After releasing around fifty 45 rpm singles and his first 33 rpm album (Ethiopian Modern Instrumental Hits AELP 10, re-released by Heavenly Sweetness HL092VL), Amha Esthèté set about compiling his best 45s on a series of now legendary albums (the originals are impossible to find) in 1972.

Various Artists

Ethiopian Hit Parade Vol. 1

Cat No: HS144VL
Release date: 8 December 2016
Format: LP
Country: Ethiopia
Region: East Africa

After releasing around fifty 45 rpm singles and his first 33 rpm album (Ethiopian Modern Instrumental Hits AELP 10, re-released by Heavenly Sweetness HL092VL), Amha Esthèté set about compiling his best 45s on a series of now legendary albums (the originals are impossible to find) in 1972.

 16,5

Out of stock

Listen to: Ethiopian Hit Parade Vol. 1

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1. Alemayehu Eshete - Addis Abeba Bete
04:33
2. Girma Beyene - Set Alamenem
05:28
3. Gemetchu Itana - Shemermari Tiya
04:31
4. Seyfu Yohannes - Tezeta
05:21
5. Abayneh Dedjene - Yebereha Lomi
03:33
6. Teshome Meteku - Gara Ser New Betesh
03:15
7. Menelik Wesnathew - Asha Gedawo
04:26
8. Muluqen Mellesse - Hedetch Alu
05:17
9. Mulatu Astatke - Yekermo Sew
04:15
10. Essatu Tessema - Ayamaru Eshete
04:00
11. Abbebe Tessema - Ashasha Beyew
03:35

Item Description

After releasing around fifty 45 rpm singles and his first 33 rpm album (Ethiopian Modern Instrumental Hits AELP 10, re-released by Heavenly Sweetness HL092VL), Amha Esthèté set about compiling his best 45s on a series of now legendary albums (the originals are impossible to find) in 1972.

An audacious, funky outlaw, a music lover and an entrepreneur in tune with the baby-boomer generation, young Amha Esthèté (he was only twenty-four when he launched his label) will be remembered as the instigator of a peaceful revolution thick with soul and rock’n’roll.

The tracks on this first volume celebrate pioneers of modern Ethiopian groove such as Girma Bèyènè, Seyfu Yohannes, Tèshomè Meteku, Menelik Wèsnatchèw, Mulatu Astatq and Muluken Melesse, alongside tradi-modern singers representing Amhara (Essatu Tèssèmma) and Oromo culture, so rich and so long marginalised (Abbèbè Tèssèmma and Gèmètchu Itana).