PRODUCT DETAILS
Acoustic guitar masters from East and Central Africa, an expansion of Mississippi's beloved African Guitar Box project.In 1979 and 1980, a young British-Kenyan musician named John Low hit the road to learn finger-style guitar from his heroes. He traveled across Kenya, Tanzania, Congo, and Zambia. He visited giants like Jean-Bosco Mwenda, Losta Abelo, and Emmanuel Mulemena, whose records sold hundreds of thousands of copies across the continent in the 1950s and 60s. He also documented brilliant but previously under-recorded artists like Tanzania's Francis Kitime and Kenya's Mtonga Wanganangu.Regardless of status, John approached each artist humbly, as a student. He recorded in homes, village squares, and watering holes. The sessions are intimate and casual, the artists at ease. It's a transporting and profound listening experience - children laughing, glasses clinking, the thump of the Marantz cassette deck, and John's single mic moving through space, sometimes documenting the vocals, sometimes zeroing in on the right hand against the strings.Five decades later, these practice tapes provide a rare glimpse into how fingerstyle guitar was actually played for family and friends, outside the tense confines of commercial studios.Some of these songs appeared on John Storm Roberts' out-of print Original Music compilations, which inspired the African Guitar Box. Others have never been made publicly available. All have been expertly restored and remastered from the original tapes by Andrew Walter (Honest Jon's, Abbey Road). John Low's liner notes and lyric translations provide insights into the recording context, and Tanzanian music scholar John Kitime's intro gives the musicians' perspective. Licensed from John Low and the artists, pressed at Chicago's Smashed Plastic.
Tracklist:
- Kijana Usisikitike
- Ulayina Kubota
- Cherie_Mupenzi
- Mama Mobutu
- Chinama
- Osiepe Mag Hallo
- Sikepa Inongwa Mukaye
- Chuzi Mama
- Bavwula Bana Ba Zambia
- Bulayo
- Mwalala_(Instrumental)
UPC: 617308033328
Label: Mississippi Records
Release Date: 4.24.26
Format: Vinyl Record
SHIPPING & RETURNS
SHIPPING
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RETURNS
- Change your mind? No problem: No nonsense 30-day return policy on all domestic orders.
- Read our full return policy.
PRODUCT REVIEWS
ABOUT US
For over 10 years, Pale Blue Dot Records has shared and supported your love of vinyl records. We are an independent online record store located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and we’re passionate about music, the vinyl community, and doing our part to protect the environment. Learn more about us here.
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By far, my favorite shop to buy from! Always quick with the delivery! Love tyler the creator and I've been searching for this specific vinyl at a good price!
package shipped well. there was a fragile sticker on the box which was nice, most places don’t put that and vinyls get damaged. package arrived in perfect condition.
Good packaging, product was in good condition and showed up on time great album no problems with any of the vinyls either very happy with it.
I am a huge Bob's Burger Fan and found this album as I was browsing the website. I had to get it immediately. I can believe I came across this on a random Tuesday. Can't thank coming across pale blue records enough. And the delivery is super fast. Can't wait for my next purchase.
Super fast shipping, packing done well. Exactly as described. The customer service and product choice is why I keep coming back.
Perfectly packaged, no warping, clear sound. Will definitely purchase from Pale Blue Dot Records again.
I ordered this on Friday later in the day and Tuesday morning it was at my doorstep. Insanely fast shipping and came in PERFECT condition. i’ve been looking everywhere for this edition and so happy it came back in stock. Thank you Pale Blue Dot Records!!!! 🩷🩷
Would definitely buy from Pale Dot Records again. The delivery was fast and the records sounds great!
Purchased as a Christmas gift for my 29 year old son. Can't wait for him to open. Packaged with care and timely shipping. Positive experience!
Vinyls arrived in perfect condition, expertly packed, and 3 days from the date of purchase (over the Thanksgiving holiday, no less). Could not be more pleased. Thanks so much!
We received our vinyl fast, it was fairly price, and they had a great selection to choose from. One record we purchased had an issue on the track, and the owner was quick to resolve the issue for us. I’ll be purchasing all of our records from this store moving forward!
The records and the sleeve are really nice. Pacific Dot Records blew me away with shipping it out like, immediately after I ordered it. Arrived well protected and perfect. No complaints.
fast shipping, great communication, and awesome staff. very responsive with messages too. can’t wait to purchase from them again
Records arrived inside the special record boxes, unopened, and in pristine condition. They didn't very long to begin the shipping either. Some places make you wait 3-5 days just to have it shipped out. They did not.
This is not about the product. I've ordered from PBD before and the Vinyls that come from them are wonderful and pressed really well!
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USPS seemed to have goofed around a bit and cause a delay of about 1.5 weeks. Tristan was a highly communicative person and was reassuring with the options I had regarding if my order never arrived. Good sense of humor, accountability, and customer satisfaction. The Sweetwater of vinyl shops. Officially my vinyl go to!