Rail Band - Soundiata, Mansa, Dioba (Belle époque, Vol. 1-3) (2007-2009)

A project to chart the history of Mali's possibly greatest band is ambitious, and this double set covering the early years makes for a very satisfying start. Fully named the Rail Band du Buffet Hotel de la Gare, the Bamako group set up in the hotel by the train station. What's apparent is the very strong Latin influence that pervaded their formative period, evident in the first of three versions on the title cut on here, with Salif Keita, who was with the group from 1970 to 1975, already fully developed and in superb voice as a singer. Just how things changed is shown in the lengthy 1975 version of "Belle Epoque," with Mory Kante then the lead singer, with the song taking on a much more African sound (although the Cuban influence is still strong in other material from the period, such as "El Manicero"). The linchpin of the group is probably Djelimady Tounkara, who'd become lead guitarist, and whose work is inspirational, inventive, and fluid to a remarkable degree -- just listen to "Maliyo," a cut from the late '70s, where his fretwork absolutely shimmers. On the basis of this, the next two volumes will be real treats.

Tracklist:

Rail Band - Soundiata (Belle époque, Vol. 1-3) (2007)
1.01 - Rail Band - Soundiata l'exil (27:50)
1.02 - Rail Band - Maliyo (6:41)
1.03 - Rail Band - Sunjata (14:51)
1.04 - Rail Band - Armée Mali (4:23)
2.05 - Rail Band - Duga (8:00)
2.06 - Rail Band - Mali Cebalenw (6:36)
2.07 - Rail Band - Armée Malienne (4:23)
2.08 - Rail Band - Fankante Dankele (7:02)
2.09 - Rail Band - Armée Mali (4:54)
2.10 - Rail Band - Soundjata (10:30)
2.11 - Rail Band - Mali Tebaga Mogoma (5:54)


Rail Band - Mansa (Belle époque, Vol. 2) (2008)
The second volume in Stern's three-volume Rail Band retrospective, BELLE EPOQUE VOLUME 2: MANSA contains a number of rare recordings made by the Rail Band in the early ‘70s, featuring the talents of the Malian songwriting prodigy Salif Kieta, as well as a host of other selections featuring Malian singers like Sekou Kante and Magan Ganessy. Though these compilations provide an admirably thorough overview of the Rail Band’s discography, they are not arranged chronologically. On this volume, early ‘70s cuts featuring the golden-voiced Kieta often sit somewhat uneasily beside equally stellar, but stylistically distinct, offerings from later in the Rail Band’s career. Despite its potentially confusing sequencing, Stern’s Belle Epoque series offers the listener unparalleled access to the Rail Band’s sprawling and influential body of work.

1.01 - Rail Band - Rail Band (6:34)
1.02 - Rail Band - Mansa (11:58)
1.03 - Rail Band - Finza (6:59)
1.04 - Rail Band - Demba (9:45)
1.05 - Rail Band - Kankoun (7:10)
1.06 - Rail Band - Konowale (6:43)
1.07 - Rail Band - Balakononifing (9:59)
1.08 - Rail Band - Dugu Kamaleba (11:50)
1.09 - Rail Band - Mamobo (5:02)
2.10 - Rail Band - Koro Koni (6:42)
2.11 - Rail Band - Kaïra (9:38)
2.12 - Rail Band - Tie Diuguya (4:52)
2.13 - Rail Band - Dioula (5:13)
2.14 - Rail Band - Tiramakan (4:00)
2.15 - Rail Band - Lanseny (9:24)
2.16 - Rail Band - Gnagna (7:08)
2.17 - Rail Band - Mamadou Boutiqui (8:15)
2.18 - Rail Band - Gansana (7:12)


Rail Band - Dioba (Belle époque, Vol. 3) (2009)
Formed at the outset of Mali’s independence in the late ‘60s, the Rail Band initially built their repertoire as an upscale hotel band that catered to Western audiences. But despite the band’s modern instrumentation (electric guitars, reeds and brass), lyrically they represented a continuation of the West African griots, drawing from a deep lineage of Manding music and oral traditions. BELLE EPOQUE 3: DIOBA, a two-disc set, contains the recordings made between 1970 and 1983, and features the vocal talents of two future world music stars, Salif Keita and Mory Kante.

1.01 - Rail Band - Bedianomogo (8:39)
1.02 - Rail Band - Sinsimba (8:07)
1.03 - Rail Band - Kadia Kandian (5:00)
1.04 - Rail Band - Wale Numa Lombaliya (13:30)
1.05 - Rail Band - Diby (6:25)
1.06 - Rail Band - Maki (7:53)
1.07 - Rail Band - Djamban (4:57)
1.08 - Rail Band - Mady Guindo (5:17)
1.09 - Rail Band - Den Nadiya (4:58)
2.10 - Rail Band - Kibaru (6:37)
2.11 - Rail Band - Mariba Yassa (5:07)
2.12 - Rail Band - Dioba (5:22)
2.13 - Rail Band - Tidiane Kone (4:27)
2.14 - Rail Band - Diabaté (9:03)
2.15 - Rail Band - Foliba (7:28)
2.16 - Rail Band - Soyomba (7:19)
2.17 - Rail Band - Karitea (5:21)
2.18 - Rail Band - Jurukan (7:39)
2.19 - Rail Band - Talassa (7:20)