For today, I wanted to share with you “Misosi“, a sweet uplifting Afro Makossa Soul Folk track from Cameroun driven by feel-good jazzy guitar parts, released in 1973 as a single by the Cameroonian composer & musician Eitel Tobbo and released on the legendary French label “Pathé Marconi”.
Hope you’ll like it, enjoy !
Eitel Tobbo et ses Guitares – Misosi (Cameroun, 1973, Pathé Marconi)
Following this former article, I wanted to share with you for today “Pot Pourrit De Guajira“, a gorgeous 70s Afro Cuban Latin Soul Fusion track from Senegal, taken from one of the several albums recorded by the mythical Senegalese Band “Orchestra Baobab” (spelt here “Orchestre Baobab Gouygui De Dakar”), formed in the early 1970 and famous for merging Cuban Music with traditional West African Wolof Griot culture and the Mandinga musical traditions of the Casamance in an Afro Cuban, Afro Latin & Afro Pachanga style.
Still touring today, the band features the following musicians :
Barthelemy Attisso : Guitar, Arrangements ;
Medoune Diallo : Lead Vocals, Maracas, Arrangements ;
Following this former article, I wanted to share with you for today “Fin Vacances“, an obscure laid back minimal Afro Synth Electronic Soul track from Togo a la William Onyeabor, taken from the only album recorded in the early 80s by the Beninese musician “Agbo Bruno Vikass“, that includes the following musicians :
Agbo Bruno Vikass : Composition, Vocals, Producer, Rhythm Guitar ;
Noel Houmbiye (from the band “Noel & Mathilde” I talked about here https://youtu.be/5hTXPVLZ5mQ) : Lead Guitar ;
John Migan : Drums, Arrangements ;
Camice : Bass Guitar ;
Tomi : Organ ;
Really deep & usunual track, hope you’ll like it – Enjoy !
Agbo Bruno Vikass – Fin Vacances (Benin, 1980s, Les Editions A.B.V)
For today, I wanted to share with you “Macifone“, a deep bewitching 70s Island Soul Sega Fusion Folk track from Mauritius with a psychedelic twist, taken from the only single released on vinyl format by the Mauritian composer & musician Taroo Luc “Balik” Marlaine in the 70s, and backed by the famous Mauritian singer songwriter and musician Marclaine Antoine & his orchestra.
This piece is a perfect example of the incredible mix of musical genres and influences that could be found in the Indian Ocean already at that time, merging Sega Folk roots with more Pop, Rock & Soul influences – really hard to sing single nowadays, hope you’ll like it – Enjoy !
Balik Taroo – Macifone (Mauritius, 1970s, A.I.T. Records)
For today, I wanted to share with you “A Chacun Son Problème “, an outstanding deep Afro Soul Synth Blues track from Mali with nice Reggae flavors, taken from the 5th album of the legendary Malian blind Duet “Amadou & Mariam“, composed with the spouses Mariam Doumbia & Amadou Bagayoko.
This album was composed by :
Amadou Bagayoko : Solo Guitar, Vocals ;
Mariam Doumbia : Vocals, Chorus ;
Mamany Keita : Chorus ;
Hawa Timbo : Chorus ;
Alain Tako : Bass, Synth
Jean Philippe Rikyel : Organ ;
Ahmed Sylla : Drums ;
Walde Baba Sissoko : N’Taman ;
Programming : Alain Tako.
The song presented here is a reinterpretation of one of their early songs, re arranged here in a catchy Synth way and taken from a now really hard to find K7 tape manufactured in Bamako in 1996 – Hope you’ll like it !
I’ve decided to share that precious gem in memory of Amadou Bagayoko, who past away last 4th of April in Bamako. Thanks for everything Amadou !
Amadou Bagayoko & Mariam Doumbia – A Chacun Son Problème (1996 Version) (Mali, 1996, Mali K7 SA)
For today, I wanted to share with you “Mavandeza“, a killer deep groovy Afro Folk Soul Funk track from Madagascar with an heavy rumbling bassline & crazy synth parts, taken from a single recorded in 1978 by the Madagascan Duet Vetson’Androy, originally composed by Razafindranily Simimanara and out on the mythical Madagascan record label Discomad.
Serious UFO sound, one of my favorite of the genre – Hope you’ll like it, enjoy !
For today, I wanted to share with you “Atis-A-Tis “, an astonishing 70s Psychedelic Afro Fuzz Soul Folk Funk track from Gambia, taken from the first Lp recorded by the mythical Gambian band “Ifang Bondi” (“Be Yourself” in Mandinka, variant of the Mandingo language spoken in Gambia, Senegal & Guinea-Bissao), formed in 1973 after the disband in 1970 of the 60s group “The Super Eagles” (more infos & sound here ).
Following this previous article, I wanted to share with you “Massane Cisse“, one of the numberless version of this all-time Senegalese standard, interpreted here in a really deep psychedelic Afro Folk Soul Fusion version with Afro Latin flavors by the legendary “Star Band De Dakar” orchestra, including some of the best Senegalese musicians of that era such as Cheikh Tidiane Tall & Idrissa “Idy” Diop (previous members of “Le Sahel” Band)
The version presented here is my favorite by far, hope you’ll like it too – Enjoy !
Star Band De Dakar – Massane Cisse (Senegal, 1980, Sonafric)
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)
For today, I wanted to share with you “Avia Hilalao“, a super sweet Pop Soul Jazzy Folk track from Madagascar (Indian Ocean), taken from a single recorded in 1958 by the Madagascan duet “Les Barijaona“, composed by Barijaona & O’Suzy (Odette Suzana).
While they were giving some concerts in France in the early 60s, this song was plagiarized by Frank Sinatra‘s entourage, the composer & producer Clarence Carson Parks. Lawsuits took place, but the artists lost, and the song “Something Stupid” was released shortly after by Carson Parks in 1966 (credited as its original writer & composer !), and then released again the following year by Frank Sinatra & his daughter Nancy, and became an international hit.
One of a kind jewel from the Red Island, another historical & musical testimony of the wealth of this island – Enjoy !
Avia Hilalao – Les Barijaona (Madagascar, 1958, Ossian)