About this item

Those effin heroes at Soundway hit us with the first in a new series of 12” releases aimed at making hard-to-find and in-demand dancefloor tracks available again on loud DJfriendly pressings. These two late 1980s Ghanaian highlife cuts are taken from the catalogue of Nakasi Records. Nakasi was run by the late producer Nana Asiedu (Big Joe) - a well-known figure in the Ghanaian and African music community of 1980s London.
The A-side showcases a track from Jon K’s second solo album, which was a reworking of a traditional Fanti language Asafo company song "Asafo Beesuon". Made famous by C.K.Mann on his seminal album ‘Funky Highlife’, this version very much reflects the more westernised late 1980s sound of highlife music recorded in the UK, Holland, Canada and Germany for both ex-pat Ghanaian audiences and those back home in West Africa.
On the B-side, Pat Thomas (the brother in-law of Big Joe) needs little introduction having been touring the world extensively in recent years with the Kwashibu Area Band. Somehow this dancefloor-heavy cut has eluded recent compilations and reissues. With horns arranged by long time friend and collaborator Ebo Taylor, it’s an instantly recognisable sound that also features Rex Gyamfi - himself a well-known purveyor of 1980s ‘burger-highlife’

STAFF COMMENTS

Patrick says: Not only does this 12" carry the Soundway seal of approval, it also lands in our lap with a scorching flip of traditional fanti song Asafo Beesuon, which you may know from CK Mann's "Funky Highlife". You probably don't know this killer late 80s version which tears the floor up somewhere between boogie, house and Afro-funk - in other words, essential tackle!

TRACK LISTING

Jon K - Asafo
Pat Thomas - Enye Woa