Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Apostles.


The band was officially called The Apostles (or The Apostles of Aba), but as some of their album covers announced them simply as "Apostles," I grew used to calling them that. Something about dropping the definite article makes the name infinitely more mysterious, otherworldly and intangible.

When I was coming up, throughout Ngwaland you would see their albums--particularly Wisdom and the eponymous debut LP that pictured the band dressed in white like a contingent of angels--displayed in every family's living room. I actually thought they were a Christian group, though... Perhaps they were at the time; I know a few of the 1970s eastern rock bands that managed to hang around until the late 80s and early 90s increasingly began to dabble in gospel and mellow reggae as their original fan base grayed.

Here, though, we have an offering from the band's heyday, when their hair--and that of their audience--was still black (and beautiful).

As the sleeves notes put it in wonderful Onitsha pamphlet-esque prose:
There is no doubt that the Apostles are just about the biggest thing to hit the Nigerian Pop Music scene, recently. Perseverance, endurance, hard work and able Leadership of Walton Arungwa-- Group's Lead Guitarist are the Magic in their Success.

The Apostles have to their credit four hit Singles; amongst them are "Down, Down the Valley", which served for them as an introduction to the music world, and a quality album captioned "The Apostles" which is still hitting the Country Bang Bang.

Now what I have to say about this one--BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL ALBUM have already been said about hit albums of the Beatles, Jackson 5, Commodores, Meters and Osmond Brothers. For modesty sake, let me say that BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL is ONE of the best of its kind. It will get you wrapped up.

HARRI EBERE C.

Apostles - "Black is Beautiful"
Apostles - "Ndi Nkwa"

13 comments:

calumbinho said...

Great album. And I couldn't agree more with the choice of the tracks - those two are truly amazing.

Comb & Razor said...

i would have loved to include "Don't Huzzle For Love," but unfortunately my copy has some play problems on that track...

Anonymous said...

Eke oha is da bomb, please find and post, it is about the fire that razed the great Eke oha market in Aba almost akin to the great fire that razed Chicago supposedly started by a cow.Well done.

Comb & Razor said...

i'll have to see if i have that song (i think i do)... i'm pretty sure i have Zebrudaya's "Aba market Fire Disaster," though!

b2v said...

ASTONISHING !! thank you so much for sharing this with us.
bless

Frank said...

... did you come accross their "Banko Woman" LP on your last trip to Lagos? The title track is pretty much the best thing they've ever done in my book.

Anonymous said...

plaese if you can send me the link

Comb & Razor said...

delarue... i really appreciate your enthusiasm, but you have got to stop asking me the same thing over and over.

Comb & Razor said...

Frank -

for some reason, i'm just now seeing your comment... (wonder what's up with that?)

no, i DIDN'T come across Banko Woman during my travels but i am definitely trying to get my hands on it!

(i take it you were able to secure a copy, huh?)

ababoypart2 said...

The Apostles - Nmere Giri - I have searched everywhere 4 this track, any clues? Thanks

Comb & Razor said...

Ababoy -

actually, i've posted "Nmere Giri" in the past (in this post but it looks like DivShare deleted all my old links.

i'll send it to you a little later... promise!

RockinToes said...

Great album!

And also available on Spotify!!!! All tracks, as well as a couple of other records (that look like collections).

http://open.spotify.com/album/78mvO5CuYHAh2855VbQXvV

Comb & Razor said...

Interesting!

I wonder who put these up...