Eboni Band

Eboni Band’s 1980 self-titled album reissued on vinyl for the first time, via We Are Busy Bodies. The band was formed after Motown Studios alumni Gerald Theus — who set up Eboni Records — met musician Abdoulaye Soumare in the Ivory Coast capital Abidjan, and convinced him to work on a series of records with the label’s artists.

As its name suggests, Eboni Band was an ersatz supergroup. Pulled together by arranger and bassist Greg Middleton (The Checkmates Ltd, Marlena Shaw) at the suggestion of Marvin Gaye producer Art Stewart, the musicians comprised of the four musical groups signed to the Ivory Coast-based Eboni Records (Mamadou Doumbia, Gun Morgan, Amadou Doukoure and Abdoulaye Soumare and Lamine Konte and Fode Drame) alongside a handpicked collection of mint Motown session men, including James Brown's bandleader Fred Wesley, Nolan Smith (Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder), Ernie Fields Jr (Rick James, Marvin Gaye), and Quentin Dennard (Aretha Franklin, BB King).

TRACKS:

• SIDE A
• A1. Sing A Happy Song (Shake It Down)
• A2. Fasso (The Motherhood)

• SIDE B
• B1. Desire
• B2. Mogofindeou-Sopeunte (Get Together)
• B3. I Love All