Woyaya

Woyaya is the second album by Ghanaian Afro-rock band Osibisa released in 1971 by MCA. It was reissued in 2004 in a two-CD pack together with the self-titled album Osibisa by BGO Records.

Woyaya
Studio album by
Osibisa
Released1971
Recorded1971
GenreAfro-rock, Afro-pop, jazz fusion, funk rock, progressive rock[1]
Length40:44
LabelMCA
ProducerTony Visconti
Osibisa chronology
Osibisa
(1971)		 Woyaya
(1971)		 Heads
(1972)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Christgau's Record GuideB–[2]

Album title

Although conventionally spelled Woyaya the album's title is actually Wɔyaya (with an open-o), which comes from the Ghanaian Ga language and translates as "We are going".[3]

The title song was covered in 1973 by Art Garfunkel on his debut solo album Angel Clare and by the group The 5th Dimension on their 1973 album Living Together, Growing Together. "Woyaya" was also used as the signature tune for the popular Ghanaian television drama series Osofo Dadzie, which was broadcast between 1972 and 1981.[4][5][6] The lyrics to the song "We are going nobody knows..." were written by Annie Masembe from Uganda.

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Beautiful Seven"Osei, Tontoh6:42
2."Y Sharp"Osibisa6:20
3."Spirits Up Above"Roland Kirk7:18
4."Survival"Tontoh, Osei6:07
5."Move On"Richardson4:42
6."Rabiatu"Amao5:07
7."Woyaya"Amarfio4:28
Total length:40:44

Charts
Chart (1971/72) Position
United States (Billboard 200) 66
Australia (Kent Music Report)[7] 15
Canada 61
United Kingdom (Official Charts Company) 11

Personnel
  • Teddy Osei – tenor saxophone, flute, African drums, percussion, vocals
  • Sol Amarfio – drums, fontonfrom, bongos, African drums, cowbells, percussion, vocals
  • Mac Tontoh – trumpet, flugelhorn, cowhorn, kabasa, percussion, vocals
  • Spartacus R (Roy Bedeau) – bass guitar, prempensua, assorted percussion
  • Wendell Richardson – lead guitar, vocals
  • Robert Bailey – organ, piano, timbales, percussion, vocals
  • Loughty Lasisi Amao – tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, flute, congas, fontomfrom
  • Osibisa choir – friends and lovers

Production

Chart positions
Chart (1971) Peak
position
Billboard 66
RPM Magazine 61

References
  1. "Osibisa: Osibisa/Woyaya (reissues)", Sea Of Tranquility.
  2. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: O". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 10, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  3. "Osibisa – Wɔyaya" at Discogs.
  4. "NA ME WO HO ON ADOM TV (19-12-13)". youtube.com. Adom TV. 19 December 2013. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  5. "Osibisa – Woyaya (live in Greece)", Explore Africa.com.
  6. "We're Going", Christ Episcopal Church, Columbia MD.
  7. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 226. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.