I resisted using Spotify for several years because a major area of my musical passions was in world music, and particularly African and thought there would be slim pickings. I had many hundreds of CDs and LPs and gradually began digitising them to play on my iPod (remember those?).
After a while I started realising that a large proportion of my soon-to-be-digitised piles were on Spotify. So why was I bothering the slog of digitising? So I kept those that were hard to get or very special to me and sold off the rest. I then proceeded to look for my world and African albums. So many of them were there too.
I built a list of albums and tracks that I couldn’t find on Spotify, and was able to play them from my account. But other people could not hear them. Each year, my list of “not on Spotify” reduced as entire albums or individual tracks were added.
The list below are those from my playlists which I’ve never found there. Youtube has many of them and I’ve uploaded a few sound files myself. So here we go.
*= highly rated tracks
# soon to be added after uploading
African
Spotify: My Best African: the Motherload List (915 tracks)
50 best Congolese rumba
50 best Senegal
50 best Mali
50 best Nigerian Afrobeat & Juju
50 best West African Highlife
50 best North African
50 best West African
50 best East African
50 best South Africa & Zimbabwe
Les Bantous de la Capitale (1963-9) Tokomisa Congo Congo
*Basa Basa Soundz (1975): Disturbed Ghana
Moni Bile (1985) Tout Ca C’Est La Vie Cameroon
*Dollar Brand (1975) Soweto is where it’s at South Africa
*Dollar Brand (1974) Mannenberg is where it’s happening South Africa
*Les Champions du Zaire (1990) Mayalalele Congo
Les Champions du Zaire (1990) Bon retour Congo
AB Crentsil (1994) Menba bio + live version Ghana
*AB Crentsil (1984) Odo Ghana
*Ntesa Dalienst (1985) Iza Issa Congo
*Ntesa Dalienst (1985) Rappeles-Toi Congo
*D’gary & Tihe (1996) Miady mafy Madagascar
*George Darko (1983) Odoyewu Ghana
*Dexter Johnson & Super Star et le Dakar (1994) Seul Senegal
*Mory Kante (1997) Djandjon 1 Guinea
Asi Kapela: (198a) Yo yo yo (Congo)
*Ems Pecola & Papa Noel Nedule (2007) Naloba? Nzambe temoin Angola/Congo
*Ems Pecola & Papa Noel Nedule (2007) Baweleli mbongo Angola/Congo
Ems Pecola & Papa Noel Nedule (2007): Objectif 2000 ans Angola/Congo
Ems Pecola & Papa Noel Nedule (2007): Sans a presence Angola/Congo
Ems Pecola & Papa Noel Nedule (2007): Porte a porte Angola/Congo
Ebeneezer Obey (1989) Ose olorum oba/sis ba millionaire lo Nigeria
*Franco et TPOK Jazz (1983) 5 ans ya Fabrice Congo
Franco et TPOK Jazz (1980) Ambozi ya pambu Congo
*Franco et TPOK Jazz (1981) Mujinga Congo
*Harare Mambos (1980) Kudundere Zimbabwe
Harare Mambos (1980) Mbuya nehanda Zimbabwe
Job’s Combination (1984) Imali Zimbabwe
*Souzy Kasseya (1987) Monsieur Simon + full album The Phenomenal Congo
*Kakai Kilonzo & Les Kilimambogo Brothers (1970s) Mathitu mowe Kenya
Lagbaja (2005) Toun terin Nigeria
Julios Lakau & Orch Mode Success (1981) Tala mbuidi Congo
*Carlyto Lassa (1985) Je deviens malheureuse Congo
*Ismael Lo (1994) Setsinala Senegal
Ismael Lo (1994) Senegambie Senegal
*Baaba Maal (2008) Television Senegal
Green Mamba (1996) Busiku bwanduuma Zambia
*Thomas Mapfumo & Blacks Unlimited (1977) Ngoma yekwedu Zimbabwe
Thomas Mapfumo & Blacks Unlimited Ndamutswa nengoma Zimbabwe
Thomas Mapfumo & Blacks Unlimited (2005) Zvirwere disease Zimbabwe
Thomas Mapfumo & Blacks Unlimited (2005) Kukuvarira Mukati + live Zimbabwe
Thomas Mapfumo & Blacks Unlimited Zimbabwe (2005) Mukadzi Wangu Zimbabwe
Thomas Mapfumo & Blacks Unlimited Zimbabwe (2005) Marudzi Nemarudzi Zimbabwe
Hugh Masekla (1973) Introducing Hedzoleh Sounds (full album) South Africa
*Bumba Massa (1982) Mbanda akoma television Congo
*Tshala Muana (1984) N’galula Congo
#Mikea Nagnaia Reliny (Madagascar)
*Sam Mangwana & African Allstars (1979) Mossesse yokole (fast version) slow version Congo
Patrick Mkwumba & 4 Brothers (1988) Emeriah Zimbabwe
Pierre Moutouari (1986) Telegramme Congo
*Orchestra Baobab (1978) Tante Marie Senegal
*Les Quatres Etoiles (1985) Kabyi Congo
Real Sounds (1987) Wende Zako Zimbawe/Congo
S.E. Rogie (1988) Palm wine music (full album) Sierra Leone
R.U.N.N. Family (1986) Hatichina wekutamba nay Samora Macel tribute Zimbabwe
#Bouba Sacko & Banning Eyre Tiramakan Mali
Sankomota (1993) Afrika South Africa
Shamba Kahamba (1993) Messages Congo
*Tabu Ley Rochereau (1994) Bituide Congo
Tabu Let Rochereau Monsieur Molonga Congo
*Tabu Ley Rochereau () Femme d’Auturi Congo
*Thione Seck (2000) Rassoul Senegal
*Rigo Starr (1998) Philie Congo
Tarika (1997) Tsy kivy Madagascar
Zaiko Langa Langa (1995) Songa-Fiele Congo
*Condry Ziqubu Sekunjalo (1990) South Africa
Australian
The Allusions: Gypsy woman (1966)
The Allusions: The dancer (1966)
The Black Diamonds: See the way (1966) – from Lithgow, NSW
*Peter Blakely: Caterina (live version) (1987)
*Peter Blakely: Cattle train (live version) (1987)
*The Cicadas: That’s what I want (1964)
Bryan Davies: I just don’t like to be alone (1965)
The Executives: Sit down I think I love you (1967)
The Executives: My aim is to please you girl (1967)
The Executives: Wander boy (1968)
The Flying Circus: Run, run, run (1969)
The Flying Circus: Silvertown Girl (1971
The Flying Circus Turn Away (1971)
Freshwater: Satan (1970)
*James Griffin & the Subterraneans (1985) Angel run
The Groove: Soothe me (1968)
Jimmy Hannan: Beach ball (1963)
Heart and Soul: Lazy life (1969)
Barry Humphries: Snow complications (1965)
*Barry Humphries: A nice night’s entertainment (1956)
*Barry Humphries: Sandy Claus (1971)
Barry Humphries: The old Pacific Sea (1965)
Barry Humphries: The migrant hostess (1958)
Bobbie & Laurie Sweet & tender romance (1966)
Russ Kruger: Tallahassee lassie (1966)
#Jeff Lang Bateman’s Bay
Larkin Poe (2016) Trance (USA)
Lloyd’s World: Pinky lamour/Goodbye, goodbye (1968)
*Lloyd’s World: Brass bird (1968)
Mike McClennan: The one I love (1977)
*Moondog: Postcard from Hawaii (1995)
The Morloch Time machine (1966)
The Morloch Hit the road Jack (1966)
Ted Mulray: Julia (1970)
*The Necks: Sex (1988)
Red Onions Jazz Band: One hour compilation (1966) – features Gerry Humphries, singer from the Loved Ones
Doug Parkinson: Dear Prudence (1971)
Doug Parkinson: Something wonderful (1968)
Doug Parkinson I had a dream (1968)
*The Purple Hearts: You can’t sit down (1967)
The Radiators Gravitational pull (1983)
Lynne Randell (NZ) Ciao baby (1967)
*Nadia Reid (NZ): Rise & fall (live) (2011)
*The Renegades: Kahuna (1963)
#Resonets Shorebreak
Digger Revell & the Denvermen: My little rocker’s turned surfie (1964)
*John Rowles (NZ) If I only had time (1968)
*Kyle Slabb & Huey Benjamin: Jangarra (1999)
Mary-Jo Starr: Passionate kisses (1990)
Somebody’s Image: Hush (1967)
Ian Turpie: The decimal point (1964)
The Throb: Fortune teller (1968)
*Billy Thorpe: Blue day (1964)
*Vanda & Young: Lazy river (1971)
The Vibrants: Something about you baby (1967)
Tony Worsley & the Blue Jays: Talkin’ ‘bout you (1965)
Tony: Worsley & the Blue Jays: Velvet waters (1965)
Miscellaneous
Eleftheria Arvanitaki Into my arms (Greece)
Babe Ruth (1975) Fascination (USA)
*Little Benny & the Masters (1984) Who comes to boogie (USA)
Roy Buchanan (1976) OK (Canada)
*Ray Charles (1993) So help me god (USA)
Ray Charles (1993) Love has a mind of its own (USA)
*Charanga Cakewalk (2004) Carmela (USA)
The Chaps (1983) Rawhide Scotland
Shawn Colvin (1995) Viva las Vegas (USA)
Stewart Copeland (1985) Kemba (USA)
James Cotton (1967) Jelly Jelly + full album
*Creeper Lagoon (2001) Under the tracks (USA)
*Robert Crumb & his Cheap Suit Serenaders (1974) I’m gonna get it (USA)
*Dead Famous People True love leaves no traces (New Zealand)
*Iris Dement (1988) I miss a lot of trains (USA)
Diego el Cigala (2013) romance de la luna tucumana (Spain)
*Dimitri from Paris (1996) A very stylish girl (France)
*Dimitri from Paris (1996) Free ton style (France)
*Jerry Douglas (1998) For those who’ve gone clear (USA)
*Jerry Douglas (1998) Follow on (USA)
Jerry Douglas (1998) Turkish taffee (USA)
*Ronnie Earl & the Broadcasters (1995) (Live in Europe – Full album) Akos (USA)
*Ronnie Earl & the Broadcasters (1995) (Live in Europe) Blues for Henry USA)
*Ronnie Earl & the Broadcasters (1995) (Live in Europe) Szeren USA)
Ronnie Earl & the Broadcasters (1995) (Live in Europe) Contrition (USA)
#Ronnie Earl & the Broadcasters Baby doll blues (USA)
#Ronnie Earl & the Broadcasters Still soul searching
#Ronnie Earl & the Broadcasters (1996) Ice cream man (USA)
Eufa (1993) Somewhere (UK)
Exile (1978) Kiss you all over (USA)
Roberto Fonseca (2007) dime que no (Cuba)
Roberto Fonseca (2007) Suspiro (live) (Cuba)
Roberto Fonseca (2007) Zamazu (Cuba)
Roberto Fonseca (2007) El niejo (Cuba)
Patty Griffin (2004) Useless desires + Live (USA)
Groove Armada (2000) Sir Raymond Mang No 1 (UK)
Butch Hancock & Marce Lacouture (1985) Yella rose (USA)
Slim Harpo (1968) Rock me baby (USA)
John Hartford (1976) Golden Globe award (USA)
*Ofra Haza (1987) My aching heart (Israel)
*The Headboys (1979) The shape of things to come (USA)
The Honeys (2007) In the sun (USA)
Stan Getz (1979) Street tattoo (UK)
Diana King & Brian McKnight (1997) When we were kings (USA)
*KD Lang (1990) Any way but here (Canada)
David Lindley (2001) How can a poor man face times and live (USA)
David Lindley (2001) The meatman (USA)
David Lindley (1982) Do you want my job (USA)
David Lindley (1995) Tijuana (USA)
Mighty Grynner (1984) Stingin’ bees + Live (Barbados)
#Daniel Lanois & Malcolm Byrne Waiting for my man (Canada)
Yasmin Levy (2007) Komo la rosa (Israel)
Yasmin Levy (2004) Y Tu Y Yo Subimos Al Cielo (Israel)
Yasmin Levy (2004) Intentalo Encontrar (Israel)
Andre Manoukian (2008) Inkala (France)
Natalie Merchant (1995) Sympathy for the devil (Canada)
Mighty Avengers (1964) So much in love (UK)
Jim Moray (2006) Nightvisiting (Scotland)
Johnny Otis (1968) Goin’ back to LA (USA)
Johnny Otis (1968) Sittin’ here all alone (USA)
Ozark Mountain Daredevils (1974) It probably always will (USA)
*Ray Petersen (1964) Across the street is a million miles away (USA)
*Robert Plant & the Sensational Space Shifters (2015) Fixin’ to die (UK)
*Red One & Nabil Khyat (2012) Knockin’ on heaven’s door (USA)
Simon Ritchie (1976) (Sid Vicious) Anarchy in the UK (UK)
Bob Rivers (2003) Dirty deeds done with sheep (USA)
The Roaches (1992) Ing (USA)
The Roaches (1992) A dove USA
*Runaway Box Ooh girl (USA)
*Thane Russal & 3 (1966) Security (UK)
*Tony Sheveton (1964) A million drums
*Shriekback (1986) Gunning for the buddah + Live (UK)
Shriekback (1986) Underwater boys (UK)
*Nina Simone (1984) I’m not over you (USA)
*Nina Simone (1984) If you knew
*Soukoue Ko Ou (1983) New York Ameliore (USA)
Spitting Image (1986) I’ve never met a nice South African (UK)
Maria Tanase (1955-58) Cine lubeste si lasa (Romania)
Town & Country Brothers (1963) Sandy, Sandy (USA)
Los Van Van (1988) Y que to crees (Cuba)
Louden Wainwright (1997) Primrose Hill (USA)
#WiJaz Quartet (1993) Luo Soberana
Simon Chapman AO 