Ghana Special: Modern Highlife, Afro-Sounds & Ghanaian Blues 1968–1981 is a compilation album released by Soundway Records on 2 November 2009.[1]
The compilation is focused on highlife, a Ghanaian musical style that gained popularity across western Africa in the first half of the 20th century.[2][3] The tracks from the compilation date from a period of political and economic instability in Ghana.[3]
Background and release
Soundway Records was founded in 2002, and its first release was a compilation called Ghana Soundz, consisting of Ghanaian afrobeat and funk from the 1970s; a second volume followed in 2004.[4][5]
In 2007 Soundway released Nigeria Special: Modern Highlife, Afro–Sounds & Nigerian Blues 1970–76, starting the series of which Ghana Special is a part.[6] Soundway went on to release a Kenya Special compilation in 2013,[7][8] and in 2024 released a direct sequel to Ghana Special entitled Ghana Special 2: Electronic Highlife & Afro Sounds In The Diaspora, 1980–93.[9]
Jude Rogers of The Guardian described Ghana Special as "rare and glitteringly good afropop".[13]Jon Caramanica of the New York Times preferred the compilation to 2007's Nigeria Special, writing that "the vocals here are sweeter, the rhythms more delicate, the songs slower, lighter and more beguiling."[7] Robert Barry of the Quietus described the album as having an "overwhelming sense of joy and prescience."[3]
Joe Tangari of Pitchfork rated the compilation 8.5/10, writing that "Ghana Special offers a spoil of riches you can dance to in any language." He called the extensive liner notes "a treasure trove of backstory".[11]
Writing for AllMusic, Phil Freeman rated the album 4.5/5, and said that "most of the [tracks] will be incomprehensible to a U.S. listener -- and it won't matter one bit, because the rhythms and melodies are so overpowering and forceful."[1]
Chris Meinst of Songlines called the album "beautifully packaged and researched...a considered snapshot from an era that avoids musical classification."[12]
