Release Date: 02 November 2009
Label: Soundway
Packaging Type: Brilliant Case (Jewel Case size, Holds 2 CDs)
No of Units: 2
Barcode: 893775001682
Genres: World Music
Description
Ghana in the 1970s: highlife, rock, and soul collide and merge with tradition and culture. New styles meet old styles. A new generation renews old musical customs. New fashions meet old fashions, creating new fusions. Soundway present thirty-three original and previously un-reissued tracks from the time: obscure A-sides, B-sides and album cuts that have resisted a second look until now.
Compiler and label boss Miles Cleret travelled many times to Ghana to track down these long-lost and unavailable recordings. Ghana Special focuses on a variety of the vast number of diverse musical styles made in Ghana at the time - a selection of thirty-three tracks handpicked from a multitude uncovered over nearly ten years of on-going research: driving around the cities of Ghana, banging on musician's doors, visiting distributors, DJs, collectors, manufacturers and shop owners. The roots of this project go back to a pair of albums named Ghana Soundz (Volumes 1 and 2), which focussed solely on the 'funkier' side of the same period.
Alongside new artists and groups, some other works of the many musicians and producers Cleret met whilst researching those records are also included here. Many of these tracks have remained only in people's memories or in collections of LPs that sit unplayed: until now of course.
Following the massive success of Nigeria Special, Soundway present a lovingly compiled collection representing the diversity of the 70s Ghana sound. From afro-beat to highlife blues – never before available outside West Africa.
Package comes with a full colour 44 page booklet, including many original photographs, LP scans and a full history of the period - painstakingly pieced together over many years.
Tracklisting
Marechal Papillon
Barbara Hernandez
Various Artists
Sai Galaxy
Oluko Imo
Black Truth Rhythm Band
Gypsy Fari
Lord Echo
Various Artists
Various Artists
Various Artists
various artists
Various Artists
Various Artists
Various Artists
Various Artists
