A great place to start with Fela! This 2CD set features the "best best best best" of Fela's classic mid 70s recordings – and it includes a total of 13 cuts, with some of them obviously edited down to shorter takes than the extended ones that appear on the full LPs. With all the Fela material out there on the market these days, this set's a very welcome addition – as it offers up a very strong sampling of some of his best work, and includes many classic titles like "Army Arrangement", "Lady", "Shakara", "Gentleman", "Zombie", "Water No Get Enemy", "No Agreement", "Roforofo Fight", "Coffin For Head Of State", "ODOO", and "Sorrow, Tears, & Blood". 158 minutes of music! CD

Hard to find Fela album from the 70's, recorded for EMI with his crack group from the 70's. Long out of print, but now out again on wax as part of Barclay's stellar series of reissues! 3 looooong cuts (as usual): "Open & Close", "Swegbe & Pako", and "Gbagada Gbagada Gbogodo Gbogodo". Lots of tight grooves, long funk jams, and excellent playing throughout! (Note: This item is not for sale online until noon on Saturday, June 12. It is in limited supply – and by nature of the Record Store Day rules it will be offered for sale first to customers who visit the Dusty Groove retail outlet in Chicago the morning Saturday, June 12. It will not be pre-sold or reserved in any way. However, after noon on June 12 we will offer up whatever we have left for sale online.) LP, Vinyl record album

An impassioned attack on police and army violence in 70s Nigeria – and easily one of Fela Kuti's best-remembered albums of the time! The lead track – "Sorrow Tears & Blood" – is really tremendous – a wicked groove that begins with a very long electric piano solo, which sets things up with almost a melancholy vibe – which is then echoed by the alto sax – all instrumental elements that create their own sort of pain and anguish, which is then given focus by the angry lyrics of the tune! "Colonial Mentality" has an equally sinister vibe, and some especially strong saxophone work – really powerful, and with a very sharp edge – so that it really stands out from the rest of the group! LP, Vinyl record album

A killer from the classic years, and one of Fela's best albums! "No Agreement" is a super great groover – with a catchy hook that goes on and on, and some very tasty playing by Tony Allen and the group. The track is long, with heavy solos, and vocals that will knock you out! Lester Bowie guests on the track, and Fela's on piano, tenor, and alto. Also includes the cut "Dog Eat Dog", which is a slammin instrumental, with a very tasty groove! LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most compelling Fela albums of the 70s – and one that's got a very different feel than some of his others. The album features one long track – "Coffin For Head Of State" – and although the track still has the usual Fela staples of horn riffs, chopping vamps, and electric piano – it's also got a sad dirge-like sound that is incredibly soulful, and filled with sorrowful emotion that you don't normally catch on Fela's albums. Side two is especially great – as it's mostly instrumental, and features some great interplay between a spacey electric piano and the horn section. LP, Vinyl record album

A real classic from the great Fela Kuti – a seminal mid 70s record that not only shows his impeccable sense of rhythm, but also his sense of rage as well! The title track – "Expensive Sh_t" – is Fela's answer to the time that he got busted for dope, and was forced to take a dump for the cops in order to "produce the goods" (which he had cleverly hidden in his stomach). The track has a great choppy funk groove, and is filled with the kind of raw anger you can imagine that the subject matter would produce – rich emotion that not only comes out in the lyrics, but also the sharp instrumental solos! The other track on the album – "Water No Get Enemy" – is another fantastic one, with cool electric piano solos, great tenor work, and a slinkily vamping groove. LP, Vinyl record album

An amazing album-length jam from Fela Kuti & Afrika 70 – recorded on the group's home turf at Kalakuta, and with this stretched-out building of energy that's completely amazing! James Brown may have created the longform funky style of vamping and soloing – but Fela takes it here to the next level, and adds in a fantastic political message too – all with this sound that's extremely powerful, but with an intimate feel too – thanks to the crowd noises around the space of the recording! LP, Vinyl record album

A searing live set from Fela Kuti & Afrika 70 – a long album-length jam, recorded in Berlin – with the group really going to town in instrumental frenzy topped with very righteous lyrics! VIP doesn't have the usual meaning here – as it stands for "vagabonds in power", and is a searing attack on the Nigerian government at the time – one that has plenty of power from a lyrical perspective, but which really soars to the heavens as Fela and the group stretch the whole thing out over riffing guitar, driving percussion, and some incredible horn solos too! LP, Vinyl record album

A really killer 70s album from Fela Kuti – one that serves up a hell of a message, and some great slinky grooves too! "Yellow Fever" is a brutal attack on miscegenation, backed by a funky groove that makes the whole thing fall into place with an amazing riffing sound – bold, powerful, and Afrika 70 at their best! "Na Poi 75" begins with a cool spoken bit – then moves into this pulsating keyboard part which is almost eerily spare, until the rest of Afrika 70 come into the mix and really funk things up! Drums are wonderfully skittish – kind of double-snapping, while the bassline dips nicely below – and the tune ebbs and flows in this really great way. LP, Vinyl record album

A really seminal album from Fela Kuti – searing live set that pairs him with drummer Ginger Baker – formerly of Cream, and a huge supporter of Fela's music on the UK scene! Baker had already picked up a lot of Fela's influence in his music – and rather than the record being one in which an African artist waters down his groove for a rock world, the set's instead one in which Baker makes a surprisingly strong stand with Fela's Africa 70 group – the classic lineup that featured the great Tony Allen on drums! The sound of the set is great – well on a par with Fela's best work of the time, and perhaps even a bit better – given the extra drive that Baker brings to the session. Tracks are all long, yet a bit more focused than usual – and titles include "Ye Ye De Smell", "Black Man's Cry", and "Let's Start". LP, Vinyl record album

A brilliant mix of Afro and deep funk styles – the kind of grooves you'd get if Fela Kuti hung out with The Meters in the late 60s! Budos Band recall the genius of 90s deep funk combo The Daktaris – and have a similar love of older African rhythms touched by a newer indie funk sound – a complexity in the group's well-arranged horn parts, but a simplicity to their rhythms that makes the album cook like some of our favorite classics from years back. Sax and trumpet lines are mixed nicely with heavy percussion and a fair bit of organ at the bottom – creating a murky groove that has a bit of New Orleans in the mix, but also has most of the instruments stepping along with the rhythm – in a very cool take on the Africa 70 sound. Tracks are all instrumental, and all incredible – and the record's one of the freshest we've heard from the deep funk underground in years – a second-generation set that gets way past simple copycat funk and into its own unique groove! Titles include "Budos Theme", "Ghost Walk", "King Charles", "Eastbound", "Across The Atlantic", "Up From The South", "TIBWF", and "Monkey See Monkey Do". CD

An Afro Funk treasure from the 70s – a rare album recorded by Pax Nicholas, a singer and percussionist who was part of Fela's legendary Africa 70 band! The album's got a sound that definitely echoes that heritage, but with a groove that's pretty weird too – more stripped down than most of Fela's work, with a thin keyboard part that often pulsates under the horns, creating an offbeat, edgey vibe in the music! Nicholas' groove is almost like taking Fela, and putting it through an odd sort of filter – one that turns things slightly sideways, and brings a really fresh sound to more familiar Afro Funk modes – kind of with the same other-worldly feel we love in some Ethiopian work of the time. Tracks are all nice and long – and plenty jamming – and titles include "Na Teef Know De Road Of Teef", "Ataa Onukpa", "Na Six Feet", and "You". CD

A brilliant mix of Afro and deep funk styles – the kind of grooves you'd get if Fela Kuti hung out with The Meters in the late 60s! Budos Band recall the genius of 90s deep funk combo The Daktaris – and have a similar love of older African rhythms touched by a newer indie funk sound – a complexity in the group's well-arranged horn parts, but a simplicity to their rhythms that makes the album cook like some of our favorite classics from years back. Sax and trumpet lines are mixed nicely with heavy percussion and a fair bit of organ at the bottom – creating a murky groove that has a bit of New Orleans in the mix, but also has most of the instruments stepping along with the rhythm – in a very cool take on the Africa 70 sound. Tracks are all instrumental, and all incredible – and the record's one of the freshest we've heard from the deep funk underground in years – a second-generation set that gets way past simple copycat funk and into its own unique groove! Titles include "Budos Theme", "Ghost Walk", "King Charles", "Eastbound", "Across The Atlantic", "Up From The South", "TIBWF", and "Monkey See Monkey Do". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest grooves from the legendary Desco Records years – a brilliant album of modern Afro Funk done by The Daktaris – in a groove that's just as hard-hitting as any of Fela's work from the 70s! The album was one of the first to bring back an older African style to current funk – and even years later, it's still one of the best examples of the sound – a razor-sharp session that helped set the stage for better-known Antibalas work to come! Percussion and guitar is super-heavy throughout – produced with that bare-bones Desco style, and handled in a way that makes you think the record might be some treasure from mid 70s Nigeria – a trick the label tried to pull when it was released! Cuts include a cover of Fela's "Upside Down", James Brown's "Give It Up Or Turn It Loose", and the originals "Super Afro-Beat", "Daktari Walk", "Voodoo Soul Stew", and "Quiet Man Is A Dead Man". LP, Vinyl record album

An amazing new sound from Kokolo – one that takes their Afro Funk groove, and turns it on a host of James Brown classics – all with a result that's completely unique! The album's hardly a copycat of James' original style – and instead, it reworks his funky favorites with a complicated approach to rhythms – one that shows a rich criss-crossing between JB and Fela modes, almost an echoing amplification of the 70s influences that were passing back and forth between the US and African funk scenes! The vocals are something else entirely – as rhythmic as the grooves, with a quality that isn't as all-out soulful as James – but in a good way, as this helps them simmer down nicely with the instrumentation, and throw in a whole new level of counterpoint to the music. We're honestly stunned – quite surprised and impressed at this turn that Kokolo has taken, reaching forward for a sound that nobody else has touched. Titles include versions of "Mind Power", "The Popcorn", "Soul Power", "The Grunt", "Think", "Bring It Up", and "It's A New Day". CD

Funky soul from Buari – a native of Ghana, working here in a tight slick funk mid 70s American mode. There's less heavy Afro grooves than you'd hear on a Fela album from the time – but the album does a great job of mixing American funk (by a group that includes Bernard Purdie and Paul Griffin), with touches of African rhythms and grooving. Titles include "Ku Ku Maria", "Advice From Father", "Iro Le Pa", "Oh Africa", "Peace", and "Karam Bani". LP, Vinyl record album

Get ready to discover a whole new realm of African Funk – because this collection digs deeper than any we've ever had before! The mighty Soundway Records have come up with a blistering batch of grooves that push way past the bigger hits on the global scene – to the real roots of the Afro Funk sound of the 70s, an assortment of Nigerian recordings that have an undeniable combination of African rhythms and American funk! Percussion is at the forefront of the set – and most tracks feature lots of skittish drum work, topped off by hard riffing on sax, guitar, and keyboards. The whole thing's very much in the best tradition of our favorite grooves by Fela – and titles include "Asa Sa" by Fred Fisher, "No Wrong Show" by Thony Shorby Nyenwi, "Omelebele" by Dr Victor Olaiya's International All Stars, "Afro Baby" by Stephen Osita Amaechi & His Afro Rhythm Skies, "Ochonma" by Martins Brothers Dance Band, "Alikali Adajo" by Sahara All Stars, "Lagos Sisi" by Bola Johnson, "Ire" by Don Isaac Ezekiel Combination, and "Son Of Mr Bull Dog" by The Mebusas. Includes a great set of notes, too! CD

The Nigerian groove of the 70s – way past the familiar modes of Fela Kuti, and served up here in a range of artists who followed on a huge second wave of soul that soared from Lagos and beyond in the second half of the decade! The music here opens up in a sweet range of different styles – including bits of club and boogie that have come into the scene to open up Nigerian funk in more global modes for the dancefloor – blending African roots with American currents, in a sound that's completely unique – and which is way better than some of the Afro-disco modes that were coming from Europe a the time! As usual with the folks at Soul Jazz, the set's an ear-opening work of genius – from the superb track selection, to the very thorough notes and research – which really do a great job of presenting this side of Nigerian funk that's always been a bit eclipsed by some of the bigger names on the scene. Liner notes are by dancefloor historian Bill Brewster – and titles include "Do The Funkro" by Joni Haastrup, "You Can't Change A Man" by Christy Essien, "Afrikana Disco" by Akin Richards & The Executives, "Ocheche" by Don Bruce & The Anges, "Nam Myoho Renge Kyo" by Tee Mac, "Get Up & Dance" by Benis Cletin, "Enoviyin" by Colomach, "Nwaeze" by Jimmy Sherry & The Musik Agents, "Wake Up Your Mind" by Joni Haastrup, "Disco Dancing" by Angela Starr, "Mr Been To" by Arakatula, "Living Every Day" by Tee Mac with Marjorie Barnes, "Wake Up Africa" by Arakatula, and "Soul Fever" by Benis Cletin. LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic collection of lesser-known gems from the 70s scene in Nigeria – music that's a great counterpart to better-remembered Afro Funk and soul from international giants like Fela Kuti and King Sunny Ade! This set digs deep, and is a nicelly expanded version of a set that Soul Jazz issued years back as a limited edition 7" single box for Record Store Day – presented here with more music, and a detailed set of notes – really getting at the special scene that was taking place in Nigeria at the time, as the nation was rising to the top of the African scene with a fantastic criss-crossing of musical modes! There's definitely plenty of the funk promised in the title, and the "rock" is usually of the funky kind with great guitar work – and a few later cuts even pick up the pace with a bit of disco, but more in the fast-funk mode, and hardly the slick stuff of the American scene. Titles include "Africans Must Unite" and "Shake Hands" by Geraldo Pino, "We'll Get Home" by The Wings, "E Ye Ika Se" by Alhagi Prof Kollington Ayinala, "Kassa Kpa Sama Kpa" by Colomach, "Beware" by MFB, "You Are The One" by Tony Grey & The Ozimba Messengers, "Single Boy" by The Wings, "Sugar Baby" by Don Bruce & The Angels", "Power To The People" by Geraldo Pino, "Igba Alusi" by Original Wings, "Dance Of The Elephants" by Sonny Okosunds Ozziddi, and "Oba Erediauwa I" by Sonny Okosuns. CD

A fantastic collection of lesser-known gems from the 70s scene in Nigeria – music that's a great counterpart to better-remembered Afro Funk and soul from international giants like Fela Kuti and King Sunny Ade! This set digs deep, and is a nicelly expanded version of a set that Soul Jazz issued years back as a limited edition 7" single box for Record Store Day – presented here with more music, and a detailed set of notes – really getting at the special scene that was taking place in Nigeria at the time, as the nation was rising to the top of the African scene with a fantastic criss-crossing of musical modes! There's definitely plenty of the funk promised in the title, and the "rock" is usually of the funky kind with great guitar work – and a few later cuts even pick up the pace with a bit of disco, but more in the fast-funk mode, and hardly the slick stuff of the American scene. Titles include "Africans Must Unite" and "Shake Hands" by Geraldo Pino, "We'll Get Home" by The Wings, "E Ye Ika Se" by Alhagi Prof Kollington Ayinala, "Kassa Kpa Sama Kpa" by Colomach, "Beware" by MFB, "You Are The One" by Tony Grey & The Ozimba Messengers, "Single Boy" by The Wings, "Sugar Baby" by Don Bruce & The Angels", "Power To The People" by Geraldo Pino, "Igba Alusi" by Original Wings, "Dance Of The Elephants" by Sonny Okosunds Ozziddi, and "Oba Erediauwa I" by Sonny Okosuns. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the best soul collaborations ever! Fela and Roy Ayers team up for this whopping album that brings together the best sides of these monster soul talents of the 70s! In keeping with Fela's work, the tracks are long and Afro-tinged, with a complicated groove that grows over the length of the track. And in keeping with Roy's work, the album has a sweet soulful feel, with lots of nice jazzy touches, cool vibes, and great vocals by Roy. Two long tracks, both classics: "2000 Black" and "Africa, Center of the World". Long overdue! LP, Vinyl record album

No charity needed here – as reedman Eji Oyewole's got a wealth of talent on his own! Eji's a musician with roots in the 60s Nigerian scene, but left to follow a personal path through Europe and the US, where he picked up some wonderfully funky styles which are then brought home to create this completely cooking late 70s album! The style's different than other big Afro Funk names of the time – like Fela Kuti or Manu Dibango – but shares a similar sense of flowing, open grooves – and Eji's ability to act strongly as both a lead vocalist, and a soaring soloist on tenor, soprano, and flute! Rhythms are damn funky at the core – with almost a blacksploitation vibe at times – and the tracks are all quite long, with most of the real "voice" coming from the saxes, which speak volumes on their solos. Titles include "Gele Odun (Oil Boom)", "Lagos Complex Highways", "Unity In Africa", and "Charity Begins At Home". CD

Funky African – and dancefloor slammers, all of them! Max Reinhardt and the crew at Shrine compiled this set of 12 tasty groovers – and the set has a real London crossover dancefloor sound, with a mix of tracks along the same theme, but pushing the envelope of styles in the way that's had London leading the scene for years. The set's actually pretty nicely put together – and like the other titles on Ocho, it includes material of slightly more recent vintage, great stuff that we might have passed over due to our own snobbery for classic tunes. Titles include "Synchro System" by King Sunny Ade, "Fefe Naa Efe" by Fela, "Yegelle Tezeta" by Mulatu, "Watchi Wara" by Bantous Jazz, "Xihlaula Mane" by Kapa Dech, "NEPA – dub mix" by Tony Allen, "Yaba Funk" by Captain Yabaa, "Take Am So" by Gyedu Blay Ambulley, and "Funky Hi-Life" by CK Mann & Carousel 7. CD