(V/A) Echoes of Africa: Early Recordings 1930s-1950s (Wergo)

“Echoes of Africa” offer 24 rare recordings from the early days of the African record industry, hardly heard in the West before. Concertina bands and doo-wop singers from South Africa, accordion groups from Kenya, West African brass bands, unaccompanied vocal and drum ensembles from Nigeria and Tanzania, plus bands from East Africa with their Arabic influences, reveal a huge variety of early African pop music and more traditional styles. (Wergo)

Another astonishing collection of vintage 78rpm delicacies from the Wergo/Spectrum camp. Nothing but the goods, here. These Wergo discs are all far too expensive for the average Jack, though, and not otherwise available for download. Its just silly. And thusly...I post them. Its sort of a protest encased in a compliment. Or vice versa. Either way, this is essential listening. Magic sounds.



Download Link: (V/A) Echoes of Africa: Early Recordings 1930s-1950s (Wergo) 320 kbps.

Willie Gumede and His Concertina Band: Umgoboti
Al Usthadh Umar Awadh Ban: Anta Lhayatu
The West African Instrumental Quintet: Bea Tsin No. 2
Mamica: Nwomboko
Abdo Shamakh: Mapenzi Ya Ashiki
Darktown Strutters: Be Ngi Hamba
Hadji Amusa & Hadji Mustafa: Nigbati Anobi Gunsanma
Lagos Mozart Orchestra: Aduke
Nini Mikie and Her Group: Itseko
Siti Binti Saadi: Njia Ungurusumbwe
Willie Gumede and His Concertina Band: U Gumede
Abdo Shamakh: Nalat Ala Yadaha
Mamica: March
Sackey Band, Appam: Wa Wie Me Ye Mina Asabah
Darktown Strutters: Wiwi Singomlil’ Ovhuthayo
Abibu Oluwa & His Group: Aiye Loja
Ngoma Dunduri: Tumkimiree Simba
Lagos Mozart Orchestra: Ore Mi Kini Se
Askari Wa K.A.R. Ya Sita (6th K.A.R.): Kofia Nyekundu
Sackey Band, Appam: Abasuafu Ara Gyan
Ishaku Dan Zhabarumoh and His Group: Mahamodu Nadani
H.M. Timayare: Ashac
Abibu Oluwa & His Group: Layiwola Akande

(V/A)- Global Accordion: Early Recordings 1927-1948 (Wergo, 2002)

The accordion is the ultimate global instrument. As a catalyst of popular music it spread around the world in the 19th century like wildfire. 26 rare 78rpm recordings from Africa, Latin America, the US, the Caribbean and Europe display the enormous variety of early accordion styles. You will glimpse a wild folk music that hardly exists today. The invention of the "accordion", as it was named in the patent granted to Viennese organ and piano builder Cyrill Demian in 1829 was a musical explosion, which triggered a chain reaction of global dimension. The accordion was louder than any string instrument, and it was portable. It also had fixed tuning. But its biggest advantage was its format as a one-man-band. Even when pressing the wrong notes within a melody it still sounded pleasant. Therefore the accordion was seen as a "miracle box" which immediately allowed everybody without any formal musical training to participate actively in music making. It may truly be claimed that the accordion gave birth to popular music. (Wergo)

This is great stuff. That said, I hereby protest the price of Wergo's $22 CD imports. Furthermore, this album is otherwise unavailable for download in the US, due to Jurassic licensing issues. "No sir, I don't like it." And so, here you go...



Download Link: (V/A)- Global Accordion: Early Recordings 1927-1948 (Wergo, 2002) *320 kbps upgrade from the Owl, ex post facto. Gracias, amigo.

Puerto Rico . Los Borinquenos: Caridad (Bolero plena)
Ireland . The Flanagan Brothers: The Rights of Man
France . Martin Cayla & Adrian Bras: Lo Glaoudo (Bourrée)
Turkey . Papatzis-Tsakiris: Syrtos Politikos
West Africa . George Williams Aingo: Tarkwa Na Abosu
Finland . Aili ja Lyyli Vainikainen: Kasakka-Pollka
Switzerland . Bauernkapelle Lott: Im Alpstübli
Brazil . Luiz Gonzaga: Seu Januario
Louisiana, USA . Les Breaux Frères: Fais Do-Do Negre
Italy . Caesare Pezzolo: Viva la giga
Vienna, Austria . Wiener Original Schrammeln: Slibowitz Tanz
Madagascar . Hira Malaza Taloha: Rambalamanana
Dominica . Grupo Dominicano: Buen Humor (Merengue)
Salzburg, Austria . Instrumental Bauern-Quartett: Dradiwalzer
Russia . Gregori Matusewitch: Yidisher Melodien
Texas/Mexico . Narciso Martinez: El Tecolote (Huapango)
Bavaria, Germany . Georg Weinschütz: S‘Loisachtal
South Africa . Jonas Mate & Kleinbooi Motaung: Mamolikoane
USA . Huddie Ledbetter: Corn Bread Rough
Austria . Steirisches Instrumental-Trio: Übelbacher Walzer
Poland . Stanislaw Bagdzinski: Wesole Wujaszek (Oberek)
Québec, Canada . Monmarquette & St. Jean: Clog de William Durette
Sweden . Lager-Olson Quartet: Koster Valsen
George Tremain: Huntsman‘s Chorus
Styria, Austria . Original Steirische Bauernkapelle: Altsteirische Harmonika Ländler 2
France . Ernest Jaillet: Bouree Lozerienne

Spiridon Shishingin- Khomus: Soul of Yakutia (Wergo)

"The area around Baikal Lake is the original home of the mouth drum called the “khomus”. The “khomus” is, on the one hand, a tool of eroticism and seduction, which has magic powers of attraction and, on the other hand, when played by shamans the mouth drum is credited with spiritual and healing effects."



Mediafire Download Link: Spiridon Shishingin- Khomus: Soul of Yakutia (Wergo, 2001)

01. Tundra
02. Song From The Whole Heart
03. Song Of A Youth
04. Lena Walz
05. White Horse
06. Ochucai — Round Dance
07. Dance Of The Female Shaman
08. Farewell
09. Souvenier
10. Spring Melodies
11. Childhood Memories
12. Ysach
13. Mirror Of The Pond
14. Memories Of Berlin

V/A: Oytsres - Treasures. Klezmer Music 1908-1996 (Wergo, 1999)

In this period of rediscovery, revitalization and reinterpretation of music of the Jewish people of pre-Holocaust Europe, occasional infusions from the source help keep the music centered. In this latest klezmer anthology, producers Joel Rubin and Rita Ottens have included six rare examples of pre-World War I recordings from Europe. These include a couple of pieces from the Euro-Yiddish theater that have some melodic relationship (but not in presentation) to klezmer. Additionally there are two fascinating pieces by the State Ensemble for Jewish Folk Music of the Ukraine recorded in 1937 and 1939, along with one example of an obscure offshoot of the klezmer tradition, that of the Chassidic community in Israel. It will be very instructive to all fans of klezmer to compare the playing styles of these with that of musicians who recorded in America between the world wars. The greats of the first generation emigres to the United States are also here: Naftule Brandwine (fabulous, as usual), Dave Tarras (an example of his influential trio), Abe Schwartz, etc. This is another must-have for fans and students of old style klezmer music.
- Stacy Phillips



Mediafire Download Link:
V/A- Oytsres - Treasures. Klezmer Music 1908-1996 (Wergo, 1999)

01. Orchestra of the Lemberg Yiddish Theater - Overture to Die Drei Matunes
02. H. Steiner - Potpourri of Jewish Melodies
03. Jewish Wedding Orchestra - Gereist und getroffen
04. Belf’s Romanian Orchestra - Na Rasv’et’e
05. Belf’s Romanian Orchestra - Cry Jews
06. Jacob Gegna - Taxim
07. Naftule Brandwein’s Orchestra - Doina and Nachspiel
08. Shloimke Beckerman - Hot Azoi
09. Cherniavsky’s Yiddishe Jazz Band - Der Dibuk
10. Naftule Brandwein’s Orchestra - Odessa Bulgar Dance
11. Naftule Brandwein’s Orchestra - Honga Ciganesta
12. Alex Olshanetsky’s Orchestra - Yiddishe Hora & Sarba Maracinei
13. Abe Schwartz Orchestra - Gelebt und Gelacht. Frehlichs
14. Dave Tarras - Duvid, Shpiel Dus Noch Amul
15. State Ensemble for Jewish Folk Music of the Ukrainian SSR - Bazetsn di Kale
16. State Ensemble for Jewish Folk Music of the Ukrainian SSR - Sher, Evreiskii Narodnii Tanets
17. Dave Tarras Jewish Instrumental Trio - Kiever Sher
18. Hymie Jacobson’s Orchestra - Yiddish Bulgar
19. Avrom Segal - T’khies Ha-Meysim
20. Joel Rubin Jewish Music Ensemble - Gershfeld’s Bulgarish

Waza: Blue Nile- Sudan (Wergo)

Recorded November 1982 and September to November 1983, in the Blue Nile Province of Sudan with a tape recorder Nagra IV-S and two microphones AKG CK 1.

Download Link: Waza: Blue Nile- Sudan (Wergo)

Waza - Trompeten-Gruppen - Trumpet Ensembles
1 Young Sir 2:04
2 If You Say My Name, I'll Fuck You 2:19
3 Al-Harib (The War) 4:49
4 A White Eagle Comes Into The Village 3:18
5 In Khartoum There Is Plenty Of Money, Nevertheless He Had To Come Back (Because Of Family) 4:01
6 What Are You Doing, Abu Sira? I Am Your Aunt! 3:16
7 What Woman Slept On An Old, Dirty Mat? 1:53
8 Akharo 2:43
9 Abrahiim Is Crying, Where Is My Brother? 2:09
10 Greetings By Aba Musa! 3:29
Bal Naggaro - Flöten-Trommel-Ensembles - Flute-Drum-Ensembles
11 Drum Signal 1:54
12 White Ant 6:06
13 The Little Khawaja Came To Gafilli 5:51
14 Bartha, The Winner 6:08
Balo Shuru - Flöten - Flutes
15 An Evening With The Flute Ensemble 2:24
Abangaran - Gesänge Zur Leier - Songs With Lyre
16 Where Do You Go? 6:50
17 Someone Enchanted A Girl With Black Magic 4:25
18 Oh Boys, Why Are You Waiting At The Water Hole? 3:53
Hokke - Das Erntfest - The Harvest Festival
19 The Harvest Festival 8:58