LES ON DIT / FRANCO,BANIEL,NANA & OK JAZZ (CHOC CHOC 009,1988)

There is some controversy at the moment about the blog Congo Na Biso because they do not credit other bloggers when they use their uploads.

Please be assured we always credit other blogs when we use their links to add to the OK Jazz legacy. We continue today with this link from Global Groovers, a beautiful record from 1988 featuring the gorgeous vocals of Baniel and Nana. Female singers are rare on OK Jazz releases, so this is a real gem. Enjoy!

LES ON DIT / FRANCO,BANIEL,NANA & OK JAZZ (CHOC CHOC 009,1988)
 

Side A 

LES ON DIT  (Franco)                                                            
C'EST LA VIE D'UNE FEMME CELIBETAIRE (Franco)                                   

Side B 

JE VIS AVEC LE PDG (Simaro)                                                      
FLORA UNE FEMME DIFICILE (Franco)              

http://globalgroovers.blogspot.com/2011/03/le-grand-maitre-franco-et-le-tpok-jazz.html

Still Alive (1990) Koch International CD 63

This album is like a Holy Grail for us. Even though it was released on CD in 1990 it is very hard to find and out of print. We finally sourced a copy and are so happy to share it with you. It is a great real live performance by Franco and TPOK Jazz at the African Festival in Utrecht from 1988, the year before the Grand Maitre sadly left us.

There is such great energy on this record and a huge line-up of musicians. Franco brought 28 members of OK Jazz to Utrecht for this concert at his own expense as a favour to former OK Jazz member Joseph Ngonga who was an organiser of it.

1 Likambo (Franco)
2 Bolingo ya Ngai No Tata (Josky)
3 Pesa Ngai Position Na Ya (Madilu System)
4 Tres Fache (Franco)
5 Mario (Franco)
6 Mono Munutu Nieki Amo Ta Ndila (Franco)
7 Etumba (Franco)
8 Mawe (Ndombe Opetum)
9 Tokoma ba Camarades Pamba (Franco)

http://www.4shared.com/file/DUqNvGW9/Still_Alive.html

Owawa/Camp Luka - Fiesta 51.042 (1970)

This 45 is quite rare. Neither 'Owawa' or 'Camp Luka' appears to have been released on CD or LP.
Both are Franco compositions. 'Camp Luka' is a funky rumba with two sections, the first has some speaking, the early version of rapping maybe?

'Owawa' is in a beautiful and more traditional Congolese style called a 'Polka-Piket.' It has an interesting spoken introduction.

It is also labelled Editions Populaires No.17

Side A

Owawa (Franco)

Side B

Camp Luka (Franco)


http://www.4shared.com/file/hT7oMXCs/Owawa_-_Camp_Luka.html

FNMA Congo/Naboyi Libala Na Noko PF 11 549

This is a rare 45" of two Franco compositions. FNMA Congo was not released on any other LP or CD as far as we can tell. Naboyi Libala Na Noko was released on the Sonodisc CD 36554, 'Franco, Vicky et L'OK Jazz 1966/1967' in 1996.

The single is credited to Orchestre O.K. Jazz. 

There is no date on the label,we can presume 

it was released in 1966 or 1967.

Side A

F.N.M.A. Congo (Franco)

Side B

Naboyi Libala Na Noko (Franco)

http://www.4shared.com/file/aAgASJXZ/FNMA_Congo.html

Live Chez Un-Deux-Trois A Kinshasa (African 360.116) - 1977

This classic album from 1977 was recorded live at Franco's club the Un-Deux-Trois A Kinshasa. The front cover shows what it was like in the club at that time. How we wish we were adults in Kinshasa at this time. Perhaps some of you have fond memories of attending the club in this great period for Congolese music.

Three of the four tracks were composed by Franco, the other by Youlou. Classic late 70's Ok Jazz.

 

Side A

1. Mama na kyky (Franco)

2. Azwaka Te Azwilelo (Franco)

Side B

1. Falaswa (Franco)

2. Ibrahim (Youlou)

Here is the link

http://www.4shared.com/file/Z_rkWlj1/Live_Chez_Un_Deus_Trois_A_Kins.html

Mayi Tokomelaka (1987) (Edipop 1012)

Here is a real rarity we found in our father's collection. It is controversial because Franco was found guilty in court of copying the song, without credit, from a composer called Bidika Nowele, who called the song 'Mayi ya Regideso.' Those of you who speak French can read the full details of the court case here.


http://www.mbokamosika.com/article-23854243.html

On the record we have Nowele is credited as the composer, but the court case states the first release of the record credited Franco as the composer!

So here is the track. Unfortunately there are a lot of skips on it, we could not fix this. Still this is a great rare find for serious OK Jazz collectors. If anyone has a better version please send it to us and we will post it instead.

We have combined the A and B sides of this single into one mp3.
There is no cover for the single unfortunately. You can download it here.

http://www.4shared.com/file/NkFB2oVM/Maya_Tokomelaka.html

***Update***

Here is another version of this track uploaded by a visitor to this site Peter, thank you for your contribution.

http://www.4shared.com/file/j7D30QcM/

Peter also provided us with this photo of the label

African Retro Vol. 1 and Merveilles du Passé 1957/1958

This blog is all about collecting all the Ok Jazz related material we can find in one place, so we occasionally post links to uploads made on other blogs. Here we post links from our friends at Global Groovers to two old records featuring OK Jazz in their early days.

Merveilles du Passé 1957/1958 is some of the earliest Ok Jazz on record, heavy rumbas, beautiful music.

You can read more about the album and download it here

http://globalgroovers.blogspot.com/2010/12/franco-lok-jazz-merveilles-du-passe.html

Track listing

1 Motema ya lokoso (Franco)
2 Oyangani ngai ? (Franco)
3 Oleka tukomane (Vicky)
4 Ngai oyo nazongi (Vicky)
5 Bana ages (Franco)
6 Oh ! Katharina (Franco)
7 La mulata rumber (Franco)
8 Malambo zela (Franco)
9 Mami majos (Franco)
10 OK Jazz makila mabe (Franco)
11 Grupo O.K. Jazz (Franco)
12 Baboni mboka (Franco)

The second link from Global Groovers is a compilation called African Retro Vol.1. The first six tracks are by OK Jazz. The album also includes music by Orchestre Bantous and Orchestre Cercul.

http://globalgroovers.blogspot.com/2010/12/african-tetro-vol1-pont-sur-le-zaire.html

 Track listing

1 Orchestre OK Jazz - Misele (Franco)
2 Orchestre OK Jazz - On a ose le dire (Franco)
3 Orchestre OK Jazz - Polo (Franco)
4 Orchestre OK Jazz - Bolingo ya bougie (Coimy)
5 Orchestre OK Jazz - Si tu bois beaucoup (Dele)
6 Orchestre OK Jazz - Le temps passe (Franco)
7 Orchestre Bantous - Pa' vacillar
8 Orchestre Bantous - Bantous pachanga
9 Orchestre Cercul - Mobali ya craneur
10 Orchestre Cercul - Honole
11 Orchestre Bantous - Endiable merengue
12 Orchestre Bantous - Tout Brazza

Soon we will post a very rare and controversial OK Jazz track which we found in our father's collection.

Nakomi Musulman 1 & 2 (1977) Edipop 028 Bis

Here as a late Christmas present is a great single from 1977 composed by Youlou Mabiala.

This track was split over two sides on the original vinyl. We have put it together as one mp3.

http://www.4shared.com/file/v7RPEg_G/nakomi_musulman.html

Check back in a few days for a New Year gift.

Franco Presente Youlou Mabiala et son Orchestre Kamikaze (1982)

Ok, so this release is not a TPOK Jazz recording, but it has Franco's name on the cover, it is on his Edipop label and it features his son-in-law and TPOK Jazz member Prince Youlou Mabiala. It's also a fantastic and rare record, so these are reason's enough to post it here.

It was released in 1982 and feautres five tracks, three of which are Youlou compositions. It sounds like it could be TPOK Jazz on the record, the band is so good. We don't know who the band members are.

Franco Presente Youlou Mabiala et son Orchestre Kamikaze - Loningisa Bolongwa Na Nzela Edipop 019.

Side A

U.C.B (Youlou)

Motema Na Ngai Television (Youlou)

Gentil Ya Mbebo (Nlemvo Djomoke)

Side B

Sentiment Ekoti Nzube (Bola-Bolithe)

Ndoyi Ya Ba Soucis (Youlou)





http://www.4shared.com/file/17Gj16BO/Franco_Presente_Youlou.html

Lela Ngai Na Mosika (1985)

This is a 12 inch single from 1985. It is credited to Momy et le Tout Puissant O.K.Jazz, presumably because Momy (Momene Mo Mikengo) composed the tracks.

There are just two tracks. One on each side.

The first track 'Lela Ngai Na Mosika' appears to be a re-recording of a hit from Josky and Ntesa Dalienst's album 'Alerte'.

The second track is called 'Likingo Li Mboka'.

The single was released via the African Record Center/Safari Music inprint with a catalogue of Tchika 010/85.

We don't know if Franco is on this rare record, but it is very good nonetheless. There's a great sebene in Lela Ngai Na Mosika. Vocals on both tracks are provided by Josky, Ntesa, Madilu and Kiwakana.

Side A

Lela Ngai Na Mosika (Momy)

Side B

Likingo Li Mboka (Momy)

http://www.4shared.com/file/0-jbNw6K/Lela_Ngai.html

Two 45's from the 1970's

We have been busy collecting some great rarities to post on the blog. Some of these were acquired with the help of some generous doners. May we thank you sincerely for helping to make these recordings available to everyone. Your continued support is appreciated.

Our first two posts of our new acquisitions are two 45's from the 1970's.

The first is 'Boni Nkaka' a Youlou Mabiala composition from 1977 released as a stand alone single labelled Edition Populaires 061 (African 91.595). The song was previously released on the now deleted Sonodisc CD 36571 which we never got a copy of. This is the original vinyl release in two parts.

http://www.4shared.com/file/Unz22FQ4/Boni_Nkaka.html


The second track is 'Zenaba' a compositon by Franco from 1973 released as Edition Populaires 146. This seems to be two different versions of the same song rather than one long song split over two sides. There is slight warping on our copy of this single which causes the start of part 2 to sound a bit strange. A live version of this song was released on CD by Sonodisc CDS 6952. Both studio versions seem to have only been released on vinyl so this is a rarity and a real classic too.

http://www.4shared.com/file/Y8fEcBKR/Zenaba.html

l'Animation Non Stop (Edipop 034) 1987)

We are sorry for being so long to post anything new. Patience my friends, there will be some great rare material posted soon from some vinyl we have been collecting.

In the mean time here is an album we found posted on global groovers recently.

The album is L'Animation Non Stop from 1987. We have to admit this is not one of our favourite OK Jazz LP's because of the bad synthesizer sounds. We're sure some of you will enjoy it though.

                              
L'Animation Non Stop (Edipop 034, 1987)
Side A

1 Mario III (Franco)

2 Sept ans de mariage (Josky/Franco)

3 Iran-Irak (Madilu)

4 Merci Bapesa na chien (Simaro)

5 In memoriam, Lukusa (Josky)

Side B

1 Mamou II (Franco)

2 Decision echange Maloba (Simaro)

3 Bolingo etondi ba souvenirs (Youlou)

4 Nganda parlelle ba vanda (Simaro)

http://globalgroovers.blogspot.com/2010/06/le-grand-maitre-franco-et-le-tp-ok-jazz.html

A L'ANCIENNE BELGIQUE (EDIPOP POP 025,1985)

This post is a special request from Kisondella in Tanzania. It is a great album from 1985 that has a real sound of its own. The use of chorused guitars and electric drums might put off some purists, but the songs and musicianship on the album transcend any dated 80's sounds. Josky and Madilu are to the fore on the vocal front here. The album includes the classic Madilu System song 'Pesa Position Na Yo'.

We do not have an LP version of this so the tracks we've posted are compiled from the out of print CD reissues SONODISC CDS 6856, SONODISC CDS 6866 and SONODISC CDS 6852.

Why Sonodisc split the tracks across these discs we don't understand!

The images of the LP were taken from another internet site.

http://www.4shared.com/file/uZAmC4ed/LAncienne_Belgique.html

Side A

K.S.K. (Josky)

Nda-Ya (Mpudi Decca)

Side B

Pesa Position Na Yo (Madilu System)

Mukungu (Gerry Dialungana)

Two Rare 45's

It has been some time since we posted something so here are two 45's we aquired recently with the aid of gratefully received donations from two visitors to our site. Without these donations we wouldn't have been able to purchase these rare items.

The first is an EP from 1965 credited to Brazzos et O.K. Jazz, it is a Pathé Marconi release labelled EMF 314

http://www.4shared.com/file/Cs4vHNC0/Brazzos_et_Ok_Jazz.html


These are very rare tracks never released on CD. Two of the tracks were only ever released on this EP. The first two appeared as a single on the HMV release Loningisa 1058. We don't have composers for the tracks and presume they were composed by Brazzos.

We like this EP a lot, there are some interesting variations on the standard OK Jazz sound of this time including a nice bluesy bend in Franco's guitar on Cha Cha Cha Del Zombo. The cover of the copy we acquired was quite badly damaged so our apologies for that.

Side A

Cha Cha Cha Del Zombo

Mokili Mobongwani

Side B

Cuidado Cona Mallo

Aya Yo Ozui



The second 45 we have is a single from 1970 with two great tracks. It was released on the African label and it is labelled African 90.485 with an extra label of Epanza-Makita 117. This seems to be an ultra-rare release as there is no mention of it on the online discographies of Ok Jazz.

http://www.4shared.com/file/1VFQ0Sbj/African_90485.html


We particularly like the second track 'Bisenga Senga' which is a composition of the great Mose Fan Fan


Side A

Mathieu Togongana (Checain)

Side B

Bisenga Senga (Fan Fan)


If you enjoyed these rarities please consider donating something to our cause so we can acquire more wonderful rare OK Jazz music like this.

3 Singles from the early 1970's

Here is a link from our friends at World Service which features three single releases from the 1970's. Apparently 4 out of the 5 of these songs were never released on CD or mp3. They're all classics

The first was released in 1973 as Fiesta 51.198 B http://www.mediafire.com/?3immtto4eqz

Side A

Cedou (Simaro)

Side B

B.S.K. (Franco)

The next was released in 1974 as Pathe 2 C006 15717 http://www.mediafire.com/?a3dj1jwclyt

Side A

Mele (Checain)

Side B

Mowunbu Ya Makanisi (Franco)


Finally on the Editions Populaire's label from 1974 is EP 205

http://www.mediafire.com/?mzjutn1djou

Side A

Tata Na Bebe part 1 (Franco)

Side B

Tata Na Bebe part 2 (Franco)




World Service provide impeccable notes on all these singles at this link

http://wrldsrv.blogspot.com/2009/12/staying-ok.html

Authenticite Volume 4 (African 360.078 - 1962/1963)

This is a compilation of tracks recorded between 1962 and 1963. There's a heavy Cuban influence on a lot of these tracks. Most of the tracks are composed by Mujos. Only one is composed by Franco, two of the tracks are early compositions of the Poet Lutumba Simarro.

Seven of these tracks appeared on the CD

FRANCO ET L'OK JAZZ (MUJOS,SIMARO ET KWAMY)
1960/1961/1962 (AFRICAN/SONODISC CD 36511)

This CD is now out of print and it hasn't been made available for
digital download yet. 

The other three tracks, Guitares De L'Enfer, Tele Mujos and
La Vida Del Un Negro, appear never to have been released on CD or mp3

http://www.4shared.com/file/258602231/a2e25438/Authenticite_Vol_4.html

Side A

ELE WA BOLINGO (MUJOS)                               

MIGUEL' CANTA (MUJOS)                               
   
JALOUSIE YA MIMI NA NGAI (MUJOS)                     
   
COMO QUERE (MUJOS)                                   
     
GUITARES DE L'ENFER  (SIMARRO)                       



Side B 

MADO OBOYI SIMARRO? (SIMARRO)                      

TELE-MUJOS (MUJOS)                                   

LICENCIE (SIMEON)                                   

BULUNDUE NA ZONGWEE (FRANCO)                       

LA VIDA DEL UN NEGRO (MUJOS)    

Vicky et Ok Jazz (EMI 1971/1976)

Here's another album from Global Groovers. This one does not actually feature Franco, but it does feature Vicky performing with OK Jazz.

We don't know much else about this album except that it was released in 1971 and reissued in 1976. We don't know who composed any of these tracks but they are possibly all composed by Vicky.

http://globalgroovers.blogspot.com/2009/11/vicky-et-ok-jazz-emi-1971-1976.html


Vicky et Ok Jazz (EMI 1971/1976)

1 Bea
2 Rocky a kovenger n'gai
3 Ngai na boyakiyo te
4 En memoire de Bayon
5 Na zali kitoko mingi
6 Nani akobenga mama
7 Nakufeli invitation
8 Mwana ponaka

A Nairobi (1986) Edipop 033

Well Global Groovers have done it again, they've posted another great TPOK Jazz album, this time 'A Nairobi' from 1986. This album has a very distinct and consitent sound and contains some great sebenes.

http://globalgroovers.blogspot.com/2010/04/le-grand-maitre-franco-et-ses-stars-du.html

Side A

BOMA NGAI, NGAI NABOMA YO (FRANCO/MADILU SYSTEM)                           

KUNA OKEYI OBONGISA (FRANCO/GERRY)                                   

Side B

EPERDEMENT (FRANCO/KIWAKANA)                                             

MASIKINI (FRANCO/DJOMPOY)    

Authenticite OK Jazz 1960/62 (African 360124)

We really like this LP of early OK Jazz tracks recorded between 1960 and 1962.

There is one curiosity about this LP and that is that the tracks 'Sakina Jacky' and 'Bebe Ngai Na Zongi' seem to be identical. This is probably a pressing error. We're not sure if this is just something to do with the copy we have or whether it was a general pressing error that was never rectified. We would appreciate any information anyone has on this.

Either way 'Sakina Jacky' is a great track with lovely guitar and sax interplay, so it's almost worth being on the LP twice!

Most of these tracks were composed by Mujos, two are by Franco.

http://www.4shared.com/file/254808463/a7015683/Authenticite_1960-62.html

Side A


Na Banzi Zozi (Mujos)

Maria De Mi Vida (Mujos)


Bolingo Ya Mbongo Mabe (Mujos)


La Mulata Congolaisa (Mujos)


Olongi Yo Mayi Ya Bwatu (Mujos)

Nono Bolingo Na Mujos (Mujos)


Side B

Na Ko Banza Mama Na Bwana (Mujos)

Sakina Jacky (Mujos)

Sentiment Poto Poto (Mujos)

Mobembo Mabe Boye (Franco)

Ndale Mi Querida (Franco)


Bebe Ngai Na Zongi (Piccolo)

Luambo Makiadi ( Franco ) et son Orchestre OK Jazz - Editions Populaires 10e Anniversaire, Sonodisc 1982

Here's another link from Global Groovers. They've posted lots of great albums by Franco and TPOK Jazz members and we'll be linking a lot of them here to build up the Franco/TPOK Jazz legacy in one place.

This album is a compilation of singles released on the Editions Populaires label between 1965 and 1975. We think none of these tracks were ever reissued on CD or mp3, so this is really rare material.

We usually add who the composers are beside the tracks but we don't know who the composers of these tracks are so any help in identifying them would be appreciated. (Update, we now know all the tracks were composed by Franco thanks to Rumba Bantu.)

http://globalgroovers.blogspot.com/2008/10/luambo-makiadi-franco-et-son-orchestre.html

SIDE A

CINQ ANS EKOKI                                               

SALONGO ALINGI MOSALA                                        

VOTEZ VERT

REPUBLIQUE DU ZAIRE

SIDE B

TOLANDA NZELA MOKO                                       

BA DEPUTE MBILINGA-MBILINGA TOBOYI                       

BELELA AUTHENTICITE NA CONGRES 1&2