Upcoming Soundway Releases: Ghana Special & Panama! 3

The mighty Soundway label just released a nice collection of sounds from Guadelupe & Martinique called Tumbélé! “Biguine, afro & latin sounds from the French Caribbean, 1963-74”, check the Tumbelele mix by compiler Hugo Mendez here. The label's been pretty active lately (personally I can't wait to see the next epsisode in the Colombia! series, which they have been promising us for a while now) and November is gonna bring us some more exotic goodies (text from the soundway site):
Ghana Special: Modern Highlife, Afro Sounds, Ghanaian Blues 1968 - 1981

Soundway Records step back into Africa with thirty-three original and previously un-reissued tracks from Ghana delivering a follow on of sorts from the hugely successful CD/LP Nigeria Special. Ghana Special comes as a double CD hardback case-bound book and 5LP vinyl box set. The CD features 44 pages of history, photographs and original record scans. Wow ..a 5lp box? This is serious. (release date november 16th)

Panama! 3: Calypso Panameno, Guajira Jazz & Cumbia Tropical on the Isthmus 1960-75

Volume 3 showcases more of the unique tropical music created in Panama in the fertile decades of the 1960s and ’70s. From bilingual calypsos to guajira jazz, from tropical guarachas to cumbia tamboreras, Panamanian musicians fearlessly combined and brilliantly executed styles that reflected their multicultural environment during a turbulent time in the young country’s history. This collection presents more of the golden age of Panamanian music and the music of the combos nacionales on rare recordings that have never been released outside the isthmus until now. (release date november 16th)

Panama! 2 – Latin Sounds, Cumbia Tropical & Calypso Funk on the Isthmus 1967-77

The people from Soundway are finally back! As expected with another high quality compilation: Volume 2 showcases more of the unique tropical music created in Panama in the fertile decades of the 1960s and ’70s. The thin, tropical bridge that connects North and South America, Panama is home to three million culturally diverse people, and its’ music is a soulful blend of Latin American, Caribbean, European and Indigenous forms. From Calypso Funk to Típico Soul, from hard Descargas to rustic Cumbia-related styles, Panamanian musicians fearlessly combined and brilliantly executed styles that reflected their multi-cultural environment during a turbulent time in the young country’s history. This collection presents more of the golden age of Panamanian music and the music of the Combos Nacionales on rare recordings that have never been released outside the Isthmus until now. See here for their first Panama comp. Check also the Soundway blog here. For soundsamples go here.
On Vinyl & CD, Release date: 01 June 2009
Track list:
La Murga De Panama – Papi Brandao y Su Conjunto Aires Tablenos
Tamborito Swing – Los Silvertones
Flora – Maximo Rodriguez y Sus Estrellas Panameñas
Decidete Mi Amor – Papi Brandao y Sus Ejecutivos
Te Toca Tocar La Tumba – Skorpio
Descarga Superior – Los Superiores
No Llores Porque Me Voy – Idamerica Ruiz con Osvaldo Ayala
Mi Bella Panama – Los Revolucionarios (Soul Revolution)
Dreams (edit) – The Duncan Brothers
Ain’t No Sunshine – The Soul Fantastics
Ese Muerto No Lo Cargo Yo – The Exciters
La Confianza – Meñique El Panameño con Bush y Los Magnificos
Borombon – Camilo Azuquita
Jazzy – Los Papacitos
La Escoba – Alfredo y Su Salsa Montañera
Juck Juck Pt.1 – Sir Jablonsky
Love Letters – Lord Cobra y Los Hnos. Duncan
Ceferino En Salsa – Ceferino Nieto
Si La Vez – Ormelis Cortez con Su Conjunto Viva Guararé
Piculina – Chilo Pitty

New Release Soundway-label: Panama!

Panama! Latin, Calypso & Funk on the Isthmus 1965-1975 (Soundway, 2006)
The people from Soundway are bringing us a new compilation of funky grooves. This time, not Mama Africa, but the overlooked Panama is the focus of the release. Check soundsamples and enjoy the quality groove of these tracks!
Tracklist:
Los Exagerados-Panama Esta Bueno Y Ma-5:17 sample
The Exciters-Exciters Theme-3:46 sample
Bush Y Sus Magnificos-Nana Nina-2:59
Victor Boa Y Su Musica-Soy Solo Para Ti-4:10 sample
Freddy Y Su Afro Latinos-Maltrato-5:59
Papi Brandao Y Su Ejecutivos-Viva Panama-3:09 sample
Los Silvertones-Old Buzzard-3:05 sample
Los Fabulosos Festivals-El Mensaje-3:30 sample
(yep, it's Cymande's The Message)
The Exciters-New Bag-6:26
Bolita y Su Tentacion Latina-Descarga Tentacion-8:31 sample
Los Caballeros de Colon-Con Los Caballeros-3:07
Los Dinamicos Exciters -Let me do my Thing-3:24
Los Mozambiques-Viva Tirado-4:33 (hitversion by El Chicano)
Maximo Rodriguez Y Sus Estrella Panamenas-Mambologia-4:00
Lord Cobra and Pana Afro Sounds-Rocombey-3:41

Release date: March 24th 2006
Label link: http://www.soundway.com/

Update: The second volume of Panama is released! check here for more info!