Ghana Music

I didnt see Roberta Flack on this video. It is a misleading item. The headliner is Tina Turner or Wilson Pickett. Nevertheless is is a great video of an old music festival in africa.

I have to say this was a great show to watch; The intro was a great attention getter. I mean, if you're an Ike & Tina fan, like I am, then you got to get this video/DVD. Watching Tina & the Ikettes dancing from this 1971 film makes it clear to me where a lot of today's artisit get the desire to dance in front audiences, at least got it indirectly. Hip shaken and everything--did TV even show those kind of moves back then? Well with the exception of James Brown of course. And as most Ike & Tina fans know, there isn't that much legit footage of their performances. So this is worth getting for Ike & Tina viewing only. I was kind of disappointed that Santana wasn't shown much; although their performance of Black Magic Women was great. THe guiter sounds and intensity, it was great. I liked watching the energy of the Voices of East Harlem. I never even heard of them before watching the DVD. The young singer on that DVD was like another MIchael Jackson of that day. This kid was even doing the moon walk way before Michael. For the DVD, the commetary was good. You get to hear Ike Turner speaking w/ Les McCann about where his ideas fit in for his reveue, interesting. One thing to note, is that the Guanians (?) new who Wilson Pickett was; it's like they only came to see him, and no one else. The last performance of the film shows Picket singing land Of 1000 dances--wow! I mean the audiance went crazy. Watching them dance gets you energized. They start flying over the stage--mosh pit, I think. It's like everything done today by muscians really isn't something just invented, it's been around for years. You can also tell by the African dancers. Man, they really had it--I mean it's just soul, and they show it.

Roberta Flack is conspicuously missing from both the DVD
and CD releases. I have the original LP soundtrack, and
saw the original film, both of which included her great
performances. I don't know if this was her decision or the
filmmakers, but you cannot call this the ORIGINAL film.

I still have the soundtrack LP I purchased more than 30 years ago. I did not see the original film. The DVD release is an absolute joy. It is as much an educational documentary as it is a profound musical experience. Yes, I am disappointed the Roberta Flack performances were deleted, but the balance of what is provided is thoroughly satisfying.

Sadly, Roberta Flack denied permission to the filmmakers to include her or her wonderful music in this dvd release. A real loss for all of us. However, the film is still a classic and worthy of inclusion in all serious film and music libraries.

This album is a great addition to a music library that truly encompasses the music our great world has to offer. My students (high school) request this to be played when they are working on projects during class time.

At last! I've been looking for this African music for ages, I had lost hope. It takes me to Africa everytime I listen to it. It's incredible!

this record is a great representation of traditional african music. although ity leaves out quite a bit of countries in the collection, it caputres the liveliness of african folk music. I love it.

great music although the shipping took 3 weeks to arrive, follow-up customer service is excellent....worth a try, good selection and better price range on their stock...check it out

Beautiful!!!!!SPIN ONE ON THIS !!I found out about these wonderful gentleman by digging in my fathers crate of albums that I still have 2 this day!I recommend this album and at least try their first efort until the Welcome Home album ,before they started to incorporate DISCO IN JAZZ???!!!

I loved Osibisa when I was a teen in India. I never heard it again until I ordered it from Amazon. I think this album is the best of Osibisa's albums.

The percussion and drums are truly wonderful.

I'm a white dude and I 'discovered' Osibisa in Nam in 1972 and I'm here to tell you that they will take you on a trip that defies description. I saw them as a warm-up band for Earth, Wind, and Fire in '73 in Newport News, VA. and EWF were boo-ed off the stage in order to bring back Osibisa - 3 times!! - and that was at the height of EWF's popularity. If you like pure music for music's sake this band is not to be missed, period.

I'm happy with this CD. I love African Music specially drumms and this is good. thank yuo.

This was the very first African cd I ever bought. I don't remember what grade I was in but I know I was in highschool so it's probably been about 10 years ago that I bought it. This cd deserves to be reviewed.

The thing that continues to really get me about this album is that if you just give it a lazy listen you will miss what is actually going on with this music. Some of the songs have an overall contour that may seem like constant repetition if you aren't really paying attention. However, if you are actually listening to it (and not just playing it in the background as you do other things) there is a world of overlapping rhythmic complexity changing and turning inside all of these songs. These drums also have unique tones. A rubberyness. A really tight bounce I love. Also, it just struck me that all this time I forgot about Volume One! I don't have that one but I'll have to correct that situation soon.

This is really an incredible cd to listen to outside at night. I've listened to it while sitting around a campfire by a river at night before and it was a really beautiful experience. Sitting still would be quite a feat during this cd. This is really a great example of one of the communal dance musics for which West Africa is known. This cd may almost make you wish you knew all your neighbors and could all come together and dance together to some of the many rhythms of life. I really feel lucky that I decided to take a chance on this recording when I stumbled upon it way back when. It really jump-started an entire world of interest in Indigenous African musics for me, and even now that I am much more knowledgeable than I was then it still holds up as a classic recording.

You've got to get this. From Fela-inspired Afrobeat to bizarre attempts at psychedelia to flat out dance craziness, this cd has it all. Wonderful package (including an amazing cover), but more importantly, this is absolutely great music.

This CD is a gem! I bought a lot of great African music this year but this CD stands out as the best overall. There are a lot of amazing songs here - and you'll never hear these played on a commercial radio station...

Though it is now a little dated, this CD has held up well. It's still exciting, and it was done without all of today's technology!

This is an excellent music and is able to take you back in time to remember. Great experience, and is still able to make your heart beat faster.

This is one CD that I use to test speakers. Fire up Survival, turn up the volume, if they can handle this, they are fine. Why you ask? Because this is meant to be played loud, and the bass will rattle a room. WARNING if you rent, don't try this at home. Beautiful 7, and the uplifting ending cut Woyaya make this a must have for world music fans.

Normally when I think of "World Music" I want to stick my finger down my throat and gag, but in this case... I only bring this up because I have seen Osibisa classified in the World Music genre and I hate to categorize them that way, however accurate it may be.

I got this album in the early seventies because of the album cover alone. That was enough to pique my interest. The music was surely not what I expected but it has a groove to it that I liked. This album was especially good with heavy incense, a black light, and that cover done over in dayglo paint. The good old days!

I have not heard this or their first album in thirty years yet I can still remember the melody to Woyaya. I suppose if you are a World Music freak then this album is for you. They were original, and they were unique and there has never been anything quite like them since. The combination of Wendell Richardson and Teddy Osei had magic that still shines through today. To me, Osibisa is the exception to the rule and I highly recommend them even for rockers!

This has got to be one of my all time favorite albums! I have been listening to it since my brother brought it home from his friends house after the album first came out. My brother's friend got it from his own brother who worked at a radio station so I think it was a promotional album. I still have the vinyl album. In fact,I was so impressed with not only the music but also the cover artwork that I had the flying elephant TATTOOED ON MY BACK!! I feel this is their best album but it has been quite awhile since I have heard any of their other music. The songs on this album have been stuck in my head for over 30 years and I never get tired of them. Another album that I would recommend is "Flaming Drums" by Olatunji. This album was made in 1962 on Columbia records. I bought it at a yard sale or used record store in 1969 or 1970[or there-abouts] and have been enjoying it ever since. I cannot wait to get them both on cd so I can enjoy them in my vehicles. Broaden your musical horizons and buy this music.

I cannot BELIEVE this albun is on CD!My Mom used to rock it when I was only eight years old -- and I have been searching for it all of my adult life! "PHALLUS C" is my hands, down, favorite song in the entire World! I can sing the WHOLE guitar riff by heart! And I DEFY YOU to sit still during the drum sequence! These Cats give hyperactivity a new meaning! I'm wasted! This is damn good music!

'Osibisa' was formed in London, England in 1969 by a multi-racial group of musicians; all with the same interests in music. The nucleus of the band was from Ghana, others, like the unbelievable guitarist Wendell Richardson, came from Antigua; the bass player who was simply known as Spartacus (I'm Spartacus!) was from Grenada; the keyboard player from Trinidad; and the saxophonist was from Nigeria. However, what they all had in common was great musical rhythm, enthusiasm, and ability. Their music was borrowed from Jazz, Rhythm & Blues, African based drum music, Rock, Pop, and Latin Groove, to create quite an original sound.

In Ghanaian 'Osibisa' means 'criss-cross rhythms that explode with happiness'. Now, how one word can say all that I do not know, but that is exactly how the music sounds, and they are the very words that introduce the first song on this, Osibisa's first, album aptly titled "Dawn".

Like a breath of fresh air, Osibisa's music first came to prominence with the release of their first single "Music for Gong Gong'', included here on their first album, which was released at the tail end of 1970. It is a piece of music that will get even the most conservative of souls out boogieing on the dance floor. So it was great expectations when their first album was released in the early days of 1971 and the boys did not disappoint, arriving as it did when Prog-Rock was in its heyday. Each of these percussive driven songs blew away all the pretensions of those serious minded twiddlers in the likes of Yes, King Crimson, etc. Osibisa's unbridled enthusiasm was so infectious, you could not help but be dragged along by the sheer exuberance of it all.

Although Osibisa's main strength was in their live concerts, they could also drum up a storm (quite literally) in the studio. Nobody at the time could have realized how influential their music was going to be in years ahead. Osibisa today is still known as the Godfather of 'World Music', and the effect of their big hit single "Sunshine Day" (1975) was to change the disco scene for ever. But this, their first album, was to set the template of the Osibisa sound for eternity. The band is still going today, albeit with only two of the seven original members left, which actually is not bad by today's standards considering that the band is now in their 35th year.

Many of the songs on this collection are still in the band's live repertoire today. Like all good albums, the songs on this set play like a live concert. Opener "Dawn", which begins with the immortal translation of Osibisa, builds on a rhythm of percussion until giving way to let the individual soloist bring the song to a rousing conclusion - some seven and a half minutes later. You then get five other songs of criss-cross rhythms before being brought to a riotous climax by "Think About The People".

When a band starts off its career with such a strong album, it is often difficult to keep up the standards set by its debut (especially with an ever changing line-up - Wendell Richardson, the band?s simply stunning lead guitarist, was at one stage lured away by British rockers "Free"). So it is perhaps true to say that Osibisa's studio output has been a little patchy since then, although their live concerts have never been short of marvelous, always led by Teddy Osei out front on drums, sax, fluttering flute, and vocals. This, their first album, is nothing short of a diamond. A must buy for anybody who likes a shot of fun with their music.

Pawed by Mott the Dog
Re-Chewed by Ella Crew

Makes me think of Blood,Sweat&Tears mixed with Mandrill and a
drop of old time Santana for spice. Mostly in a language I don't
understand. Yet so much more. Loved it!
Thank you,
Tom

One night in 1970 lying in my bed inside my psychedelic room listening to my Panasonic/Quadraphonic (forerunner of the surround sound today) component set. I heard on the FM radio station the complete two albums "Osibisa/Woyaya", I was so impressed with their music that the following day I ran to the store to buy both albums! At the time the Santana band was my favorite band. However, Osibisa with their unique African sound became another favorite band of mine. The percussion and the rhythms make you feel you are in Africa. Today I still collect their CD's and listen to the music that once brought the savage out of me; I'll see you later bwanna!

Like many of the other reviewers here, I first heard this band/album back in early 70's. Their music is simply great, the energy, the talent - everything. I'm listening to it again after a too long hiatus (it's on my vinyl collection) and I'm stunned - how could I have forgotten this music - I'm ordering their CDs. My siblings will instantly break into smiles at the mention of the phrase "Osibisa - crisscross rythyms that explode with happiness" and then they'll repeat the line "we gonna start this happy vibes right from the root, and the root is early one morning in the heart of Africa." If you like earlier Santana, I'm pretty sure you'll like this - it's different, more African with a twist of Caribbean - but most of all it is just fun.

the music itself is amazing....any fan of funk music should check this out. a superb mix of afro and western funk styles. (think Cymande meets James Brown meets Kuti, plus more) the sound quality of the pressing is excellent (I have the vinyl version, I'm sure the CD's are just as nice). Unbelievably warm bass, clean drums, shimmering organ, etc. The original engineering on this music must have been awesome. I'm not sure how much additional cleaning / mastering was done for the compilation, but, regardless, the end result in sound quality is nothing short of amazing. overall, I'm very impressed with this compilation...lots of respect to Miles Claret for putting this together. It's definitely inspired me to explore the 70's Ghana scene further.

this album is insanely funky. it's also nice to hear something different from the "north american" style of funk. not only are the arrangements very interesting (almost..odd?), but the drums are incredible. fans of fela kuti take note. when listened to on headphones, the songs are seriously hypnotic...almost trance inducing. i stood at a store's listening post for most of the album before purchasing it. one wonders what ever happened to these incredible musicians.

In 1986, I was 19 years old and a budding guitarist with interest in drums. A class was offered at the local community college in West African Drumming by a master drummer from Ghana, and I signed up for it. Soon, my friends and I were in a highlife band, led by the Ghanaian, playing clubs in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. The Ghanaian's name? Oscar Sulley.

It was Oscar who got me interested in music from West Africa, specifically Ghana. I was pleasantly surprised to see some of his early recordings finally getting to see the light of day. His presence on this CD was the reason I bought it, but all of the tracks are standouts. There are some clear James Brown influences in some of these, most notably K. Frimpong & The Cubano Fiesta's track "Aboagyewaa." The call-and-response between the bandleader and the band is almost a direct copy of James Brown from the Jungle Groove sessions. Still, the music is quite good.

To me, the most powerful tracks on the CD are Joe Mensah's "Africa Is Home" (very reminiscent of a Santana groove, "Toussaint L'Overture"), "Kyekye Pe Aware" by The Sweet Talks (A 70's synthesizer-laced groove with some excellent lead guitar work as well), and the huge, fat sound of Marijata's "No Condition Is Permanent." Be warned: Marijata is the BOMB. The performance was so laced with energy that they chose to release it despite a distorted vocal track. It is the defining track on the CD, with horns and keyboards that will knock your socks off.

If you enjoy good funk music and want to check it out with a different spin, I urge you to get this CD. If you like James Brown and Fela Kuti, you will not be disappointed.

This album is quite different from their first 3 efforts, which were darker, the arrangements and songwriting somewhat simpler. The production on Happy Children is sparkling and very modern-sounding, and the playing and arrangements first-rate. The earlier efforts have a 70's sound, but this one is timeless. A must-have, along with the first three and also Osibirock. I was very pleased to see these albums released on CD. My vinyl was in rough shape because these albums were always hard to find, so a scratched, warped version of this was all I had for years.