Zaire 74

These recordings come from the 3-day concert held in Zaire (now known as the Congo) before the famous heavyweight fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. The musical lineup also had its share of heavyweights such as James Brown, the Spinners, B.B. King, Bill Withers, the Crusaders, and even Cuban diva Celia Cruz. Lesser known were the African artists on the bill. equally legendary names such as Franco, Tabu Ley Rochereau, and Miriam Makeba.What this excellent 2-CD does so well, but very belatedly (it took over 40 years!), is not only finally showcasing the great African artists featured at this festival, but also giving us a truly terrific sounding recording. As another reviewer noted, it sounds like it could have been recorded yesterday. The high quality of these recordings is due in part to the shows having been recorded "on state of the art equipment" plus lovingly remastered and mixed under the direction of Hugh Masekela.Another thing I like about this set is that it has turned me on to some interesting artists I had never heard before, such as Abeti, Abumba Masikini, and Orchestre Stukas. The 2-CD set also comes with a 24-page booklet with details about the shows. and recollections by producers Masekela and Stewart Levine. A "must have" for fans of 1970s African music.

I first heard this on a 2 CD package, and I really liked it. Then I bought the vinyl version for a friend of mine from South Africa. He really enjoys it. The artists are top rate and it sounds like it was recorded yesterday.

As a huge fan of West African Music in General-Soukous- JuJu,HighLife and other sounds from Africa's West Coast-I was thrilled to hear of this "hidden" recording.Mostly- a very nice treat.

Nice music from Zaire, now Democratic Republic of Congo. The original CD released at the time of the Rumble in the Jungle in 1974 only had US artists. This is classic Congo artists from the 70s.

Classic, funky concert mix of '70's Zairian other African stars. So happy the producers finally got it together to put this out. Really a must-have.

We loved it! This music sounds as fresh today as it did in the 1960s. Listening to it on vinyl seems completely appropriate.

An unbelievably great album which captures the early spirit of Afro-Pop. Every track is a winner!

I heard the Miriam Makeba song on the radio and bought this double LP based on that. However, it really is the only track, from both CDs, that I like. Make that love. The rest is a little too frenetic.

Nur leider 25 Jahre zu spät. Sehr schöne Aufnahmen, für die, die sich mit afrikanischer Musik beschäftigt haben, leider nichts mehr Neues.Schade, das dieses Album verspätet erschienen ist.

Spannende Musik aus einer spannenden Zeit aufgezeichnet an einem zumindest für 1974 sehr ungewöhnlichem Ort. Ein Dokument der Diversität afrikanischer Musiker und Musik.

Sehr schöne CD - ich bin mir jedoch nicht sicher, ob wirklich das ganze Konzert drauf ist - daher 4 von 5

j'ai habité quelques années en afrique où la musique zairoise rythmait les soirées tres bien je suis satisfait de mon écoute