Afrique

Band members               Related acts

- King Errisson - percussion (1973)
- Paul Humphrey - percussion (1973)
- Paul Jeffrey - sax (1973)
- Joe Kelso - sax (1973)
- Steve Kravitz - sax (1973)
- Charles Kynard - keyboards (1973)
- Ray Pounds - drums (1973)
- Chuck Rainey - bass (1973)
- Wallace Snow - percussion (1973)
- Charles Taggaart - percussion (1973)
- David T. Walker - guitar (1973)
- Arthur Wright - guitar (1973)
- Chino Valdes - percussion (1973) 
  

 

 

- none known

 

 

Genre: funk 

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Soul Makossa

Company: Mainstream

Catalog: MRL 394

Year: 1973

Country/State: USA, New York 

Grade (cover/record): NM/NM

Comments: still in shrink wrap

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4

Price: $100.00

Cost: $1.00

 

 In spite of the international name, Afrique (French for Africa) was a New York-based studio entity. Led by sessions bassist Chuck Rainey and guitarist David T. Walker, in 1973 the 13 member band was signed by the Detroit-based Mainstream label. Released as an unlikely single, the group enjoyed a fluke hit with an instrumental remake of Manu Dibango's "Soul Makossa". With the single just missing the top-40, Mainstream rushed the band back into the studio to record an album of similar styled instrumentals. Released with the clever title "Soul Makossa" the rest of the set was little more than anonymous soul and disco-influenced fodder ("Kissing My Love", "House of Rising Funk" and "Let Me Do My Thing"). While Walker and fellow guitarist Arthur Wright came up with a couple of entertaining segments ("Let Me Do My Thing"), there just wasn't much to be heard that was original (did you really need another instrumental version of "Sleepwalk"?). Propelled by the title track, the parent album proved a minor hit, reaching #152 on the charts. 

"Soul Makossa" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) 

 

(side 2)
1.) 



While most bands would have struggled on with a pathetic follow up, Afrique at least had the sense to call it quits after one LP.

 

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