An Uncle Roddus Album Review
African Music month
[A] Signature Tune / It's Highlife Time / Lagos Baby / Omuti / Ololufe / Araba's Delight
[B] Wa Dele / Lai Se / Mi O Mo / Obinrin Le / Omo Ejo
I have been meaning to start reviewing some more of the magnificent Fela Kuti since I purchased the Complete Works box set last Christmas and now with me having an African music month and with a version of this album playing on the MP3 player at work, now is the time. This compilation of early Fela and His Koola Lobitos could well be his first album, according to this excellent Fela Discography. This wonderful collection of early Fela singles is played in the popular Nigerian Highlife style of the time, which is local African rhythms blended with a strong Jazz flavour. Fela is in great form on these tracks with some great trumpet solos in these groovy dance numbers and although this is not His famous Afrobeat, it is still exciting music and I have grown to appreciate it immensely. The recording quality of this version is a bit distorted around the edges, but considering when and where these tracks were recorded, its not too bad. This particular copy I am listening too as I type was apparently ripped from the very rare original vinyl copy. Six of the tracks were included on a CD release paired with "The 69' LA Sessions" and is the only way you can get them on CD at present. I have that CD in the box set. It was also issued in its entirety on the 3 disc set " Highlife-Jazz and Afro-Soul" out of Japan a few years back, but is now out of print.
Sitting and immersing myself into this music involves plenty of toe tapping and being highly captivated by the trumpet solos, most enjoyable and getting a rating of 4/5.
Get this original version Here
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