Bel Canto: Best of the Genidia Years (Congo Classics 1982-1987)

M'bilia Bel | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 14, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: STERNS ARC LTD
• ASIN: B000YKNJHM
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #76,364 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #6 in Music > World Music > Africa > Soukous
  • #8 in Music > World Music > Africa > Zaire & Congo

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful... just beautiful!, May 1, 2008

By 

DJ Joe Sixpack (...in Middle America) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bel Canto: Best of the Genidia Years (Congo Classics 1982-1987) (Audio CD)

This is a gorgeous collection of some of the finest African pop ever recorded, combining the otherworldly, angelic voice of Congolese singer M'bilia Bel with the buoyant, cheerful rhythms of her then-husband, bandleader Tabu Ley Rocherau. Want your life to be full of lightness, melody and good cheer? Pick up this fab 2-CD set and fall in love with one of the biggest stars in modern African pop. Beautiful music! (DJ Joe Sixpack, Slipcue music reviews)

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A delightful find, February 13, 2008

By 

rat sass - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bel Canto: Best of the Genidia Years (Congo Classics 1982-1987) (Audio CD)

I just had to break down and write my first review after coming across this compilation! Mbilia Bel has a luscious, creamy voice that floats along over propulsive, poly-rhythmic dance music. I fell in love with her and this sound in the late 1980s and am happy to hear from these slightly muddy samples that a good half of these tunes are not included on the four or five CDs of hers from that period that I managed to turn up every now and again in the pre-internet era. I don't understand a word of the lyrics, but the joyful vibe is utterly irresistible. This is going right into the shopping cart. Do stop and listen, and enjoy.

Also: Stern's distributes a huge selection of amazing African and world music. If you've been despairing to hear new and worthwhile sounds, do check them out!