Definitely one of the most out-of-print albums I have ever come across. I have a digital file, which I burned to disc in the early days of digital music. I then de-shelved it later in an effort to save space and because I've basically stopped physicalizing at grades below 9 (A). It is a Muzikifan entry for his Top 20 African Compilations, however. Outstanding track: "Naning"
Update (November 2025): Upped a notch to 8.5 (high A-) after over four plays. Upon looking further into it, half the tracks on here are extremely rare. Here are some notes:
"Gorgui" by Idrissa "Idy" Diop - only other appearance is on an album entitled Gorgui by Idy and Seydina "Sidy" Wade, which is itself extremely rare and may be a split album between the two artists
"Sibam" and "On Verra Ca" by Orchestra Baobab - both tracks are on On Verra Ca
"Say Konntaa" (aka "Kontar"), "Nongi Nongi" (aka "Nongui Nongui"), and "Waalo" by Star Number One (Number One de Dakar) - all three songs are on La Belle Epoque
"Naning" by Orchestra Fangool - noted above and is on Jat Sa Bop (as "Nianing"), which is itself extremely rare
"Gueju Xam Xam," Taaruna," and "Cumba Ndoli Ndoli" by Seydina Wade - do not appear to be on any other release (there is a track entitled "Taaruna" on an album called Yoff [Disques Esperance, 1985] by this artist, which streams, but it appears to be a re-recording?) (there is also a track called "Geeju Xam Xam," on an album called Libaas [Samarkand, date unknown] by this artist, but it doesn't appear to stream anywhere - physical copies are not crazy expensive for this, but of course I'm not going to get it just on the evidence of this one track)
The bottom line is that half of these songs seem extremely rare, if not utterly unique to this compilation. "Gorgui" is not that great and sounds extremely like another track I have heard a million times that must have a different title but may be a variation of this song. The Seydina Wade tracks I would say are good, but not great. So, in reality, I would be getting this mainly for "Naning," which does not justify the expense, despite it being outstanding.
No comments:
Post a Comment