The Rough Guide to African Disco

Last updated
The Rough Guide To African Disco
RoughGuideAfricanDisco.jpg
Compilation album by
Various artists
Released15 April 2013
Genre World, African pop, disco
Length96:56
Label World Music Network
Full series chronology
The Rough Guide to Arabic Revolution
(2013)
The Rough Guide To African Disco
(2013)
The Rough Guide to Acoustic Africa
(2013)
Complete list

The Rough Guide to African Disco is a world music compilation album originally released in 2013 featuring mainly 1970s and '80s African disco. Part of the World Music Network Rough Guides series, the album contains two discs: an overview of the genre on Disc One, and a "bonus" Disc Two highlighting Cameroonian artist Maloko. Disc One features five South African tracks, four Nigerian, two Ghanaian, and one each from Cameroon and France. The release was compiled by Dominic Raymond-Barker and Phil Stanton, co-founder of the World Music Network. [1] [2]

Contents

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
MSN Music (Expert Witness) [3] A-
PopMatters [4] Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg
Time Out [5] Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg

Gregory Heaney of AllMusic called the album "solid" and praised the World Music Network for increasing the world's funkiness. [6] Robert Christgau rewarded the release with an "A−", saying it succeeded in finding the balance between "cheap commercialism and heartfelt ambition." While "The Dean" waxed poetic on Disc Two, [3] David Maine of PopMatters pronounced it a stab at "accessibility for western ears" fallen flat. He did however call the "Afro-funk" and "Afro-pop" of Disc One worth exploring. [4] Writing for TimeOut, Lydia Jenkin labelled the album "stunning". [5]

Track listing

Disc One

No.TitleArtist (Country)Length
1."A Brand New Wayo" Mixed Grill Flag of Nigeria.svg 5:01
2."Yesu San Bra" Pat Thomas Flag of Ghana.svg 3:51
3."Come On Home" The Lijadu Sisters Flag of Nigeria.svg 5:16
4."Kazet" Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens Flag of South Africa.svg 3:46
5."Kwedini" Yvonne Chaka Chaka Flag of South Africa.svg 4:36
6."Ohue" Sir Victor Uwaifo (Frankie Francis & Simbad edit) Flag of Nigeria.svg 5:37
7."Be Africa" Bibi Tanga & The Selenites Flag of the Central African Republic.svg Flag of France.svg 4:15
8."Yekey Tenge" Manu Dibango Flag of Cameroon.svg 5:57
9."Dance The Body Music" Osibisa Flag of Ghana.svg 3:48
10."Tsa-oo" Mango Groove Flag of South Africa.svg 4:15
11."Oh Yeh Soweto" Teaspoon & The Waves Flag of South Africa.svg 4:14
12."Love Is A Natural Thing" Tony Allen & The Afro Messengers Flag of Nigeria.svg 9:08
13."ToiToi" Marumo Flag of South Africa.svg 3:38

Disc Two

Disc Two is a re-release of Maloko's Soul on Fire.

No.TitleLength
1."In The Midnight Hour (Medley I)"4:02
2."Stand By Me"3:22
3."Wonderful World"4:28
4."Words of Love"2:39
5."In The Midnight Hour (Medley II)"4:24
6."Direct Me"5:51
7."Soul Man"3:45
8."Cold Sweat"5:02

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References

  1. World Music Network. "About Us - The WMN Story" . Retrieved 2013-12-21.
  2. Discogs. "Various – The Rough Guide To African Disco" . Retrieved 2013-12-22.
  3. 1 2 Christgau, Robert. "Expert Witness". MSN Music . Retrieved 21 Dec 2013.
  4. 1 2 Maine, David. "Various Artists: The Rough Guide to African Disco". PopMatters . Retrieved 21 Dec 2013.
  5. 1 2 Jenkin, Lydia. "Album review: Various, The Rough Guide to African Disco". New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 21 Dec 2013.
  6. Heaney, Gregory. "The Rough Guide to African Disco". Allmusic . Retrieved 30 Dec 2013.