Nigeria Rock Special (W/Book) (Dig)

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 29, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Soundway
• ASIN: B0016A8E6K
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #104,929 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #25 in Music > World Music > Africa > Nigeria

Editorial Reviews

Nigeria Rock Special shines a light on the flipside of the sounds of Psychedelic Afro-Rock & Fuzz Funk coming out of Nigeria in the 1970s. Kids all over the world were picking up guitars. Spurred on by Cream drummer Ginger Baker's visits to Lagos and his band Airforce (featuring many Nigerian musicians), the rock reverberated around the universities and the craze that followed hit the youth population of Nigeria hard -- mixing fuzz guitar and heavy African rhythms with elements of Led Zeppelin, Traffic and The Chambers Bros. Here are 15 of the best for the 1st time in 30 years and include Ofege, The Action 13, The Hygrades, The Wings, Mono Mono, Tabukah "X", The Funkees, Joe King Kologbo & His Black Sound, Tunji Oyelana and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Soundway gem, May 29, 2008

By 

M. Ewing (TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nigeria Rock Special (Vinyl)

The third in Soundway's anthologies of 70s Nigerian music, Nigeria Rock Special has perhaps the loosest theme. There's not a lot of straight rock or psychedelia here, at least not what you might expect. That doesn't make it any less compelling, though. There are tons of comps of kids in garages making music from all over the world, but none of it sounds like this; fuzz guitar and organ filtered through highlife and afro-beat. A huge thanks, too, for the exhaustive liner notes.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars absolutely smoking - tight recording - high level of talent - positive party vibe, June 3, 2008

By 

K. Aaron "Surphilosophy" (Northern California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Nigeria Rock Special (Vinyl)

Amazingly before its' time. Afrobeat nowadays, while great, holds nothing on this. Mega soulful and authentic. Tight arrangements. Obvious influences from Santana abound, and a bit of Jimi. ALL good. Friends will be swaying their behinds, unconsciously, and unself-consciouslsy. A great Party starter. Irresistable.

Any Fan of King Sunny Ade will be advised of his influences and compatriots that helped make him ( along with his smile, effervescent personality and supelative band ) one of the pure best acts of all time, in all genres, in my Humble opinion.....

Other than that, it is just an OK recording. lol.....

Get it, and sway.

3 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars my least favorite Soundway compilation, July 2, 2008

By 

loud wizard (texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nigeria Rock Special (Vinyl)

This is a good record, but if you're hoping for some good raw African funk, this isn't the comp for you. Most West African music from this time, even from the rock groups, had strong, propulsive grooves, but the work on this record is much more Santana than James Brown.

It's probably not fair to judge this record on what it isn't rather than what it is, but such is life. If you want hard-pushing West African tunes, try Nigeria Disco Funk Special, one of the Ghana Soundz comps, or best of all, African Scream Contest. If you're like me, though, you'll probably want them all.