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Track Listings
| Disc: 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. The Mercury Dance Band - Kai Wawa | |||
| 2. T. O. Jazz - Owuo Adaadaa Me | |||
| 3. Christy Azuma & Uppers International - Din Ya Sugri | |||
| 4. The Barbecues - Aaya Lolo | |||
| 5. A saase Ase - Ohiani Sua Efir | |||
| 6. St. Peter & The Holymen - Bofoo Bey e A bowa Den | |||
| 7. City Boys Band - Nya Asem Hwe | |||
| 8. Hedzoleh Soundz - Ediny a Beny a | |||
| 9. The Cutlass Dance Band - HweHwe Mu Yi Mpena | |||
| 10. Dr. K. Gyasi & His Noble Kings - Sei Nazo | |||
See all 16 tracks on this disc
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| Disc: 2 | |||
| 1. The African Brothers International Band - Wompe Masem | |||
| 2. Gyedu-Blay Ambolley & His C reations - Akoko Ba | |||
| 3. The Sweet Talks - Akampanye | |||
| 4. Houghas Sorowonko - Enuanom A dofo | |||
| 5. O scar Sulley's Nzele Soundz - Bukom | |||
| 6. Bokoor Band - You Can Go | |||
| 7. K. Frimpong & His Cubanos Fiestas - Kyenky en Bi Adi M'Awu | |||
| 8. Basa Basa Soundz feat. Fela Anikulapo Kuti - Dr. Solutsu | |||
| 9. Pagadeja - Tamale | |||
| 10. Hedzolleh Soundz - Omusus Da F e M'musu | |||
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See all 17 tracks on this disc
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Product Description
Review
A companion piece to the Nigeria Special album released by the same label in 2007, this excellent double CD covers a longer period in Ghanaian musical history, and sets the bar even higher for re-releases. Ghana’s economy was in a slow but steady decline at the time, but its music scene was vibrantly creative, and the 33 cuts lovingly presented here bear that out.
What’s that about a crumbling music industry? Sound familiar? Just as outfits in Ghana at the time were forced to respond to a deteriorating economic climate by downsizing from large dance bands to smaller guitar groups, this compilation takes the idea of making the CD a ‘desirable object’ to a new level. The 44-page booklet of hands-on journalism, archive photos, original sleeve artwork and disc scans makes for a highly attractive alternative to the download. Collectors, take note.
The diversity of styles is impressive, ranging from adaptations of traditional tunes such as Asaase Ase’s richly percussive Ohiani Sua Efir and the tropical psychedelia of Honny & The Bees Band’s take on a Fanti rowing song, to The Cutlass Dance Band’s Them Go Talk of You. The latter suggests the influence of Nigerian afrobeat luminary Fela Kuti, who contributes an unmistakeable sax solo to Basa Basa Soundz’s Dr Solutsu.
Other examples of work by relatively well-known artists include The African Brothers International Band and The Sweet Talks, whose Akampanye choogles along magnificently. But most of the artists will be unfamiliar to all but serious Ghanaphiles, with K Frimpong & His Cubanos Fiestas’ fabulously taut Kyen Kyen Bi Adi M’Awu possibly the only track that’s been reissued on CD.
Ghana Special could be seen as a kind of prequel to The Guitar and Gun, a wonderful pair of vinyl compilations that documented recordings made by English expat Professor John Collins in Ghana between 1981 and 1984, re-released as a single CD by Sterns/Earthworks in 2003. Collins’ own Bokoor Band can be head on disc two of Ghana Special, and his priceless recollections of the perils of live performance without adequate bass in the sleeve notes are a hoot.
The ubiquity of dizzy electric organs, effortlessly laidback guitar solos, rootsy drumming and distinctively Ghanaian vocal harmonies make it hard to pick other highlights. This is sweetly infectious dance music of the most democratic kind: there’s always more than one rhythm to groove to, just take your pick. --Jon Lusk
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CD 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 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, 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 focused 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 sat unplayed: until now of course.
Soundway present thirty-three original 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, 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 focused 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 sat unplayed: until now of course.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Even if this came with the discs missing, it would be worth the money (it's a DOUBLE album). The packaging shouts 'labour of love'. It's an education, packed with archive pictures, artwork, information, and I love the afro-print inside cover. Its like attending a seminar in african music. Wahwah 60s guitar, kitsch keyboard, funky broken beats, spine-tingling vocals. And the type of organic lo-fi sound that puts you in the groove the way computer samples cannot. When it's finished, you will press play again and be transported. I bet Norman Cook and other discerning remixers will be checking this album for samples in their studios right now. Cannot praise the compiler, Miles Cleret, too highly. Deserves a wide hearing, and I will play it out to turn others on to the tribal timewarp. Well done Soundway!
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Great design and info. and some great tracks too from 60's/70's Africa, but not all the tracks live up to the credits; but then what would you expect with so many to chose from!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4 reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Stellar Collection
4 Jan 2010
Format:Audio CD
Definitely my favorite of the Soundway compilations (even better than Nigeria Special). Hard to find even 1-2 clunkers.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Buy it
23 April 2010
Format:Audio CD
I just found this album about 4 days ago. I haven't stopped listening to it and I fall in love with a new track every day. I own over 250 albums and this is the first time I am writing a review for any of my albums. Sometimes albums get produced and and when they get popular everyone buys it and you can't find it anymore. Trust me, this is one of those albums. Don't let it pass you by... I've had to learn this lesson the hard way. Buy this album... it's a trick or treat bag of drums, vocals, bass and much more. Good ole' fashion African soul.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Awseome
31 July 2011
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I love world music. I have a couple of different sets of this particular genre (Ghana Special CD's). Foot tapping, move your body music - very, very enjoyable. You don't have to understand the lyrics, just enjoy the music as it relaxes you. You cannot beat the price for the enjoyment that it brings.
I also like world music since it is SO different from a lot of the dreck that you hear on the radio nowadays. Buy this for yourself or purchase it for someone you really like and want to introduce them to an entire world of music that I bet they never heard of, let a lone heard.
I also like world music since it is SO different from a lot of the dreck that you hear on the radio nowadays. Buy this for yourself or purchase it for someone you really like and want to introduce them to an entire world of music that I bet they never heard of, let a lone heard.
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