A continental gathering such as this should be cause for celebration, but there are a few matters that leave me less enthusiastic than I might be: for example, FIFA has presented evidence that four of South Africa's World Cup warm-up matches were fixed with betting syndicates. The inquiry has been postponed. Host cities in South Africa are using tens of millions of dollars of citizen-funded service delivery budgets to pay for staging the tournament, while private investors and sponsors are being guaranteed returns.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQeiCsaQ3mDXltUZrF8YQAYdNqP4T9onk8X5AC765bG-WnDvb-q1HS41SHRZCias2c8Q93yAlUbxorQmGpWhwLbrV8uwvX9K-Nb7S5SbfzvN7vYYxO6Y6BlwGF359cAcmMoqhJna2FMA/s200/Mado.jpg)
Today, Congo take on Ghana in a group B match. So, what better time to honour what is perhaps the greatest African band ever, one that endured just over 37 years. Part three of the Associated Sounds thread dishes up fifty minutes of O.K. Jazz in five-minute slices squeezed from clean ASL 45rpm singles. You can find the background to the ASL label and postings of Parts one and Two of ASL Congo singles here and here.
Talking of match-fixing, it is not a big leap to arrive at the subject of being unfaithful and the suffering it produces: a 45rpm version Franco's 1971 classic "Mado" is included here. Also included are some popular and some lesser known tracks fronting Mose Se Fan Fan, Simaro, Bitshou, and Youlou Mabialo.
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Tim Clifford's East African discography site has a growing reference to the extensive ASL catalogue - have a look at it here.
O.K. Jazz
Listed in order of ASL number:
1. Franco L’Orchestre O.K. Jazz – Mona Opusi – ASL 7-3073
2. Franco L’Orchestre O.K. Jazz – Le Verite De Franco – ASL 7-3073
3. Youlou et L’Orchestre O.K. Jazz – Bolingo Nouveate – ASL
7– 3159
4. Simaro et L’Orchestre O.K. Jazz – Pardon Ami – ASL 7-31595. Franco et L’Orchestre O.K. Jazz – Mado – ASL 7-3103
6. Franco et L’Orchestre O.K. Jazz – Socomeubles – ASL 7-3103
7. Bitshou et L’Orchestre O.K. Jazz – Papi Zala Reconnaisant – ASL 7-3127
8. Simarro et L’Orchestre O.K. Jazz – Catho Ya Poupee – ASL 7-3127
9. Fan-Fan et L’Orchestre O.K. Jazz – Ba Conseils Ya Cherie – ASL 7-3128
10. Fan-Fan et L’Orchestre O.K. Jazz – Bolingo Esuki Na
Maloba – ASL 7-3128
Download link here (updated Nov 2016)
Many thanks
ReplyDeleteThanks Chris!! Great post!
ReplyDeleteFinally someone who posts some Franco tracks which I have been looking for. Some of these tracks are ultra rare.
The steaming track "La Verité de Franco" is better known or actually titled "Au Commandement", and clearly written on order by Mobutu.
Could I bother you for scans of the other sides of the singles?
I may come over to kiss you for this ;-).
Lovely post. The Congo is a little under-represented in my collection. Look forward to hearing and learning more about Congolese music.
ReplyDeletewonderful post, i got totally sidetracked today into this and the preceding, plus the congo 7" you linked to. thanks, you made my day
ReplyDeleteAJ (muzikifan)
Thanks good people for taking the time to make comments, much appreciated. There are a few more ASL threads to go this year, and your shared interest gives me energy.
ReplyDeletegreat stuff! anybody here happens to have the album 'La Vie des Hommes' by Franco? It contains some of the most lovely duets between Franco and Madilu, but it's nowhere to be found!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the efforts!
Thanks for the comment Peer. Sorry - no luck here on 'La Vie des Hommes'
ReplyDelete