A big crossover hit for Osibisa – a record that has the group softening up their groove slightly from the heady days of the Roger Dean album covers, yet still retaining enough Afro Funk to keep things interesting! If anything, the rhythms here are a bit pan-global – sometimes hard and heavy, sometimes lighter and more focused on the melodies of the tunes, especially on the catchier numbers – and instrumentation includes plenty of horns and percussion! Titles include "African Jive", We Belong", "Home Affairs", "Osibirock", and "Kelele". LP, Vinyl record album

Heavy-jamming Afro Funk from Osibisa – the group's first 2 albums, back to back in one 2 CD package! Osibisa were one of the most popular Afro Funk groups of their generation – with a globe-spanning influence that made them as well-received over here in the US as they were in their post-colonial UK home. The sound on both sets is great – and captures the group at their raw early best – when they were mostly fusing together bits of jazz and soul with African rhythms, and going for a groove that was lightly playful, and infused with a strong sense of joy and celebration! Titles include "Oranges", "Akwaaba", "Ayiko Bia", "The Dawn", "Y Sharp", "Survival", "Move On", "Rabiatu", and the group's classic "Music For Gong Gong". CD

A really wonderful third album from Osibisa – and a record that really crystallizes the group's sound into a trademark blend of African roots and more progressive-styled jamming! There's a mode here that's perfect for the cross-cultural London of the post-colonial 70s – a style that brings many strands of music into the capital, and mixes them up with some of the headier styles going down at the time. Bits of highlife echo alongside more tribally-based percussion – but most of the instrumentation on the set also has a strong ear for jazzy changes, especially during the flute and keyboards passages that make the record so great. Titles include "Kokorokoo", "Che Che Kule", "Sweet Sounds", "Sweet America", and "Do You Know". CD

Although Osibisa were one of the most successful of the London-based Afro-funk groups, they were also one of the best. This cool first album is filled with (as the label says) "criss cross rhythms that explode with happiness". Translated, that means that the record's got lots of nice cuts that have African percussion, electric funk rhythm, and a fairly joyous groove. Tracks include "Akwaaba", "Oranges", "The Dawn", "Think About The People", and the groovy "Music For Gong Gong". CD

Later material from Osibisa, who have lost some of their harder Afro-Funk edge, and are working here more as an ensemble funk outfit, with a sound that's similar to some of the bigger American groups of the time. Titles include "Do It (Like It Is)", "Uhuru", "Sunshine Day", "Chooboi", and "Right Now". LP, Vinyl record album

These early Osibisa records always used to be fairly common years back – perhaps because they were always a bit too hippy dippy and loose for the older funk crowd. But now, in today's blunted groove culture, they seem to have found a new appreciation for their trippy Afro funk style, and their nice laidback groove. This album includes a great version of Roland Kirk's "Spirits Up Above", plus "Beautiful 7", "Move On", "Survival", and "Rabiatu" – all of which have the band's trademark Afro funk groove. Nice Roger Dean cover, too! CD

A 2LP set recorded live at the Mar Y Sol festival in Puerto Rico in 1972 – more of a rock festival sort of outing, but with a few tracks that might interest the Dusty Groover. Titles include "Wang Dang Doodle" by Dr John, "The Noonward Race" by Mahavishnu Orchestra, "Looking For A Love" by J Geils Band, "Train Of Glory" by Jonathan Edwards, "Respect Yourself" by Herbie Mann, "Bring My Baby Back" by John Baldry, and "Do You Know" by Osibisa. LP, Vinyl record album

A sweet set from the early years of the UK funk scene – the smoking debut from Hi Tension, and a set that's filled with sharp numbers throughout! There's a strong jazzy undercurrent to the music – a bit like some of the sounds you might hear from the Fantasy Records scene – no surprise, since those records were always huge on the British scene – and quite possibly had an influence on the direction of Hi Tension here – with tight rhythms on the bottom, complicated jazzy changes on the instrumentation, and some tight horn parts that really soar along strongly with the vocals! Lyrics are mostly presented in an ensemble mode – produced warmly, with almost an Earth Wind & Fire mode – and the album was put together by Kofi Ayivor of Osibisa, with a slight touch of Afro funk in the mix. Tracks include the classics "Hi Tension" and "British Hustle" – plus "Autumn Love", "You're My Girl", "Power & Lightning", "Peace On Earth", and "Unspoken". LP, Vinyl record album