Exiting tracks from Benin and Togo in the 70s

Track Listing

1. Lokonon Andr� & Les Volcans - Mi Kple Dogbekpo
2. Picoby Band D'Abomey - Mi Ma Kpe Dji
3. Gabo Brown & Orchestre Poly-Rythmo \x{2013} It's a Vanity
4. El Rego et Ses Commandos - Se Na Min
5. Napo De Mi Amor et Ses Black Devil's - Leki Santchi
6. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo - Gbeti Madjro
7. Roger Damawuzan - Wait For Me
8. Ouinsou Corneille & Black Santiagos - Vinon So Minsou
9. Orchestre Super Jheevs des Paillotes - Ye Nan Lon An
10. Tidjani Kone & Orchestre Poly-Rythmo - Djanfa Magni
11. Discafric Band - Houiou Djin Nan Zon Aklumon
12. Le Super Borgou De Parakou - Congolaise Benin Ye
13. Vincent Ahehehinnou - Ou C'est Lui Ou C'est Moi
14. Les Volcans De la Capital - Oya Ka Jojo

---

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7564 in Music
• Released on: 2008-03-17
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .31 pounds

CD Description
After releases by Zimbabwean 70s bands the Green Arrows and Hallelujah Chicken Run Band, the Analog Africa label now delves into the amazing history of music from 1970s Benin and Togo. This compilation highlights forgotten raw and psychedelic Afro sounds, and the well-researched liner notes tell fascinating stories to accompany the mind-blowing music. The essence of Analog Africa is clear; searching in dusty warehouses for forgotten music to keep the sound alive. Label owner & vinyl collector Samy Ben Redjeb arrived in Cotonou, Benin, "without any special expectations, just hoping to lay my hands on few good records--what I found in the process cannot really be described in words".

Like most modern music in French-speaking West African countries, the music of Benin and Togo was influenced by a few main musical currents: Cuban, Congolese and local traditional music, as well as Chanson Francaise. Additionally, the geographical location of Benin and Togo--sandwiched between Ghana and Nigeria--exposed Beninese and Togolese musicians to Highlife music.

The cultural and spiritual riches of traditional Beninese music had an immense impact on the sound of Benin's modern music. Benin is the birth place of Vodun (or, as it is known in the West, Voodoo), and some of the rhythms used during traditional rituals - Sakpata, Sato, Agbadja, Tchenkoumé and many others - were fused to Soul and Latin music as early as the mid-1960s and later to Funk. In the late '60s and early '70s rock and soul music started creeping into the region. In particular, the music of James Brown and Johnny Halladay became immensely popular with university students. It was then that the music scene in Benin really started to take off. That fusion is the essence of this compilation. The CD includes a well researched 44-page booklet & rare photographs.

---

Customer Reviews

"........" - That's me speechless listening to this incredible music
I almost choked on my cornflakes in delight when I put this record on.

Samy Ben Redjeb has certainly done some hardcore searching, sifting through thousands of dusty vinyl stored in scorpion-infested warehouses to put together a compilation of such high quality it's left me scraping around for superlatives. I'm trying to think of ways to fault this record to provide some balance but, in truth, the best I can come up with is the usual problem with compilations, particularly African ones, in that each track leaves me begging for more of the same artist, yet with little clue as to how I'm going to get hold of it.

That aside, it's also pretty difficult to describe. Imagine mooching about in Benin or Togo [I think I need to revisit these countries and do some musical exploration of my own], looking East and West at your more illustrious neighbours. I'm hungry. A dollop of Juju, a smattering of Highlife, mix it all up with Afrobeat sauce and sprinkle in some funk and soul from the States. Maybe add a little Congolese guitar, just to taste, and a tiny bit of the prevailing Cuban sound. Hmm. Something's missing. Oh yeah - whack in the meat; local styles and beats such as Sato, Agbadja, and...BAM! The result is a musical feast that will blow you away and make you want to shake your derrière in the kitchen window without a care in the world about what the neighbours think.

From the very first track, this album explodes into life and doesn't give up. It comes highly recommended. More, please!