VA - Ernesto Chahoud presents TAITU - Soul-fuelled Stompers from 1960s - 1970s Ethiopia (2018)

Ernesto Chahoud’s ‘Taitu’ is a collection of soul-fuelled stompers straight from the dancefloors of 1970s Addis Ababa. A breathless journey through the unique Ethio sound that bands were forging at the time, the 24track compilation is the result of the Lebanese DJ and crate digger’s decadelong love affair with the ‘golden age’ of Ethiopian music. Among the musical gems featured are 7”s by some of the heavyweights of the scene including the godfather of Ethio jazz Mulatu Astatke and Alemayehu Eshete, the vocalist dubbed the ‘Ethiopian Elvis’, alongside tracks by more obscure artists such as Merawi Yohannis and Birkineh Wurga. For ‘Taitu’, Chahoud has selected 24 of his essential Ethio-Soul 7”s, that never leave his DJ box, and together they capture this opportune moment in Ethiopian music history that saw bands experiment with an armful of influences: gliding through R&B, rock & roll, jazz, funk, soul and boogaloo. What came out was a distinctly Ethiopian interpretation: pentatonic scales, horn-driven melodies and soul-shattering vocals sung in Amharic.

Track List:

Disc: 1
1. Fikratchin - Menelik Wossenatchew
2. Emnete - Mulatu Astatke
3. Hasabe - Teshome Meteku
4. Alkedashim - Birkineh Wurga
5. Endiet Zenegashiw - Selomon Shibeshi
6. Chiro Adarie Negne - Alemayehu Eshete
7. Ewnetegna Feker - Hirut Beqele
8. Felagote - Bezunesh Bekele
9. Mekeyershin Salawke - Alemayehu Eshete
10. Aykedashim Libe - Tilahun Gessesse
11. Teleyeshign - Merawi Yohannis
12. Temelese - Hirut Beqele & Alemayehu Eshete
13. Honey Baby - Alemayehu Eshete

Disc: 2
1. Ebo Lala - Seifu Yohannes
2. Aha Gedawo - Bezunesh Bekele
3. Yeshebelewa - Alemayehu Borobor
4. Mela Mela - Seifu Yohannes
5. Sigibgib Joroye - Tilahun Gessesse
6. Gizew Honeshyna - Alemayehu Eshete
7. Tessassategn Eko - Gahta G. Hiwot
8. Fikrishin Eshaleyu - Getatchew Kassa
9. Almokerum Nebere - Hirut Beqele
10. Alagegnhwatem - Muluken Melesse
11. Tezeta - Menelik Wossenatchew
12. Ene Yewodedquat - Tamrat Molla