In 1971 a bunch of big name American soul and rock musicians traveled to Accra, Ghana, for a live performance called Soul to Soul. Anywhere between 100,000 to 200,000 people showed up to Accra’s Black Star Square to watch the likes of Wilson Pickett, Tina Turner, The Staple Sisters, Santana and Roberta Flack perform for over 13 hours. A few Ghanaian acts such as Kwa Mensah and The Aliens got to perform too, but apparently the locals split a $1000 paycheck while the Americans earned a cool $50,000.

Regardless, the concert was a big success. An album of the live recordings was released and a documentary about the trip was produced, both of which were recently remastered and re-released. As a thoughtful Christmas present, Benn loxo listener and good friend, Rob, grabbed me a copy.

While most people will complain that Roberta Flack’s recordings and performances aren’t included on the DVD, I think I speak for all of us at Benn loxo when I say that the album is amazing except for the notable exception of easily the most important performer: Charlotte Dada. Once again, the unofficial voice of Benn loxo and the inspiration for a cat remains elusive. (By the way, if any of you could get me that film about her that screened at the Toronto film festival a few years ago you’d get Benn loxo love for life.)

The DVD is fascinating to watch, especially for the bewildered looks on the visiting musicians’ faces and the fine dancing of Tina and the Ikettes. The real gem of the film is Wilson Pickett’s performances. Apparently he was known as “Soul Brother #2″ down in Ghana in those days (obviously one step behind James Brown), and enjoyed enormous popularity. While the Ghanaian crowd looked stunned during Santana’s guitar solos and the avant-garde sounds of Les McCann, they brought down the house when Pickett took the stage.

You can buy a copy here and get more info over here.

Wilson Pickett – Land of 1000 Dances (live in Ghana, 1971)
Ike & Tina Turner – I Smell Trouble (live in Ghana, 1971)