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There’s a “bonus track” with the new version but it’s a fair call to say that when the original compilation was released on Duncan Brooker’s independent label in 2001, this set the template for jazz, funk, soul diggers of 60s/70s Afro-beat; and setting a standard for the likes of Soundway, Analog Africa and even Ethiopiques to a certain extent; and to sidetrack for a moment, Soundway’s equally influential ‘Nigeria 70’ came out in 2002 and subsequently produced Ghana and Nigerian Specials (see HERE).

Brooker’s album features ‘The Nigerian James Brown’, Geraldo Pinto (from Port Harcourt, Nigeria) but largely centres on East Africa (particularly Kenya and Zaire). East Africa’s finest funk band at the time was Air Fiesta Matata as led by Steele Beauttah (who recently passed away) and but check out his story up to 2001 with the interview with “record-collecting obsessive Duncan Brooker” at the time of the original release,

And then there’s the incredible ‘Yuda’ by Dackin Dackino was found on a discarded reel of tape and had never been previously released! And the joe Meek-ed ‘Mabala’ by Das Yahoos.’

The opener, Jingo’s ‘Fever’ was lifted for the soundtrack for the award winning film by Kevin McDonald, Last King Of Scotland (2006, with Oscar Sulley’s ‘Bukom Mashie’)

There’s going to be some digital download bonus tracks and try as I have to look after the original (is that not one of the best covers ever?) I’m grateful to be able to get a new copy; this is what FLY Global Music is all about; Heavy! Heavy! Heavy! lets do the fever!

Reviewed: Various - Afro-Rock Vol. 1 : A Collection Of Rare And Unreleased Afro-Beat Quarried From Across The Continent (Strut) Cat. No: STRUT059CD Release date: 8th March 2010
Tracklisting:
1 Jingo - Fever (6:45)
2 Geraldo Pino & The Heatbeats - Heavy Heavy Heavy (6:35)
3 Steele Beauttah - Africa (3:52)
4. Mercury Dance Band - Envy No Good (4:54)
5. Dackin Dackino - Yuda (12:09)
6. K. Frimpond & His Cubano Fiestas - Kyenkyen Bi Adi M’Awu (6:57)
7 Orchestra Lissanga - Okuzua (8:50)
8 Super Mambo 69 - Sweeper Soul (2:46)
9 Yahoos - Mabala (4:11)
10 Bokoor Band - Onukpa Shawarpo (3:18)
11 Nkansan And Yaanom - Pem Dwe (4:47)
Bonus Track
12 Jingo - Keep On Holding On (Part 1) (3:58) [Previously Unreleased]

Links:
www.strut-records.com
The man who saved African funk,The Guardian 27 Jul 2001 … The key to finding Matata was finding the singer and bandleader, Steele Beauttah. I asked around the usual shops and bars in Nairobi. …http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2001/jul/27/artsfeatures
www.ministryofrock.co.uk/JoeMeek.html
www.soundsoftheuniverse.com