FREE SHIPPING in U.S. with $65 order! ••••••••••••••••••••••••• INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING: see info about international shipping costs under SHIPPING tab on main menu.
Cart 0
FREE SHIPPING in U.S. with $65 order! ••••••••••••••••••••••••• INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING: see info about international shipping costs under SHIPPING tab on main menu.
Cart 0
Frank & his Sisters – S/T – New LP
Frank & his Sisters – S/T – New LP
Frank & his Sisters – S/T – New LP
Mississippi Records

Frank & his Sisters – S/T – New LP

$ 17.00 $ 0.00
BACK IN PRINT !!! 12" vinyl version of the album comes with 8-page full color notes featuring rare photos, interviews with the Huplick family, and research by Tanzanian musician and historian John Kitime.
Another title for Black Music Month, this one going back to East Africa in the 1950s, pop songs from Frank and his sisters, featuring some beautiful guitar from Frank, and wonderful singing with this sisters, the songs "Shida" and "Efo Kulale" two of my personal favorites, but maybe because the former sounds familiar, maybe a cover, the latter maybe because it reminds me of a Kinks song, (but considering this came first, I should be comparing Davies to this), the set featuring many originals,  sometimes reminding me of a what-would've-happened place where Harry Belafonte, Ray Davies, and Fahey got together with some female singers (although that's probably just one of those silly things an American says; afterall, it's really the music of Africa and Africans that informed the music of those English and American artists).  Black Music Month is really fun for me, finds me exploring some music I probably would not have without the prompt.  Listening to this reminds me a bit of taking a break from my action movies and reading a story about a place that I've never been but would love to visit.  I hope you have to time to slow down and give this a deep listen.  It really needs the warm of analog to appreciate it, but hopefully the Bandcamp sampler gives you some idea what's in store for you. -- winch (green noise records)
"The world’s first collection of gorgeous pop songs from Frank and His Sisters, a family band from Moshi, Tanzania. Formed in the early 1950s by Frank Humplick, Thecla Clara and Maria Regina, the trio recorded and toured throughout East Africa and issued a string of instant classics, capturing fans with their beautifully harmonized singing, clever lyrics, and Frank’s stunning guitar work. Imagine the fingerstyle finesse of John Fahey with a pure pop melodicism, combined with the family harmony of groups like The Carter Family and The Beach Boys, set in the golden age of Tanzanian music! Frank composed many of his songs while working the land on his beloved tractor, and once instigated a house-to-house search to destroy all copies of his record “Yes/No” due to its politically subversive lyrics. He went on to record and tour with the Jambo Boys band before retiring from the music industry in the early 1960s, to focus on his passion for agriculture. But his favorite songs were always the ones he created with his sisters, and we are proud to present 12 of their best.  Previously only heard on extremely rare 78 rpm discs and Tanzanian oldies radio, this album collects the trio’s finest songs, lovingly restored and remastered. We love this music so much that in late 2018 we traveled to Tanzania to meet Frank’s family and collaborate on this album. The result is a colorful 8-page booklet featuring complete lyrics in English, Swahili and Chaga, as well as previously unpublished photographs, extensive interviews and anecdotes, and a biography by Tanzanian musician and radio host John Kitime. All tracks fully licensed from the Humplick family."  released 2020

More from this collection

Guebru, Emahoy Tsegue-Mariam - s/t – New LP

Guebru, Emahoy Tsegue-Mariam - s/t – New LP

$ 18.00