World A/A+ List

The music of Asia (excluding Turkey and the Arabic lands, which means from Iran east), plus Australia, Pacific islands (e.g., Hawaii), and Native America.

The Abyssinians

• Tree of Satta [1969–2003, Blood & Fire], A

King Sunny Ade (1946– )

• The Best of the Classic Years [1967–74, Shanachie], A+
• Aura [1984, Mango], A

Amadou and Mariam

• Dimanche à Bamako [2005, Nonesuch], A

Bhundu Boys

• The Shed Sessions [1982–86, Sadza, 2 CD], A

Big Youth (1949– )

• Screaming Target [1973, Trojan/Sanctuary], A

Black Stalin

• Roots, Rock, Soca [(1991), Rounder], A

Black Uhuru [1977– ]

• Red [1981, Island/Chronicles], A
• Anthem [1984, Mango], A+
• Liberation: The Island Anthology [(1993), Mango, 2 CD], A

Alpha Blondy (1953– )

• The Best of Alpha Blondy [(1990), Shanachie], A

Cedric Im Brooks (1943– )

• Cedric Im Brooks and the Light of Saba [1974–76, Honest Jons], A

Burning Spear [1975– ]

• Social Living [1978–80, Island], A

Cachao (1918– )

• Master Sessions Volume 2 [1993, Crescent Moon/Epic], A

Manu Chao

• Clandestino [1998, Ark 21], A
• Proxima Estacion: Esperanza [2001, Virgin], A
• La Radiolina [2007, Nacional/Because], A

Jimmy Cliff (1948– )

• The Harder They Come [1972, Mango], A
• The Harder They Come (Deluxe Edition) [1968–72, Hip-O/Island, 2 CD], A

Culture [1977– ]

• Two Sevens Clash [1977, Shanachie], A+
• Cumbolo [1979, Shanachie], A

Eyuphuro

• Mama Mosambiki [1990, Real World], A

Franco (1938–89)

• 1972 / 1973 / 1974 [1972–74, Sonodisc], A
• w/Tabu Ley Rocherau: Omona Wapi [1984, Shanachie], A+
• The Rough Guide to Franco [1956–87, World Music Network], A
• Franco: The Very Best of the Rumba Giant of Zaire [1956–87, Manteca], A+

Joe Higgs (1940–99)

• Triumph [1985, Alligator], A

The Highlife Allstars

• Sankofa [2001, Network], A

Linton Kwesi Johnson (1952– )

• Forces of Victory [1979, Mango], A
• Making History [1984, Mango], A+
• Tings An' Times [1991, Shanachie], A

The Klezmatics [1990– ]

• Wonder Wheel: Lyrics by Woody Guthrie [2006, JMG], A

Fela Anikulapo Kuti (1938–97)

• Original Sufferhead / I.T.T. [1980–81, MCA], A
• The Best Best of Fela Kuti [1972–89, MCA, 2 CD], A

Ladysmith Black Mambazo [1984– ]

• Classic Tracks [(1990), Shanachie], A

Orlando Cachaito Lopez (1933– )

• Cachaito [2001, World Circuit/Nonesuch], A

Lord Kitchener (1922–2000)

• Klassic Kitchener, Volume One [(1993), Ice], A

Baaba Maal

• w/Mansour Seck: Djam Leelii [1989, Mango], A

Mahlathini (1937–99)

• w/Mahotella Queens: Thokozile [1988, Earthworks], A
• w/Mahotella Queens: Paris-Soweto [1988, Polydor], A

Thomas Mapfumo (1945– )

• Ndangariro [1984, Carthage], A

Bob Marley (1945–81)

• The Wailers: Catch a Fire [1973, Island], A
• The Wailers: Burnin' [1973, Island], A
• Natty Dread [1974, Island], A+
• Legend [1972–80, Tuff Gong], A

Mzwakhe Mbuli

• Resistance Is Defence [1992, Earthworks], A

Ras Michael

• Rally Round [1985, Shanachie], A

Mighty Sparrow (1935– )

• Volume One [(1992), Ice], A+
• Volume Two [(1992), Ice], A

Benny Moré (1919–63)

• w/Pérez Prado: Mambos by Benny Moré: El Barbaro del Ritmo [1948–50, Tumbao], A

Pablo Moses (1953– )

• In the Future [1983, Alligator], A

Septeto Nacional de Ignacio Piñeiro [1927– ]

• Ignacio Piñeiro and His Septeto Nacional [1928–30, Tumbao], A

Youssou N'Dour (1959– )

• The Rough Guide to Youssou N'Dour and Etoile de Dakar [1979–82, World Music Network], A
• Nothing's in Vain [2002, Nonesuch], A
• Rokku Mi Rokka [2007, Nonesuch], A

Niney the Observer

• Niney and Friends: Blood and Fire [1971–72, Trojan], A

West Nkosi (1919– )

• Rhythm of Healing [1992, Earthworks], A

Remmy Ongala (1947– )

• Songs for the Poor Man [1989, Real World], A

Orchestra Baobab

• Pirates Choice [1982, World Circuit/Nonesuch, 2 CD], A
• Specialist in All Styles [2002, Nonesuch], A

Oriental Brothers International

• Dr. Sir Warrior and the Oriental Brothers International: Heavy on the Highlife! [1990, Original Music], A+

Augustus Pablo (1954–99)

• King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown [1976, Shanachie], A
• East of the River Nile [1977, Shanachie], A
• Rockers Meets King Tubbys in a Fire House [1980, Shanachie], A

Astor Piazzolla (1921–92)

• Tango: Zero Hour [1986, Pangaea], A
• The Rough Guide to Astor Piazzolla [1957–88, World Music Network], A

Pérez Prado (1916–89)

• The Best of Pérez Prado: The Original Mambo No. 5 [1949–59, RCA/Legacy], A

Arsenio Rodriguez (1911–71)

• Montuneando [1946–50, Tumbao], A

Oumou Sangare (1968– )

• Oumou [1989–2003, World Circuit/Nonesuch, 2 CD], A

Sly and Robbie [1978– ]

• Rhythm Killers [1987, Island], A

Rachid Taha (1958– )

• Made in Medina [2001, Ark 21], A

Toots and the Maytals [1962– ]

• Funky Kingston [1973, Mango], A

UB40 [1980– ]

• 1980–83 [1980–83, A&M], A
• Labour of Love [1983, A&M], A

Bunny Wailer (1947– )

• Crucial! Roots Classics [1979–82, Shanachie], A

Papa Wemba (1953– )

• L'Esclave [1986, Gitta], A
• 1977–1997 [1977–97, Stern's Africa, 2 CD], A

Various Artists

• Africa Dances [(1972), Original], A
• African Connection, Vol. 1: Zaire Choc! [(1988), Celluloid], A+
• African Music [1971–82, Vertigo], A
• African Pearls 1: Congo: Rumba on the River [1954–69, Syllart, 2 CD], A
• Authenticité: The Syliphone Years [1965–80, Sterns, 2 CD], A
• Electric Highlife: Sessions From the Bokoor Studios [1978–89, Naxos World], A
• Golden Afrique Vol. 1 [1971–83, Network, 2 CD], A
• Golden Afrique Vol. 2 [1956–82, Network, 2 CD], A
• The Guitar and Gun: Highlife Music From Ghana [1981–84, Stern's/Earthworks], A
• Guitar Paradise of East Africa [(1991), Earthworks], A
• The Heartbeat of Soweto [1988, Shanachie], A
• The Indestructible Beat of Soweto [1986, Shanachie], A
• The Kings and Queens of Township Jive: Modern Roots of the Indestructible Beat of Soweto [1991, Earthworks], A+
• The Kings of Highlife: The Vibrant Music of West Africa [(2003), Wrasse], A
• The Music in My Head [(1998), Sterns], A
• The Rough Guide to Congo Gold [1949–93, World Music Network], A
• The Rough Guide to the Music of Nigeria and Ghana [(2002), World Music Network], A
• Soweto Never Sleeps [1986, Shanachie], A
• Township Jazz 'n' Jive [1939–65, Music Club], A
• High Explosion: DJ Sounds From 1970 to 1976 [1970–76, Sanctuary/Trojan, 2 CD], A
• Punky Reggae Party: New Wave Jamaica 1975–1980 [1975–80, Trojan], A
• Rough and Tough: The Story of Ska 1960–1966 [1960–66, Sanctuary/Trojan, 2 CD], A
• Ska Bonanza: The Studio One "Ska" Years [1961–65, Heartbeat, 2 CD], A
• This Is Ska! [1962–70, Music Club], A
• Tougher than Tough: The Story of Jamaican Music [1959–93, Island, 4 CD], A+
• Brazil Classics 2: O Samba [(1989), Luaka Bop], A
• Hurricane Zouk [1988, Earthworks/Virgin], A+