Juan De La Cruz —
Himig Natin ... CD Vicor (Philippines), 1973. New Copy ...
$3.9914.99
Juan De La Cruz is a band, not a guy – and they're one of the hardest rocking combos of the far east in the early 70s! The trio's propelled strongly by some razor-sharp guitar from Wally Gonzales – a player who stands mightily with some of the biggest British names of a few years before – but who's all the more compelling because of his lack of commercial fame in this scene. Vocals are often in that same blues-into-rock mode initiated by the Rolling Stones – but are often taken to weirder, wilder territory overall. Titles include "Round & Round", "I Wanna Say Yeah", "Take You Home", "Shake Your Brains", and "Big Boss Man". (Rock, Global Grooves)CD
2
Dele Sosimi & The Estuary 21 —
Confluence ... CD Wah Wah 45s (UK), 2023. New Copy ...
$6.9913.99
Dele Sosimi was raised in the shadow of Fela Kuti, literally – as he spent part of his youth in Fela's commune – yet his music is nicely free of some of the overdone Afro Funk modes of the 70s, and instead really finds a fresh way forward with all sorts of wonderful criss-crossings of styles! Sosimi was born in London, and later returned to the city – and the work here really has that special sparkle when the British scene gets things right – bringing together elements of its post-colonial richness, but with a new vision for the future – optimistic and uplifting, but never in a way that makes the music seem too facile or easygoing. One of Dele's key musical partners here is Sam Duckworth, of Get Cape Wear Cape Fly fame – and titles include "Open Up", "Ride Out The Storm", "Ori Mi", "Mo Se Bola Tan", and "E Si Medo". CD
3
Dele Sosimi & The Estuary 21 —
Confluence ... LP Wah Wah 45s (UK), 2023. New Copy ...
$25.9929.99About March 1, 2024 (delayed)
Dele Sosimi was raised in the shadow of Fela Kuti, literally – as he spent part of his youth in Fela's commune – yet his music is nicely free of some of the overdone Afro Funk modes of the 70s, and instead really finds a fresh way forward with all sorts of wonderful criss-crossings of styles! Sosimi was born in London, and later returned to the city – and the work here really has that special sparkle when the British scene gets things right – bringing together elements of its post-colonial richness, but with a new vision for the future – optimistic and uplifting, but never in a way that makes the music seem too facile or easygoing. One of Dele's key musical partners here is Sam Duckworth, of Get Cape Wear Cape Fly fame – and titles include "Open Up", "Ride Out The Storm", "Ori Mi", "Mo Se Bola Tan", and "E Si Medo". LP, Vinyl record album
Great early work from King Sunny Ade – billed as "volume 12" – but a set that's way before his bigger 80s fame on Island Records! The title cut takes up all of side one – and side two features shorter tracks that include "Gbogbo Wa L'Ope", "Asiko Ni", and "Ori Olowo". LP, Vinyl record album
Great early work from Libyan singer Hamid El Shaeri – an artist who'd soon explode to huge global fame, but who's heard here on early tracks recorded for the Slam label in Egypt! Most of the releases were originally issued only on cassette – a format that allowed Hamid's music to quickly circulate, but which also deteriorated quickly over time – which maybe makes this collection in a more durable format one of the first times his sounds are getting exposed to the world at large! At the time of recording, Hamid was drawing some key influences from British music – and there's great use of keyboards and synthesizers on these cuts – never in any sort of cold way, as there's an undeniable warmth to the vocals that always makes the music groovy and catchy, even if you don't have the language skills to understand the lyrics. Titles include "Reet", "Dari Demou'Ek", "Shantet Safar", "Git Ya Sheta", "Ya Saheb", "Tew'idni Dom", and "Ayonha". LP, Vinyl record album
One of Miriam Makeba's hippest albums of all time – a set that marked the end of her association with Reprise Records, and her fame in the crossover American scene of the 60s – and for good reason, too – as the whole thing's brimming over with much more righteous energy than ever before! Makeba's really letting loose here – not content to bring South African custom and culture to the overseas mainstream, but instead stepping forth with a new sense of mission and message – one that even comes through when she takes on some more familiar tunes by other artists at the time! The set features production from Lewis Merenstein, who'd done Astral Weeks – and the sound here is so different than Miriam's records from just a few years before – thanks also in part to the great backing arranged by George Butcher, which adds in lots of bass, percussion, and horns that take Miriam into a hipper 70s Afro Soul mode. Titles include "Lumumba", "Kulala", "Tululu", "Down On the Corner", "In My Life", and a great cover of "For What It's Worth". LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has a small center split on the top seam and some light wear.)
7
Orchestra Baobab —
Pirates Choice ... CD World Circuit/Nonesuch, 1982. Used 2 CDs ...
Out Of Stock
Hardly a pirate album at all – and instead one of the first big global moments of fame for the mighty Orchestra Baobob – a Senegalese combo who'd really been honing their craft during the 70s! The album has the group working with all the soulful currents of their early work – and especially that inflection from Cuban styles that made some of the groups in Dakar so unique – a special trans-Atlantic handshake between the nations that really helped these guys take off once they got exposure on a record like this! Titles include "Coumba", "Utru Horas", "Werente Seringe", "Ray M'Bele", "Toumaranke", "Ngalam", and "La Rebellion". CD
8
Orchestra Baobab —
Pirates Choice ... LP World Circuit/Nonesuch, 1982. Near Mint- 2LP ...
Out Of Stock
Hardly a pirate album at all – and instead one of the first big global moments of fame for the mighty Orchestra Baobob – a Senegalese combo who'd really been honing their craft during the 70s! The album has the group working with all the soulful currents of their early work – and especially that inflection from Cuban styles that made some of the groups in Dakar so unique – a special trans-Atlantic handshake between the nations that really helped these guys take off once they got exposure on a record like this! Titles include "Coumba", "Utru Horas", "Werente Seringe", "Ray M'Bele", "Toumaranke", "Ngalam", and "La Rebellion". LP, Vinyl record album
(180 gram remaster from 2015. Includes the printed inner sleeves.)
A great return to form for Orchestra Baobab – a group who really shone on the Senegalese scene in the 70s, but disbanded right as they were hitting global fame – eventually reuniting around the time of this album, thanks to demand from listeners around the world! The style is nicely unadorned here – handled by Youssou D'Dour with Nick Gold of the World Circuit label – in a way that replicates some of the earlier music by the group that was issued by the label, and which helped lead to their reunion! There's maybe a bit less funk than in the 70s, but the rhythms are still nice and sharp, sewn together with lots of great work on guitar – and maturing, heartfelt vocals on tracks that include "Dee Moo Woor", "Sutukun", "Bul Ma Miin", "Gnawoe", "Ndongoy Daara", "Jiin Ma Jinn Ma", and "Hommage A Tonton Ferrer". CD
(Out of print.)
10
Vieux Farka Toure & Khruangbin —
Ali ... LP Dead Oceans, 2022. New Copy ...
Out Of Stock
A heady tribute to the legendary Malian guitarist Ali Farka Toure – served up here with really wonderful lead guitar lines from his son, Vieux Farka Toure, who gets some fantastic help on the record from the Khruangbin trio! Given the fame of that latter group, the set could end up in territory that might be too mixed-up or rock-based – but instead, Khruangbin are wonderfully respectful of the legacy in which they work – and almost seem to come into play as a really great rhythm combo, backing up the lead – instead of trying to muscle their way into limelight on the set! That approach is what makes the record great, and allows us to tip our hat once again to the ever-changing and surprisingly generous spirit of Khruangbin – as they help Vieux Farka Toure turn out one of his best records to date, on titles that include "Savanne", "Diarabi", "Tongo Barra", "Tamalla", "Mahine Me", "Ali Hala Abada", and "Alakarra". LP, Vinyl record album
Didn't find what you're looking for? You can set a product alert and we'll notify you of new matches.