Customer Reviews

Best Best of Fela Kuti

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
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The "Afrobeat" music of Fela Kuti is highly infectious and addicting. The lyrics frequently are full of anger and rage about political and racial injustices, and the music is always both hard edged and hypnotic. Trust me, you can't listen to this music passively--it's so engaging that you can help but rock your body to the groove. Fela Kuti was a giant in the history of African "world music" and as many other reviewers have noted, his status is on par with the likes of Bob Marley, John Coltrane, and James Brown, in terms of how he pushed the envelope of his musical genre. It really is a crying shame that more people are not aware of this amazing artist. In my opinion "The Best of the Black President," which, by the way, actually is the exact same CD as "The Best Best of Fela Kuti" is the best of the Fela compilation CDs out there, with the Fela Kuti Anthology, Volume 2, being a close second. All of the songs are great. As others have noted, however, of the 13 songs on this double CD, 8 of them are presented in an edited or abridged form. This was necessitated by the fact that, in their original form, many of the songs were over 25 minutes long, which would have limited the number of songs on each disc to about three. None of the songs feels clipped, and since all but two of the songs run about 10 minutes or more, you probably would not perceive them as having been shortened. This CD may not be for purists, but it is a great introduction to the Afrobeat music of Fela Kuti, and I still listen to it periodically even though I subsequently have purchased many of the original recordings, most of which have been reissued in a "twofer" format (i.e., two original albums put together on one disk). Be forewarned, after listening to the edited versions of some of the songs on this CD, you may find yourself feeling compelled to get the originals and hear the extended jamming that is not included here. Highly, highly recommended.

This is something like *three hours* of superb stuff for $5: you'd be insane not to take this opportunity to try out Fela Kuti, often described as "Africa's Bob Marley." Like Bob Marley, it's "international" music that doesn't require you to rub your goatee beard appreciatively: it rocks! it's incredibly funky! he sings about hiding his stash from the Nigerian police! and sex! It's party music and is one of the first things I'd reach for to pick me up on a gray day.

13 blazing Fela tracks for $5??? Get this immediately.... if you don't know Fela, you'll be glad you did, and if you already love Fela, this is a great deal....

OK... just buy this CD. For $5 you'd be a dang fool not to. If you need more encouragment than that, let me just say that SouthWestern Nigeria is the Global Center of Funk. It's where funk comes from. And, Fela was the funkiest man to live in the 20th Century. These tracks absolutely seeth with killer grooves. On top of that, they feature some of the most incisive political commentaries of the era. Trust me.

I realize that for $5 this is a steal - but I happen to own some of these songs on regular CD and, yes, LP and Cassette, and I have to warn all Fela fans: don't waste your money! The way all these great songs here were digitized is a shame, they sound flat and thin and lame which is NOT what Fela should sound like!! If you never heard of him, go ahead, you won't know what you're missing....

This is a great album for those who are fela fans and those who would like to be introduced to his music (afrobeat). One reviewer complained about the sound quality of the album but I didn't notice any issues with sound quality when compared to my other fela cds. My only complaint is I wish yellow fever was included on the album.

What a great body of work this man has left for us. The music is excellent as well as his vocals. They are like small journeys .

So invigorating to hear this spirited, powerful and pointed musician!
There is no one out there speaking truth to power as Fela did.
And we are all so much poorer for that. What a giant he was!

This is a very complete and totally awesome assertation of an artist seemingly impossible to refine or put in a nutshell.
The collection of songs here is 100% worth checking out, especially if you are looking to see what this guy is all about, or can only buy one album but aren't sure which. Curiously, one of the shortest songs on here is actually probably the best. believe me, part 2 of 'No Agreement' is a first-rate Fela jam with bouncy key-fills and horn interplay that should leave you floored.
It's all good though, again, well worth it, so don't miss out. good luck!

I can't take this cd off my player. This album is a scraight up groove from the first beat to the last. This album made me want to learn about all things Fela. I saw the play about Fela in NYC and that made it worse. Now my dwelling is called "The House of Fela". You must buy this CD!