Dalton – Alech

( Tunisia , 1978 , DA-01 )

posted on 17 / 11 / 2024

Following this previous article (https://africangrooves.fr/song/lala-tibki/), I wanted to share with you for today “Alech“, an instant catchy uptempo balearic Disco Soul Funk track with bewitching killer saxophone parts, taken from the sole single self-produced & released by Tunisian band “Dalton“, a quintet formed around 1968 when most of the members where still studying together at the University of Tunis. Very active on the local scene, they played one-of-a-kind music that merged American soul influences with regional traditional Tunisian music.

Leaded by Fawzi Chekili, the band included the following musicians :

Guitar, Piano, Vocals : Fawzi Chekili ;

Trumpet, Percussion, Vocals : Sadok Gharbi ;

Bass Guitar : Ridha Kouhen ;

Drums, Vocals : Skander Almi ;

Saxophone, Percussion : Mustapha Rehouma ;

In the early 70s, the band got a regular gig at a beach hotel called Sahara Beach Resort on the coastline of Tunisia. With the money they earned, they managed to travel to Rome and cut their only single,  “Alech/Soul Brother“, presented here – Enjoy !

Dalton – Alech (Tunisia, 1978, DA-01)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/wq07OS0Edx4

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

Les Barijaona – Avia Hilalao

( Madagascar , 1958 , Ossian )

posted on 20 / 10 / 2024

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)

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

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

Maele – Osiman

( Equatorial Guinea , 1987 )

posted on 09 / 10 / 2024

For today, I wanted to share with you “Osiman“, a dope bouncy balearic 80s Afro Synth Electro Soukous with Zouk flavors, taken from the 2nd album of the composer, musician & politician Martiniano Abaga Ele Ndoho better known as “Maélé“, self-produced & released in 1987 and that features some of the best musicians of that era as :

Vocals, Drums, Acoustic Guitar : Maele ;

Arrangements : Jean-Yves Messan, Maele, Ambassa Moustik, Alain Yomba, Toto Guillaume ;

Synths : Jean-Yves Messan, Alain Yomba ;

Guitars : Ambassa Moustick ;

Drum Machines : Jean-Pierre Kohn ;

Sax Alto : Jean-Marie Tang ;

Sax Tenor: Amores Beugre ;

Trombone & Flûte : S. T. Kossi ;

Trumpet : Jean-Christian Mbadinga ;

Chorus : Georges Seba, Marilou ;

Violins : F. Dubois, P. Defay, J. Gaunet, R. Berthier ;

Killer LP, one of my personal Tropical weapon when I play as a DJ, set everytime the dance floor on fire !

Maele – Osiman (Equatorial Guinea, 1982, Maele Self-Released)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/Xl6CnC2iiVI

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

The Comrades – Kpulu Gene

( Nigeria , 1978 , Clover Sound )

posted on 02 / 10 / 2024

For today, I wanted to share with you “Kpulu Gene“, a mind-blowing psychedelic Afro Soul Rock track with deep organ & guitar solos, taken from the 2nd LP of the legendary Nigerian band “The Comrades” recorded in 1978 on the collectible label “Clover Sound” and produced by the mythical Ben Okonkwo.

Bass Guitar : Basil Cherri Udeh ;

Drums, Chorus : Ferdinand Ohans ;

Keyboards : Justline Akuata ;

Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Vocals, Chorus : Emma Tex Ikediashi ;

Vocals, Congas, Percussion, Chorus : Smart Lee Onwumere ;

This album is getting hard to find nowadays, hope you’ll like it – Enjoy !

The Comrades – Kpulu Gene (Nigeria, 1978, Clover Sound)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/DTl9TfeOMcQ

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

Ferkat Al Ard – Ghfyara Ghaza / غيفارا غزة

( Lebanon , 1979 , Zida )

posted on 25 / 09 / 2024

Following this previous article, I wanted to share with you for today “غيفارا غزة” (“Ghfyara Ghaza“, pun for “Che Guevara from Gaza” in tribute to Gaza’s resistance fighters in Palestine), a melancholic bewitching Middle-Eastern Soul Jazz track with Brazilian influences a la Arthur Verocai & beautiful flute parts, taken from the first album of the Lebanese band “Ferkat Al Ard” (فرقة الأرض) leaded by the guitar player Issam Hajali (عصام الحاج علي) and composed with :

Issam Hajali (عصام الحاج علي) : Vocals, Guitar ;

Toufic Farroukh (توفيق فرّوخ) : Flute, Saxophone ;

Elie Saba (ايليا سابا) : Bouzouki, Oud ;

This album, arranged by the legendary Lebanese composer, musician & producer Ziad Rahbani (زياد الرحباني) & produced by the Lebanese-Armenian producer Khatchik Mardirian (co-founder with Ziad Rahbani of the mythical 70s Lebanese record label “Zida“) is considered by many as one of the hardest to find holygrail Lebanese vinyl record album ever out.

This album as been reissued in 2022 by the German record label Habibi Funk but without this track, so now it’s available widely.

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘔𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘭𝘦-𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴. 𝘔𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦𝘳 & 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱.

Ferkat Al Ard – Ghfyara Ghaza / فرقة الأرض – غيفارا غزة (Lebanon, 1979, Zida)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/BlHpQlps1CY 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

Pierre Joseph & La Troupe d'Haïti – Choual Dam Ba Lad

( Haïti , 1974 , Song Records )

posted on 22 / 09 / 2024

For today, I wanted to share with you “Choual Dam Ba Lad“, a fantastic deep rootsy frantic Cadence Folklore Biguine with a psychedelic swing, one of the multiple versions of the Haïtian Traditional song “Zanmi Camarade“, interpreted here by an Haitian Folkloric Troup leaded by Pierre Benedict Joseph, and recorded in 1974 during a trip of the band to Paris (France).

The band included :

Pierre Benedict Joseph : Leader, Flute, Saxophone ;

Louis Larose : Organ, Piano, Accordion ;

Dieujuste Dorlette : Bass Guitar ;

Ednor Cherisme (Percussions) ;

Mrs Louis Larose, Helene Joanis : Vocals, Chorus ;

Different & really hard to find beautiful LP from start to finish, hope you’ll like it !

Pierre Joseph & La Troupe d’Haïti – Choual Dam Ba Lad (Haïti, 1974, Song Records)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/P6yQwv0t8wM

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

The Melting Pot – Beliaw

( Barbados , 1987 , The Melting Pot Self-Released )

posted on 04 / 09 / 2024

For today, I wanted to share with you “Beliaw“, a deep sublime Cosmic Island Jazz Soul Modal track with Tropical Cadence flavors & crazy synth parts, taken from the only LP  released by the band “The Melting Pot” from Barbados, self-recorded in Martinique (French West Indies) in 1987 at the legendary “Hibiscus” recording studio.

Really hard to find obscure LP with a cute cover art, that I’m pleased to share with you – Hope you’ll like it, enjoy !

The Melting Pot – Beliaw (Barbados, 1987, The Melting Pot Self-Released)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/S3JJz76-Hdc

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

Roger Damawuzan – Xede Nge

( Togo , 1970s , Disques Aziza )

posted on 01 / 09 / 2024

For today, I wanted to share with you “Xede Nge“, a beautiful deep melancholic Afro Soul Jazz Ballad with gorgeous acoustic guitar parts, first recording of the mythical Togolese composer & musician Roger Damawuzan, taken from the only compilation of the in demand Togolese/Congolese/Beninse label “Disques Aziza“, pressed in Ghana and intended to promote the first releases of some artists of the label.

Composed by Vincent Agbodo, this song was initially released as the A-Side of the first single recorded in Nigeria by Roger and out on Gerard Akueson‘s label “Akue“, with his famous Afro Jerk Garage track “Wait For Me” on the B-Side, that I’ll post a bit later !).

Cherry on the cake : this amazing cover art – Enjoy !

Roger Damawuzan – Xede Nge (Togo, 1970s, Disques Aziza)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/cyR0r-CSChQ

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

Amadou Balake – Wayisjelequeyele

( Burkina Faso , 1978 , Sacodis )

posted on 25 / 08 / 2024

Following this previous post, I wanted to share with you for today “Wayisjelequeyele“, an outstanding Afro Mandingo Blues Soul track with killer syncopated horns, taken from the 2nd album of the legendary Burkinabe composer & musician Amadou Traoré dit Balaké, former member of “African“, the legendary Afro Latin band African from West Africa.

Recorded in Ibadan (Nigeria) and out on the mythical West African record label “Sacodis” based in Ivory Coast, this magical would blow your mind far away – Enjoy !

Amadou Balaké – Wayisjelequeyele (Burkina Faso, 1978, Sacodis)

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

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

Milton – Doudou Créole

( Martinique , 1988 , IBO Production )

posted on 21 / 08 / 2024

For today, I wanted to share with you “Doudou Créole“, an instant catchy breezy Island Zouk Boogie Soul track with Reggae flavors, taken from the only maxi single of the ephemera band “Milton“, that featured the best musicians from the French West Indies of that era, including several members of the mythical band “Kassav” from Antilles & Guadeloupe :

Arrangements : Jean-Claude Naimro ;

Lead Vocals : Patrick Saint-Eloi ;

Piano : Jose Bedin ;

Written-By : Eddy La Viny, Jean-Pierre Rascas ;

Summer anthem sweetness, recorded in 1988 in Paris (France) by the legendary French engineer Dominique Blanc-Francard at Continental Studio – Enjoy !

Milton – Doudou Créole (Martinique/Guadeloupe/France, 1988, IBO Production)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/tA8XIik2vZI

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