadi ;

Organ : Clement Amaechi ;

Percussion, Vocals : Samuel Nkem Mathews ;

Vocals : Gab Chuma Ozani ;

One of my personal favorite band from that era & country, quite hard to find nowadays in decent – Hope you’ll like it, enjoy !

One World – Mind Searcher (Nigeria, 1978, EMI Nigeria)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/YvyuLrfx9_k

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