More Info
• Two albums on one CD featuring pioneering Afro Rock band, Osibisa.
• This release brings together their two albums released on Warner Bros Records in 1973 and 1974.
• All tracks sourced from the Warner Bros tape archives.
‘Happy Children’ was recorded at Lansdowne Studios in West London and produced by Peter Gallen. The album was released in late 1973. The follow up, ‘Osibirock’, was recorded at Chipping Norton Studios in Oxfordshire and Lansdowne Studios with the album released in 1974.
This release is presented in a digipack with a 24-page booklet, featuring exclusive sleeve notes written by band member, percussionist Kofi Ayivor, sharing his memories of the period. Also featured are the original front cover designs – ‘Happy Children’ features an illustration by Jeff Schrier and ‘Osibirock’s cover painting is by Henri Rousseau.
Osibisa pioneered a new sound, blending European, American and African influences creating an early form of what would become recognised as World Music. Their fusion of tribal percussion, soulful horns and joyful African singing is timeless.
The band released a further eight albums during the 1970’s, with further studio albums and live releases following through the 1980’s right up to the ‘New Dawn’ album release in 2021. The band’s enduring legacy lives on and finds new audiences along the way.
Tracklist
1. HAPPY CHILDREN
2. WE WANT TO KNOW (MO)
3. KOTOKU
4. TAKE YOUR TROUBLE...GO
5. ADWOA
6. BASSA-BASSA
7. SOMAJA
8. FIRE
9. WHO’S GOT THE PAPER
10. WHY
11. OSIBIROCK
12. KELELE
13. ATINGA BELLS
14. AFRICAN JIVE
15. WE BELONG
16. KOMFO (HIGH PRIEST)
17. KANGAROO
18. HOME AFFAIRS