Review: Paa Jude - Seaman Jolly (Asona / BBE Music)

All aboard 'Seaman Jolly' the album by Paa Jude that sounds more like a title of episode of this much chuckled at 'Captain Pugwash'. 

It may only be four tracks, along with the title track, 'Mente Gyae', 'Odo Refre Wo' and 'Ofie Nipa', BBE have gone back to the treasure trove of Asona Records for the best of Ghana's Burger Highlife. 

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You'll recall Burger revival of Kantata, A.K. Yeboah, Sam Yeboah's Hi-Life Sensation and Eric Agyemand & his Kokroko Band and Paa Jude is another influencial player that we'd have never have heard of if it hadn't been for DJ Jerry Frempong's wife sorting out the garden shed where Jerry's dad had left his Asona records master tapes.  After bringing in BBE's Pete Adarkwah, it was time to re-issue this history.

A for a minimal 101 on Burger, back in the 60s, the sounds of US soul, funk and pop (with associated electric instruments and production started to influence traditional Ghanan Highlife bands.  By the time Anthony Frempong was recording 'Seaman Jolly' in South London, there were other influences in the air like a dancehall dub of 'Mente Gyae' that seems short even at 10 minutes long.

'Odo Refre Wo' sounds like it's been influenced by hit by Lionel Richie at his 80s peak but it's more to do with the feel of the track than the sound whilst the percussion of Papa Cudjoe keeps it bouncing along like we're riding a pony; another one at 9 minutes that ends as if they were ready for some King Tubby 12" extended dubs. 

The title track sounds very traditional at a high paced with beautiful batimcking vocals and a tweaked keyboard solo; no English lyrics so I couldn't tell you if this is a fond quayside farewell but to say it's 'Jolly' would be an understatement.

By the time of 'Ofie Nipa', they have nailed the 'Seaman Jolly' reggae-higlife sound and it's joyous

Of course this type of muscial cross-fertilization is nothing new when it come to "royalty", such as the visits of James Brown and Sun Ra to Africa whilst Fela Kuti was big mates with Ginger Baker (Cream) and Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull).   And whilst, Paa Jude's 'Seaman Jolly' may not rank with such big names, this is a BIG album and you're not going to find an original copy so many thanks to the Frempongs and BBE for making this re-issue happen.

Artist: Paa Jude

Title: Seaman Jolly 

Release date: 10th January, 2025

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number : BBE763

Format:  LP / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: A.K. Yeboah - Nde Yen Da (Asona / BBE Music)

Don't be put off by the artwork which looks like some African version of a 80s New Forest National Park callender [Ed. that's mean].

Antony ‘King’ Yeboah started out in the 1950s playing Highlife.  By the time of the 80s and the ever present upheaval in the area and the introduction of the nu-Burger digital sounds, how can you stand out from the crowd?

What about writing songs in Pidgin to attract a much wider listenership?  Good idea as this would then cross from Ghana into Nigeria and other parts of West Africa.  A few decades on, pretty meaningless over here but what you can hear is Yeboah's pan-African guitar style (twangy to you and me) that could equally have been on Malcolm McLaren's South African "disovery".

Like that 'township' sound, it's fast, energenic and sing-a-long, 'Nde Yen Da', 'Moma Yen Hwe Yie' and 'People Talk Of You' all gets you going. 

Meanwhile, back in the synth shot disco, 'Make Me Know My Position' would make Anita Ward ring her bell - big summer hit takes been released in November!  No problem as this is the fun track of the year; ha! har! as the King would say. 

A mere four tracks but the legacy is clear as to why "King" is still an inspiration to this date in the area.

Artist: A.K Yeboah

Title:  Nde Yen Da

Release date: 10th November, 2023

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number : Digital / Bandcamp