Ginger Folorunso Johnson & His Afro-Cuban Band - "Highlife No 5" (2:38)
Kwamalah Quaye Sextetto Africana - "Son Of Africa" (2:32)
Nigerian Union Rhythm Group - "Abeni" (2:55)
Steve Rhodes & His London Hi-Lifers - "Drink A Tea" (3:17)
Steve Rhodes & His London Hi-Lifers - "Oju Rere" (2:53)
Bobby Benson & His Combo - "Niger Mambo" (2:38)
Chris Ajilo & His Cubanos - "Afro Mood" (2:53)
Soundz Africana - "Africana" (3:08)
The Black Star Band - "Obaa Amponsa Panogo" (3:52)
Buddy Pipp's Highlifers - "Ghana Special" (2:06)
The Quavers - "Money Money" (3:03)
Afro Rhythm Kings - "Donaldo's Samba" (2:38)
Afro Rhythm Kings - "Marabi Dance" (2:39)
The Quavers - "Kitch" (2:35)
Bobby Benson & His Orchestra - "Okokoko" (2:51)
John Santos Martins Accompanied By Zeal Onyia & His Band - "Fancy Baby" (2:58)
EC Arinze & The Empire Rhythm Orchestra - "Biko Rapum Paulina" (3:17)
John Santos Martins Accompanied By Zeal Onyia & His Band - "Maggie" (2:57)
Lord Ganda & Rupert Nurse's Calypso Band - "Ghana, Forward Forever" (3:00)
Adams' African Sky Rockets - "A Night In Port Harcourt" (2:38)
Nigerian Union Rhythm Group - "Tortoise Mambo" (2:27)
Rans Boi's African Highlife Band - "Highlife Comes To Europe" (3:02)
Eddie Lamptey & The Peoples Highlife Band - "Maria" (feat Eddie Red Tettey) (2:58)
West African Rhythm Brothers - "Egbe Mi" (2:59)
West African Rhythm Brothers - "Iwa D'Arekere" (3:02)
West African Swing Stars - "Omo Africa" (3:18)
Ginger Folorunso Johnson & His Afro-Cuban Band - "Brown Skin Gal" (2:56)
Awotwi Paynin & His Ghana Rockers - "Brown Skin Gal" (2:42)
Buddy Pipp's Highlifers - "Georgina" (2:03)
T Odueso's Akesan Highlifers - "Eyo Mano Mi" (3:17)
Nigerian Union Rhythm Group - "Ojikolobo" (2:38)
Willie Payne & The Starlite Tempos - "Wa Sise" (2:36)
Fela Ransome-Kuti & His Koola Lobitos - "Nigerian Independence" (3:39)
The Black Star Band - "Abrokyiri Awo Yi" (2:05)
The Black Star Band - "Ekuona Rhythm" (3:00)
Victor Ola-Iya & His 'Cool Cats' - "Anyin Ga Na" (3:04)
Fela Ransome-Kuti & The Highlife Rakers - "Fela's Special" (3:44)
Fela Ransome-Kuti & The Highlife Rakers - "Aigana" (3:28)
Review: Here lie the deepest foundations of highlife ever curated. Researched with passion and attention to detail by Dr Markus Coester, this not only traces the popular Nigerian and Ghanaian genre to its earliest roots (Fela Kuti's earliest recordings are on here - never released in over 50 years!) but also its global footprint as the sound and its creators floated between London and Lagos for recording sessions and creative free-for-alls. Complete with detailed notes, photos and classic adverts of the era, this is the ultimate highlife time capsule that keeps on giving. Superb as always from Soundway.
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