December 23, 2021

Top ten compilations, reissues & historic recordings of 2021

This week on Global A Go-Go (Sunday December 26, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards at wrir.org/listen, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site), I'm wrapping up a 3-week-long look at my favorite recordings of 2021 by playing my favorite compilations, reissues and historic recordings of the year.
 
I love finding out about music of the past that I missed out on back then.  And I'm a sucker for the lengths that the producers of sets like the ones featured in this week's program are willing to go to in order to bring this forgotten music back into the daylight.
 
For example, this year's #5 is the result of a multi-year negotiation between the album's producer and the government of Djibouti, with all royalties paid directly to that country's Ministry of Culture.  And #6 got its start in a Vietnamese-American woman's curiosity about her mother's singing career; it turns out that her mother was an early Vietnamese rock 'n' roll icon who hadn't heard her own recordings in 55 years.

Without further ado, here's are my top compilations, reissues and historic recordings of 2021:

Top Ten Compilations, Reissues & Historic Recordings of 2021
1.  José Carlos Schwarz & Le Cobiana Djazz (Guinee Bissau) | Lua Ki Di Nos | Hot Mule
2.  various artists (many countries) | Straight From The Decks 2 | Pura Vida Sounds-Heavenly Sweetness
3.  various artists (Nigeria) | Edo Funk Explosion Vol. 1 | Analog Africa
4.  La Mermelada (Peru) | La Rica Mermelada | Discos Horoscopo
5.  4 Mars (Djibouti) | Djibouti Archives Vol. 1: Super Somali Sounds From The Gulf Of Tadjoura | Ostinato
6.  Phương Tâm (Vietnam) | Magical Nights: Saigon Surf, Twist & Soul (1964-1966) | Sublime Frequencies
7.  T.P. Orchestre Poly Rythmo De Cotonou Benin | Volume 4: Yehouessi Leopold Batteur | Acid Jazz
8.  Stella Chiweshe (Zimbabwe) | Ambuya! | Piranha
9.  K. Frimpong & His Cubanos Fiesta (Ghana) | Me Da A Onnda | Hot Casa
10. Robson Banda & The New Black Eagles (Zimbabwe) | Soweto | Nyati Nyati

Honorable Mention
Afrosound (Colombia) | La Danza De Los Mirlos | Vampisoul
The Beaters (South Africa) | Harari | Matsuli
Elia Y Elizabeth (Colombia) | Elia Y Elizabeth | Vampisoul
Atakora Manu (Ghana) | Omintiminim / Afro Highlife | BBE
Ephat Mujuru & The Spirit Of The People (Zimbabwe) | Mbavaira | Awesome Tapes From Africa
La Pesada (Colombia) | Tomate Y Alandette | Vampisoul 
Pintura Roja (Peru) | Siempre Juntos | Discos Horoscopo
Star Lovers (Ghana) | Boafo Ne Nyame | Hot Casa 
T.P. Orchestre Poly Rythmo De Cotonou Benin |  Unité Africaine | Acid Jazz
various artists (Tanzania-Kenya) | Zanzibara 10: First Modern, Taarab Vibes From Mombasa & Tanga | Buda Musique 

My top 20 compilations, reissues & historic recordings of 2021 are available as a Spotify playlist:  open.spotify.com/playlist/38yl5XBOqLLx0e7BQxgmNX?si=5985f3426c3a42af
 


Artist | Country | Song | Recording | Label | Year
 
Oliver Lake | USA | Separation | Matador Of 1st & 1st | Passin' Thru | 1997
Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros | England UK | Global A Go-Go | Global A Go-Go | Hellcat | 2001
 
Phương Tâm | Vietnam | Nhớ Mình Anh Thôi (Missing Only You) | Magical Nights: Saigon Surf, Twist & Soul (1964-1966) | Sublime Frequencies | 196x
Pintura Roja | Peru | Chinito No. 3 | Siempre Juntos | Discos Horoscopo | 1987
La Mermelada | Peru | Olvídate De Mí | La Rica Mermelada | Discos Horoscopo | 1982
Elia Y Elizabeth | Colombia | Libre | Elia Y Elizabeth | Vampisoul | 1972
 
K. Frimpong & His Cubanos Fiesta | Ghana | Me Yee Owu Den | Me Da A Onnda | Hot Casa | 1980
T.P. Orchestre Poly Rythmo De Cotonou Benin | Benin | Aiha Ni Kpe We | Volume 4: Yehouessi Leopold Batteur | Acid Jazz | 1978
 
Osayomore Joseph | Nigeria | My Name Is Money | Edo Funk Explosion Vol. 1 | Analog Africa | 198x
The Dutch Benglos | Ghana | Shabi Bi Di Do | Straight From The Decks 2 | Pura Vida Sounds / Heavenly Sweetness | 1978
Star Lovers | Ghana | Asem Da Ye So | Boafo Ne Nyame | Hot Casa | 1987
 
José Carlos Schwarz & Le Cobiana Djazz | Guinee Bissau | Na Kolonia | Lua Ki Ni Dos | Hot Mule | 1973
The Beaters | South Africa | Inhlupheko Iphelile | Harari | Matsuli | 1975
Afrosound | Colombia | Caliventura | La Danza De Los Mirlos | Vampisoul | 1973
La Pesada | Colombia | Cumbia Y Tambo | Tomate Y Alandette | Vampisoul | 1978
 
Ephat Mujuru & The Spirit Of The People | Zimbabwe | Mudande | Mbavaira | Awesome Tapes From Africa | 1983
Stella Chiweshe | Zimbabwe | Kassahwa | Ambuya! | Piranha | 1987
Robson Banda & The New Black Eagles | Zimbabwe | Maria | Soweto | Nyati Nyati | 1986
 
4 Mars | Djibouti | Hobalayeey Nabuda! (Hello Peace!) | Djibouti Archives Vol. 1: Super Somali Sounds From The Gulf Of Tadjoura | Ostinato | 198x

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