WELCOME!
Welcome to another edition of Ambiance Congo.
I have noticed over the years that the word "CHOC", French for "SHOCK", has been used by many groups and individual artists. Choc is used as a part of a band's name such as Choc Stars or Tout Choc-Anti Choc Zaiko Langa-Langa, an album name such as Choc Choc 85 or Pare-Chocs, or a song name such as Liteya Choc. Franco also called one of his record labels by the name of CHOC CHOC CHOC.
So to explore this, I have compiled a few songs, records, and groups that include CHOC in the name.
Regardless of the reasons for or actual details of the history of the use of this word, this compilation includes some excellent music. hopefully, you will hear something that is new and wonderful to you or just recognize an old familiar song that you're happy to hear once again.
If you know the actual origins or history of the use of CHOC, please add a comment to share.
Thank you!
Listen here:
or here:
PART
A
1)King
Kester Emeneya & Victoria Eleison Dream Team Dream Band
sebene from DORIS ILOKO (program theme song)
from the CD PAS DE CONTACT
Black Music
2)Choc
Langa Langa
MEDISANCE
from the CD TOSENGOLI BANGO (LIVE)
Jimmy’s Production
3)Bozi
Boziana & Anti-Choc
MYRA
from the CD AVENIR
Rigo Makengo Production
4)Choc
Stars
SADIKO
from the CD LA NAISSANCE DE CHOC STARS
Anytha-Ngapy Productions
5)Djo
Nolo
YEBO
from the LP CHOC MUSIC
Rythmes et Musique
6)Jean
Sylvain Goma “Ya Pergaud” et le Tout Choc Tchessa National Awala-Wala
HONO PONTON
from the LP JUENESSE MONTANTE
Safrai Ambiance
7)Roy
Langa avec Yenga Yenga et l’Orchestre Zaichoc
MALICE
from the LP SADRAK
Albert Yossheff & Bavek Bazabe
Production
8)”Le
Vertiable” Super Choc
MOFITI
MOFITI
from the CD MOKILI MOBIMBA
Sonima Music
PART
B
9)Le
Grand Maître Franco – Nana – Baniel et son T.P.O.K. Jazz
FLORA, UNE FEMME DIFFICILE
from the LP LES “ON DIT”
Choc Choc Choc
10)Le
Seigneur Tabu Ley et l’Afrisa International
CHIC CHOC CHEQUE
from the LP TROP C’EST TROP
Ets. Kaluila
11)Theo
Blaise Kounkou
LITEYA CHOC
from the CD LES PLUS GRANDS SUCCES DE THEO
BLAISE VOL. 2
Sonodisc
12)Vonga
Aye
NAZALE OCCUPEE
from the LP PARE-CHOCS
ETs. VeVe International
13)Le
Choc-Choc 85
CHACUN POUR SOI
from the LP LE CHOC-CHOC 85 AVEC SES
VEDETTES DU MOMENT
Don Dass
14)Tout
Choc – Anti Choc Zaiko Langa-Langa
BIZITA
from the LP SOKITEMBE BOMEKA TATA NZAMBE
SALISABETO
Gillette d’Or
16)Ameido
Star-Nyura
ETAT DE CHOC
from the CD GEORGIA
Peter Pan Records/Compose Industries
Shows with a theme are good and this was very good indeed - loved every minute of it.
ReplyDeleteBut are we any closer to the real meaning of the ubiquitous "choc".
On a similar vein, I've always been puzzled by the huge number of shout-outs for footballer-turned-politician George Weah on Congo CDs. I think he even appeared on a Cameroonian CD a few years back. Weird.
Re Nana and Baniel; you'll be pleased to know they're alive and well and doing some shows with Dizzy Mandjecku as Odemba OK Jazz Stars in Liverpool in the next couple of weeks. Last time they had Malage singing as well.
One last thing; have you heard Doudou Copa's new(ish) CD "Posso"? Very nice. Reddy Amisi sings on at least one track and some very tasteful songs throughout. Can't fault it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKvTp-04Ywk
Hi there, Dave. Thanks for your comments. I'm glad that you enjoyed the program. I had a couple of people ask on Facebook if anyone had been able answer the "Choc" question, but no takers so far on the history.
ReplyDeleteI know about Nana & Baniel working with Dizzy Mandjeku and I am very jealous that you will be able to attend a concert of the Odemba All Stars. Other than l'Orchestre Afrisa International, these masters are just about the only ones really striving to keep the old music alive. I've played clips from their concerts on youtube about a hundred times. They are great!
Have not heard Posso. I will try to get it.
Can you message me a source for CDs? Mine in Paris seems to have gone the way of most shops.
Thanks
Sadly, the simple pleasure of buying a few Congolese CDs seems to be denied to us now.
ReplyDeleteVillageAfro went bump, Loomengo (who may or may not have been the ghost of VillageAfro) were OK for a while but I just had a bad experience with non-shipment and non-refund by them. Antiilles-Mizik are OK but shipping is eye-wateringly expensive and stock is dwindling to nothing. Amazon.fr have the odd newish Congolese CD for sale to European countries but probably not the US.
A collector of Congolese music I know in Paris is kind enough to trawl the last few CD shops in Chateau Rouge to get me the odd new release. He found the last (and elusive) Tex Mambote CD for me recently, but reports from him suggest that the end is nigh. Apparently Diego is a mess and Afro Rythmes recently stopped selling CDs. I think Sonima may have gone too. In the UK Nzaya Nzayadio's recent CD was being sold from a hairdressers salon and a grocery shop in London - all other outlets having disappeared presumably.
On a brighter note, have you got your copy of Zaire '74 yet? I shall be entertaining myself this weekend with the triple-vinyl edition;
https://www.amazon.com/Zaire-74-LP-Various-Artists/dp/B06XH7D9TF/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1496495041&sr=8-2&keywords=zaire+74
I did get an advance copy of Zaire '74, but only a digital copy for DJs. I was bit disappointed with how short the selections from Franco were, but the Tabu Ley set is quite good. Regardless, it's GREAT to have the African artists' sets finally available!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update on shops. I have found all that you say to be true. I haven't checked into the status of the Cyriaque Bassoka shop in a while, but I think they are gone, too.
It's easy to find the crate-digger reissues. Pan African Allstars has CDs months after they are released outside of USA, but that is much better than nothing at all.