THE APOSTLES – Record Store Day 7″ from ACADEMY LPs

April 18th, 2012 by Administrator




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Academy Lps, working once again with Voodoo Funk, is proud to revive
this long-lost 45 in time for Record Store Day. This is a fantastic
two-sider of deep-n-dirty early 70’s Afro-funk that has few peers.
This is a truly deluxe release – fully licensed from the band,
painstakingly remastered, and housed in a beautiful custom picture sleeve.
Possibly the most deeply funky RSD release ever!

” Most Eastern Nigerians of a certain age hold a special place in
their hearts for the music of The Apostles, the musical group based in
the commercial city of Aba and best known for their string of folksy
pop hits from the mid-1970s into the early 80s. More hardcore
scenesters, though, may remember the band’s more obscure early years
as an unruly highlife-and-Congo music bar band, and their
transformation into rugged soul outfit to replace departing hometown
heroes The Funkees of Aba, who were getting set to relocate to London.
Under the leadership of guitarist Walton Arungwa and fronted by singer
Chyke Fussion Okoro, the Apostles of Aba (also known as The Apostles
Rock Group of Nigeria) were quickly signed as the first pop act on the
newly-formed, Aba-based BEN label. The group’s first single “Down Down
the Valley” b/w “Battery Rock” was a massive smash that financed the
rapid expansion of BEN (which would eventually evolve into Clover
Records). The Apostles’ second BEN single–”Onye Akpa” b/w “Oshi
Onwu”–while slightly more obscure was an even more intense funk
workout. Having proven their mettle locally, the Apostles were then
snapped up by EMI Records and began their reign as pop stalwarts.
Their earliest recordings, however, remain a testament to their funky
roots.”
- Uchenna Ikonne, Comb & Razor

Pressing strictly limited to 1500 copies : order it HERE

Listen to sound clips on YouTube:
Side One: “ONYE AKPA”
Side Two: “OSHI ONWU”

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A GROOVY CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR… from Academy LPs

November 23rd, 2011 by Administrator




Groovy Christmas

Academy Lps gets into the Holiday spirit with the second release in its Special Single series. This 45 alone will greatly improve anyone’s collection of Christmas tunes with two soulful offerings from the heyday of the Ghanian music scene of the 70’s.

Originally released as an extremely rare 7″, this deeply funky Christmas 45 is an early production by the legendary Kwadwo Donkoh, known to many as the driving force behind the Agoro Records label and producer of such groups as the Uhuru Dance Band. The Two songs on this 45, “A Groovy Christmas And New Year” and “The Soul Of Christmas”, are great holiday listening, but also work the rest of the year, especially the dance floor funk of “A Groovy Christmas And New Year”!

Pressing strictly limited to 1000 copies : order it HERE

Listen to sound clips:

“A Groovy Christmas and New Year”

“The Soul of Christmas”

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Debut of the Academy Special Single Series : STONEFACE and Life Everlasting

July 30th, 2011 by Administrator




Stoneface

Academy is proud to announce the debut of it’s Academy Special Single series in conjunction with Voodoo Funk (Frank Gossner). All 45s will come in deluxe custom designed picture sleeves, have original “punch out” style records and will feature the rarest and best African 45s Frank has turned up in his years of digging in Africa. This, as all the singles in this series, will be strictly limited to 1000 copies.

First up is a single by Stoneface and Life Everlasting – “Love Is Free” b/w “Agawalam Mba”. Stoneface was already a veteran of the Nigerian music scene when he formed this band and cut this (their only) 45 in 1973. Starting with the Tall Men in the mid 60’s, Stoneface was soon asked to join the Postmen with legendary guitarist Goddy Oku and the great Sonny Okosuns. After a stint in the Hygrades he formed his own group with Kingsley “Dallas” Anyanwu (from the high school band Dee-Mites), lead guitarist Maurice “Jackie Moore” Anyaorah (from Salt & Pepper Organisation), rhythm guitarist Roy Obika and bassist Jimi Henshaw–and formed Life Everlasting.

This single is a fantastic two-sider – “Love Is Free” is a gritty Psych-Rock tune with a trippy guitar solo while “Agawalam Mba” is a bulldozing Afro-Funk tune with gravelly vocals and heavy fuzz guitar. An incredibly rare and great single rescued from obscurity by Academy/Voodoo Funk!

Pressing strictly limited to 1000 copies : order it HERE.

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Marijata is here!!! Order it NOW + LIMITED SCREEN PRINTED EDITION

April 5th, 2011 by Administrator




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The newest release from Academy LPs has hit the streets! Hard-hitting, hair-raising, Afro-fuzz from Ghana, This is Marijata is the toughest and most sought-after African funk record of them all! Recorded live in the studio, this album is the standard by which all other Afro-funk albums are measured – its power, vitality and rawness have been emulated, but never equaled!

The regular edition can be ordered HERE. The limited screen printed version (a one time edition of 150 copies) is now sold out.

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Tote bags are back in stock + NEW Academy LPs design!!!!

March 17th, 2011 by Administrator




Academy tote bags are back in stock. The classic Academy logo in blue screenprinted on a heavy duty thick black canvas tote. These are no shoddy quality tote bags….they are thick and built to last for years and years of schlepping stacks’o'wax to and from the record shop, your DJ nite, and all points beyond!!!!

But wait….THERE’S MORE!!!!!!

For the first time ever the Academy LPs record label logo is also available in tote bag form!!! Choose from gold print on black or blue print on white.

Bags are $15 each and available in the shop and our web store!!!

Classic Logo

Academy LPs (white bag)

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We’re in The Onion!

February 22nd, 2011 by Administrator




onion

America’s finest news source if not its most trusted, The Onion, has deemed us one of its top most unsustainable business models. Thanks a lot. Dicks.

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PSYCHEDELIC ALIENS T-Shirts Available now!

November 27th, 2010 by Administrator




Beautiful black T-shirts with red and yellow band logo in the middle.
Available is sizes Small, Medium, Large, and Extra Large!

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PSYCHEDELIC ALIENS AVAILABLE NOW

November 23rd, 2010 by Administrator




THE ALIENS HAVE LANDED!

Now available to order
PSYCHEDELIC ALIENS – Psycho African Beat LP/CD

WE ALSO HAVE A FEW AVAILABLE COPIES OF THE LIMITED 7″ BOX SET AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE.
LIMIT 1 PER CUSTOMER.

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PSYCHEDELIC ALIENS RELEASE DATE

October 21st, 2010 by Administrator




Release date has been pushed back to NOVEMBER 23rd.
All versions of this release will be available then and pre-orders will start shipping on that date.

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PSYCHEDELIC ALIENS 7″ BOX SET AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER

October 6th, 2010 by Administrator




NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER:
PSYCHEDELIC ALIENS – Psycho African Beat Special limited edition 7″ BOX SET.
NEW ON ACADEMY LPs!
OFFICIAL RELEASE DATE: NOVEMBER 23rd
Any orders received will ship on that date.

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PSYCHEDELIC ALIENS – Psycho African Beat

Like most stories involving aliens this
one seems, well, made up. But it really
happened. For a few years in the late 60’s
to early 70’s worlds collided and aliens
walked among us.

And made music.

Psycho African Beat is the complete
recorded output of this amazing group and
their unprecedented music that combined
elements of American soul, funk, garage rock
and psych with African rhythms and melodies.

This magical moment lasted for 3 short years
producing only 3 releases: 1 – 4 song EP +
2 – 7”s. Today, these 3 original releases are
the most sought after and most elusive
African funk records. It took Frank Gossner
(Voodoofunk.com, Soulpusher, DJ Franco)
4 years, 9 visits to Ghana, and dozens of
newspaper ads and radio announcements to
track them down.

TRACK LISTING:
1 – Blofonyobi Wo Atale
2 – Hijacking
3 – We’re Laughing
4 – Extraordinary Woman
5 – Gbe Keke Wo Taoc
6 – Gbomei Adesai
7 – Homowo
8 – Okponmo Ni Tsitsi Emo Le

Official release of these long lost gems,
licensed directly from the band.

· Most anticipated African release ever!

· LIMITED EDITION (500) 4 x’s 7” box set
including a 32p.7”x6” booklet & embroidered
patch & more! No expense spared! Hurry!!!

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