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)

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

Mario (Choc 004 and Choc 005) 1985

Franco's biggest hit was the epic 'Mario' from 1985. The songs success somewhat overshadowed the other songs that were released on the two versions of Mario that were released over the albums Choc 004 and Choc 005.

Whilst 'Mario' is undeniably a classic with a wonderful infectious rhythm, the other songs released on these albums are also excellent. The guitar work on all these songs is just fantastic.

Three of the songs appear never to have been released outside of these original pressings. 'Je M'En Fou De Ton Passe' and 'Esuke' from Choc 004 and 'Likambo Na Moto Te' from Choc oo5. The latter is a real gem composed by Josky with a great bass line and Josky using his majestic voice to the maximum.

We present both LP's here for you. Our copy of 'Choc 004' may be a little warped as it sounds a bit odd at times as if the chorus pedals on the guitars were used on the whole track! If anyone has better quality versions of these tracks we would gratefully receive and post them.

FRANCO ET LE T.P.O.K.JAZZ CHANTENT MARIO (CHOC CHOC 004,1985)

Side A

MARIO (FRANCO)                                                   

Side B

JE M'EN FOU DE TON PASSE (BONYEME)

ESUKE (LOKOMBE)

http://www.4shared.com/file/241346481/36861428/Mario.html

MARIO (CHOC CHOC 005,1985)

Side A

MARIO (PART 2) (Franco)

Side B

LIKAMBO NA MOTO TE (Josky)

EKOTI YA NEUBE (Carlito)                  

http://www.4shared.com/file/241335400/29cddd48/Mario_2.html

Nguashi N'timbo - Manguta

Nguashi N'timbo was a member of TPOK Jazz from 1979-1981 and in this time he recorded two albums with them where he was the featured vocalist and composer.

One is called 'Banganga Ya Moyindo' and it was released on N'Timbo's own label. It is available from the following blog.

http://ylow.blogspot.com/2009/06/ngwashi-ntimbo-banganga-ya-moyindo.html

SIDE A

BANGANGA YA MOYINDO
LEMBI
ZALA SERIEUSE

SIDE B

PNEU RESERVE
MOTO YA TRAIN 

The second album is called 'Manguta' from which the title track was a big hit. You can see a live performance of Manguta by TPOK Jazz here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7COog8wwhs0

We also provide the album Manguta here for your listening pleasure. It is a great album never released on CD or mp3. There are a couple of skips on the opening track which couldn't be helped. We're not sure who plays on these albums but we can hear Josky and Ntesa singing at some points and we think we hear Franco's guitar too!

http://www.4shared.com/file/234618177/7eb92077/manguta.html


SIDE A

Manguta (N'Timbo)
Mzazi (N'Timbo)

SIDE B

Bolingo Ya Sens Unique (N'Timbo)
Cheri Ago (N'Timbo)

Le Quart De Siecle Volume 5 (1981) Edipop 06

This album is a bit of an oddity. It is volume 5 of Le Quart De Siecle which we posted earlier, however this is not generally considered to go with the other four volumes because it was recorded at a different time.

The album also seems to have been released in two different versions. One features the ultra-rare song 'Honda' in place of 'Ngaliene'. Ngaliene appeared on the Sonodisc CD 8489 (titled '1980-1981') along with the other tracks 'Coupe Du Monde', 'Fabrice' and 'Wallo'. 'Honda' has never been released on CD and it appears it was only released on the rare version of Le Quart De Siecle Vol. 5.

So now this rare Josky composition is available for all along with the other tracks by following this link.

http://www.4shared.com/file/228399325/3d4fb68d/Le_Quart_Vol_5.html


There are some other things of note about this copy of the album. The track 'Fabrice' is much longer than the version released on CD, it also fades out at one point only to start abruptly again.

The album sequence was also incorrectly titled

On the album cover and label the track listing is

Side A

Coupe Du Monde

Fabrice

Side B

Wallo

Honda


The actual sequence of tracks on the LP is as follows

Side A

Coupe Du Monde (Ndombe Opetum)

Honda (Josky)

Side B

Fabrice (Franco)

Wallo (Ntesa Dalienst)

We've also included the track Ngaliene to cover both versions of the LP release.

Apologies for the bad photo reproduction of the LP cover

Benediction

Franco & Michelino - Benediction

Benediction is an album originally released in 1983 by Michelino, a great guitarist who was an occasional member of TPOK Jazz. The album was released on CD a few years ago but it has now gone out of print and it is not available as a digital download. So this is a rarity only available at the link below for your listening pleasure.

The sound on this album is quite different to the classic TPOK Jazz sound. It's very much an album from the 1980's with its drum machines and chorused guitar sounds, but if you can get beyond these things it becomes a wonderful album. In fact the novel 1980's touches have a kind of charm to them, particularly the funky slap bass on the track 'Prince D'xl'.

The real highlight of the album though is the guitar playing of Michelino and how it interacts with Franco's guitar. Whilst this album is not officially a TPOK Jazz recording, it does feature other TPOK Jazz members including Josky, teaming up with members of Tabu Ley Rochereau's band Afrisa International under the banner 'Lisanga ya Banganga'. This is the same group that made several albums in 1983 such as Choc Choc Choc & L'Evenement.

A similar sound pervades all these albums and they will be posted
here at a later date.

Our special thanks go to Stefan of worldservice for providing
us with the track 'Va et Vient',

We think all the tracks were composed by Michelino, if we're
wrong please correct us.

BENEDICTION / FRANCO & MICHELINO (MICHELINO/SONODISC MICH 01, 1983) 

Side 1

MUTAMBULA MPIMPA  (Michelino)     

PRINCE D' XL (Michelino)

Side 2

POINT CARRÉ (Michelino)    

VA ET VIENT (Michelino)

http://www.4shared.com/file/212671645/6d688c70/Benediction__MICH_01_.html

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!!!