Here's a beautiful little work song created by four postal employees who were recorded as they canceled stamps at the University of Ghana post office in 1975 (MP3). Their whistle-and-stamp song was recorded by James Koetting and appeared in the book/CD-Rom Worlds of Music: An Introduction to the Music of the World's Peoples. For more information on the recording, check out Elise's homework assignment on the recording. I hope she got a good grade. Ain't the internet grand? Thanks to listener Nick for sending this in; he's already booked the next flight to Ghana. If you want to see some of the stamps these postal workers might've been canceling, check here.
Thanks for that link. My professor played this clip during a lecture in African-American Music History as an example of improvisation, rhythm and musical culture in contemporary West Africa and how it relates to music here in the states. I always wanted a copy of the recording.
Posted by: Jackson West | December 05, 2005 at 06:36 AM
Jackson, did you go to Macalester?
Posted by: Boris | December 05, 2005 at 04:25 PM
Ken,
This is great. Being a stamp collector, I am going to forward this link to all my collecting cohorts.
B-I-L
Bob
Posted by: Bob Parkin | December 06, 2005 at 09:04 AM
This is the most requested song ever at Oddio Overplay. Shared this in 2003, because I love it so much. The CDs accompany a text book by Jeff Todd Tilton. Scanned the page. Will try to dig up the scan with info and link it here.
Posted by: Katya Oddio | December 08, 2005 at 12:26 PM
..ooOoo.. :: MORE INFO ON THIS TRACK :: ..ooOoo..
source: Worlds of Music by Jeff Todd Tilton
Posted by: Katya Oddio | January 28, 2006 at 06:48 PM
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The info on this track has
been moved to this new location.
Enjoy! -katya
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Posted by: Katya Oddio | September 05, 2006 at 11:10 PM
Just try this at work. Just try it. I dare you.
Posted by: (withheld) | February 19, 2007 at 01:53 PM
i heard this song in a world music class at uf where i met my wife. this song is v special to both of us. thanks for posting the song and links. it makes me wish i could work in the post office in ghana
Posted by: andy | September 14, 2008 at 03:33 PM
Ken, this is really great! I know this is a old post, but I've listen to itthe first time today!
I'm as a photographer, would be interested in visulas too. there are some pictures what u could show us too? that would finalize the picture what I get, when I was listen to the sound.
thank you for sharing anyway!!!
Posted by: karola riegler | November 08, 2009 at 06:06 AM
I heard this on the CBC just lately. Sounds like Simon and Garfunkel's "Cecilia", but that was from 1970.
Posted by: tim | March 17, 2010 at 11:45 PM
I remember this song from back in college... 2002!
When I heard it I showed my entire family and they loved it. My brother and I sometimes whistle the tune and harmony. It's been 10 years and we still haven't forgotten :)
Now if only I could find the Andean Pan Pipe music from that cd!
Posted by: HearMeRo | April 18, 2012 at 03:20 AM
Good song!
Posted by: Borja Musica Gratis | April 01, 2013 at 03:00 AM