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KALITA

Papa Yankson

Party Time

    Kalita are proud to present the first ever reissue of Papa Yankson’s highly sought-after 1989 disco-infused highlife masterpiece 'Party Time'! Showcasing the late Ghanaian superstar at his very best, ‘Party Time’ encapsulates the blending of deep, rhythmic West African highlife with synthesizers and electronic styles that had exploded during the decade. Now, thirty-five years after initial release, and with original copies having reached grail status on the second-hand collector’s scene, Kalita brings this phenomenal record back to life, with extensive liner notes detailing Papa Yankson’s musical career.

    A recipient of the Grand Medal of Ghana for his contribution to Ghanaian music, Papa Yankson was a key member of C.K. Mann’s Carousel Seven outfit during the 1970s, releasing joint albums together on the infamous Essiebons label to great success.

    However, it was at the end of the following decade that Papa released ‘Party Time’, highlighting his forward-thinking musical style with its numerous hypnotic and driving up-tempo disco-soaked highlife cuts. Originally released in a small run on the short-lived Marriot Promotion label, the album features the standouts ‘Wonma Yenko Po’ and ‘Mumumde’, each showcasing deep highlife melodies, heavy drum patterns and phenomenal horn performances from the ingenious Sammy Lartey Jr on saxophone and Nana Asare on trumpet to boot.

    With original copies selling for eye-watering amounts on the rare occasion that they come up for sale, the time is ripe for Kalita to celebrate this true Ghanaian 80’s grail, accompanied by liner notes and never-before-seen contemporary photos of Papa Yankson.


    TRACK LISTING

    A1. Wonma Yenko Po
    A2. Mumumde
    A3. Yaa Yaa Nkoba
    B1. Dofo Bi Afre
    B2. Odo Ye Wu
    B3. Me Bo Me Zanku Daa

    Addmoro

    Rock & Roll Skate

      Kalita are delighted to announce the first ever re-release of Los Angeles-based outfit Addmoro’s three sought-after recordings from their privately released invisible 1985 boogie grail ‘Keep On Trying’. With original copies of the album out of reach for all but a select few since its initial release over thirty-five years ago, this is a much overdue retrospective of the group’s musical output.

      Originally privately released on the group’s eponymous label Addmoro Records, Kalita’s 12” reissue single features both the vocal and instrumental versions of ‘Keep On Tryin’, plus the saxophone-featuring boogie monster ‘Rock & Roll Skate (Sax Version)’, arguably one of the heaviest boogie recordings of the genre.

      With original copies of Addmoro’s album selling for over £600 on the rare occasion that they come up for sale, Kalita now deliver a loud and remastered 12” single for all.

      TRACK LISTING

      A1 Rock & Roll Skate (Sax Version)
      B1. Keep On Tryin’ (Vocal Version)
      B2. Keep On Tryin’ (Instrumental Version)

      Billy Evans

      Prisoner Of My Weakness - Reissue

        Kalita are delighted to announce the first ever official reissue of Billy Evans’ sought-after 1985 12” disco single 'Prisoner Of My Weakness'! Over thirty-five years since initial release, and long acclaimed by collectors, DJs and dance music fans, the time is ripe to share Billy’s music once more. Originally privately released in a small run on Billy’s own label Tee Records, Kalita’s 12” reissue single features both the vocal and incredible dub mix versions of ‘Prisoner Of My Weakness’, plus a brand-new phenomenal remix courtesy of Waxist, produced using the original multitrack analogue master tapes. With original copies selling for triple figures on the rare occasion that they come up for sale, Kalita now deliver a loud and remastered 12” single for all.

        TRACK LISTING

        A1. Prisoner Of My Weakness
        B1. Prisoner Of My Weakness (Dub Mix)
        B2. Prisoner Of My Weakness (Waxist Mix)

        Various Artists

        Borga Revolution Vol. 2

          Kalita are proud to unveil the second volume in their ‘Borga Revolution!’ compilation series, focussing on the phenomenon of ‘Burger Highlife’, a crossover of West African melodies with synthesizers, disco and boogie that took over Ghanaian airwaves during the 1980’s and beyond. Featuring both highly sought-after recordings by artists including Atta Frimpong and D.J. Lawyer Okyere, as well as seminal performances by greats such as Pat Thomas, A.B. Crentsil and Alan Cosmos, Kalita once again come to the rescue of audiophiles, DJs and music-lovers alike with ‘Borga Revolution! – Volume 2’. Spread over a double-LP housed in a gatefold sleeve. Accompanied by a 12-page booklet featuring extensive interview-based liner notes on each artist and never-before-seen archival photos.

          The 1970s had witnessed an increased Western airtime and physical presence in Ghana introducing funk, soul and disco sounds to the region. By the turn of the decade the country was also enduring economic turmoil, with rising poverty, military dictatorships and long periods of enforced curfews (amongst other factors) making it impossible for artists to survive.

          As a result, many Ghanaian artists with a broader outlook began to pursue their careers in the West, moving to both Europe and America in search of stardom. It was here that Ghanaian musicians developed a digitised version of highlife music which fully embraced Western contemporary music styles and newly introduced technology such as the DX7 synthesizer and various drum machines.

          It is in this context in which the evolution of Ghanaian dance music and the emergence of ‘burger highlife’ was born. With the ‘Borga Revolution!’ series Kalita endeavour to tell this story, with prominent and lesser-known musicians’ accounts and documentary evidence providing a comprehensive understanding of this shift to the digital age.

          TRACK LISTING

          A1. Atta Frimpong - Bepo So Dua
          A2. Alan Cosmos And His Bam-Baara Soundz - Soca For Your Pleasure
          A3. A.B. Crentsil - Mama Dwen Meho
          B1. D.J. Lawyer Okyere - Ohia Kan Nye Ya (Medley)
          B2. Alan Cosmos And His Bam-Baara Soundz - Onua Gyae
          B3. Pope Flyne Ackah - I Think You Are Right (Jepense Que Tu A Raison)
          C1. Atta Frimpong - Yaako
          C2. Pat Thomas - Obae
          C3. Mawuli Decker - Mawu Nafako Nam
          D1. Nana Aboagye Da-Costa - Sikyi (Medley)
          D2. Alan Cosmos And His Bam-Baara Soundz - Yebi/Fontonfrom 

          Various Artists

          Borga Revolution! Ghanaian Music In The Digital Age, 1983 - 1992 (Volume 1)

            Kalita are proud to unveil the first ever compilation focussing on the phenomenon of ‘Burger Highlife’, a crossover of West African melodies with synthesizers, disco and boogie that took over Ghanaian airwaves during the 1980’s and beyond. Highlighting key recordings from genre-defining artists including Thomas Frempong and George Darko, as well as more obscure sought-after tracks by elusive bands such as Aban and Uncle Joe’s Afri-Beat, Kalita come to the rescue of audiophiles, DJs and music-lovers alike with ‘Borga Revolution!’ Spread over a double-LP housed in a gatefold sleeve. Accompanied by a 16-page booklet featuring extensive interview-based liner notes on each artist and never-before-seen archival photos.

            The 1970s had witnessed an increased Western airtime and physical presence in Ghana introducing funk, soul and disco sounds to the region. By the turn of the decade the country was also enduring economic turmoil, with rising poverty, military dictatorships and long periods of enforced curfews (amongst other factors) making it impossible for artists to survive.

            As a result, many Ghanaian musicians with a broader outlook began to pursue their careers in the West, moving to both Europe and America in search of stardom. It was here that Ghanaian musicians developed a digitised version of highlife music which fully embraced Western contemporary music styles and newly introduced technology such as the Yamaha DX7 synthesizer and various drum machines.

            It is in this context in which the evolution of Ghanaian dance music and the emergence of ‘Burger Highlife’ was born. With ‘Borga Revolution!’ Kalita endeavour to tell this story, with prominent and lesser-known musicians’ accounts and documentary evidence providing a comprehensive understanding of this shift to the digital age.


            TRACK LISTING

            A1. Uncle Joe’s Afri-Beat - Eshe Wo Kon Ho
            A2. Thomas Frempong - Mada Meho So
            A3. Native Spirit - Odo San Bra Fie
            B1. George Darko - Medo Menuanom (12” Version)
            B2. Wilson Boateng - Mabre Agu
            B3. Paa Jude - Odo Refre Wo
            C1. Aban - Efie Nnye
            C2. Wilson Boateng - Asew Watchman
            C3. Uncle Joe’s Afri-Beat - Mr. D.J.
            D1. George Darko - Obi Abayewa
            D2. Dr. K. Gyasi’s Noble Kings - Damfo Agoo/David Akofo/Obegyaa Nowa/Okwantuni Moboro (Medley)

            Wilson Boateng

            Asew Watchman

              Reissue of this amazing Ghanian boogie / highlife record from 1988. Cut loud on 12” and therefore optimized for dancefloor action. In addition we get two remixes from Amsterdam-based DJ Mendel.

              Originally privately released in a small run by Wilson himself, ‘Asew Watchman’ and ‘Mabre Agu’ were both recorded in Brixton, London in 1988 after his relocation from Ghana to the UK in search of stardom, following the footsteps of burger highlife stars Pat Thomas, George Darko and Thomas Frempong.

              Sadly, however, after pressing one thousand copies of the album, and although the music itself rivalled the very best burger highlife of the time, Wilson was beset by various obstacles both in London and back home. As such, the record was unable to make the headway that it deserved, and the music was soon lost into obscurity.

              Nevertheless, with original copies now selling for triple figures on the second-hand market, and after a two-year search to track Wilson down, Kalita felt obliged to repress this lost classic.


              STAFF COMMENTS

              Matt says: Afro-boogie that'll find favour with lovers of Don Laka and Oby Onyioha. I like the two OGs / two remix format very much. You'll get loads of legs outta this!

              TRACK LISTING

              Side 1
              1. Asew Watchman (4:42)
              2. Mabre Agu (3:39)
              Side 2
              1. Asew Watchman (Mendel Extended Mix) (6:35)
              2. Mabre Agu (Mendel Midnight Mix) (5:15)

              Julie Coker

              A Life In The Limelight: Lagos Disco & Itsekiri Highlife

              Kalita are honoured to release the first ever compilation focusing on the musical career of Julie Coker, the queen of Nigerian television. Here they collated seven of Julie’s most sought-after Afro disco and hauntingly-beautiful Itsekiri highlife recordings, accompanied by extensive interview-based liner notes and never-before- seen photos.

              After gaining fame as Miss Western Nigeria 1957, Julie began her career in the Nigerian entertainment industry as the country’s first ever (and Africa’s second) female television presenter, as well as a popular national radio host. In 1976, having been surrounded by close musical friends including Fela Kuti and Kris Okotie, Julie entered the Nigerian music scene with the now-invisible psychedelic highlife album ‘Ere Yon (Sweet Songs)’, followed in 1981 by the highly sought-after disco-centric ‘Tomorrow’ to great acclaim. Both now fetch eye-watering prices on the rare occasion that they become available for sale.

              Here they selected select four recordings from ‘Ere Yon (Sweet Songs)’ and three from ‘Tomorrow’, all as contemporary-sounding today as they were when first released forty years ago. These include Julie’s ‘Ere Yon’, which was recently re-interpreted by Anderson Paak on his latest album ‘Oxnard’ released on Dr. Dre’s Aftermath imprint, and the lost Afro disco classic ‘Gossiper Scandal Monger’.


              TRACK LISTING

              1. Ere Yon
              2. Re Hese
              3. It’s All For You
              4. Sogio
              5. Gossiper Scandal Monger
              6. Iyo-Re
              7. Elelemi


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