The Rough Guide to Highlife (2003 album)

Last updated
The Rough Guide to Highlife
RoughGuideHighlife2003.jpg
Compilation album by
Various artists
Released4 February 2003
Genre World, Highlife
Length64:33
Label World Music Network
Full series chronology
Unwired: Europe
(2003)
The Rough Guide to Highlife
(2003)
The Rough Guide to the Music of the Alps
(2002)
Complete list

The Rough Guide to Highlife is a world music compilation album originally released in 2003. Part of the World Music Network Rough Guides series, the release covers the Highlife musical genre of Ghana and surrounding countries, focusing on the 1960s and 70s. [1] Graeme Ewens wrote the liner notes, and Phil Stanton, co-founder of the World Music Network, was the producer. [2] This album was followed by a second edition in 2012.

Contents

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Robert Christgau [1] A-
AllMusic [3] Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg

The compilation's release was met with positive reviews. Robert Christgau called it less even than the contemporaneous The Highlife All-Stars album Sankofa but "eccentric" nonetheless. [1] He went on to name it the twelfth best album of 2003 in the annual Pazz & Jop poll. [4]

Writing for AllMusic, Chris Nickson called it a "treasure trove" as more than half the album's tracks had been previously unavailable. [3]

Track listing

No.TitleArtistLength
1."Igede" Celestine Ukwu 4:06
2."Ka-Anyi Jikota" Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe 5:07
3."Ekombi" Jerry Hansen (musician) & The Ramblers Dance Band 3:12
4."Bosoe" Joe Mensah 9:36
5."Guitar Boy" Victor Uwaifo 5:20
6."Bone Biara So Wo Akatua" Nana Ampadu & The African Brothers4:24
7."Asare" Alex Konadu 4:58
8."Esonta" Inyang Henshaw 3:11
9."Medzi Medzi" E.T. Mensah 2:54
10."Omo Pupa" Victor Olaiya  
11."Ohia Asoma Wo" King Onyina 2:46
12."Bere Bote" Rex Lawson 2:56
13."Agyeman Baidoo" T.O. Jazz 4:14
14."Binu Binu" Orlando Julius 2:54
15."Hilife Time" George Darko 6:07

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Christgau</span> American music journalist (born 1942)

Robert Thomas Christgau is an American music journalist and essayist. Among the most well-known and influential music critics, he began his career in the late 1960s as one of the earliest professional rock critics and later became an early proponent of musical movements such as hip hop, riot grrrl, and the import of African popular music in the West. Christgau spent 37 years as the chief music critic and senior editor for The Village Voice, during which time he created and oversaw the annual Pazz & Jop critics poll. He has also covered popular music for Esquire, Creem, Newsday, Playboy, Rolling Stone, Billboard, NPR, Blender, and MSN Music, and was a visiting arts teacher at New York University. CNN senior writer Jamie Allen has called Christgau "the E. F. Hutton of the music world – when he talks, people listen."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pazz & Jop</span> Annual poll of top musical releases

Pazz & Jop was an annual poll of top musical releases, compiled by American newspaper The Village Voice and created by music critic Robert Christgau. It published lists of the year's top releases for 1971 and, after Christgau's two-year absence from the Voice, each year from 1974 onward. The polls are tabulated from the submitted year-end top 10 lists of hundreds of music critics. It was named in acknowledgement of the defunct magazine Jazz & Pop, and adopted the ratings system used in that publication's annual critics poll.

<i>In the Jungle Groove</i> 1986 compilation album by James Brown

In the Jungle Groove is a compilation album by American funk musician James Brown, released in August 1986 by Polydor Records.

<i>The Moldy Peaches</i> (album) 2001 studio album by the Moldy Peaches

The Moldy Peaches is the debut album by American indie rock band the Moldy Peaches. It was primarily recorded in a basement in Port Townsend, Washington, and was released in 2001. The album has the dubious distinction of being released in the United States on September 11, 2001, the date of the attacks on the World Trade Center, while coincidentally featuring a song called "NYC's Like a Graveyard".

<i>The Birth of Soul</i> 1991 box set by Ray Charles

The Birth of Soul: The Complete Atlantic Rhythm and Blues Recordings is a 3-CD box set compilation by Ray Charles, released in 1991.

<i>Have Moicy!</i> 1976 studio album by Michael Hurley/The Unholy Modal Rounders/Jeffrey Frederick & The Clamtones

Have Moicy! is a 1976 album released by Michael Hurley, The Unholy Modal Rounders, and Jeffrey Frederick & the Clamtones. In 2011, Light In The Attic Records reissued Have Moicy! on vinyl. Although nominally credited to three different groups, the music is performed by an overlapping cast of musicians, with Hurley, Frederick, and Peter Stampfel alternating lead vocals with one track sung by Paul Presti.

<i>The Rough Guide to the Music of Afghanistan</i> 2010 compilation album by Various artists

The Rough Guide To The Music Of Afghanistan is a world music compilation album originally released in 2010. Part of the World Music Network Rough Guides series, the release covers a wide breadth of the music of Afghanistan on Disc One, and contains a "bonus" Disc Two highlighting the Ahmad Sham Sufi Qawwali Group. The album was compiled by Simon Broughton, editor of world music magazine Songlines, who also compiled The Rough Guide to the Music of Central Asia.

<i>The Rough Guide to Desert Blues</i> 2010 compilation album by Various artists

The Rough Guide To Desert Blues is a world music compilation album originally released in 2010. Desert blues refers to the music of the Mandinka and related nomad groups of the Sahara, who perform a style of music considered the root of the American Blues genre. This was first popularized in the West by Ali Farka Touré and has more recently been carried by a new wave of artists such as Tinariwen.

<i>The Rough Guide to the Music of Senegal</i> 2013 compilation album by Various artists

The Rough Guide to the Music of Senegal is a world music compilation album originally released in 2013. Part of the World Music Network Rough Guides series, the release presents an overview of the music of Senegal on Disc One, and contains a "bonus" Disc Two highlighting Daby Balde. The album was compiled by Daniel Rosenberg and was produced by Phil Stanton, co-founder of the World Music Network. Daniel Rosenberg and Rachel Jackson wrote the sleeve notes, and Brad Haynes was coordinator and designer.

<i>The Rough Guide to Congo Gold</i> 2008 compilation album by Various artists

The Rough Guide to Congo Gold is a world music compilation album originally released in 2008. Part of the World Music Network Rough Guides series, the release focuses on the soukous genre of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with tracks from the 1960s to 90s. The compilation was produced by Phil Stanton, co-founder of the World Music Network. Martin Sinnock compiled the tracks and wrote the liner notes, and Brad Haynes & Marisa Lassman coordinated the project.

<i>The Rough Guide to the Music of Indonesia</i> 2000 compilation album by Various artists

The Rough Guide to the Music of Indonesia is a world music compilation album originally released in 2000. Part of the World Music Network Rough Guides series, the release covers a broad swathe of the music of Indonesia, both traditional and modern. The compilation was produced by Phil Stanton, co-founder of the World Music Network. Paul Fisher compiled the tracks and wrote the liner notes, and Duncan Baker coordinated the project.

<i>The Rough Guide to the Music of Central America</i> 2001 compilation album by Various artists

The Rough Guide to the Music of Central America is a world music compilation album originally released in 2001. Part of the World Music Network Rough Guides series, it has been described as the first comprehensive CD collection of Central American music. The album contains five tracks from Belize, three each from Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, two from Panama, and one from Guatemala. The compilation was compiled by Daniel Rosenberg, co-ordinated by Duncan Baker and produced by Phil Stanton, co-founder of the World Music Network.

<i>Ocean of Sound</i> 1996 compilation album by Various artists

Ocean of Sound is a 1996 compilation album compiled and produced by English musician and author David Toop. The two-disc, cross-licensed "various artists" compilation contains 32 tracks culled from a variety of musical sources, including dub, exotica, free jazz, and field recordings. Toop compiled the recordings to serve as both a historical survey of ambient music and an aural companion to his 1995 book Ocean of Sound: Aether Talk, Ambient Sound and Imaginary Worlds.

<i>The Rough Guide to Dub</i> 2005 compilation album by Various artists

The Rough Guide to Dub is a world music compilation album originally released in 2005. Part of the World Music Network Rough Guides series, the release covers the roots of dub music, focusing on the period 1973-1980. Curation was performed by Steve Barrow, co-founder of the record label Blood and Fire, who also compiled The Rough Guide to Reggae and authored its companion book. Phil Stanton, co-founder of the World Music Network, produced the work.

<i>The Rough Guide to the Music of Ethiopia</i> (2004 album) 2004 compilation album by Various artists

The Rough Guide to the Music of Ethiopia is a world music compilation album originally released in 2004. Part of the World Music Network Rough Guides series, the release covers the music of Ethiopia, focusing largely on 1960s pop. The compilation was curated by Francis Falceto, who also produces Buda Musique's Éthiopiques series. Phil Stanton, co-founder of the World Music Network, was the producer.

<i>The Rough Guide to the Music of Ethiopia</i> (2012 album) 2012 compilation album by Various artists

The Rough Guide to the Music of Ethiopia is a world music compilation album originally released in 2012. Part of the World Music Network Rough Guides series, the release contains two discs: an overview of the music of Ethiopia—focusing mainly on 21st century pop—is found on Disc One, while Disc Two features dub-style musician Invisible System. The compilation was curated by Dominic Raymond-Barker and Phil Stanton, co-founder of the World Music Network, who was also the producer. It is the second compilation by this name: the first volume, focusing on music of the 1960s, was released in 2004.

<i>The Rough Guide to the Music of Morocco</i> (2004 album) 2004 compilation album by Various artists

The Rough Guide to the Music of Morocco is a world music compilation album originally released in 2004. Part of the World Music Network Rough Guides series, the release covers the music of Morocco, which had been receiving new-found attention on the world music circuit in the early 2000s. The compilation was curated by Andy Morgan, former manager of Tinariwen and organizer of the Festival in the Desert. Phil Stanton, co-founder of the World Music Network, was the producer. This album was followed by a second edition, which covered the same topic by showcasing different artists.

<i>The Rough Guide to the Music of Morocco</i> (2012 album) 2012 compilation album by Various artists

The Rough Guide to the Music of Morocco is a world music compilation album originally released in 2012. Part of the World Music Network Rough Guides series, the release contains two discs: an overview of the music of Morocco—featuring such genres as Chaabi and Malhun—is found on Disc One, while Disc Two features the modern rural-urban fusion band Groupe Mazagan. The compilation was curated by Andy Morgan, former manager of Tinariwen and organizer of the Festival in the Desert. Brad Haynes and Rachel Jackson coordinated the project, and Phil Stanton, co-founder of the World Music Network, was the producer.

<i>Highlife</i> (Sonny Sharrock album) 1990 studio album by Sonny Sharrock Band

Highlife is a studio album by American jazz guitarist Sonny Sharrock. It was recorded at Jersey City's Quantum Sound Studio in October 1990 and released later that same year by Enemy Records.

<i>OOOH! (Out of Our Heads)</i> 2002 studio album by the Mekons

OOOH! is an album by the British band the Mekons, released in 2002. It was inspired by a collaborative visual arts project sponsored by East Street Arts. The album marked the band's 25th anniversary. "Thee Olde Trip to Jerusalem" was released as a single. The Mekons supported the album with a North American tour.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Christgau, Robert. "Consumer Guide" . Retrieved 9 Jan 2014.
  2. World Music Network. "About Us - The WMN Story" . Retrieved 10 Jan 2014.
  3. 1 2 Nickson, Chris. "The Rough Guide to Highlife". Allmusic . Retrieved 9 Jan 2014.
  4. Christgau, Robert. "Pazz & Jop 2003: Dean's List" . Retrieved 9 Jan 2014.