Get it: Assalam Aleikoum Africa Volume 1&2

Assalam Aleikoum Africa Volume 1 
(Progressive And Popular Music Of West Africa)

A double helping this time. These two volumes were compiled from singles originally released by the Société Ivoirienne du Disque (SID), a company founded in 1974, only two years before the release of these lp's. There's quite a bit of information on the back covers, so I'll concentrate on the music.

If you listen to these albums you won't be surprised when I tell you I prefer the second volume. It's not just because I am not looking for "songs ranging in influence from jazz styles ... to rock .. to the songwriting skills of rock's poets .. to soul, r&b and reggae". I got bored with that at about the same time when these lp's were released. It's also because the second volume has far more variation in styles than the first.

Having said this, I would like to add that there is plenty to enjoy on the first volume. I like the ballad by Guéhi Jean et les Super Banty's de L'Ouest, and I love the two songs by l'Ivoiro Star, especially the jumpy "Dogbo Zo N'Wene". "La Guerre Et La Paix Ne Sont Pas Pareilles" by Théodore Boumbhé is amusing rather than nice (although I like the guitar), but it helps if you don't listen to the French lyrics.

 The second volume gets off to a great start with a great track by Amadée Pierre and his Ivoiro Star. Amadée (who also featured on the Ivoire Retro lp I posted earlier) is one of those artists who has few weaker songs, and I will certainly post more of this Ivorian star in the future.
Besides artists from Ivory Coast the album contains four tracks by stars from other West African countries: Moussa Doumbia from Mali with his version of "Samba" titled "Yeye Mousso" (I love the shouted chorus), Guinean guitarist Kouyaté Sory (more of him coming up soon!), Nigerian butcher (I'm not kidding!) Yekini Aremu and his apala group (no match for the likes of Haruna Ishola...) and Guinean (?) singer Fanta Sakho.

The remaining tracks - all from Ivory Coast - are also very diverse: there is a great Ghanian style ballad and a contrasting track in an uptempo typical Ivorian beat, both by Bony Pascal & Les Cantadors de la Capitale and a track in lingala by Jean Raph et Les Zoulous, who have clearly listened to a wide range of Congolese bands. The last two tracks are traditionals taken from Bété folklore, - but also two very different songs.

A BIG THANK YOU GOES TO ...

wrldsrv.blogspot.com

 GET VOL. 1

Tracklist

01. Charles Atangana & Emitais – Onguindo 
02. Francis Kingsley & Emitais – Assalam Aleikoum Africa
03. Guehi Jean & Les Super Bantry's De L'Ouest – Gnoza
04. Théodore Boumbhé – La Guerre Et La Paix Ne Sont Pas Pareilles 
05. Francis Kingsley & Emitais – Live In Peace 
06. Vincent N'Guini* & Afro-Train – Ode To Hendrix 
07. Armand Pascal Lido & L'Ivoiro Star – Dogbo Zo N'Wene     
08. Martial Droubly & L'Ivoiro Star – You Dji N'Indje 
09. Albert Siassa – Solitude 

Assalam Aleikoum Africa Volume 2 

(Progressive And Popular Music Of West Africa)

GET VOL. 2

Tracklist

01. Amédée Pierre & L'Ivoiro Star – Pakora Ibo
02. Moussa Doumbia – Yeye Mousso
03. Bony Pascal & Les Cantadors De La Capitale – Anouman Sandrofia
04. Jean Raph & Les Zoulous – Yo O Tuli  
05. Bony Pascal & Les Cantadors De La Capitale – Ahoun Foué
06. Kouyaté Sory* – Ahissa
07. Yekini Aremu & Apala Group – Asifatu Alayo     
08. Fanta Sakho – Sita 
09. Touhourou – Gnonon Gue
10. Folklore Féminin Bété – Zawonon