Hailing from the Cote d'Ivoire, Alpha Blondy is among the world's most popular reggae artists. With his
12-piece band Solar System, Blondy offers a reggae beat with a distinctive African cast. Calling himself an African Rasta, Blondy creates Jah-centered anthems promoting morality, love, peace, and social consciousness. With a range that moves from sensitivity to rage over injustice, much of Blondy's music empathizes with the impoverished and those on society's fringe.
He was born a member of the Jula tribe in Dimbokoro and named Seydou Kone, after his grandfather. His grandmother, Cherie Coco, raised him. He was always a rebellious child and for this, Coco named him
"Blondy," her unique pronunciation of the word "bandit." When he started performing professionally, he took on the name Alpha (the first letter in the Greek alphabet) so his name literally translates to "first bandit." Though he grew up listening to African folkloric music such as yagba and gumbe, his primary musical influences were such Western bands as Deep Purple, Pink Floyd, Hendrix, the Beatles, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and soul artists like Otis Redding.
One night, record producer Clive Hunt heard Blondy sing and invited him to record six songs. Unfortunately, Hunt absconded with the tape. Shortly afterward, he returned to the Ivory Coast, where he
was arrested for threatening the ambassador at the New York Ivorian embassy because the diplomat felt that Blondy's English was too good for him to be an Ivorian native. While at the police station, Blondy's temper again flared and he slapped a policeman (after the cop slapped him first). He spent a week in jail and then stayed briefly at the Bingerville Asylum in Abidjan, where he was declared reasonably sane and released. Soon afterward, he began honing his songwriting and performing skills. Later, he dedicated an album to the patients of Bingerville.
Blondy got his big break from friend Fulgence Kass, an employee of Ivory Coast Television who helped him land a spot on the Premiere Chance talent show. Singing three of his own tunes plus Burning Spear's
"Christopher Columbus," the young artist was a hit with the audience. Blondy then hooked up with producer G. Benson who recorded his eight-song debut album Jah Love in a single day. The most popular song, "Brigadier Sabari," was an account of Blondy's run-in with an Abidjan police street raid in which he was nearly beaten to death. It was the first time a West African artist had dared to mention random police brutality in public. After releasing the album, he and the newly formed Solar System band signed to EMI.
They recorded his second album, Cocody Rock, in Paris in 1984. Later he returned to Tuff Gong to record
his third album, Jerusalem(1986). By the release of his 1987 album Revolution, Blondy had established himself as an international artist. Three years before he had been voted the number one artist by a Radio France international poll. His popularity continues to grow, and he continues steadily releasing albums. His 1992 album, Masada, was released in over 50 countries around the world and went double gold in France.
Yitzhak Rabin followed in 1998; Paris Percy appeared in spring 2001. Although it was recorded in 1999,
the album Elohim appeared in 2002 in Europe and three years later in America. The career-spanning Akwaba: The Very Best of Alpha Blondy was released in 2005, then Jah Victory followed in 2007. The 2011 release Vision was issued by the Wagram label, while his 2013 effort Mystic Power launched his relationship with the VP imprint. The veteran reggae label issued his 2015 release Positive Energy, which featured guest appearances from Tarrus Riley and Ijahman Levi.
01. ALPHA BLONDY - JAH GLORY! 1982
A dynamic early 80s album with Blondy establishing his sound and style. It hasn't yet been released on a US label.
Alpha Blondy And The Natty Rebels – Jah Glory
Label: VP Records – VP2427
Format: CD, Album, Reissue 2010
Country: US
Released: 1982
Genre: Reggae
Style: Reggae, Roots Reggae
TRACKS
01. Rasta Poué 5:21
02. Bintou Were Were 4:57
03. Jah Glory 4:06
04. Dou Nougnan 4:56
05. Brigadier Sabari 4:44
06. The End 6:16
07. Bebi Yere Yé 6:40
08. Rasta Fou 7:11
09. Rasta Poué (Version Dub) 5:05
LINE - UP
Vocals – Alpha Blondy
Backing Vocals – Toinet, Bibie, Jane
Bass – Ka Massa
Executive Producer – George T Benson
Guitar – Lwe Afree, Yaw Mao
Percussion, Drums – M'Hmad Suley
Piano, Keyboards – Geo Kwak
Written-By, Composed By, Arranged By – Alpha Blondy
Flac Size: 331 MB
02. ALPHA BLONDY - COCODY ROCK!!! 1984
Alpha Blondy's 1982 first album, a smash hit featuring an all-local band the Natty Rebels, had all the accessibility and directness that made him an international star. Two cuts are agreeable reggae in English;
the rest is Afro-reggae and a lot more interesting for that. In some ways Blondy's music is typical of the Ivory Coast: light, accomplished, and geared to a regional rather than local audience. Though the notes don't tell you so, Cocody Rock is a re-release of Blondy's 1984 second album, recorded in Paris and Kingston with a mix of African and Jamaican musicians (plus Kassav's Jocelyne Beroard on backup vocals).
Alpha Blondy – Cocody Rock!!!
Label: VP Records – VP2426
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered 2010
Country: US
Released: 1984
Genre: Reggae
Style: Roots Reggae
TRACKS
01. Cocody Rock (Featuring – Les Wailers) 4:53
02. Téré 5:47
03. Super Powers 5:15
04. Interplanetary Revolution 4:33
05. Fangandan Kameleba 5:23
06. Bory Samory 4:57
07. Cocody Rock (Dub Version) 5:41
08. Téré (Dub Version) 5:52
LINE - UP
Vocals – Alpha Blondy
Backing Vocals – Annette Lowman, Eugénie Kuffler, Jocelyne Béroard, Paula Moore, Véronique Kone
Bass – Aston "Family Man" Barrett (tracks: 1), Kamassa Seth
Drums – Carlton Barrett (tracks: 1), Michel Abishira, Personne, Hervé Lecoz (tracks: 1, 2)
Guitar [Solo] – Afri Lue Eugène, Christian Polloni, Earl "Chinna" Smith (tracks: 1)
Keyboards – Earl "Wire" Lindo (tracks: 1), George Kwaku, Martin Meissonnier, Robbie Lynn (tracks: 1)
Rhythm Guitar – Afri Lue Eugène, Francois Cuffy, Julie Morillon, Lloyd "Gitsy" Willis (tracks: 1)
Vocals, Producer, Written-By, Arranged By – Alpha Blondy
Flac Size: 300 MB
03. ALPHA BLONDY - APARTHEID IS NAZISM 1985
While it might be sacrilege in reggae circles to say that any artist could challenge Bob Marley's mastery of the genre, Alpha Blondy fires a dead-on shot literally heard around the world with Apartheid Is Nazism.
Furthermore, this work proves that great reggae does not have to come from Jamaica. "Afriki" opens the album with a nod to Jamaica, but while the music is classic, offbeat reggae, there is a strong African feel here, especially in the backing vocals. On every track, the carefully arranged and smartly played music of Blondy's band, the Solar System, tickles the ears with muscular polyrhythms and a variety of stealthily intoxicating percussion. Maneuvering skillfully on top of all of this is Blondy's uniquely plaintive voice.
Alpha Blondy – Apartheid Is Nazism
Label: EMI Pathé Marconi – 1598882
Format: CD, Album, Reissue 1987
Country: France
Released: 1985
Genre: Reggae
Style: Reggae, Roots Reggae
TRACKS
01. Afriki 5:03
02. Jah Houphouet 5:20
03. Apartheid Is Nazism 4:45
04. Idjidja 5:00
05. Sahel 4:06
06. Sebe Allah Y'e 4:43
07. Kiti 5:14
08. Come Back Jesus 5:30
09. Djinamory 4:39
LINE - UP
Alpha Blondy: Vocals
THE SOLAR SYSTEM
Julie Mourillon, Sam Camara: Rhythm guitar
Christian Polloni, Yao Mao: Lead guitar
Georges Kouakou: Keyboards
Kamassa Seth: Bass
Jose Shillingford, Michel Abihssira: Drums
"Lick": Percussion
GUESTS
Michel Camikas, Nyaha Yodan Emmanuel, Patrick Artero: Horns
Anne-Marie Constant, Manow Bale, Paula Moore, Rochelle Robertson: Backing vocals
Flac Size: 298 MB
04. ALPHA BLONDY - REVOLUTION 1987
After the critical acclaim Alpha Blondy received from Apartheid Is Nazism, he was quick to put out
another album the following year. Perhaps he should have taken more time. The most interesting and experimental track is the ten-minute "Jah Houphouet Nous Parle," in which Blondy takes a tape of a speech given by the former president of the Ivory Coast, M. Felix Houphouet Boigny, and puts it to some sleak, pulsating music. Unfortunately, if you don't speak French, you won't be able to understand the speech, which Blondy calls a "masterpiece."
Alpha Blondy – Révolution
Label: Pathé – 7486552
Format: CD, Album
Country: France
Released: 1987
Genre: Reggae
Style: Reggae-Pop
TRACKS
01. Sweet Fanta Diallo 5:18
02. Blesser 5:30
03. Jah Houphouet Boigny Nous Parle (Rassemblement Démocratique Africain) Featuring – Houphouët Boigny 10:37
04. Rock And Roll Remedy 4:07
05. Time 4:06
06. Election Koutcha 5:36
07. Miri (Featuring – Aîcha Kone) 5:44
LINE - UP
Alpha Blondy: Vocals
Backing Vocals – Corinne Polloni, Monique (10), Ragaï Tchonang, Wiper
Bass – Jumbo, Kamassa Seth
Cello – Alen Hoïst
Drums – José Shilligford, Samuel Kone
Horns – Lionel Jouot, Manou, Manu Dibango, Patrick Artero
Keyboards – Georges Kouarou, Thierry T.
Lead Guitar – Christian Polloni
Percussion – Lick
Rhythm Guitar – Julie Mourillon, Sam Camus, Yao Mao
Tuba – Michel Godard
Violin – Dominic Piffarelly, Jean-Luc Pinot
Flac Size: 246 MB
Alpha Blondy - 1992 - Masada HERE
Alpha Blondy - 1986 - Jerusalem HERE