Stoneface And Life Everlasting - Love Is Free / Agawalam Mba
(7") Academy LPs ASS001, 2011-07-29

Academy LPs is proud to announce the debut of it's Academy Special Single series in conjunction with Voodoo Funk (Frank Gossner). First up is a single by Stoneface and Life Everlasting, from the Nigerian Music Scene. This is their only 7 inch, from 1973. This single is a fantastic two side: Love is free is a gritty Psych Rock tune with a trippy guitar solo while Agawalan Mba is a bulldozing Afro-Funk tune with gravelly vocals and heavy fuzz guitar. An incredibly rare and great single rescued from obscurity by Academy/Voodoo Funk released as a limited edition (1000 copies) picture sleeve 7". Less than 5 original copies are known worldwide!

Marijata - This Is Marijata
(LP) Academy LPs ALP 006, 2011-03-08

The core trio of the Ghanaian funk band Marijata got its start as the Sweet Beans - a highlife combo sponsored by the Ghana Cocoa Marketing Board. Hard-hitting, hair-rising, Afro-fuzz from Ghana, This is Marijata is the toughest and most sought-after African Funk records of them all! Recorded in 1976, this album is the standard by which all other Afro-Funk albums are measured - it's power, vitality and rawness have been emulated, but never equaled. Fully licensed and lovingly remastered, the Academy LPs/Voodoo Funk Re-issue presens This Is Marijata in all it rough-hewn glory.
(PS Academy LPs will release a second Marijata album soon, and a CD containing both albums)

Orlando Julius And The Afro Sounders - Orlando Julius And The Afro Sounders (Re-Issue)
(CD/LP) Voodoo Funk/Traffic Entertainment, 2011-02-14

"Orlando Julius has been a well known name on the West African music scene all through the 1960s and 70s. His early work was recorded in the Philips studios under the strict supervision of their house producers who were putting an emphasis on a pleasant and swinging sound that was jugging along in a pleasant way, bridging big band highlife music with American soul. In 1972 and 1973, Orlando Julius and his band The Afrosounders visited the legendary ARC studio of Ginger Baker and what OJ and the gang put to tape there was an entirely different beast: They recorded and album packed with unadulterated, funky Afrobeat of the heaviest caliber For the first time, Orlando and the his band were able to really let loose and showcase their full power with an unfiltered impact. They laid down six epic tracks that from a Funk or Afrobeat perspective definitely count as Orlando's strongest work but it seemed that Philips were not too happy with this result. They completely botched the distribution of this record and while Orlando's earlier and later work has all been re-issued over the past years, sometimes multiple times and from various international labels, this, his best record has remained under the radar and virtually unknown to the worldwide community of African music lovers. This was until I was sitting in my friend Damian Iwuagwu's house in Lagos back in January of 2010, drinking a cold Star beer and enjoying the evening when he casually handed me this LP and asked "what about this one, I got this the other day and I don't think I've ever seen it before". Now this record is re-released with its original artwork and extensive liner notes written by Orlando Julius himself, including loads of great vintage photographs. Enjoy!"
Frank Gossner

The Psychedelic Aliens - Psycho African Beat
(CD/LP/4x7" boxset) Academy LPs ALP005/ACD005/ABS005, 2010-10-26

Like most stories involving aliens this one seems, well, made up. For a few years in the late 60's to early 70's worlds collided and aliens walked among us. And made music. Psycho African Beat is the complete recorded output of this amazing group and their unprecedented music that combined elements of American soul, funk, garage rock and psych with African rhythms and melodies. This magical moment lasted for 3 short years producing only 3 releases: 1 - 4 song EP + 2 - 7"s. Today, these 3 original releases are the most sought after and most elusive African funk records. It took Frank Gossner (Voodoofunk.com, Soulpusher, DJ Franco) 4 years, 9 visits to Ghana, and dozens of newspaper ads and radio announcements to track them down.

Pat Thomas introduces Marijata
(coming soon) Academy LPs

Born in 1951 in Kumasi, Ghana, the highlife vocalist, Pat Thomas, made his name with his band the Sweet Beans. He began his carreer in 1969 with the Broadway Dance Band, leaving a year later to join the Uhuru Dance Band. Then he played with Ebo Taylor's Blue Monks and finally formed the Sweet Beans in 1973. They released False Lover in 1974, then split and-reformed as Marijata, releasing Marijata and Pat Thomas Introduces Marijata. What a story to resume this rare and famous album that can be sold more than one thousand dollar... (Source : orogod.blogspot.com)
Soon to be reissued on Academy LPs!!

Various - Lagos Disco Inferno
(CD/2xLP) Academy LPs, 2010-03-16

Some call it Disco, some call it Boogie, Academy LPs call it the LAGOS DISCO INFERNO: 12 smokin' rarities straight from Nigeria, dating back to '76-82, compiled by Frank Gossner< (aka DJ FRANC O, SOULPUSHER) of VOODOO FUNK fame. Surprisingly familiar, yet intriguinly foreign, these tracks sound just as fresh today as they did 30+ years ago. The record is rife with horns, moog and bells and whistles to keep you up all night. Great liner notes by Dean Disi (Journalist and former Executive of TYC Records, Lagos) and a special message from extreme record hunter Damian Iwuagwu (Lagos). Following in the footsteps of amazing African re-issues of late such as OFEGE (ACADEMY LPS), PAX NICHOLAS and the NETTY FAMILY (DAPTONE), GHANA SPECIAL (SOUNDWAY), this album stands alone as the first compilation to focus on African Disco. But make no mistake, you won't hear any cheesy strings of nasty Roland Synths. This is straight up tough NIGERIAN DISCO FUNK!


The soundtrack of the video is Boogie Trip by Doris Ebong

Pax Nicholas & The Nettey Family - Na Teef Know De Road Of Teef
(CD/LP) Daptone Records DAP017, 2009-09-01

Convinced of his skills as a drummer and singer, in 1971 Fela Anikulapo Kuti made Nicholas Addo-Nettey a full member of Africa 70 on congas and backing vocals. While playing with Fela and recording on all his releases between 1971 and 1978, Nicholas always had his own thing going on the side. He released two solo LPs for the Tabansi Label with the Martin Brothers Band from Portharcort, Nigeria: Mind Your Own Business in 1971 and Na Teef Know De Road Of Teef in 1973. Na Teef... is a heavy afrofunk set, recorded with Africa 70 musicians and singers in Ginger Baker's highly equipped Lagos studio, where many of Fela's albums were also set to tape. Fela was not amused when he heard how strong the album was, reportedly telling Addo-Nettey "Don't you ever, EVER play it again!". And so it was; despite being a killer record, Na Teef… remained undercover for more than 30 years. The story would have ended there had it not been for Frank Gossner, a true vinyl digger who found a copy somewhere in West Africa, tracked down Nicholas in Berlin, and brought the album to the attention of Daptone Records.

PLEASE SOMEONE SEND ME A COPY OF THIS PLEASE!!