Mango Records label was a subsidiary of Chris Blackwell's Island Records, founded in 1972, focussed on music from the Caribbean at first, but later expanded to South America and Africa as well. 
Once Bob Marley broke through Blackwell started looking around for other potential ‘world music’ super stars...
Once Bob Marley broke through Blackwell started looking around for other potential ‘world music’ super stars...
Initially he thought that with King Sunny Adé & His African Beats he’d found an African successor of Marley, but unfortunately it didn’t work out.
During the 70s through 90s Mango released lots of world music, either from artists who recorded for Mango/Island or licensed from other labels (e.g. Discos Fuentes).
Although some of those artists did really well, none of them got even close to the impact of Bob’s songs.
However there was plenty of interesting music being released; from Africa we have artists like Baaba Maal and Salif Keita, from South America Margareth Menezes, from England Screaming Target, etc.
This compilation is a sampler of that period!
Link: https://mega.nz/file/2Mc2hRIC#18Og5itPDQcogS726hoTt8wG_u0JVYeEW7MDGk0WJDI
ReplyDeleteQuestion: Any particular artists/groups here you'd like to hear more of?
Another great label compilation -- thanks, Koen! I bought "Hometown Hi-Fi" (the 1991 album by the band Screaming Target) on the strength of the names involved -- Leo Williams (Basement 5, Big Audio Dynamite), Don Letts (DJ, filmmaker, punk historian), and Greg Roberts (also of B.A.D.) Unfortunately, the album was a disappointment (aside from the single, "Who Killed King Tubby?") and the band soon broke up. Williams and Roberts subsequently formed Dreadzone, a more successful group (artistically and commercially).
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome Jonder. "Who Killed King Tubby?" always intrigued me as it remains a mystery as far as I know. Note that this song was also produced by Paul "Groucho" Smykle!
DeleteThanks. I believe Eddie Quansah- Awo Awo was the first African release on Mango. An album not of my taste. Therefor I tried to put a compilation with Mango released tunes that I think will be a great companion to yours. Such a wealth of music, it had to be hard to compress to 1 cd. You had to skip Manu Dibango - Reggae Makossa and other highlights. I have included it in Sun Riped Mangos here
ReplyDeletehttps://mega.nz/folder/ZC8EhQQY#XTKRA26t9iuEePelYkOiAg
with Michael Smith, Bonk, Sheila Hylton, Bits & Pieces, Youssou N'Dour, Ali Farka Toure, Chaba Fadela and some more.
Thank you for the extra Mangoes, Richard! Now I have "Reggae Makossa" stuck in my head, which is never a bad thing!
DeleteThat's an excellent additional sampler Richard, thanks! We do appreciate visitors contributions like these very much!!
DeleteThanks Richard! More mangos!
DeleteThanks
ReplyDeleteGlad you like it!
DeleteGreat sampler! Thank you very much!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome!
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