Orchestre LES TROUBADOURS DE OUIDAH (1969)

Elias Winsa was the leader of the "Troubadours de Ouidah", a popular orchestra from the sixties which had a short life. I think this recording is old, maybe 1969.

The album is a compilation of the their best tunes. Some of the songs are not linked because they figure on the following 7 inches, and in a much better shape.

WELP 01

Elias Winsa était le leader et bassiste de l'orchestre des Troubadours des Ouidah. Un orchestre populaire durant les années soixante, mais qui eut une courte vie. Je pense que cet enregistrement sur label Discafric est vieux, peut-être 1969.

L'album est une compilation des meilleurs titres du groupe. Certains morceaux ne sont pas dans le lien car ils figurent sur le 45 tours qui suit et qui sont de bien de bien meilleure qualité.

APV 004

SUNNY BLACK'S BAND & Achille Johnny (1969)

Achille Johnny n'est pas un inconnu, il a déjà été présenté par mes confrères: Awesome Tapes from Africa, Voodoo Funk or Worldservice. Ce que mes confrères et moi ne savions pas c'est que Achille a beaucoup composé avec l'orchestre Sunny Black's Band alias Poly-Rythmo. Je vous laisse donc apprécier ce disque éditer en 1969 parle label Impressions sonores du Bénin.

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Achille Johnny is not a stranger, he has been already presented by my friends: Awesome Tapes from Africa, Voodoo Funk or Worldservice. What they or I didn't know is that  Achille was always recording with Sunny Black's Band aka Poly-Rythmo. I let you so enjoy this rare record edited in 1969 on label "Impressions sonores du Bénin".

Renova Band d'Abomey & Edia Sophie

Renova Band was featured in a previous post but the singer Edia Sophie had not been mentioned. Sophie Aguidigbadja aka Edia Sophie is the oldest modern Beninese woman singer but also the first with a modern orchestra. She decides to sing in 1965, after hearing a song sung by Nestor Hountondji with Renova Band. She met him and expressed her desire to sing. At the time, it was frowned upon for women to sing in a modern orchestra. With Dansi Zindjo, Renova's percussionist, sophie met the leader, William Basile Cakpo who intergrayes her just after hearing her distinctive voice. Sophie Edia brought a revolution in music system quite daunting because it was difficult to tell the difference between bands like Super Stars de Ouidah, Sunny Black Band or others playing all the same afro-cuban musical style. Sophie later founded her own band, Caméléon Sonore, and recorded famous "Galunga".

Renova band a été présenté dans un précédent courrier mais la chanteuse Edia Sophie n'avait pas été mentionnée. Sophie Aguidigbadja alias Edia Sohpie est la doyenne des chanteuses modernes Béninoises mais aussi la première à avoir pris le micro avec un orchestre moderne. Elle décide de chanter en 1965, après avoir entendu un morceau chanté par Nestor Hountondji au sein du Renova Band. Elle le rencontre et lui fait part de son désir de chanter. A l'époque, il était très mal vu pour une femme de chanter dans un orchestre moderne. Grâce à Dansi Zindjo, percussionniste du Renova, Sophie fait la connaissance du chef d'orchestre, William Basile Cakpo, qui l'intègre immédiatement après avoir écouté sa voix si particulière. Sophie Edia apporte une révolution dans un système musical assez rébarbatif. Il est en effet difficile à l'époque de faire la différence entre les Super Stars de Ouidah, les Sunny Blacks band ou autre qui jouent tous un même style musical afro-cubain. Plus tard Sophie fonde son propre groupe, "le Caméléon Sonore", et enregistre son fameux titre "Galunga".

The first record was recorded in 1967 on Philips label. The song "Oni Yegua" is sakara rhythm composed by William Basile and "Misetogbe" is a bolero composed by Seraphin Bassa. Sorry for the poor sound quality.

PF 383980

Le premier 45 tours a été enregistré en 1967 sur le label Philips. Le morceau "Oni Yegue" est un rythme Sakara composé par William Basile  et "Misetogbe" est un boléro composé par Seraphin Bassa. Pardon pour la qualité médiocre du disque.



The second is an EP which was posted by the very nice  MUSIC CITY blog was recorded in 1973 on the Impressions Sonores du Bénin label (this date was written on the back cover). The 4 songs were composed by Toussaint Loko and sung by Edia Sophie.

RBA 401.002

Le deuxième disque, longue durée, qui a été posté par le génial blog MUSIC CITY, a été enregistré en 1973 sur le label Impressions Sonores du Bénin (cette date figurait au dos de la pochette). Les  4 morceaux ont été composés par Toussaint Loko et chantés par Sophie Edia.


Finally the last, still posted by MUSIC CITY, is the best for me. It was probably recorded in 1969 on Albarika Store label. The tilte "Adjanouvi" (and not "De Eglo Kanlhuin" as mentioned) was composed by Edia Sophie and remains to this day the most famous master piece from the diva. Unfortunately, there is no rip of Side 2.

AS 5001

Enfin le dernier, toujours posté par Music City, est pour moi le meilleur. Il a été enregistré vraisemblablement en 1969 sur le label Albarika Store. Le titre "Adjanouvi" (et non comme il est imprimé "De Eglo Kanlhuin") a été composée par Edia Sophie et demeure jusqu'à ce jour, le plus célèbre morceau de la Diva. Malheureusement la face B n'a pas été postée.

El Rego & Ses Commandos (Radio Dahomey, 1969)

Theophile Do Rego, known as "El Rego" was born May 3, 1936 in Porto-Novo, Dahomey. He grew up in Senegal and started his musical career in Burkina Faso with the orchestra "L'Harmonie Voltaïque". He returned to Benin (Dahomey) in 1961 and founded his first band, "La Filda", then his "Commandos". El Rego is a dandy who loves beautiful women. He had even once owned a "girls club". Passionate of boxing, he has organized numerous battles in Benin. He is now president of a regional boxing league. In July 2010, Theophile Do Rego has announced the end of his musical career.

This record, produced by the label "Radio Dahomey", is offered by the great Jam Magica's blog. It has been composed (except the title "Kpon Fila", composed by El Rego) by a little known artist: Vincent Olla. The title "Vive Le Renouveau" ("Long Life Revival") is an original and hybrid blues.

Théophile Do Rego, alias El rego, est né le 3 Mai 1936 à Porto-Novo, Dahomey. Il a grandi au Sénégal et commençe sa carrière musicale au Burkina Faso avec l'orchestre Harmonie Voltaïque. Il rentre au Bénin (Dahomey) en 1961 et fonde son premier orchestre, La Falda, suivi de ses Commandos. El Rego est un dandy qui aime les belles femmes. Il a même, jadis, tenu un "club de filles". Passionné de boxe, il a organisé de nombreux combats au Bénin. Il est aujourd'hui président d'un ligue de boxe régionale. Au moi de Juillet, il a annonçé la fin de sa carrière musicale.

Ce disque, enregistré en 1969 par le label Radio Dahomey, nous est offert par le grand blog Jam Magica. Il a été composé (excépté le titre "Kpon Fila", composé par El Rego) par un artiste peu connu: Vincent Olla. Le titre "Vive Le Renouveau" et un Blues original et Hybride.

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Bella Bellow (Togo, 1969)

Here is a record by the Togolese diva Bella Bellow. It is a french pressing from 1969 released on the label "Akue". The orchestration is from a french musician, Christian Joudinaud.

Voici un disque de la diva Togolaise Bella Bellow. Ce vinyle, de 1969, est sorti sur un label français: "Akue". Enfin l'orchestration est aussi faite par un français: Christian Jourdinaud.

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Ruy Mingas (Angola, 1969)

Angolan vocalist and guitar player, Ruy Mingas is one of his homeland's most famous musician and performer. Well known and loved in his home country and beyond since the late 50's, Mingas has long been known as pioneer in African music. Mixing musical elements of his Afro-Portuguese heritage with jazz and latin music. He is not only a beloved musician, but a leader to his people, because of his political lyrics. Mingas began to float back to the tops western attention in the mid-to late '90s. Today, drawning on his cultural and politic background, Mingas serves as the Minister of Culture of Angola. He is still and regulary records and performs.

It is my second post from Angola and still from Vivien the great. Remember this previous one of Conjunto Os Tropicais.

This 1969's recording (Africa Negra) is a french pressing which has been sent to me by the great Vivien from France. Here is the cover...

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... and here is the original pressing's cover from Angola...

Anniversary Post: ALBARIKA & ADJAHOUI: 001

This is the first production and recording, in 1969, from Albarkia Store and Yedenou Adjahoui. As always Adjahoui sings in Goun, a language from the Goun people of Porto Novo. But he also sings, on face B, in Mina, from the ouest of Benin, in Aneho. Many traditional singers were singing in different languages that's how Adjahoui become so popular...

The Picture has been taken in 1969 by Gilbert Rouget, the famous musicologist who recorded many ceremonies. The girl is a Vodoun adept of Dikwin, a rare Vodoun from Goun People.

I never saw them during my shootings in Porto-Novo.

National Jazz du Dahomey (1968)

Side A is a laid back adjobade beat tune and Side B is Congolese inspired bouche rhythm.

 

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