For today, I wanted to share with you “Eyi Su Ngaangaa“, an outstanding 70s Afrobeat Soul Funk from Ghana with Highlife flavors & killer horns, taken from the 2nd album recorded in 1978 by the mythical Ghanian Band The Sweet Talks.
The Sweet Talks were one of the most famous band from Ghana, formed in December 1973 by Jonathan Abraham, proprietor of the Talk Of The Town Hotel in the city of Tema.
They recorded more than fifteen albums, toured all over Africa but also in America (Los Angeles in 1978), where they recorded their biggest selling record, “Party Time In Hollywood“.
One my favorite Ghanaian track from that era, hope you’ll like it – Enjoy !
The Sweet Talks – Eyi Su Ngaangaa (Ghana, 1976, Philips West African Records)
For today, I wanted to share with you “This Hustling World“, an incredible bouncyAfro Soul Funk with Afrobeat flavors, taken from the 1st album of the legendary Ghanaian composer & musician Gyedu-Blay Ambolley, that used to play with the finest orchestras & band of the country such Uhuru Dance Band, C.K. Mann Big Band & Apagya Show Band. It was produced by Deroy Ebow “Ebo” Taylor, another Ghanaian legend (the two artists are still touring today !).
Recorded in 1977 on the mythical record label “Essiebons” founded in the 60s by Dick Essilfie-Bondzie, the his album features some of the greatest Ghanaian artists of that era, such :
Composition, Production, Arrangements, Lead Vocals : Gyedu-Blay Ambolley ;
Producer : Ebow Taylor ;
Backing Band : The Super “C” Sounds ;
Bass Guitar, Vocals : Ralph Karikari ;
Claves, Vocals : Tony Mensah ;
Congas, Vocals : Willie Sam ;
Cowbell : Paul Willie ;
Drums : Sammy Essilfie ;
Lead Guitar : Frank Wireko ;
Maracas : Joe Ghansah ;
Organ : Nana Yaw Boakye I ;
Rhythm Guitar : Paul Kumi ;
Saxophone, Flute : Bobby Asiamah ;
Trumpet : Kofi Acheampong ;
One of the best albums out from that decade in Ghana, ultra hard to find holy grail record nowadays especially in that decent condition, and that comes with super cult cover art – Enjoy !
Gyedu-Blay Ambolley – This Husting World (Ghana, 1975, Essiebons)
For today, I wanted to share with you “Obi Nkohwe Me Fie“, a sweet & bouncy Funky Afro Highlife Soul from West Africa, taken from one of the dozen singles recorded by the very prolific Ghanaian band “Supreme Ashanti Brothers Band” in the 70s leaded by the composer, vocalist & guitarist Osei Vasco accompanied with :
Leader, Lead Vocals, Guitar : Osei Vasco ;
Lead Guitar, Vocals : Osei Kofi ;
Bass : Otuo Acheampong ;
Cabasa : Guy Boat ;
Claves : Kwaw Yankson ;
Congas : Yaw Sabe ;
Drums : Safo Kantanka, Yaw Donkor ;
Organ : William Jonah ;
Rhythm Guitar : Kwabena Antwi ;
Vocals : Nana Tachie ;
Very cool & refreshing single only track, taken from a really hard to find record – Enjoy !
The Supreme Ashanti Brothers Band – Obi Nkohwe Me Fie
For today, I wanted to share with you “Mumude“, a timeless Afro Highlife standard classic track from the Ghanian musical repertoire, interpreted in 1970 an explosive joyful Soul Jazz Funk way with Afrobeat flavors by the mythical Ghanaian band “Professional Uhuru Dance Band“, formed by former members of the “Broadway Dance Band” & who release 4 albums & plenty of singles in the 60s & 70s.
Nana Kobina Nketsia Essikadohene, gave the band the name Uhuru (“Freedom” in Swahili langage), which re-echoed the feeling on the 1957 gained independency of Ghana.
Not too long after the formation of Uhuru, Sammy Obot left for Nigeria and Stan Plange became the leader.
The band also included : Bob Yoko, George Amissah, Max Hammond, Loughty Lasisi Amao, Duke Duker, Tom Addo, Kpakpo Addo, Darko ‘Patato’ Adams, Mac Tontoh and lady vocalist Charlotte Dada.
An anthem that will turn any dance floor on fire – Enjoy !
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 :
For today, I wanted to share with you “Mber Papa“, a splendid deep Afrobeat Highlife Soul Jazz track with killer horns & catchy organ parts, recorded in 1979 by the legendary Ghanaian composer & musician Charles Kofi Amankwaa Mann (better known as “C.K. Mann“) and his “Masters” band on the mythical local label “Essiebons” founded by Dick Essilfie-Bondzie.
Produced by Deroy Ebow Taylor, another legend from Ghana that you certainly better know as “Ebo Taylor“, who is still touring & recording albums today, this album features :
C.K. Mann : Lead Guitar ;
Kofi Papa Yankson : Vocals ;
Bessa Simons : Keyboards ;
Osei Tutu : Trumpet / Flugelhorn ;
Frank Johnson : Rythm Guitar ;
Papah Oneda : Bass Guitar ;
Samuel Essilfie : Drums ;
Okyeremah Asante : Conga ;
C.K. Mann & The Masters – Mber Papa (Ghana, 1979, Essiebons)
Following this previous article, I wanted to share with you “Wonka Ma Wo Nte“, an instant catchy 80s percussive Afro Electro Soul Funk Highlife track with great synths & drum machines, recorded in the UK in the second half of the 80s by the legendary Ghanaian band “African Brothers International” leaded by the mythical guitarist Patrick Kwame “Nana” Ampadu, composer of more than 800 songs – Enjoy !
Nana Ampadu’s African Brothers Band International – Wonka Ma Wo Nte (Ghana, 1989, African Brothers Band International)
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)
For today, I wanted to share with you “Sabi Sabi“, an irresistible beautiful bouncy Afro Highlife Jazz Funk track with killer sweet horn parts, taken from a really rare & obscure album recorded in 1978 in Nigeria by the Ghanaian band “Orchestre Sama-Goma” (apparently their one and only LP), and released on the record label “Guy“, a sub-label of the mythical Nigerian record label “JICCO” – Enjoy !
Orchestre Sama Goma – Sabi Sabi (Ghana, 1978, Guy)
For today, I wanted to share with you “Hold Your Lover Tight“, a incredible refreshing & bouncy Afrobeat Highlife Soul Jazz track, taken from an ultra hard to find album recorded in the 70s by the legendary & very prolific Ghanaian band “African Brothers Band International of Ghana“, founded in 1963 by Patrick Nana Kwame Ampadu & Eddie Donkor amongst other mythical musicians.
This album features :
Guitar – Nana Kwame Ampadu
Bass Guitar – Joe Opoku Appiah
Drums – Baba Tunde
Guitar – Eddie Donkor, Jacob Osae, Nana Ampadu, Nana Amoako
Organ – Ancient Awuah (Kasepo)
Percussion – Offei Kwame, Kofi Amoah, Dan Owusu
Enjoy !
African Brothers International Band Of Ghana – Hold Your Lover Tight