Best Of 2010: Reissues

It was truly a great year for reissues and historical compilations -- when I first sat down to compile my favorite releases of 2010, I actually had more reissues on the list than I had new releases, and that's never happened to me before.

What I've dubbed "the race to find every record ever pressed in Africa" continues apace, and some of the folks working in Africa are starting to branch out -- Soundway did their first Asian set this year, both Analog Africa and Soundway went to Colombia.  No doubt Antarctica will soon be overrun with crate-diggers ...

Without any further ado, here's my ten favorite reissues and historical compilations of 2010, plus ten runners-up.  I've embedded links to my reviews of the recordings on the list.  I didn't start posting reviews until May, which is why not all the selections have links.

1.  Etoile De Dakar | Once Upon A Time In Senegal: The Birth Of Mbalax 1979-1981 | Sterns
2.  Palenque Palenque: Champeta Criolla & Afro Roots In Colombia 1975-91 | Soundway
3.  Tabu Ley Rochereau | The Voice Of Lightness, Volume 2: Congo Classics 1977-1993 | Sterns
4.  Angola Soundtrack: The Unique Sound Of Luanda 1968-1976 | Analog Africa
5.  Afro Rock Volume 1 | Strut
6.  The Afrosound Of Colombia, Volume 1 | Vampisoul
7.  Next Stop ... Soweto, Volume 1: Township Sounds From The Golden Age Of Mbaqanga | Strut
8.  African Pearls: Cote D'Ivoire, West African Crossroads | Syllart
9.  Nigeria Afrobeat Special: The New Explosive Sound In 1970's Nigeria | Soundway
10.  Salsa Explosion! The New York Salsa Revolution 1968-1985 | Fania/Strut

Honorable mentions:
Afro-Beat Airways: West African Shock Waves, Ghana & Togo 1972-1978 | Analog Africa
African Pearls: Senegal, Echo Musical | Syllart
Antibalas | Who Is This America? | Ropeadope
Egypt Noir: Nubian Soul Treasures | Piranha
Issa Juma & Super Wanyika Stars | World Defeats The Grandfathers: Swinging Swahili Rumba 1982-1986 | Sterns
Koes Bersaudara | To The So-Called "The Guilties" | Sublime Frequencies
Next Stop ... Soweto, Volume 2: Soultown, R&B, Funk & Psych Sounds From The Townships 1969-1976 | Strut
Nigeria Special Volume 2: Modern Highlife, Afro Sounds & Nigerian Blues 1970-6 | Soundway
The Roots Of Chicha 2: Psychedelic Cumbias From Peru | Barbes
The Sound Of Siam: Leftfield Luk Thung, Jazz & Malam In Thailand 1964-1975 | Soundway