African Funk Experimentals 1975 to 1978

by Tala AM

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zzzptm This is some red-hot African funk, so hot, James Brown had to grab some with a five-finger discount... Find out why Mr. Brown was so impressed... Favorite track: Hot Koki.

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Includes unlimited streaming of African Funk Experimentals 1975 to 1978 via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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1.	Intro 00:41	info	buy track
2.	Hot Koki 05:10	info	buy track
3.	Black Gold 05:18	info	buy track
4.	Sugar Lump 06:04	info	buy track
5.	Gotam 03:11	info	buy track
6.	Arabica 04:36	info	buy track
7.	Black Woman 03:25	info	buy track
8.	Ma Ka La 03:46	info	buy track
9.	Nom Te Ma 04:44	info	buy track
10.	Tcham Tcham 04:03	info	buy track
11.	Mwouop 03:55	info	buy track

about

Tala AM (or Tala Andre Marie to give him his full and proper name) was born in Bandjoun in Cameroun in 1950. Talas life initially wasn't easy, he becomes blind at an early age and has lost both his mother and father by the age of 12. He then went on to make his first guitar by hand and form his first band "The Rock Boys" by the age of 17. Shortly after he meets the powerhouse of Camerounian music at the time Manu Dibango, a pivotal moment. With help, he re-locates to Paris and signs a contract with Fiesta Records. The first fruit of those labours is his debut album "Hot Koki".

The lead track (and highlight of this compilation) is "Hot Koki" it is a powerhouse of funk guitar, soul and infectious afro rhythms. Fast forward to 1974 and the famous "Rumble In The Jungle" fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. The story goes a little something like this... At an accompanying musical event we find James Brown and Tala AM. JB Hears Hot Koki and creates a remarkably similar sounding track "The Hustle" (check it out side by side if you have the time). Tala sued.. and won.

Fast forward another 40 years. Time to take a look back on the funkier moments of Tala. This is not a "best of" Tala, that has already been done. Want to get into Tala's famous Tchamassi sound or do some "bend skin" beats... well check out the other compilations. Here at Africa Seven (and in this case) we are headed for destination funk. The musical topic inevitably leads us to the 70's and we borrow our super slick source material mainly from the albums Tala made for Fiesta Records from 1973 to 1978.

We open up the bombastic brass, swinging basslines and all out groove of Hot Koki (well after a little intro ditty gem). Then its on to the one of the highlights of "Arabia" album "Black Gold". This track swoons groove. Layers of picked and choppy guitar and on point drumming. "Sugar Lump" is next which sticks to the formula of the previous track but adds in catchy vocals.

Mining into the cave of delights that is the 1978 "Black Woman" album we then follow up with the driving afro beat grooves and stabby brass of "Gotam" and the boogie flowing grooves of "Black Woman" and the frenetic and driving grooves of "Ma Ka La". We round things off with the stabby clavi-funk of "Nom Te Ma" and the ultimate groovy funk-riff closer (and ear worm) Tcham Tcham.

So there you some slices of pure funk from a master. Tala's role of awards and achievements is long and impressive (check his Wikipedia), Knight of Valour of Cameroun, SACEM awards and his opening of a music school in Douala... However.. we feel these musical masterpieces are right up there with his finest achievements.. A true man of music.

credits

released November 20, 2015

All tracks written by Tala Andre Marie.
Published by Copyright Control.

All tracks licensed from Fiesta Records (www.fiestarecords.net).
Thanks to Jean Karakos, Nik Weston & Stevie Kotey.
Mastered by Eugene Rasini @ Cromon Tor.
Audio Restoration by Jordan @ Tiger Bright Studios (www.tigerbright.net).
Artwork by Rich Elson.

Track 1 taken from "Pousse Pousse" (1975). Track 2 taken from "Hot Koki" (1975). Tracks 3,4 & 6 taken from "Arabica" (1978). Tracks 5, 7, 8 & 10 taken from "Black Woman" (1976). Track 9 taken from "Super Tchamassi" (1978). Track 11 taken from "Tala Andre Marie" (1975).
Compiled by John Bryan.

(C) 2015 Africa Seven Records

www.africaseven.com

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about

Tala AM

André-Marie Tala is one of the father figures of African music. Born in the western Provence of Bandjoun, Cameroon, his early years were plagued with tragedy. He lost his mother at 4, his father at 12 and then his sight at 15.
Thankfully, the love of music stayed with him throughout his career and with the help of Manu Dibango he made his first recordings in 1972 including, Sikati and Potaksima. ... more

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