Live from Paris and Conakry

AMG Review of Live from Paris and Conakry

Adam Greenberg
All Music Guide

This compilation of songs performed live by Miriam Makeba, one of the original international divas (with, perhaps, Susana Baca among others), was released roughly two decades after the recording dates. The songs are from two live concerts, one in Paris in 1977 and the other in Conakry in 1970. On the album are both political songs of various sorts ("Malcolm X," "U. Shaka") as well as songs meant more for dance and fun ("Pata Pata" being the most recognizable). Realistically, Makeba may have other albums of a higher recording quality out there, but the inclusion of crowd noises, monologues with the audience, and some acoustic irregularities (inherent in any live recording) make the album seem more worthy as a document of a live performance, giving the listener a feel for what a live concert by the great singer would be like. Any fan of Makeba's music should be overjoyed upon hearing this compilation, and those who haven't particularly heard of her would find this to be a good starting point.