Afro Beat (Afro Funk & Afro Rock)
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At the dawn of the 1970s, Fela Kuti studied the greats of soul and funk in the U.S., then headed back to Africa to form and lead the greatest of all Afro-Beat bands. As with James Brown, with whom he shared mutual admiration, Fela became the godfather of funky African pop and the benchmark by which all Afro-Beat must be judged. By 1973, Candido Camero, Chico Hamilton, and other drum stars were beating the skins in answer to Manu DiBango's smash "Soul Makossa." (Slews of cover versions appeared until and after the banned original was released belatedly in the U.S.). It was Africa's time in jazz and pop, and drummers everywhere heard the call. "Soul Makossa" quickly became the quintessential Afro-Beat anthem, probably for all time. The Chakachas' "Jungle Fever" and the Beginning of the End's "Funky Nassau" were giant mainstream hits with Afro-Beat at their core. Surprisingly, there weren't as many Latin-funk and calypso-funk crossovers with Afro-Beat as there could have been, perhaps because all three idioms were seemingly short-lived, struggling hybrids themselves. Afro-Beat was heard in a few soundtracks, particularly a few obscure one by Manu DiBango. In the later 1970s and 1980s, Afro-pop was eclipsed by reggae, but lately Afro-Beat has been revived. Buying: Get that Fela. Many Afro-Beat records have been reissued for DJs, and in the case of most "Soul Makossa" covers, 7" singles usually are preferable and easier to come by than the LPs. Antibalas is a great, current NYC band in the Fela tradition. |
Fela Kuti LPs
| Rating | |
| 7 | Tony Allen: Jealousy; Soundworkshop WS-1004; 1975 (Blues Interaction/Strut ALP-001; 2000/1999) |
| 9 | Tony Allen Plays with Africa 70: Progress; Phonogram/Coconut; 1976 (Blues Interaction/Strut ALP-002; 2000) |
| 9 | Tony Allen Plays with Africa 70: No Accommodation for Lagos; Phonogram/Coconut; 1979/1978 (Blues Interaction/Strut ALP-002; 2000/1999) |
| 8 | Ginger Baker Live! Atlantic/Signpost SP-8401 |
| 8 | Open & Close; 1971 (Barclay France/Kalakuta 547-022-1; 1997) |
| 8 | Gentleman Fela; 1973 (Barclay France/Kalakuta 547-023-1; 1997) |
| Kuti & the Africa 70; EMI; 1973 (w/"Chop & Quench") | |
| 8 | Fela Ransome Kuti & the Africa 70: Alagbon Close/I No Get Eye for Back; Editions Makossa EM-2313; 1975 |
| 8 | Fela Ransome Kuti & the Africa 70: Expensive Shit/Water No Get Enemy; Editions Makossa EM-2315; 1975 |
| 7 | Mr. Big Mouth; Aphrodisia (UK) |
| 8 | Mr. Follow Follow; Phonogram/Coconut; 1975 (Celluloid CELL-6124; 1986) |
| 7 | J.J.D. (live at the Kalakuta Republik); 1977 (Barclay France/Kalakuta 547-025-1; 1997) |
| 9 | Zombie; 1977 (Celluloid CEL-6116; 1986) |
| 9 | Shuffering & Schmiling; 1978 |
| 7 | I.T.T. (International Thief Thief); 1980 (Barclay France/Kalakuta 547-027-1; 1997) |
| 7 | Black President; 1982 (Capitol SN-16292; 1984) |
| 7 | Original Sufferhead; 1982 (Capitol SN-16293; 1984) |
| 7 | Live in Amsterdam; Capitol/EMI STB-12359 1984/1983 (2-LP, live) |
| 7 | Army Arrangement; (Celluloid CELL-6115; 1985; other versions on other Celluloid LPs) |
| 7 | Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense; Polygram/Mercury/Virgin/Barclay/Baya 833-525-1; 1986 |
| 8 | Fela Anikulapo Kuti & Egypt '80: Overtake Don Overtake Overtake; Kalauta K-009; 1989 |
| 7 | Various: The Africans ST; Island/Antilles AN-7085; 1986 (BBC/PBS doc featuring Fela's "Chop & Quench," Sunny Ade, Toure Kunda..) |
| 9 | Various: Afro Baby; Soundway SNDWLP002; 2004/1970-79 (2-LP compilation; 1 Fela cut: "Fogo Fogo") |
Other Afro-Beat LPs
| Rating | |
| 6 | Abeti; African Music Explosion AME-91.01; 1975 (vocal) |
| 8 | Afrique: Soul Makossa; Mainstream/Red Lion 394; 1973 (w/Charles Kynard, Paul Humphrey, David T. Walker; 45s released also as "Chubokos") |
| 8 | Akido; Mercury SRM-1-644; 1972 (Afro-Rock & drums) |
| 7 | Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra; Afrosound AS-1010; 2000 |
| 8 | Antibalas: Talkatif; Ninja Tune Zen-66; 2002 |
| 8 | Assagai: Afro-Rock; EMI; 1971 (U.K.; Music for Pleasure SPR-90054) |
| 9 | Assagai; Mercury/Vertigo VEL-1004 |
| -> | Assagai -- see also Charles Hilton Brown |
| 7 | Ginger Baker: Stratavarious; Atlantic/Atco SD-7013; 1972 (w/Fela Kuti & Guy Warren) |
| 8 | Black Children Sledge Funk Group: Love is Fair; RTS RTLPS-001; 1976 (U.K. Afro-funk) |
| 5 | Black Soul: Bingo Fiesta; Vogue LDY-28.075; 1976 |
| 6 | Ekambi Brillant: Africa Oumba; London 90.021; 1975 |
| 7 | Charles Hilton Brown [w/Assagai]: Owed to Myself; Ampex 30200-SD; 1974 (Schema SCEB 907; 2000) |
| -» | Chaino -- see African |
| 7 | The Daktaris: Soul Explosion; Desko DSLP003 (1990s) |
| 9 | Malaku Daku: Love Drums from the Ghetto; Chaka Unlimited CU-20001 (Philadelphia percussion w/chants) |
| 7 | Manu DiBango; Fiesta 365.008; 1971 (France) |
| 8 | Manu DiBango: O Boso; Fiesta 360.039; 1972 (5 cuts reissued on Soul Makossa; Atlantic SD-7267; 1972 but not "Wild Man in the City" & "Ngosso") |
| Manu DiBango: African Voodoo; 1972 (production) | |
| 9 | Manu DiBango: Africadelic; Mondiophone 46.507/Mon 8; 1973 (production; jacket: "African Pop Group") |
| 9 | Manu DiBango: Makossa Man; Fiesta [France]; 1973 (Atlantic SD-7276; 1974) |
| Manu DiBango: Ceddo ST; Fiesta; 1977 | |
| Manu DiBango: L'Herbe Sauvage ST; Fiesta; 1977 | |
| 6 | Manu DiBango a L'Olympia; Fiesta 360099/100; 1977 (2-LP; live) |
| 9 | Manu DiBango: Makossa Man; Festival ALB-381; 1983/1973-5 (2-LP reissue of Makossa Man & Africadelic) |
| 8 | Manu DiBango: Seventies; Soul Paris SP-8701/2; 1988/1970s (compilation; France) |
| 6 | Incredible Bongo Band: The Return of; Atlantic/Pride PD-6010; 1974 (more Afro-Beat than the bongo rock of the first LP) |
| 8 | The Invaders: Spacing Out; Badassss BA001 (modern Afro-Beat covers of soul/funk hits) |
| 5 | Remi Kabaka/Abdul Lasisi Amao/Steve Winwood: Aiye-Keta; AntillesAN-7005; 1973 |
| 9 | Peter King: Shango; Strut ALP-006; 2002/1974 (2-LP) |
| [Lafayette Afro-Rock Band as] Ice: Each Man Makes his Destiny; Kedzie (France); 1973 | |
| 7 | Lafayette Afro-Rock Band: Soul Makossa; Musidisc (France); 1974 (a.k.a. Ice; in USA as Voodounon/Movin' & Groovin'; Editions Makossa EM-23.04; 1974, same except minus "Soul Makossa") |
| Lafayette Afro-Rock Band: Malik; Musidisc (France); 1975 (Editions Makossa) | |
| 7 | [Lafayette Afro-Rock Band as] Krispie & Company: Tonight at the Discotheque; Smile SMS-IM-303; 1975 (nearly identical to French original; various artists credited) |
| 7 | [Lafayette Afro-Rock Band as] Ice: Import/Export; Prestige P-10096; 1975 (funk/disco/Moog) |
| 7 | [Lafayette Afro-Rock Band as] Ice: Frisco Disco; Kedzie (France); 1976; (funk/disco/Moog; nearly identical to Import/Export) |
| [Lafayette Afro-Rock Band as] Ice: Thumping; RCA (France); 1977 | |
| [Lafayette Afro-Rock Band as] Ice: Seven Americans in Paris; RCA (France); 1977 | |
| [Lafayette Afro-Rock Band as] Ice: Afro Agban; RCA (France); 1978 | |
| 7 | [Lafayette Afro-Rock Band as] Crispy & Company: Funky Flavored; Creole CRLP-505 (UK); 1978 (Afro-Beat/Afro-Jazz/disco/funk) |
| 8 | Lafayette Afro-Rock Band: Darkest Light--The Best of the Lafayette Afro-Rock Band; Strut LP-003; 1999 (2-LP compilation) |
| 8 | Lafayette Afro-Rock Band: AFON--10 Unreleased Afro-Funk Recordings, 1972-74; Superclasse SUC-9904-DLP; 1999 (2-LP compilation; only "Little Sister" previously unreleased) |
| 9 | Gerard Levecque & Claude Romat w/"Black Colored Drums": Africadelic's the Name--No. 1; Montparnasse 2000 MP-54 (French, production; "Africadelic in Brass"/"Africadelic in Jungle Drums") |
| 9 | Gerard Levecque & Claude Romat w/"Black Colored Drums": Africadelic's the Name--No. 2; Montparnasse 2000 MP-57 (French, production; "Africadelic in Pop"/"Africadelic in Safari Mood"; different arrangements than MP-54 but same compositions) |
| 7 | Lumumba; A&M SP-3610; 1974 |
| 7 | Hugh Masekekla & the Union of South Africa; Motown/Chisa CS-808; 1971 |
| 4 | Mighty Tom Cats; Paul Winley (the 45s are preferable) |
| 7 | [Babatunde] Olatunji: Soul Makossa; Paramount PAS-6061; 1973 |
| 9 | Various: Afro Baby; Soundway SNDWLP002; 2004/1970-79 (2-LP compilation) |
| 9 | Various: Afro-Rock Vol. 1; Kona LP-001; 2001 (2-LP compilation) |
| 8 | Various: Afrodeclic; KS KSLP-02; 2002 (2-LP compilation) |
| 8 | Various: Booniay!!--A Compilation of West African Funk; Afrodisiac (2-LP compilation) |
| 9 | Various: [no title]; Berry/Conroy Music Library BMLP-097; 1972 (production; Afro-Beat B-side by W. Farley; A-side by Power/Walter/Hawsworth/Graham) |
| Various (Lafayette Afro-Rock Band family): Tonight at the Discotheque; Kedzie (France); 1975 (in Mexico as Various: The Other Sound of Philadelphia; Peerless; 1975) |
Partly Afro-Beat LPs
| Rating | |
| 8 | Brute Force; Atlantic/Embryo SD-522; 1970 ("Ye-Le-Wa"--long, out) |
| 8 | Chakachas: Jungle Fever; Polydor PD-5504 ("Jungle Fever") |
| 7 | Fania All Stars: Latin-Soul-Rock; Fania SLP-470 (several reissues; w/Manu DiBango) |
| 9 | Lynda Gache (Gaché): Jazz Technique from A to Z; Statler SLP-1237 ("Afro Beat"; disco/funk/Afro-Beat/conga/Moog) |
| 6 | Osibisa: Superfly T.N.T. ST; Buddah BDS-5136-ST; 1973 |
| 8 | Johnny Pate/Four Tops: Shaft in Africa ST; ABC ABCX-793; 1973 |
| 4 | Superdudes: Superbad!; Pickwick SPC-3354 (covers; jacket: "Soul Makossa Played & Sung by the Ghana Soul Explosion!") |
| Various: The Africans TV ST; Antilles; 1986 (w/Fela's "Chop & Quench") | |
| 8 | Various: Racubah!; Comet LP-003 (2-LP compilation; Tony Allen, Mulatu Astatke, Roland Brival, Manu DiBango, Ice, Edja Kungali, Mamba Percussions, Mombasa, Harry Mosco, Ray Stephen Oche, Orch. Tembo, The Tempos) |
| 7 | Various: Rare Funk Vol. 5--Afro Funk; Cobalt COBLP-1008 |
| 9 | Various: Trunk Presents the Super Sounds of Bosworth; Barked 1; 1996 (production) |
[Partly] Afro-Beat 45s
| Rating | |
| 8 | All Dyrections: Soul Makossa/On Top of It; Buddah BDA-362; 1973 |
| 8 | Antibalas con Jojo Quo: Uprising Parts 1 & 2; Afrosound AS-1009; 2000 |
| 9 | Charly Antolini: Charly's New Drums/Charly in Town; Gema/Cornet 3125 (German; picture sleeve) |
| 8 | Athanase w/Manu DiBango: He! He! He!/Ngone-Moni; Sonafric SAF-1544 (France; picture sleeve) |
| 8 | Bama & the Family: Feeling Good/Asiko: Drums of Asiko; Lenar 005 |
| 7 | George Benson: Erotic Moods; Paul Winley 131; 1978/1976-78 (full-length version of Afro-Beat classic "Love Potion-Cheeba-Cheeba" attributed elsewhere to Mighty Tom Cats) |
| 7 | Black Blood: A.I.E. (A Mwana)/Marie-Therese; Mainstream/Red Lion MRL-5567; 1975 (from Black Blood LP) |
| 9 | David Bryant: My Dashiki/The Underdog; Imperial 66406-S (Gene Page arranged) |
| 9 | The Chakachas: Jungle Fever '75/Liza (& Brook); Polydor PD-15102 ("Jungle Fever '75") |
| 7 | The Chubukos (Afrique): Witch Doctor Bump/House of Rising Funk; Mainstream/Red Lion MRL-5546; 1973 (A-side not on Soul Makossa LP) |
| 9 | Manu DiBango: Super Kumba/Wasa N' Dolo; Atlantic 54-3263; 1975 Sonafric SAF-1544 (licensed from France; better than the "Super Koumba" version) |
| 9 | Fela Ransome-Kuti & the Africa '70: Roforofo Fight/Go Slow; Editions Makossa EM-2717; 1975 (probably LP versions abridged) |
| 8 | Fela Ransome-Kuti & the Africa '70: Expensive Shit/Water No Get Enemy; Editions Makossa EM-2727; 1975 (LP versions abridged) |
| 6 | Ice: Passion/Hard Times; The Great Northwest Music Company 710; 1976 (disco-funk; ex-Lafayette Afro-Rock Band; Seattle label) |
| 8 | Mr. Jamo [Thomas]: Shake What You Brought With You Parts 1 & 2; Perception P-3 (SSS International SSS-79; w/electric sitar) |
| 6 | Jungle Jim: Masai (Do the Masai Children)/instrumental; Renee RE-3002 (soul-funk dance) |
| 6 | JOMO: Uhuru (African Twist)/Hangin' Out; Checker 1192 (Afro-mod-soul-rock; both sides Andre Williams) |
| 8 | Shelton Kirby & Counterpoint: Zambezi/same; BeeGeeBGS-111; 1973 |
| 8 | The Simon Kenyatta Troupe: Soul Makossa/A Little Bit of Fiddle; Avco 12910; 1973 (picture sleeve; stereo) |
| 9 | Kolahyah: Leo Parts 1 & 2; Rino K-001 (Love Childs) |
| 7 | Mighty Tom Cats: Soul Makossa/Tom Cat Reggay; Paul Winley 1103 |
| 8 | Mighty Tom Cats: Love Potion-Cheeba-Cheeba/Finger In It; Paul Winley 1104; 1973 (shorter version of "Smokin' Cheeba Cheeba") |
| 7 | Nairobi Afro Band: Soul Makossa/Jamaica Playboys: Makossa Reggae; Town Hall/One Stop TH-777 |
| 8 | Michael Olatunji: Soul Makossa Part 1/mono; Paramount PAA-0222; 1973 (shorter than LP version) |
| 8 | The Stone Rock Groove Band: Dance Cheba-Cheba Girl (Cheba-Cheba Dance) Parts 1 & 2; Showtime ST-06425; 1972 |
| 7 | [K.C. &] The Sunshine Band: Black Water Gold Parts 1 & 2; T.K. Records TK-1026 (disco version) |
| 7 | Vernon Steve Weakley: The Saga of Kunta Kinte/Is It Love or Is It Lust; V.S.W. Productions 100; 1977 (psyche funk/Afro-rock/black power/soul; from LP "The Saga of Kunta Kinte") |
| 8 | Yoruba Singers: Basa Bongo/Black Pepper; Green Shrimp; 1975 |
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