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Frequently Bought Together
Product details
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Track Listings
| 1. Fela & The Africa 70 - Who're you? (Original 45 Version) |
| 2. Eric Showboy Akaeze & His Royal Ericos - We Dey Find Money |
| 3. The Anansa Professionals - Enwan |
| 4. Saxon Lee & The Shadows International - Mind Your Business |
| 5. Bongos Ikwue & The Groovies - Otachikpopo |
| 6. Orlando Julius & His Afro-Sounders - Afro-Blues |
| 7. Bob Ohiri and his Uhuru Sounds - Ariwo Yaa |
| 8. Mad Man Jaga - Hankuri |
| 9. Godwin Omabuwa & His Casanova Dandies - Do The Afro Shuffle |
Product Description
Review
There has never been an artist quite like Fela Kuti. A singer, composer, bandleader, multi-instrumentalist and fiery political rebel, he didn’t just shake up the Nigerian music scene back in the 1970s, but he created his own fusion style of Afrobeat, one that’s still growing in popularity alongside the legend of the man himself.
Fela was best seen on his home turf, playing in his club The Shrine in the Lagos suburb of Ikeja, where he often didn’t appear until the early hours of the morning, and kept playing until dawn. His songs were always lengthy, and involved his trademark blend of American funk and R&B mixed with jazz improvisation, traditional Yoruba influences, chanting line-and-response vocals, extended solos on saxophone and keyboards, and then sudden furious outbursts in which he would denounce the policies of the military government of the day.
He was an exhilarating performer, and it’s only to be expected that Fela and his Afrika 70 band provide the rousing opening of an album dedicated to ‘The New Explosive Sound in 1970s Nigeria’. The track is called Who’re You?, a song that Fela released as a 7” 45 rpm single in 1971, and was later re-recorded at Abbey Road for his album Fela’s London Scene. This original version has not been re-released until now, and it’s a classic example of early Fela, mixing a driving funk rhythm with fine brass work, chanting vocals and playful improvised keyboard solos.
Fela set the pace, but others were bound to follow, and this cheerfully intriguing set also features ten of Fela’s competitors, who were never as inventive, brave or unpredictable as the great man himself, but still created some great dance music following his musical formula. There’s Eric ‘Showboy’ Akaeze mixing a sturdy R&B riff, impressive organ work and wailing rock guitar on We Dey Find Money; a light, funky work-out from Saxon Lee & the Shadows International; and a cheerful dance song from Godwin Omabuwa & His Casanova Dandies with Do the Afro Shuffle. And as a contrast to the upbeat dance material there’s Segun Bucknor’s Revolution with Gbomojo, a slow and moody saxophone workout set against a funk beat.
This collection is a reminder that Fela wasn’t the only Afrobeat star in 1970s Nigeria – but he was certainly the best. --Robin Denselow
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CD Description
Focusing on the big band sound dominated by wailing saxophones, brass solos and relentless poly-rhythmic grooves, Nigeria Afrobeat Special delivers a no-nonsense collection of tracks that (bar one) have NEVER been re-issued outside of Nigeria. It was Fela Kuti and his musical and political ideals that formed the core of afrobeat’s message. Fela’s highly sought after version of ‘Who’re you’ lends this set it’s lead. The collection also features Fela’s rival and fellow afrobeat veteran Orlando Julius, represented by the track ‘Afro–Blues’ – amazing that this has previously managed to escape re-issue. The fourth in an indespensable series of CD & LP compilations documenting the influence of western blues, rock and disco amongst artists and musicians versed in the local musical styles of highlife and juju. Tracks: Fela & The Africa 70 - Who're you? (Original 45 Version) / Eric Showboy Akaeze & His Royal Ericos - We Dey Find Money / The Anansa Professionals – Enwan / Saxon Lee & The Shadows International - Mind Your Business / Bongos Ikwue & The Groovies - Otachikpopo / Orlando Julius & His Afro-Sounders - Afro-Blues / Bob Ohiri and his Uhuru Sounds - Ariwo Yaa / Mad Man Jaga - Hankuri / Godwin Omabuwa & His Casanova Dandies – Do The Afro Shuffle
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
3.5 stars. A pretty strong compilation with few bummers, and a previously
unreleased Fela track. To get the original 45 version of "Who're you?" was
the main reason for buying it, but even if this version contains some good
moments, it's not a Fela classic, and too careless compared to his best work.
The big nugget here comes from Saxon Lee & The Shadow Internationals
with "Mind Your Business". I've heard it at least 30 times the last two days
and am still amazed when I play it. 10 minutes of pure afrobeat bliss!
The rhythm section and the organ gets into a killer groove. It struts along
with a walking rhythm that could make hippos swing their giant yash with
ease, and is something related to reggae. Everything here comes up smoking;
the rhythm section, the horns, the scratchy guitar. As funky as it gets!
The singer Pax Nicholas was also a background singer and percussionist for
Fela's Africa 70, and released a solo-album called "Na Teef Know de Road
of Teef", that Fela supposedly told him to never play again, when he heard
how strong it was. I don't think the "Na Teef" album is that strong, the title
track is good, but too repeating and I can't imagine it got Fela sweating.
But if he heard "Mind Your Business" he would at least have turned up
the air-condition. And burned one down. What a groove!
unreleased Fela track. To get the original 45 version of "Who're you?" was
the main reason for buying it, but even if this version contains some good
moments, it's not a Fela classic, and too careless compared to his best work.
The big nugget here comes from Saxon Lee & The Shadow Internationals
with "Mind Your Business". I've heard it at least 30 times the last two days
and am still amazed when I play it. 10 minutes of pure afrobeat bliss!
The rhythm section and the organ gets into a killer groove. It struts along
with a walking rhythm that could make hippos swing their giant yash with
ease, and is something related to reggae. Everything here comes up smoking;
the rhythm section, the horns, the scratchy guitar. As funky as it gets!
The singer Pax Nicholas was also a background singer and percussionist for
Fela's Africa 70, and released a solo-album called "Na Teef Know de Road
of Teef", that Fela supposedly told him to never play again, when he heard
how strong it was. I don't think the "Na Teef" album is that strong, the title
track is good, but too repeating and I can't imagine it got Fela sweating.
But if he heard "Mind Your Business" he would at least have turned up
the air-condition. And burned one down. What a groove!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3 reviews
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Get Busy - Mind Your Business!
2 Mar 2010
Format:Audio CD
3.5 stars. A pretty strong compilation with few bummers, and a previously
unreleased Fela track. To get the original 45 version of "Who're you?" was
the main reason for buying it, but even if this version contains some good
moments, it's not a Fela classic, and too careless compared to his best work.
The big nugget here comes from Saxon Lee & The Shadow Internationals
with "Mind Your Business". I've heard it at least 30 times the last two days
and am still amazed when I play it. 10 minutes of pure afrobeat bliss!
The rhythm section and the organ gets into a killer groove. It struts along
with a walking rhythm that could make hippos swing their giant yash with
ease, and is something related to reggae. Everything here comes up smoking;
the rhythm section, the horns, the scratchy guitar. As funky as it gets!
The singer Pax Nicholas was also a background singer and percussionist for
Fela's Africa 70, and released a solo-album called "Na Teef Know de Road
of Teef", that Fela supposedly told him to never play again, when he heard
how strong it was. I don't think the "Na Teef" album is that strong, the title
track is good, but too repeating and I can't imagine it got Fela sweating.
But if he heard "Mind Your Business" he would at least have turned up
the air-condition. And burned one down. What a groove!
unreleased Fela track. To get the original 45 version of "Who're you?" was
the main reason for buying it, but even if this version contains some good
moments, it's not a Fela classic, and too careless compared to his best work.
The big nugget here comes from Saxon Lee & The Shadow Internationals
with "Mind Your Business". I've heard it at least 30 times the last two days
and am still amazed when I play it. 10 minutes of pure afrobeat bliss!
The rhythm section and the organ gets into a killer groove. It struts along
with a walking rhythm that could make hippos swing their giant yash with
ease, and is something related to reggae. Everything here comes up smoking;
the rhythm section, the horns, the scratchy guitar. As funky as it gets!
The singer Pax Nicholas was also a background singer and percussionist for
Fela's Africa 70, and released a solo-album called "Na Teef Know de Road
of Teef", that Fela supposedly told him to never play again, when he heard
how strong it was. I don't think the "Na Teef" album is that strong, the title
track is good, but too repeating and I can't imagine it got Fela sweating.
But if he heard "Mind Your Business" he would at least have turned up
the air-condition. And burned one down. What a groove!
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
The infinite Afro-beat journey continues.
17 Mar 2010
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I know Miles Cleret is cherry picking from a wealth of long negleted Nigerian and Ghanian gems to produce these fantastic collections but I'm beginning to think that this could go on for a long time to come. Contrary to the previous reviewer's comments, I found no "bummers", just more afro-gems. I will admit that the lone Fela track which opens the collection is no great shakes when compared to the best of his extensive catalog, everything else is as good as the previous Soundway Nigerian and Ghanian collections. Fresh, stimulating, groovy tunes from 1970's Nigeria. This music comes from a place and time with so much promise. It's quite a departure from where Nigeria finds itself currently, Muslims and Christians slaughtering one another. I pray they can find their way back.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Utterly fantastic but crippled by missing tracks
13 May 2010
Format:Audio CD
Make no mistake, this is five star music. It's the best comp of its type I have yet heard, with very few tracks that don't qualify as "superb" (the Fela track being one, it's got a nice solo at the end but nothing else of note). I recommend this in the strongest possible terms to anyone remotely interested in this style of music - in fact this and Echoes Hypnotiques by Orchestre Poly-Rhythmo are now my go-to introductory albums for West African music.
However, five tracks is too many to be missing from the CD. That's how many are on the vinyl but not here. I'm sure they wanted to keep it to one disk to keep the cost down, but it's really a crippled version of the album, so I dock it one star for that.
But you should still buy it. It's absolutely freaking awesome.
However, five tracks is too many to be missing from the CD. That's how many are on the vinyl but not here. I'm sure they wanted to keep it to one disk to keep the cost down, but it's really a crippled version of the album, so I dock it one star for that.
But you should still buy it. It's absolutely freaking awesome.
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