l’Afrique Danse – 1976

🇨🇩 🎶 💿 ⏳ 💃 The label African, founded in 1966 in Paris, produced numerous 45 rpm records of Congolese rumba by the era’s greatest orchestras: OK Jazz, Conga Succès, African Fiesta, Veve, Zaïko Langa Manga… until its closure in 1980. As the tracks were long, they were split in half, requiring the listener to flip the record, which slightly disrupted the music’s flow. Soon, African began producing its own compilations in the famous L’Afrique Danse series. These featured the same 45 rpm tracks, quickly remixé to (almost) erase the end-of-side gap. These records achieved significant success, like this 1976 release, always with striking cover art. Here, you’ll find renowned groups such as Lipua Lipua, Bella Bella, and even Empire Bakuba. And the label didn’t skimp on value, compressing the grooves to fit nearly thirty minutes of music on each side. So, let yourself be carried away by rumba and soukous to dance with Africa!