I originally posted this lost classic back in 2009, but I'm posting an entirely re-recorded 320k version as someone recently pointed out that the old zip file was no longer available for download. All you folks who downloaded the old version might want to check this one out as I think its a much better recording, and all those who never heard it before will definately want to check it out now because it's completely wonderful!
Glorious Rumba/Soukous from the mid-'70s. This is frantic, psyched-out stuff, twitchy drums and madly phased, wah-wah guitars. Here's what Gary Stewart had to say about the band in his great book Rumba on the River:
"The Stukas Boys had gotten their start as a neighbourhood band doing James Brown covers in 1968, nearly two years before their more successful competitors Bella Bella and Zaiko came along. In 1970 the group had improved to the point that it was able to secure a booking at the prestigious Para Fifi night club...and the next year it cut some records. By than a fairly stable core had evolved that included singers Lita Bembo, Lomingo Alida, Kisola Nzita, and Suka Bola, guitarists Samunga Tediangaye and Bongo Wende, and drummer Bakunde Ilondjoko
Like the Trio Madjesi, The Stukas Boys were known less for their music than for theirgreat live performances. And Zaire's developing show system was made to order for their front man, the incredible Lita Bembo. Young and athletic, Lita...had a workmanlike voice but the instinctive moves of a premier dancer. Once on stage, he alone commanded the audience.
Samunga, barely into his twenties, anchored the band with a flashy lead guitar which he sometimes plucked with his teeth a la Jimi Hendrix. But when the 'showman' Lita Bembo appeared, no one else had a chance. 'The young man will literally dominate the scene,' reported. 'He will make the mike "suffer." Dropping to his knees like a voodoo man in a trance, exhibiting his sacred dance...Lita Bembo proves his skill by showing off his impossible postures.' After his stellar performance at Zaire 74, Salongo declared 'he set the tone for the evening. And the concert he presented to the public brilliantly confirmed his rank as a great star of Zairean music'"
Here's a clip of this great band in action on a Saturday night variety show:
Tracklist:
01 C'est La Vie 02 Esta Bibisha 03 Colombo 04 Awuti Poto
A joyful noise from '70s Zaire! If you've never heard the lightning guitars and heavenly harmonies of Congolese rumba and soukous, then this compilation of fuzzy sounds from old singles might open your ears to some of the most exhilirating sounds ever produced by humans; if you're already a fan of the music, then you're going to want to hear these rare tracks.
Tracklist:
01 Alimatou - Franco & L'Orchestre TPOK Jazz 02 Made - Orchestre Bella Bella 03 Houleux - Houleux - Orchestre Bella Bella 04 Dialogue - Tabu Ley & Orchestre Afrisa L'International 05 Mafuku Na Libenga - Tabu Ley & Orchestre Afrisa L'International 06 Biby Ya Shaba - Orchestre Lengo Lengo Topoke 07 Bana Baya Ya Bakwanea - Orchestre Tino Mambo 08 Badyano - Orchestre Tino Mambo
I had a number of requests for scans of the covers and labels of these records, so anyone who's interested in such things can find a zip file full of pictures over HERE.
Glorious Rumba/Soukous from the mid-'70s. This is frantic, psyched-out stuff, twitchy drums and madly phased, wah-wah guitars. Here's what Gary Stewart had to say about the band in his great book Rumba on the River:
"The Stukas Boys had gotten their start as a neighbourhood band doing James Brown covers in 1968, nearly two years before their more successful competitors Bella Bella and Zaiko came along. In 1970 the group had improved to the point that it was able to secure a booking at the prestigious Para Fifi night club...and the next year it cut some records. By than a fairly stable core had evolved that included singers Lita Bembo, Lomingo Alida, Kisola Nzita, and Suka Bola, guitarists Samunga Tediangaye and Bongo Wende, and drummer Bakunde Ilondjoko
Like the Trio Madjesi, The Stukas Boys were known less for their music than for theirgreat live performances. And Zaire's developing show system was made to order for their front man, the incredible Lita Bembo. Young and athletic, Lita...had a workmanlike voice but the instinctive moves of a premier dancer. Once on stage, he alone commanded the audience.
Samunga, barely into his twenties, anchored the band with a flashy lead guitar which he sometimes plucked with his teeth a la Jimi Hendrix. But when the 'showman' Lita Bembo appeared, no one else had a chance. 'The young man will literally dominate the scene,' reported. 'He will make the mike "suffer." Dropping to his knees like a voodoo man in a trance, exhibiting his sacred dance...Lita Bembo proves his skill by showing off his impossible postures.' After his stellar performance at Zaire 74, Salongo declared 'he set the tone for the evening. And the concert he presented to the public brilliantly confirmed his rank as a great star of Zairean music'"
Here's a clip of this great band in action on a Saturday night variety show:
Tracklist:
01 C'est La Vie 02 Esta Bibisha 03 Colombo 04 Awuti Poto
A couple of nights ago I was lucky enough to see Odemba OK Jazz on their Spirit of Franco tour. The band take their name from the style of rumba that was popularised by Franco and is made up of Congolese musicians who now reside in Belgium and France. They're led by Maitre 'Dizzy' Mandjeku Lengo, an astonishing guitarist and veteran of Sam Mangwana's African All Stars, Tabu Ley's Afrisa International and T.P.O.K. Jazz. I think the UK tour finishes on the 5th October, and I would recommend them to one and all for a night of irresistable Congolese dance music. They really had the audience in the palm of their hands and everyone left the building sporting huge grins and a sweat.
If you can't get to see the band, here's a taste of the mighty OK Jazz at the height of their powers.
Fantastic chunk of funky Congolese Rumba from L'Afrique Danse, beautifully showcasing M'pongo Love's gorgeous voice. Apparently she married one of President Mobutu's sons, but don't let that stop you from giving this gem a listen. The influence of American funk is especially evident on side 2...
The Democratic Republic of Congo has been in the news quite a bit lately, short pieces in the broadsheet newspapers and on television telling of the current situation in the troubled nation. We get told about the displaced population, over a million people on the move around the land trying to avoid battles between government troops and rebel forces. We are told about tribal conflict...Hutu rebels, possibly supported by Rwanda. We get to see images of a people living in desperate poverty. Commentators have recently been telling us that this is the world's greatest humanitarian disaster, and all the while Western governments seem reluctant to get involved. Little is said about the region's vast mineral resources that continue to be mercilessly plundered by interests that are certainly not 'tribal'. The wealth created by those who mine the copper and coltan that are essential to the world electronics and communications industries, to the globalised 'network' society, seems to flow everywhere but back into the heart of Africa.
Seeing these images and hearing the news reports, it is easy to imagine that the African people have always lived this way, rolling from one disaster to the next, like children in constant need of parental supervision. Such views obscure Africa's bloody history and Europe's part in it. Brutal colonialism, the scramble for Africa, and years of ruthless economic exploitation have all played a fundamental role in the current desperate situation.
For me, music presents openings to other ways of thinking. The music of the Congo gives us a different view of the country and its people, so today I've posted another fantastic album by Franco et T.P. O.K. Jazz. Franco began recording in the early 1960s and soon became one of Africa's most popular musicians. The newly independent country was entering a period of political turmoil after the assassination of Patrice Lumumba, and Mobutu was consolidating his military power with the help of US and European governments who were worried about the spread of Communism in Africa. Mobutu came to power in 1965, and it is during this dictator's violent reign that Franco, and Congolese music more generally, enjoyed his most fertile period, leading a large orchestra and producing an unprecedented number of records that were hugely successful across the continent. It was during this time that Franco earned himself the title 'Sorcerer of the guitar'. His playing is indeed magical. In 1978 Franco spent time in prison after speaking out against Mobutu's regime. When he came out, the country's declining economic situation meant that the big bands he had been used to leading were no longer viable. The 1980s saw the decline of the Congo's previously vibrant music scene, musicians emigrated and nightspots closed as the country's money dried up.
Currently, 'Congotronics' groups such as Konono No 1 or the Kasai Allstars are enjoying some success with Western listeners:
This is fabulous music, but contrast the scene with this great '70s footage of Franco's band and we get some idea of the distance travelled, of the way the country seems to be sliding backwards, its poverty growing as global demand for its valuable resources increase:
Today's album is from 1982 or '83, and it features a smaller band than those on the other T.P.O.K. Jazz album we posted, its still a stellar listen though with those incredibly intricate duelling guitars snaking their way into the brain.
Tracklisting:
01 Missile 02 Chacun Pour Soi 03 Partage 04 Adieu Je M'en Vais 05 Tu Es Mechante 06 Laissez Passer 07 Ngai Te
A couple of weeks ago I picked up two double albums by Franco et Orchestre T.P. O.K. Jazz in a junk shop for 50p. They're both African pressings from the early '80s, and both unfortunately completely knackered. I was dubious as to whether the records would be listenable, but you take a gamble on these things. I got them home and, being new to this stuff, was completely knocked out by the outrageous beauty of the music. I recorded this album on the computer and its been on rotation in the house ever since, despite the fact that there are a fair few jumps, pops and crackles. I was unsure as to whether to post this, considering the jumps, but decided that the quality of the music just shines through the crackle...so here it is in all its infectious glory!
Franco and the Orchestra were from Congo and their gorgeous, supple music made them one of the most famous and influential bands in Africa. Listening to this stuff, you can hear why.
The music is, of course, for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear then go out and try and buy stuff...or something, give money to a down on his luck musician, or sponsor a good busker, it may be the start of something beautiful.
If any of the zips die, then post a comment and i'll try to repost. And leave comments, abuse, name calling, any response is welcome.
I think all of the albums posted are currently unavailable, but if this is not the case we'll remove the offending files.
Happy New Year one and all. Hope the new year brings as much joy and light to you as the music in this collection.
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