The second part to Soundway’s best selling “Nigeria Special” album. The CD is presented with a full colour 24-page booklet. Many of the tracks featured on “Nigeria Special 2″ have been forgotten or out of print for nearly 35 years but have since been tracked down and documented by Miles Cleret – the fruits of an arduous labour that has taken over ten years of dedication, research and travel to Nigeria culminating in the final part of Soundway’s extensive survey of Nigeria’s forgotten musical history.
The range of styles vary from highlife to juju and Nigerian blues in the languages of Yoruba, Igbo, Bini and Ijaw. With a peppering of ‘afro’ experimentation the same musical stew pervades volume 2 as it’s predecessor – some artists appear again alongside some new artists as the emphasis continues to focus on the laid back and mid tempo feel found on volume 1.
It includes, the bluesy guitar band style of the Otarus & The Peacocks sits opposite the more uptempo sound of highlife legends Stephen Osita Osadebe (here bringing his Igbo version of the Cuban standard “Peanut Vendor”) and Paulson Kalu.
Progressive outfits such as the Black Zenith, The Don Isaac Ezekiel Combination, Tunji Oyelana, The Nkengas Opotopo and Joy Nwoso remind us that these were indeed experimental times with their fusions of jazz, highlife and in the case of Nwoso – opera!
Tracklisting:
01. Fubura Sekibo – Psychedelic Baby
02. Black Zenith – Shango Oba Onina
03. Twins Seven – Seven And His Golden Cabretas – Totobiroko (Ogbele)
04. The Professional Seagulls Dance Band Of Port Harcourt – Ibi Awo Iyi
05. The Otarus – Omohupa
06. The Don Isaac Ezekiel Combination – The Lords Prayer
07. James Etamobe & His All Weatther Band – Agboyabakpa
08. The People Star – Onwu Dinjo
09. Bola Johnson & His Easy Life Top Beats – Jeka Dubu
10. Emperor Dele Ojo & His Africana Internationals – Jekoyewa
11. Commander In Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe & His Nigerian Sound Makers – Onyebu Chi
12. Paulson Kalu Afrikhanah & His Stars 25 – Ochea Special
13. Fidel Sax Bateke & The Voices Of Darkness – Motako
14. Opotopo (Easy Kabaka Brown) – Agboho
15. Tunji Oyelana & The Benders – Iwo Ko
The compilation Various “Nigeria Special Volume 2” (Soundway) is going to be released March 12, 2010.
