Nov 22/04
Big-band Broadway
A few posts ago I mentioned that highlife started out as more of a big-band thing, ie orchestras and horn sections rather than rhythm guitars. Something about my Monday morning coffee makes this kind of sound fit the bill for today’s post.
The Broadway Dance Band is a classic big-band highlife group out of 1950s/60s Ghana. I wish it was easier to find bands and concerts featuring this kind of music these days since if you put a few whiskeys in me I love dancing to the stuff. High-heeled ladies and guys in white-collared shirts wilting in the humidity, sleeves rolled up.
Got this track off that great 1972 pan-African compilation, Africa Dances. I was going to post another track off this album today but I’m a touch shy on bandwidth so I might wait until tomorrow. Stay tuned.
Broadway Dance Band – Broadway Special
Tags: ghana, highlife
what a great track!!! eagerly waiting for the next one! lots of props from France.
My goodness — I can’t believe someone else out there knows about Africa Dances. I worked for public radio in the US for numerous years, and had access to quite a library of material. Digging around in the archives, I found this compilation and instantly fell in love. I still play this CD to death. I also recommend another excellent compilation from the same label, “Money No Be Sand”, which has lots of crazy rock / soul / funk tracks.
Thanks for posting this– I’ve only heard bits of the legendary “Africa Dances” over the years, so it’s nice to hear more.
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Glad to hear someone has heard of the very wonderful Broadway Dance Band..
I couldn’t believe my luck recently when I found an original vinyl EP of the band titled High Life with Broadway by The Broadway Dance Band. The tracks are Fa Abotar Natew, Me Bebafie, Mankasa and Odobra.
The recording is from 1960 and is on Decca and in the original picture cover. If anyone is interested in buying this off me, please contact me leave a reply.
[...] just realized that I already posted some Broadway Dance Band off Africa Dances way back in November 2004. Apparently I lost the album [...]
[...] and funk put together by the same guy who came-up with the Africa Dances compilation I featured a few posts ago. I can’t tell you how much I love this album, and it’s appropriate that we re-launch [...]
Hi there, its great to see such comments about a band which was undoubtedly one of high-life musics best ever!! I remember my father playing one or two of their most popular songs like ‘Bebere be yi’ and ‘Gyae su’ on a 7″ single. I kid you not when I say it made me so proud to be from Ghana!! They had such a great sound which is timeless!! I am currently looking their album entitled ‘Broadway hits encores’!!
Johnny