‘pat thomas introduces marijata’ is a seminal ghanian album that fuses highlife, reggae, folk, funk and soul, from legendary vocalist pat thomas. originally released in 1976 on gapophone records. ‘marijata’ was a group made up of three members – kofi ‘electric’ addison on drums, bob fischlan on organ and nat osmanu on guitar, hailing from ghana. pat thomas career began in 1969 with the ‘broadway dance band’, leaving a year later to join the ‘uhuru dance band’. he then played with ebo taylor’s ‘blue monks’ and finally formed the ‘sweet beans’ in 1973 where he really made his name. the group released ‘false lover’ in 1974, split and then reformed as marijata, releasing ‘marijata’ (also available on mr bongo) and this album, ‘pat thomas introduces marijata’. thomas career spans more than 50 years and he still tours regularly across the world. replica original artwork, official mr bongo reissue. licensed from gapophone records courtesy of george prah.

official mr bongo reissue. licensed from george prah, founder of gapophone records.
marijata was a group made up of three members – kofi electric addison on drums, bob fischlan on organ and nat osmanu on guitar, hailing from ghana. ‘this is marijata’ is the groups first lp, released originally on the gapophone label – it is pure, rootsy, raw, driving african funk music of the highest order, now highly sought-after in both its original and previously reissued forms.

soundway presents ghana special volume 2: electronic highlife & afro sounds in the diaspora, 1980-93.

soundway presents ghana special volume 2: electronic highlife & afro sounds in the diaspora, 1980-93.

ghana soundz was the first ever soundway compilation and became recognised worldwide due to the licensing of the oscar sulley track, ‘bukom mashie’ to the soundtrack of hollywood blockbuster, ‘last king of scotland’.
pounding rhythms, blaring horns and pumping vocals – the music is a document of a time forgotten when flares and cuban heels strutted the streets and night-spots of accra, the sizzlingly hot and humid capital of ghana. influenced as much by traditional rhythms and local highlife as by the music of fela kuti, james brown and santana, these tunes had almost become extinct – until now!
ghana soundz was the first of three collections of rare afro-beat, afro-funk and afro-fusion that miles cleret painstakingly travelled the length and breadth of ghana to assemble, the third compilation to be released late 2009.
2017 repress - double vinyl in gatefold sleeve.

organ-driven afro-beat, cosmic afro-funk and raw, psychedelic boogie... just some of the flavours to be found on this highly danceable compilation by samy ben redjeb, founder of analog africa. no effort has been spared!
to document these 15 irresistible tracks and the music scene from the 70s, samy crisscrossed the lengths of ghana and togo in search of the producers and artists - or their relatives. in the process he recorded a dozen interviews, scanned 90 pictures and transferred 120 master tapes. afro-beat airway showcases an amazing diversity of local rhythms spiced with afro-american funk, soul and jazz.

pat thomas - coming home! original ghanaian highlife & afrobeat classics 1964-1981