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Osibisa | 
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| Artist: Osibisa
Label: Aim Records
Category: Music
Buy New: $15.98
New (33) Used (8) from $9.47
Rating:  9 reviews
Sales Rank: 73645
Format: Import
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 1045
UPC: 752211104526
EAN: 0752211104526
ASIN: B00000I25R
Release Date: December 13, 1993
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Tracks:
| • | Dawn | | • | Music for Gong Gong | | • | Oyiko Bia | | • | Akwaaba | | • | Oranges | | • | Phallus C. | | • | Think About the People |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Album Description
Their first release in 1971. An absolute classic with a mini-LP cover!
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| Customer Reviews: Read 4 more reviews...
How could I have possibly forgotten how good this is July 26, 2005
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
Like many of the other reviewers here, I first heard this band/album back in early 70's. Their music is simply great, the energy, the talent - everything. I'm listening to it again after a too long hiatus (it's on my vinyl collection) and I'm stunned - how could I have forgotten this music - I'm ordering their CDs. My siblings will instantly break into smiles at the mention of the phrase "Osibisa - crisscross rythyms that explode with happiness" and then they'll repeat the line "we gonna start this happy vibes right from the root, and the root is early one morning in the heart of Africa." If you like earlier Santana, I'm pretty sure you'll like this - it's different, more African with a twist of Caribbean - but most of all it is just fun.
Osibisa from Africa July 18, 2005
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
One night in 1970 lying in my bed inside my psychedelic room listening to my Panasonic/Quadraphonic (forerunner of the surround sound today) component set. I heard on the FM radio station the complete two albums "Osibisa/Woyaya", I was so impressed with their music that the following day I ran to the store to buy both albums! At the time the Santana band was my favorite band. However, Osibisa with their unique African sound became another favorite band of mine. The percussion and the rhythms make you feel you are in Africa. Today I still collect their CD's and listen to the music that once brought the savage out of me; I'll see you later bwanna!
Mottsibisa July 23, 2004
16 out of 18 found this review helpful
'Osibisa' was formed in London, England in 1969 by a multi-racial group of musicians; all with the same interests in music. The nucleus of the band was from Ghana, others, like the unbelievable guitarist Wendell Richardson, came from Antigua; the bass player who was simply known as Spartacus (I'm Spartacus!) was from Grenada; the keyboard player from Trinidad; and the saxophonist was from Nigeria. However, what they all had in common was great musical rhythm, enthusiasm, and ability. Their music was borrowed from Jazz, Rhythm & Blues, African based drum music, Rock, Pop, and Latin Groove, to create quite an original sound.
In Ghanaian 'Osibisa' means 'criss-cross rhythms that explode with happiness'. Now, how one word can say all that I do not know, but that is exactly how the music sounds, and they are the very words that introduce the first song on this, Osibisa's first, album aptly titled "Dawn".
Like a breath of fresh air, Osibisa's music first came to prominence with the release of their first single "Music for Gong Gong'', included here on their first album, which was released at the tail end of 1970. It is a piece of music that will get even the most conservative of souls out boogieing on the dance floor. So it was great expectations when their first album was released in the early days of 1971 and the boys did not disappoint, arriving as it did when Prog-Rock was in its heyday. Each of these percussive driven songs blew away all the pretensions of those serious minded twiddlers in the likes of Yes, King Crimson, etc. Osibisa's unbridled enthusiasm was so infectious, you could not help but be dragged along by the sheer exuberance of it all.
Although Osibisa's main strength was in their live concerts, they could also drum up a storm (quite literally) in the studio. Nobody at the time could have realized how influential their music was going to be in years ahead. Osibisa today is still known as the Godfather of 'World Music', and the effect of their big hit single "Sunshine Day" (1975) was to change the disco scene for ever. But this, their first album, was to set the template of the Osibisa sound for eternity. The band is still going today, albeit with only two of the seven original members left, which actually is not bad by today's standards considering that the band is now in their 35th year.
Many of the songs on this collection are still in the band's live repertoire today. Like all good albums, the songs on this set play like a live concert. Opener "Dawn", which begins with the immortal translation of Osibisa, builds on a rhythm of percussion until giving way to let the individual soloist bring the song to a rousing conclusion - some seven and a half minutes later. You then get five other songs of criss-cross rhythms before being brought to a riotous climax by "Think About The People".
When a band starts off its career with such a strong album, it is often difficult to keep up the standards set by its debut (especially with an ever changing line-up - Wendell Richardson, the band?s simply stunning lead guitarist, was at one stage lured away by British rockers "Free"). So it is perhaps true to say that Osibisa's studio output has been a little patchy since then, although their live concerts have never been short of marvelous, always led by Teddy Osei out front on drums, sax, fluttering flute, and vocals. This, their first album, is nothing short of a diamond. A must buy for anybody who likes a shot of fun with their music.
Pawed by Mott the Dog
Re-Chewed by Ella Crew
 VERY NICE January 5, 2004
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
Makes me think of Blood,Sweat&Tears mixed with Mandrill and a
drop of old time Santana for spice. Mostly in a language I don't
understand. Yet so much more. Loved it!
Thank you,
Tom
These Cats are OUT OF CONTROL! March 28, 2003
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
I cannot BELIEVE this albun is on CD!My Mom used to rock it when I was only eight years old -- and I have been searching for it all of my adult life! "PHALLUS C" is my hands, down, favorite song in the entire World! I can sing the WHOLE guitar riff by heart! And I DEFY YOU to sit still during the drum sequence! These Cats give hyperactivity a new meaning! I'm wasted! This is damn good music!
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