C.K. Mann & His Carousel 7’s ‘Funky Highlife’, has been re-released as part MrBongo’s Classic African Recordings Series. This album would originally have been a massive hit in Ghana but the vinyl factories ran out of vinyl because of Ghana’s economic downturn! With the LP being the same as the original, the CD has an extra 8 tracks equating to 40 minutes more music.
C.K. Mann made his name as a virtuous guitar player in Ghana when he played with Moses Kweku Oppong in the Kakaikus Guitar Band in the early 60s. He then became the leader of the band Ocean’s Strings until 1966. In 1968, he enjoyed a hit with the single ‘Edina Benya’.
In the late 90s hip hop producers started hearing about Afrobeat through the sounds of Fela Kuti. Then Steinski, one of the most influential producers in hip hop, sampled ‘Asafo Beesoun’ and suddenly all the hip hop collectors wanted it. The original LP is a hard-to-find and sought-after collectors item.
C.K. Mann was known for blending authentic African music with European influences. He was inspired by Latin American music and created a style all of his own. He became the ‘King of Highlife‘ in Ghana in 1971, when he released the record ‘Nimpa Rebre’, with vocals from Pat Thomas and Kofi Yankwon.
‘Funky Highlife’ is a fusion of highlife and soul. The best-known track ‘Asafo Beesuon’ is a multi-layered funk medley and is over 13 minutes long.
For more information and to hear a track:
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