A recording made for the Union Trade Company (UTC), a Swiss trading company, in the Gold Coast of Africa. The PLJ series comprises recordings made for this company by EMI and released on the Odeon label. Recordings were made in the mid 1930s and mid 1950s. I believe this disc was from the mid to late 1950s. UTC was a well-known brand in Ghana and continued to operate there until its closure in 1999.
This group, The Star Rockets, appears to be from Ghana based upon the language recorded in (Twi and Ga). Gentle rhythms – sounding a bit melancholy on this side – are punctuated by melodic horn riffs and a male vocalist. A plaintive guitar at 0:24 issues a clarion call that merits response from the rest of the band. A muted wah trumpet at 1:43 provides a moment of Latin-fused melody full of unhurried vitality.
The title, “Meya Kaneshie” seems to reference a visit to the Kaneshie neighborhood in Accra, known for its market.
Believed to have been recorded in Ghana in the mid-to-late 1950s.
Released as Odeon PLJ 75.
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