K. FRIMPONG & VIS-A-VIS (Ghana/1978)

Here is this the seriously rare album shared by Ogoun Ferraille. Thank you to him.
In the mid-70s, K. Frimpong recorded with two orchestras simultaneously. Let's begin with the Vis-A-Vis band. The first album was recorded in 1977 on the label Probisco Records (KBL 068). It has been reissued later on Makossa International Records (MA 7076). One of the best Vis-A-Vis album.

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Vis-A-Vis was led by Isaac Yeboah, based in Kumasi and featuring some of the Ghana's finest musicians of the 70's: Sammy Cropper on lead guitar, Slim Yaw on bass and Kung-fu Kwaku on drums. This other album with Vis-A-Vis was recorded in 1978 on the label Ofori Brothers.
 

STANISLAS TOHON & VIS-A-VIS BAND (1979)

This album is a masterpiece. Totally afrobeat taken from traditional tchinkoume rhythm of Benin that Stanislas Tohon wonderfully modernized. Recorded in Côte d'Ivoire and prroduced by famous Papa Disco, the orchestration, the arrangements and especially the density of the recording make this record unique. It is also very rare and hard to find.

All the songs are good, there is nothing to throw. The new version of "Yallow", that Sam Fan Thomas made known abroad, is completely successful.

Cet album est un chef d'oeuvre. Totalement afrobeat et imprégné du rythme tchinkoumé béninois que Stanislas Tohon a su merveilleusement moderniser. Produit par le plus grand producteur de l'époque en Afrique de l'Ouest, Papa Disco, l'orchestration, les arrangements et surtout la densité de l'enregistrement en font un disque unique et très difficile à trouver.
Tous les morceaux sont bons, il n'y a rien à jeter. La nouvelle version de "Yallow" (que Sam Fan Thomas a fait connaitre à l'international) est totalement aboutie.

Sammy Cropper & His Wire Connections (Ghana, 1978)

Toujours sur le même label Américain Makossa Records, la suite logique du précédent courrier sur le redoutable orchestre Vis-A-Vis Dance Band, avec un album signé par son grand guitariste Sammy Cropper. Sur cet album figure aussi le fameux batteur, Shaolin Kung Fu. Ce disque est comme neuf et vous pouvez l'acheter sur Diaspora Records. Assez parlé, voici le texte qui figure sur la pochette arrière du disque, et qui dit tout:

Don't be deceived by this album with this Guy Sammy Cropper, as the founder and leader of the Wire Connections group. He is still with the versatile Vis-A-Vis Dance Band. This is just a trying of his experience.

Sammy Cropper started playing the guitar in his elementary school days. By secondary and technical levels he was very good at it, and would entertain his contemporaries during free time.

He joined the Cubano Fiesta when he left school and remained with it for one year leaving to join the Supreme Starlight Band for the next five years, and from which he formed the versatile Vis-A-Vis.

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VIS-A-VIS BAND

Vis-a-Vis band is composed by the finest ghanaian musicians: Isaac Yeboha, the lead-singer, bassist Slim Yaw, Kunh Fu Kwaku drummer and Sam Crooper guitarist who will be the subject of another post. (Vis-a-Vis with K.Frimpong can be found HERE).

The album today is a 1980 re-release on american label Makossa Records of the great album "Obi Agye Dofo Me" recorded in 1977 on the ghanaian label Brobisco Records. Only two tracks on side 2 have been replaced by unknown pieces "Mere Beba Me" and "Medofo Gyina Nkwanta". If anyone can tell what album these two titles belong. I think "Medofo..." has been sang by Alex Konadu. Anyway the record is in a perfect shape, enjoy the sound...

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L'orchestre Vis-a-Vis est composé d'un redoutable quatuor: Isaac Yeboha le leader et chanteur, Slim Yaw le bassiste, Kung Fu Kwaku le batteur et Sam Crooper le guitariste, qui fera l'objet d'un autre courrier. (Vis-a-Vis et K.Frimpong peuvent être consulté ICI).

L'album présenté aujourd'hui est une re-sortie, sur le label américain Makossa records, de l'album "Obi Agye Me Dofo" enregistré en 1977 sur le label ghanéen Brobisco Records. Seuls deux titres de la Face B de l'album ont été remplacé par des morceaux inconnus pour moi. Si quelqu'un peut dire à quel album appartiennent ces deux ovnis: "Me Mere Beba" et "Medofo Gyina Nkwanta". Il me semble que "Medofo..." a été déjà été chanté par Alex Konadu. En tout cas, le disque est en excellente qualité, appréciez le son...