Victor Olaiya's All Stars Soul International
(CD digipack + 16 page booklet/Heavy vinyl LP gatefold) Vampisoul, 2009-04-21

Tracklisting :
01. Let Yourself Go
02. There Was A Time
03. Okere Gwonko
04. I Feel Alright
05. Soro Jeje Fun Arogbo
06. Cold Sweat
07. New Nigeria
08. Things Got To Get Better
09. Everybody Needs Love
10. Magic Feet
11. Onuro
12. Mother Popcorn

Links :
vampisoul.com
myspace.com/vampisoul

Press Release :
"They thought I moved Highlife music out of the ordinary. Then, it was believed that my Highlife was a little bit out of this world, beyond explanation. This was why Alhaji Alade Odunewu of the Daily Times styled me The Evil Genius of Highlife." (Victor Olaiya)

Victor Olaiya is certainly one of the legendary foundation stones of modern Nigerian music, yet he has never received much acknowlegement or really had his albums released or promoted in any quantity outside of Nigeria. So this Vampisoul release is a step in the right direction and not before time, for a 77 years old who was probably Nigeria's leading star of 50's and early 60's, his golden years. Dr. Victor Abimbola Olaiya, the evil genius of Highlife, is still sockin' it to them after 60 years on stage. If you're lucky you can catch him blowing that trumpet and singing his heart out at his own celebrated 'Stadium Hotel' in Lagos, Nigeria.

This album from 1970 is from Olaiya's Highlife / Funk phase, but its worth taking a trawl through his back pages to see how he became the Evil Genius, before you roll back the rug and get down with the Highlife-Funk.

Our carefully produced reissue comes with extensive liner notes by specialist Max Reindhart.