Ghana: Osibisa’s 1974-75 albums get remastered double CD release

One of the albums, Happy Children, was recorded at Lansdowne Studios in West London and produced by Peter Gallen in late 1973, while the follow-up, Osibirock, was recorded at both Chipping Norton Studios in Oxfordshire and Lansdowne Studios and was released in 1974.

The current release is presented in a digipak with a 24-page booklet, including exclusive sleeve notes by Ghanaian band member and percussionist Kofi Ayivor, who shares memories from that era, along with the original cover art: an illustration by Jeff Schrier for Happy Children, and a painting by Henri Rousseau for Osibirock.

Osibisa was formed in 1969 when bandleader Teddy Osei, who had travelled to England in the 1960s on a government scholarship from Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah, persuaded his brother, trumpeter Mac Tonto, and drummer Sol Amarfio – both of whom had previously played together in Ghanaian bands Stargazers and the Comets – to join him in London.

Joining the three Ghanaians in the first incarnation were Antiguan Wendell ‘Dell’ Richardson (lead guitar and lead vocalist), Nigerian Lasisi Amao (percussionist and tenor saxophone), Grenadian Roger Bedeau, also known as Spartacus R (bass), and Trinidadian Robert Bailey (keyboards). Nigerians Fred Coker and Mike Odumosu (bass) were later replacements.

They pioneered a new sound blending European, American, and African influences and creating an early form of what would become recognised as World Music.

With their fusion of tribal percussion, soulful horns and joyful, timeless African singing, the band spent much of the 1970s touring the world, playing to large audiences in Japan, Australasia, India, and Africa, bringing their “criss-cross rhythms that explode with happiness” to audiences around the world.

During this time, Paul Golly (guitar) and Ghanaians Daku ‘Potato’ Adams (percussion) and Kiki Gyan (keyboards) were also members of the band. In January 1976, their single, ‘Sunshine Day’, reached No 17 on the UK Singles Chart. Their next single release, ‘Dance the Body Music’, peaked at No 31 in the same listing. In 1980, Osibisa performed at a special Zimbabwean independence celebration, and in 1983 were filmed onstage at the Marquee Club in London.

The band released a further eight albums during the 1970s, with further studio albums and live releases following through the 1980’s right up to the New Dawn album release in 2021.