Living Is Hard
West African Music In Britain, 1927-1929

The first in a series of recoveries by Honest Jon's from deep inside the EMI Archive — staggering selections from more than 150,000 78s, recorded all over the world during the first half of the twentieth century.
'So it is that Honest Jon's has (again) unearthed an episode of black music history in Britain: these are tough cuts — in no way easy listening, but absolutely essential' (**** The Observer).
'While the likes of Blind Lemon Jefferson and Charley Patton were making the earliest blues recordings in America, this equally strange and compelling music by West African singers and musicians was simultaneously being recorded in London... [a] treasure trove of golden voices, chants, authentic percussion and traditional instruments presented in totally unmediated fashion'
(***** Songlines).