The Best Compilations from 2000 to 2009

Hey PAH fans! I just put up new audio today, including a show that DJ Sassafrass and I (DJ Sasparilla) did on Dec 2, just a bit before the new year. This show features songs from a top ten list which we compiled at CJLO's suggestion. The list features compilations which came out between 2000 and 2009 and which feature music from Africa or the African Diaspora, mostly from the 70's. This is definitely one of our better shows and I encourage you to check it out (see above). If you don't have any African music in your collection, or your looking to bring some African music into your collection, these albums are great choices! I list the top ten below as well as honourable mentions which are basically just as wicked. I also encourage you to check out the record labels (shown in brackets) that these albums came from, especially Soundway which has a small but consistently awesome catalogue. Just do a Google search and you should find them.

The Top Ten

1) Ghana Soundz Vol. 2 (Soundway)

2) Ethiopiques Vol. 13 (Buda Musique)

3) Tropicalia (Souljazz)

4) Soul of Angola (Lusafrica France)

5) Psychedelic West Africa (AKA: Love's a Real Thing) (AKA: Psychedelic Classics Vol. 3) (Stonesthrow/Luaka Bop)

6) Legends of Benin (Analog Africa)

7) Panama! 2 (Soundway)

8) Nigeria Special (Soundway)

9) Disco Fuentes (Soundway)

10) Calypsoul (Strut Records)

Honourable Mentions:

  Ghana Soundz Vol. 1,

Ethiopiques Vol. 1, 3, 6, and 9 (the whole series is pretty awesome),

The Kings of Benin Urban Groove,

The Vodoun Effect,

Panama!,

Panama! 3,

Tumbele!

Guitar Boy Superstar

African Scream Contest

Black Rio: Real Samba Soul

Afrobeat Nirvana

Highlife Time

New York-Addis-London-The Story of Ethio Jazz

Nigeria 70

Nigeria 70: Lagos Jump

Bembeya Jazz-The Syliphone Years

I could easily go on! But thats enough for now.

There are many record labels putting out awesome African or African-derived music. Soundway is the best, every album they put out rocks! Analog African is great, especially as they focus on Benin, a country that had a very stylistically diverse scene in the 70's. Strut Records puts out all kinds of music, and are definitely worth checking out. Syllart puts out a series called African Pearls that is amazing, mostly featuring music from West Africa. Like Strut, Souljazz is pretty diverse. They got lots of great Jamaican and Brazilian music, but don't put out much stuff from Africa. World Music Network in conjunction with the Rough Guide (travel books) have put out a slew of compilations of world music, some of which are awesome, but most of which are a mix of good, okay and terrible. Finally, look to World Circuit for some of the best stuff coming out presently if you don't want to just wallow in nostalgia like myself. Peace out!