The Rough Guide to Franco: Africa's Legendary Guitar Maestro

Franco | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 12, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: World Music Network
• ASIN: B00005B9RH
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #300,311 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #36 in Music > World Music > Africa > Soukous
  • #49 in Music > World Music > Africa > Zaire & Congo

Track Listings

1. Merengue

2. Motindo Na Yo Te

3. Aya La' Mode

4. Finga Mama Munu

5. Infidelite Mado

6. Likambo Ya Ngana

7. Ou Est Le Serieux?

8. Tailleur

9. Kinshasa Mboka Ya Makambo

10. Mario

11. Chacun Pour Soi

12. Attention Na Sida

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb introduction to Franco, August 5, 2002

By 

Ed Gibbon www.congocookbook.com - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Rough Guide to Franco: Africa's Legendary Guitar Maestro (Audio CD)

While it is possible to obtain many various CDs of the music of Franco and the OK Jazz (also called the TPOK Jazz) in larger stores, there are two very good reasons to recommend this compilation. First, it contains very good liner notes, which provide a wealth of information about Franco, the recordings, the musicians, and the development of Congolese pop music. The notes were written by Graeme Ewens (author of "Congo Colossus: The Life and Legacy of Franco & OK Jazz") who helped select the recordings. [It should be pointed out that informative liner notes are generally not a feature of the African music CDs that have been issued up until now; the Rough Guide series has raised the bar in this regard.] Second, this is a great overview of Franco's career, with recordings from the 1950s through the 1980s. Some of his most popular, as well as most important, songs are showcased here. The recordings are arranged chronologically, guiding the listener through the growth of the OK Jazz from what was basically a band doing Caribbean rumba-style songs into an institution in African music with a distinctive Central African style.

Highly recommended. Good as it is, this should not be your only Franco CD, but it's by far the best selection for a first Franco CD.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Congo's best, July 9, 2003

By 

"ngaimoko" (Africa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Rough Guide to Franco: Africa's Legendary Guitar Maestro (Audio CD)

The country that is best known within Africa for its music is Congo, and the musician who is best loved within Congo is Franco. And here is Franco at his best--highlights from early on in his career (starting with "Merengue," clearly showing the Latin influence in what became soukous, Africa's dance music) to late (ending with "Attention na SIDA"--watch out for AIDS--the artist's plea for others to avoid his own fate). My favorite sample of the harmonious vocals and soaring guitar solos (a soukous trademark) is track 7: "Où Est le Sérieux." Great music from a monumental African singer and guitarist.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars riding with a master, November 14, 2003

By 

"chris-mb" (euless, texas United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Rough Guide to Franco: Africa's Legendary Guitar Maestro (Audio CD)

This album helps you capture the spirit of a master of african music (franco).From early recordings until the end of a triumphant career, you feel the vibration of the soul of africa at its best.Franco's guitar and voice brings a flashback of history when that continent was a land of strong men and happy go lucky people.This album is really the sound of being genuine...