Here's a post from a few months ago. I was originally going to give this "scoop" to Matt over at Benn Loxo since Charlotte Dada is the unofficial mascot of that blog, but he's not updated since last December so I ended up just sitting on it.
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Whenever I watch Soul to Soul, Denis Sanders' film documenting the 1971 independence anniversary concert in Accra, Ghana, featuring American music stars such as Wilson Pickett, Ike & Tina Turner, Roberta Flack and Santana, one question always comes to mind: Where are the Ghanaian artists who performed at the concert?
Surely I can understand how commercial (and even legal) concerns might have necessitated the focus upon the more familiar visiting American musicians, but I think the spirit of cultural exchange and pan-African fellowship the film's title suggests would have been better served by throwing some shine on the local performers who also graced the stage at that show.
I'm assuming that those performances were also filmed, and that the footage is lying around somewhere. Hopefully someone releases it one of these days, but in the meantime, let's give a little face time to some of the Ghanaian stars who didn't make the cut with some bios scanned from the original concert program pamphlet.
(Click on images to bigify)
I'll admit that I'm particularly pleased to present the pic of the enigmatic Charlotte Dada; as far as I know, her photo has never appeared online though I've heard that a documentary on her was produced a few years ago:
Charlotte Dada - "Don't Let Me Down"
Cool Blaze Band feat. Charlotte Dada - "Everything Cool"
The Aliens - "We're Laughing"
The Aliens - "Blofonyobi Wo Atale"
The Guy Warren Sounds - "Blood Brothers"
The Guy Warren Sounds - "Love, The Mystery Of"
17 comments:
OMG! the Dada, Aliens, Warren stuff is just killing me. Thanks for the turn-on.
Louisville Dan
A strong come back.
Thanks.
The Aliens! So great to hear something from them--I've read about them quite a bit, but only heard one track on a Voodoofunk mix. Thanks!
Thanks for the education. The Aliens tracks were awesome!
thanks so much for that Dada track "Don't Let Me Down" -- its utterly beautiful -- the Girl With The Golden Voice indeed
wow U, thanks for bringing this up, i have this record all my life and now i indeed read inside the gatefold sleeve in the reviews, something about "...some extraordinary drumming by the traditional Kumasi Drummers of Ashanti land and a derivative performance by Ghana's best-known rock group The Aliens .." Also percussionist Amoa Azangio is mentioned here, but credited as Amoa on Harris and Les McCann trackA3 for that beautiful percussion performance that basically is the track. But as i looked up the movie made by Denis sanders, he's credited as Amoa Azangio ..also the Kumasi Drummers seem to appear in this film i can't imagine i have ever seen.
http://issuu.com/boxoffice/docs/boxoffice_081671/56
Great find, is there a line-up in the program booklet?
Yeah, it's interesting that they should describe The Aliens as "derivative," though I suppose I can understand why!
The booklet does have a full line-up, I believe... I'll look it up and post it later.
wow. thanks for coming through as always. i was born in the wrong decade! lol..
Weren't we all, Chi... Weren't we all.
(Well... Not all of us, I guess!)
she is more beautiful than I ever could have imagined!
her don't let me down featured strongly at my wedding a few weeks ago...
thank you!
Matt
ps: agreed re Soul To Soul
Ah, Matt... So THAT'S what you've been up to, eh?
Congratulations, man!
awesome, much thanks!
don't let me down = amazing!!! love those bells
Comb&razor, you're simply amazing. These took me back many years when I was growing up in accra.
I commend your foresight in keeping these mementoes & treasures alike and archiving them. Your essays on the mundane activities in Nigeria paint as many vivid pictures & memories as I experienced in ghana. I know the Aliens & the other groups very well but not bcos I paid to see them. At least, not on many occasions. Back in "them days," we would just stand outside the clubs (lido, tip toe, ringway etc.) and just listen to them for hours.
Thanks, a lot. Your love for your subject matter shows through your writing & I wish U success in your other endeavours.
Thanks a lot, David!
Could these artists be included in the series of ghanian music called...
"Ghana highlife modern music" i think...
Great pieces from christy azzuma,vis a vis and more lost gems!!!
Thanksss
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