Sunday, February 28, 2010

AFRO-SPAZZ

How many African music collections thank Dr Demento in the credits?

The 1995 compilation "Money No Be Sand," on the Original Music label, is one of my favorite albums - it's completely bananas, another example of how Everything You Know Is Wrong. All Nigeria and Ghana rarities from the Sixties, it's nothing like the sterile "World Music" you'll hear oozing out of your local Starbucks. It's own liner notes describe it as "wild-and-woolly" (the review in The Beat magazine prefers the term "nutty.")

It's delights are endless: trashy garage-rock sung in tribal tongues, James Brown rip-offs (complete with, in the song "One Early Morning," a shockingly inept drum break), a cheerful calypso describing a political assassination, curious pidgin-English lyrics, and all manner of
twisting and shaking awesomeness. Oh, and a Beatles cover performed on cowbells. Beyond essential.
Money No Be Sand

1. Ewele Aya - BB Band, Prof. Y.S.
2. Hold Me Tight Baby - Archibogs, Charles Iwegbue
3. Look, Look, Look - Godwin Omobuwa, Sound Makers
4. Weeya Weya - E.T. Mensah, Tempos Band
5. Eje Ka Jo - Junkers, Jimi Solanke
6. Money No Be Sand - Archibogs, Charles Iwegbue
7. Cut Your Coat According to Your Size - Apolos Empire Rhythm Orchestra
8. I Love You - Pepsi-Orlando, Young Star Band
9. You Cheat Me You Cheat Me - Godwin Omobuwa, Sound Makers
10. Shake It - Professional Beach Melodians
11. President Tubman - Money Be No Sand
12. Timber - Eric Akaeze, Azagas
13. One Early Morning - BB Band, Prof. Y.S.
14. Healthy Be Richman - Eric Akaeze, Azagas
15. Jane - Junkers, Clint Eph. Sebastian
16. Ride Your Donkey - Ramblers Dance Band
17. Baby I Tire - Archibogs, Charles Iwegbue
18. Lumumba Calypso - E.C. Arinze
19. I Need Your Love - Eddie Okonta, Top Aces
20. More Dollars - Eric Akaeze, Azagas
21. Bad Lit Road
22. Because of Money - E.T. Mensah, Tempos Band
23. Don't Let Me Down - Charlotte Dada

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5 comments:

Holly said...

This is such a brilliant compilation - I really miss Original Music. Thanks for sharing!

J-Unit 1 said...

Whoo hoo a new post :) And what a post at that. Excellent share Mr. Fab!

Mr Fab said...

Yep, I'm trying to post again. I basically had to re-install every software/programs I've ever used, so I'm not all the way yet, but getting there.

Oh, and thanks to all you nice peoples who posted/emailed me congrats re: the arrival of Baby Fab - much appreciated!

-d said...

Holy crap! I've been playing this every day since I've downlaoded it from you. This makes me want it to be so much warmer outside....

Thanks a bunch for this one.

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for this. Awesome. And then some.

Aljaz