The Funkees – Ole

( Nigeria , 1979 , Grandstar Records )

posted on 06 / 03 / 2024

For today, I wanted to share with you “Ole“, a 70s psychedelic Afro Rock Funk with Afrobeat flavors, taken from “Dancing In The Nude” the first album of the mythical Nigerian band “The Funkees“, initially recorded in 1974 in London, and repressed in 1979 (the version presented here).

Originating as an army band after the Nigerian Civil War (Biafran War), it contributed to the outpouring of upbeat music produced by young people in Nigeria in response to the darkness of the recently concluded civil conflict.

The band was composed with :

– Lead Vocals, Percussion : Mohammed Ahidjo ;

– Guitar [Lead], Organ, Piano, Vocals, Percussion [Miscellaneous] : Jake Sollo ;

– Guitar [2nd], Vocals, Percussion [Miscellaneous] : Harry Mosco ;

– Bongos, Percussion : Roli Paterson ;

– Congas, Vocals : Sonny Akpabio ;

– Drums, Vocals : Chyke Madu ;

– Electric Bass [Fender], Vocals, Percussion : Danny Heibs ;

Killer album from start to finish, hope you’ll enjoy it !

The Funkees – Ole (Nigeria, 1979, Grandstar Records)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/NuwzP1JxlS8

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

Armand de Preseau

Edikanfo – Nka Bom

( Ghana , 1981 , Editions EG )

posted on 05 / 03 / 2024

For today, I wanted to share with you “Nka Bom“, a devastating Afrobeat Funk Soul track with killers horns & synth parts, taken from the only album recorded in 1981 in Ghana at the mythical Studio One (Napoleon Club, Osu) of Accra by the Ghanaian band Edikanfo, formed in 1980.

Produced by the legendary British composer & musician Brian Eno in Ghana, this album features :

– Paa Akrashie (Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Flugelhorn, Percussion, Vocals) ;

– Gilbert Amartey (Bass, Percussion, Vocals) ;

– Albert Williams (Congas, Talking Drum, Vocals) ;

– George Afriyie-Siaw (Design) ;

– George Williams (Drums, Lead Vocals) ;

– Osei Tutu (Trumpet, Percussion, Vocals) ;

– Kwesi Okran (Lead Guitar, Vocals) ;

– William Quist (Percussion, Drums, Vocals) ;

– Ishmael Odai (Piano, Synthesizer, Ensemble, Vocals) ;

– Brian Eno (Producer, Engineer) ;

– Faisal Helwani (Executive-Producer, Arranger) ;

– Sami Helwani (Assistant engineer) ;

– Jacob Serdro (Engineer) ;

Instant dance floor stormer here, enjoy !

Edikanfo – Nka Bom (Ghana, 1981, Editions EG)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/MQAZq5gg7B0

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

Armand de Preseau

Afrika Wanda – God's Time's Best

( Cameroun , 1992 , Essimo'oh Productions )

posted on 08 / 11 / 2023

Following to this former article, I wanted to share with you for today “God’s Time’s Best“, a mesmerizing Afro Soul Funk track with catchy synths & folk flavors, taken from the only album of the Cameroonian band “Afrika Wanda“, recorded in 1992 in Nigeria at the legendary “EMI” studios by the mythical Nigerian sound engineers Pal Akalonu and Monday Oki, and out on the small local label “Essimo’oh” from Douala.

Really hard to find LP nowadays, hope you’ll like it – Enjoy !

Afrika Wanda – God’s Time’s Best (Cameroun, 1992, Essimo’oh Productions)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/zLzW6UAurB4

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

Guehi Jean – Didi Kowo

( Ivory Coast , 1980s , GTK Production )

posted on 01 / 10 / 2023

Following this former article, I wanted to share with you for today “Didi Kowo“, a powerful psychedelic Afro Psych Soul Funk track with killer organ parts & 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐤𝐨𝐮𝐬 flavors, recorded in the 80s by the Ivorian musician & composer Jean Gnamaka Guéhi, recorded in the 80s on the only maxi single from on the obscure local label “GTK Production“.

This album features the following musicians :

Marcellus Fender (Marcel Wazi) ;

Georges “Happy” Deulemkam ;

Bamba Moussa Yang ;

Kassaby Déhé ;

Jean Gnamaka Guéhi ;

Clémente Lozano ;

Guillermo Fellove ;

Guehi Jean – Didi Kowo (Ivory Coast, 1980s, GTK Production)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here :https://youtu.be/GJaeUM-hEz4

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

Pasteur Lappé – Ashiko, Sekele, etc...

( Cameroon , 1981 , Disques Espérance )

posted on 20 / 09 / 2023

For today, I wanted to share with you “Ashiko, Sekele, etc…“, an instant killer Afro Disco Soul Funk track, taken from the third & last LP recorded in 1981 in Paris by the legendary Cameroonian composer & musician Nicolas Pasteur Lappé.

Native of the city of Douala, he began his musical career very young, becoming a local sensation at the age of 19 thanks to his songs broadcasted on “Radio Adele“, a local radio station. In the late 70s, after moving to Paris originally to study journalism, he settled into a new life of music where he befriends African music legends such as Fela Kuti, André-Marie Tala, Joe Mboule or Jacob Desvarieux from the mythical French West Indian Band “Kassav“.

Pasteur Lappé is known to have created the “Sekele Movement“, a blend of Funk, Disco, Afrobeat, Reggae, Soul and RnB.

His most prolific years were from 1979 to 1981, years he made his three flagship albums.

The album features the following musicians :

Bass, Producer : Christophe Zadire ;

Chorus : Maryse Lappé, Sylvie Draï ;

Album direction : Jean-Marie Ahanda ; Zulu Gang ;

Drums, Percussions : Philippe Draï ;

Sound engineering, Guitar, Synthesizers : Jacob Desvarieux ;

Keyboards, Pianos, Synthesizers : Douglas Mbida, Robert Benjamin ;

Lead Vocals – Pasteur Lappé, Mehdi Dayas (B2) ;

Saxophone : Alain Hatot, Jimmy Mvondo ;

Trombone : Alex Perdigon, Jacques Bolognesi ;

Trumpet : Jacques “Cake” Bessot, Antoine “Tony” Rousseau ;

Pasteur Lappé – Ashiko, Sekele, etc… (Cameroun, 1981, Disques Espérance)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/_71jymOEnxA

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

Orchestre Rail Band De Bamako – Mouodilo

( Mali , 1970's , EMI - His Master's Voice )

posted on 30 / 07 / 2023

Following this previous article, I wanted to share with you “Mouodilo“, a devastating furious Afro Soul Jerk Funk track from West Africa, recorded in Bamako (Mali) in the early 70s by the mythical Malian band “Orchestre Rail Band” originally founded and led at this time by the legendary saxophonist Tidiani Kone, an outstanding musician that was also a griot (a kind of religious leader/ influent personality).

Largely responsible for the birth of modern Mandingo music from Mali, the group was also called “Orchestre du Buffet Hotel de la Gare de Bamako” because it played there twice a week.

Pressed in Nigeria on the local branch famous label “EMI – His Master’s Voice“, the track presented here (my favorite !) is an early rough version of the 1973 “Moko Diolo“, also included in their second blue album – Enjoy !

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/dU1f69jJkJo

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

Eko Roosevelt Louis – Phone Me Tonight

( Cameroon , 1981 , Eko Music )

posted on 26 / 07 / 2023

For today, I wanted to share with you “Phone Me Tonight“, a killer balearic Cosmic Afro Synth Disco Soul track with awesome organ parts, taken from an ultra rare single recorded in France in the early 80s by the legendary Cameroonian composer, musician & producer Eko Roosevelt Louis & produced in very small quantities, and that doesn’t appear on any of his albums.

Serious invisible holy grail here, hope you’ll enjoy !

Eko Roosevelt Louis – Phone Me Tonight (Cameroun, 1981, Eko Music)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/Iqnolmd30HE

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

Abeti Masikini – Usisilike

( Democratic Republic Of Congo , 1978 , BBZ Productions )

posted on 25 / 06 / 2023

Following this previous article, I wanted to share with you for today “Usisilike“, an instant feel-good Afro Boogie Soul Funk track, taken from the 6th album of the Congolese Diva Elisabeth Finant, better known as Abeti Maskini, out in 1978 on the French record label “BBZ Productions” with the help of legendary African & French legendary names :

Pierre Alain Dahan (Drums) ;

Sauveur Malia (Bass) ;

Slim Pezin (Producing, Arrangements, Guitars) ;

Marc Chantereau (Percussions)

Georges Taguere (Keyboards) ;

Gerard Akueson (Management) ;

Abeti Masiki – Usisilike (Democratic Republic of the Congo, 1978)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/-F5cqlOsXws 

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

Emmanuel Eteme – Impulse

( Cameroon , 1979 , Disques Espérance )

posted on 14 / 06 / 2023

For today, I wanted to share with you “Impulse“, a killer Afro Funk Boogie Fusion track, taken from the first album recorded in 1979 by the Cameroonian composer & musician Emmanuel Eteme, who was also a very-well known & gifted football player in the early 70s.

This album features :

Emmanuel Eteme : Vocals, Guitar & Percussions ;

Georges Neulemkam : Drums ;

Jacques Mbida : Synth, Drums & Bass ;

Jean-Claude Ebongue : Bass ;

Jimmy Mvondo Mvele : Saxophone ;

Samuel Ateba Mengue : Percussions & Bongos ;

Sammy Massamba : Guitar ;

This song reminds me the best tracks by the mythical Cameroonian duet “J.M. Tim & Foty” (Jean-Marie Tiam “Tim” & Maurice Fotié “Foty” Kembiwo) & includes awesome guitar parts by another Congolese legend, Sammy Massamba – Enjoy !

Emmanuel Eteme – Impulse (Cameroun, 1979, Disques Espérance)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/ANtHPX2wWSM

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

K. Frimpong & His Cubano Fiestas – Kyenken Bi Adi M'Awu

( Ghana , 1976 , Ofo Bros )

posted on 07 / 06 / 2023

Following this previous post, I wanted to share with you for today “Kyenken Bi Adi M’Awu“, a timeless classic 70s uplifting Highlife Afrobeat Soul Funk track recorded in 1976 by the legendary Ghanaian composer & musician Alhaji Kwabena Frimpong & backed by his famous “Cuban Fiestas” that includes for this album :

Chorus : Anthony Yeboah, Isaac Yeboah

Congas : Yaw Asante

Design : E.E. Lamptey

Drums : Kung Fu Kwaku

Engineer : George Andoh, Bossman Amoako, David Ankorah, John Archer, Francis Kwakye

Flute, Tenor Saxophone : George Amissah

Keyboards : Tommy Doziz

Lead Guitar : Jacob Obae, Slim Yaw Manu

Lead Vocals : M.K. Frimpong

Maracas : Daniel Asare

Recording Supervisor : Dr. Oppong Gordon

Rhythm Guitar : Sammy Red Cropper

Trumpet : Arthur Kennedy

K. Frimpong & His Cubano Fiestas – Kyenken Bi Adi M’Awu (Ghana, 1976, Ofo Bros)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/GfpGML4cydQ

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

African Grooves

A Time & Space Journey in the African & West Indies Countries