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

Heritage Du Grand Maitre Franco

We post this in tribute to our father. This was recorded after Franco's death in tribute to the great master. It is perhaps the best OK Jazz recording done without him. Some of the synthesizer sounds have not dated well, but we cannot fault the great songs, musicianship, sebenes and perhaps best of all, the fact that so many of the great OK Jazz members came together on this album.
We have Josky, Simaro, Madilu System, Ntesa Dalienst, Djo Mpoyi, Lola Checain, Ndombe Opetum, Aime Kiwakana, Lukoki Diatho, Papa Noel, Decca M'Pudi, Gerry Dialunguna, Yuma Michel Sax, Flavien Makabi, Ya Mokoso, Kunista Ribens, Cyril Orcel, Makwala Bibeson, Weteto Mikorason, Zinga, Alpha, Gandy and Dizzy Mandjeku mixed it. There may be a big hole without Franco on this record, but just that front line of singers is incredible. Josky, Simaro, Aime, Madilu, Papa Noel and Ndombe contributed one great song each to make this a great record. Really the last great OK Jazz record before divisions made the band members break into different versions and pursue solo careers.

We have fond memories of the day our father brought this LP home and played it for us over and over. We were mourning Franco then, today we celebrate our father's memory with this post.

http://www.4shared.com/file/ai0u-klP/ok_jazz_heritage_du_grand_mait.html

A1		Maby (Josky)
A2		Mamisa (Simaro)
A3		Malaria (Aime)
B1		Tonton Zala Serieux (Papa Noel)
B2		Mort' Vivant...Somida (Madilu)
B3		Osala Erreur (Aime)

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

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)

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)    

Tres Impoli (1984)

We will be posting some more rare albums soon, in the mean time here's a link to the album 'Tres Impoli' from 1984 courtesy of our friends at globalgroovers. This is not one of our favourite Franco albums as it lacks any really great sebenes. It is more about the song lyrics than anything. On the plus side it does feature some wonderful singing from Madilu System, particularly on the famous song 'Tu Vois?'

http://globalgroovers.blogspot.com/2010/02/franco-et-le-tpok-jazz-tres-impoli.html

Side A

Tres Impoli (Franco)

Side B

Tu Vois? (Franco)

Temps Mort (Franco)

Restoring the recorded legacy of Franco et TPOK Jazz

With this blog we intend to redress the terrible neglect given to the recorded legacy of Franco Luambo Makiadi and T.P.O.K. Jazz.

We intend to post links to albums, eps and singles in their original track listing and where possible, with original artwork.

We will post links to any recordings currently available which have tracks in their original album order.

We would greatly appreciate help in this ambitious project, so if you would like to assist by providing links to recordings you may have posted elsewhere or by sending us files of recordings then we would be very grateful.

If you hold the copyright to any of these recordings please note that no recordings are posted directly on this page and we cannot be held responsible for the content of external sites.

We would also ask you to get up off your asses and properly honour the legacy of Franco and TPOK Jazz by re-releasing all their recordings in the sequences they were originally intended to be heard instead of butchering them like has been done in the past!!!