Olaiya's, Victor
All Stars Soul International
Dr. Victor Abimbola Olaiya is still sockin it to them after 60 years on stage. If youre lucky you can catch him blowing that trumpet and singing his heart out at his own celebrated 'Stadium Hotel' in Lagos, Nigeria. Victor Olaiya is certainly one of the legendary foundation stones of modern Nigerian music, yet he has never received much acknowlegement or really had his albums released or promoted in any quantity outside of Nigeria. So this Vampisoul release is a step in the right direction and not before time, for a 77 years old who was probably Nigerias leading Highlife star of Highlifes golden years, the 50s and early 60's. This album from 1970 is from Olaiyas Highlife / Funk phase, but its worth taking a trawl through his back pages to see how he became the Evil Genius, before you roll back the rug and get down with the Highlife-Funk.