For today, I wanted to share with you “Gypsy of Love“, a deep Soul track from Miami (United States) with Caribbean & Reggae flavors and driven by a bewitching synth, taken from the 1st album of the singer & musician Betty Padgett, recorded in 1975 only one evening the local ‘Criteria Studios” and really hard to find nowadays.

Born in Newport (New Jersey) in the late 50s, she moved to Miami (Florida) during her high school. There, as a talented teenage singer, she joined her 1st band “Joey Gilmore and the T.C.B Express”. After a gig at the Elks Club (Fort Lauderdale), she was approached by soul legend Milton Wright (responsible for the rare groove classics “Keep It Up” and “You Don’t Even Know Me.”) to record her first album, released on the mythical Miami-based record label “Alwa” (subdivision of “Ultra”, label known for its Caribbean Soul & Funk releases – remember Frankie Zhivago Young’s ones ?).

Shortly after the release, some of the tracks from of her album created quite a buzz & became hits, such as “Sugar Daddy” or “Gypsy of Love“.

The years after, she recorded tracks for TV/radio ads, released several albums until 2013 and toured a lot sharing the scene with great figures as Little Beaver, Gwen & George McCrae, K.C. & The Sunshine Band, Latimore & Jackie Moore.

Here is the Nigerian release of her debut album, out in 1979 on the legendary Nigerian label “Tabansi“, as a proof of its interplanetary success – Enjoy !

Betty Padgett – Gypsy of Love (United States/Nigeria, 1979, Tabansi)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/bKE51s_A998

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 “Kpalanuma“, a mind-blowing 70s Highlife Soul track from Nigeria with Afrobeat influences & instant catchy horn & synth parts, taken from one of the several albums composed by the very prolific Nigerian composer & musician St. Augustine Anwunzia backed by his “Rovers International“, recorded in 1978 on the Nigerian branch of the mythical label “Polydor”.

St Augustine’s albums are known to be upper-class Highlife, but that one remains my favorite, blending many genres as it contains outstanding Afrobeat, Highlife but also Reggae tracks.

More, it features some of the greatest Nigerian & Cameroonian composers of that era, as :

St. Augustine Anwunzia : Lead Vocals, Composition, Arrangements ;

Tony Bonny Wailer, Johnny Woode : Drums ;

Frankie Ntoh Song : Guitar Synthesizer ;

Fred Fisher Atalobhor  : Trombone ;

Willie Nfor : Bass Guitar ;

Joe Chiejina : Maracas ;

Andrew Kisito : Vocals ;

Abi John : Lead Guitar ;

Jossy Egele : Congas ;

Sharp Mike : Trumpet ;

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

St. Augustine & The Rovers International – Kpalanuma (Nigeria, 1978, Polydor Nigeria)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/Hq69T1vH96w

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 “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 “Love Affair“, an explosive Afro Soul Funk Boogie track from Nigeria with devastating horns, taken from the 2nd album recorded by the Nigerian Band “SJOB Movement” (or “SJOB“), recorded in 1977 on the mythical Nigeria record label “EMI Nigeria” by the mythical Nigerian sound engineers Kayode Salami & Monday Oki and produced by the famous Odion Iruoje.

The band took the name “SJOB” after taking the first letter of the name of its founding members :

Samuel Abiloye (Spark) : Guitar, Vocals ;

Johnnie Woode Olima : Keyboards, Vocals ;

Ottay Imah Blackie : Fender Bass, Percussions ;

Bolla Prince Agua : Lead vocals, Drums, Percussions.

Some of the greatest nigerian musicians of that era are also included on that album, such as Ignace de Souza (Trumpetist, leader of the legendary beninese band “The Black Santiagos”), Fred Fisher (Trombone), Akin Nathan (Vocals) & Friday Pozo (Congas).

One of my favorite record of the genre, always a dance floor burner, hope you’ll like it – Enjoy !

SJOB Movement – Love Affair (Nigeria, 1977, EMI Nigeria)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/SswUYJhqBl4

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 “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

Following to this former article, I wanted to share with you for today “Roots“, an instant killer Afro Disco Boogie Boogie track from Nigeria, recorded in 1979 and taken from the fifth and last album of the legendary band “BLO“, named in reference to the initials of its founders :

Berkley “Ike” Jones (guitar)

Olaoluwa “Laolu Akins” Akintobi (drums) ;

Mike “Gbenga” Odumosu (bass) ;

Odumosu left the band later and was replaced by Lemmy “Otu” Udofa (also known as “Lemmy Jackson” in his 80s solo carrer !).

This song is always a dance floor burner when I play it in my DJ Set, hope you’ll like it and dance – Enjoy !

BLO – Roots (Nigeria, 1979, Afrodisia)

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

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 “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)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/1hnI9GVX9xk

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 “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

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

For today, I wanted to share with you “Centipede“, a devastating Psychedelic Afro Rock Soul from Nigeria with killer fuzzy guitar parts, taken from the 2nd album of the Nigerian band “Aktion” (also known as “The Action 13“, recorded in 1977 in Nigeria and out on the collectible label “Clover Sound“, known for its cult Nigerian 70s & 80s Afro Rock albums.

This album includes some of the best musicians of that era, like :

Vocals : Essien Akpabio ;

Bass Guitar : Renny Pearl Nwosa ;

Congas : Frank Abayomi ;

Drums : Geoffrey Omodehbo, Ben B. S. Alaska ;

Guitar : Jimmy Lee Adams ;

Percussion : Lemmy Faith Nwani ;

Synthesizer, Organ, Piano : Zeaky M. George ;

Instant stormer, taken from a really hard to find LP nowadays – Enjoy !

Aktion – Centepede (Nigeria, 1977, Clover Sound)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/_LJe3sUKGBs

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