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Ghana Special: Modern Highlife, Afro Sounds & Ghanaian Blues 1968-91

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Ghana Special: Modern Highlife, Afro Sounds & Ghanaian Blues 1968-91 album cover
Disc 1 of 2
01
Kai Wawa
Artist: The Mercury Dance Band
3:01 $0.99
02
Owuo Adaadaa Me
Artist: T.O. Jazz
2:52 $0.99
03
Din Ya Sugri
Artist: Christy Azuma & Uppers International
7:03 $0.99
04
Ohiani Sua Efir
Artist: The Barbecues
3:48 $0.99
05
Obiani Sua Efir
Artist: Asaase Ase
4:02 $0.99
06
Bofoo Beye Abowa Den
Artist: St. Peter & The Holymen
3:15 $0.99
07
Nya Asem Hwe
Artist: City Boys Band
4:51 $0.99
08
Edinya Benya
Artist: Hedzoleh Soundz
3:17 $0.99
09
Hwehwe Mu Yi Mpena
Artist: The Cutlass Dance Band
3:18 $0.99
10
Sei Nazo
Artist: Dr. K. Gyasi & His Noble Kings
3:02 $0.99
11
I Go Die For You
Artist: Kyeremateng Atwede & The Kyeremateng Stars
5:23 $0.99
12
Obi Agye Me Dofo
Artist: Vis-A-Vis
9:51 $0.99
13
Twer Nyame (excerpt)
Artist: Ebo Taylor
5:22 $0.99
14
Mi Nsumõõ Bo Dõnn
Artist: The Big Beats
3:39 $0.99
15
Odo Mmera
Artist: Pa Steeles African Brothers
3:01 $0.99
16
You Monopolise Me
Artist: The Ogyatanaa Show Band
3:15 $0.99
17
Akampanye
Artist: The Sweet Talks
4:27 $0.99
18
Enuanom Adofo
Artist: Houghas Sorowonko
3:10 $0.99
19
Bukom
Artist: Oscar Sulleys Nzele Soundz
3:28 $0.99
20
You Can Go
Artist: Bokoor Band
3:22 $0.99
21
Kyenkyen Bi Adi Mawu
Artist: K. Frimpong & His Cubanos Fiestas
6:57 $0.99
22
Dr. Solutsu
Artist: Basa Basa Soundz Feat. Fela Anikulapo Kuti
3:22 $0.99
23
Tamale
Artist: Pagadeja
3:11 $0.99
24
Omusus Da Fe Mmusu
Artist: Hedzolleh Soundz
4:58 $0.99
25
Yahyia Mu
Artist: The Uhuru Dance Band
4:11 $0.99
26
Noble Kings (yako Aba)
Artist: Dr. K. Gyasi & His Noble Kings
5:46 $0.99
27
Bindiga
Artist: The Wellis Band
3:25 $0.99
28
Boombaya
Artist: Boombaya
3:39 $0.99
29
Owuo
Artist: Sawaaba Soundz
4:20 $0.99
30
Them Go Talk Of You
Artist: The Cutlass Dance Band
3:30 $0.99
31
Sisi Mbon
Artist: Honny & The Bees Band
6:48 $0.99
Disc 2 of 2
01
Wompe Masem
Artist: The African Brothers International Band
4:19 $0.99
02
Akoko Ba
Artist: Gyedu-blay Ambolley & His Creations
5:27 $0.99
Album Information
EDITOR'S PICK

Total Tracks: 33   Total Length: 143:20

Find a problem with a track? Let us know.

eMusic Review 0

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Michelangelo Matos

eMusic Contributor

11.02.09
Soundways hits paydirt yet again with a brilliant survey of Ghanaian highlife and beyond
2009 | Label: Soundway Records Ltd / Kudos Records Limited

In the middle of the hot organ breakdown that occupies the center of the Super Sweet Talks' "Akampanye," the group's leader, A.B. Crentsil, notes, "It's a nice beat, man." He's telling us. There are a lot of them on this 33-song extravaganza-cum-overview of Ghanaian highlife-and-beyond, mostly from the '70s and all of it worth getting to know.

Soundway Records head Miles Cleret's previous three-part Nigeria Special extravaganza was the crate-digger roll of a lifetime, but Ghana Special may be even richer. It bounces between heady, raw percussion jams like Hedzolleh Sound's Jew's-harp-driven "Omusus Da Fe M'musu," smooth pop tunes such as the Ogyatanaa Show Band's "You Monopolise Me," and a jumpy near-hoedown from the Bokoor Band, whose "You Can Go" is driven by stick percussion, acoustic guitar, and the harmonica blasts of white Brit ex-pat bandleader John Collins. Honny & the Bees Band flirts with psychedelia.

Beyond Cleret's flawless selection, Ghana Special contains his canniest programming: each song moves into the next with thoughtful precision. Take the way Houghas Sorowonko's "Enuanom Adofo," which features horn interplay so hot-and-sour they make the smoking rhythms feel like an afterthought, rubs against "Bukom" by Oscar Sulley's Nzele Soundz: not only is the… read more »

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Emusic has this album listed again for less

ACJones0112358

It is the same album, but track 4 has a different title, some of the tracks are in a different order, and they are all listed as being on 1 disk, and it is $ 5.99 USD instead of $ 6.97 USD. So, save yourself 98 cents: http://www.emusic.com/listen/#/album/soundway-various-artists/ghana-special-modern-highlife-afro-sounds-ghanaian-blues-1968-81/12873054/

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The Sounds Of Ghana

Mykoolo

What a great compilation of music I used to hear growing up in Ghana in the 70's and you've included my all-time fave; "Kyenkyen Bi Adi Mawu". Fantastico!

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Afro-Essential

Nappy20

Not my favorite collection of the Soundway African music series, but nevertheless a (afro)funk essential. I dig the Nigerian collections a bit more, but you gotta vary your perspective of African soul/funk. Ghana had a great scene as well as this collection testifies.

user avatar

Astounding!

steinamic

How they managed to compile yet another brilliant comp that almost bests the Nigeria Special series (I still think Vol. 2 of that series is the best) is beyond me. It loses a bit of steam toward the end where the songs all inhabit a more traditional sound, but the beginning is incredible. Give special attention to "Twer Nyame" by Ebo Taylor, my undisputed favorite on the comp and an extraordinary song.

user avatar

Fantastic stuff

Bummydavis

I'm only about 2/3 of the way through this, but I've yet to hear a bad track. Perhaps the best comp Soundway has put out!

user avatar

Tracks 17 & 18

dmaliniak

Yes, they are the tracks on "disc two." You can check the correct 2-disc track listing on the Soundway site here: http://www.soundwayrecords.com/catalogue/ghana-special.html

user avatar

Where are tracks 17 and 18 of disc one?

Heindl

Are these the two tracks on disc two?

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Ghana Special: Modern Highlife, Afro Sounds & Ghan

kwameakuffo

Great selection great sounds somebody has done a great job in puting these together. Congratulatiuons. I have not decided my favourite as yet, perhaps it does not matter as there is so much to choose from.I worked with Boombaya - who were electric but there is not a lot left of their legacy. Dont let the few duff one's put you off. Enjoy

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0

A Guide To Soundway Recordings

By eMusic Editorial Staff, eMusic Contributor

In the past few years, Soundway Recordings has become, simply put, an indispensible label. Unearthing what now registers as essential strands of musical DNA from farflung places like Nigeria, Panama, and Benin, Soundway has proven blind to cultural barriers and possessing of an irrepressibly open ear, desperate for the vibrant, vivid worlds of disco, rock, Latin grooves, Cumbia, Highlife and other genres. Their boundless enthusiasm for discovery is also a hallmark of eMusic, so in… more »