April 06, 2009

Sikyi

I am informed that one of the great experts on highlife music, John Collins, will be visiting this country (the Netherlands) this week to present his new book "Fela, Kalakuta Notes". I am not going to write about this book, or about Fela.

I don't consider myself an expert on highlife music, and there are other blogs that can give you far better information about this great African music (Akwaboa, of course, at Highlife Haven, John at Likembe, and at Comb & Razor blog).
I am just using this as an excuse to post this, in my opinion absolutely essential, highlife lp from 1974. No collection should be without this classic by Dr. K. Gyasi and his Noble Kings. What's surprising to me is the full sound, with only ten musicians. Eric Agyemang excels, rewriting the book about the role of the lead guitar. But the same goes for the rest of the orchestra. I would like to mention the bass player, Ralph Karikari, Thomas Frimpong on drums and vocals, and the whole of the (four strong)percussion section.

To me the part where the shivers start running down my back is the beginning of the B-side, and to be more precise the bit when the horn section joins the party. It never fails to get me right where it counts.....

Essiebons EBL 6117
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7 comments:

  1. icastico6 April 2009 at 14:39

    Having worked mainly in trios and quartets, I chuckled at the "only ten musicians" line.

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  2. Anonymous8 April 2009 at 21:58

    wonderful1, i am getting more and more into highlife thanks for this
    wuod k

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  3. Quadzo9 April 2009 at 04:39

    A sweet album, original and ground breaking. This album was played non stop (both sides) at every party and funeral in Ghana in the 70s. The lyrics are essentially ashanti recreational songs with lots of proverbs. Ralph karikari on Bass was doing something special. He was mimicking the sound and lines of the traditional prempensua (box drum)used in the traditional ensembles. Great album!

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  4. Reza27 April 2009 at 02:01

    many thanks looking forward to this :)

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  5. They say it's a cold world19 June 2009 at 09:13

    Thanks for all the spectacular music!

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  6. teddy23 July 2009 at 23:21

    thanks so much for this. it's really rocking my shit to the heavens right now.

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  7. Claire5 June 2011 at 01:40

    Thank you for uploading! I love this album :)

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