Customer Reviews

Shuffering & Shmiling/No Agreement

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As the review below is not very helpful, I thought I'd try to contribute one that is. "Shuffering and Shmiling/No Agreement" is another gem in the Fela two-albums-on-one-CD reissue program. (It should be noted that unlike some of the other titles in this series, these two albums have been available previously on CD, as single titles on the Celluloid label in the late 80s.) "Shuffering and Shmiling" Parts 1 & 2, originally released in 1978, has a march-like groove and political message similar to Fela's mega-hit of two years earlier, "Zombie." On the other hand, "No Agreement" and the instrumental "Dog Eat Dog" from 1977, trade in the trademark Afrika 70 funk-flavored rhythmic groove of "Opposite People" and "Sorrow Tears and Blood" (also from '77), for a style that relies more on keyboard and guitar interplay. In many ways, "No Agreement" has more in common with Fela's Egypt 80 band and albums like "Army Arrangement," than it does with other Afrika 70 recordings. While I would rank "Shakara," "Opposite People" and "Confusion" ahead of "Shuffering and Shmiling/No Agreement," this disc, and all of the Fela reissues, are indispensable.

Jazz fans should note that the late, great Lester Bowie of the Art Ensemble of Chicago solos on No Agreement and Dog Eat Dog. Lester hung out with Fela for about six months back in the mid 70s, jamming with him and being treated as an honored guest, but as far as I know these are the only recordings they made together. For more details on Fela and Lester: http://www.jaybabcock.com/lester.html

This series of two for ones from Fela Kuti are great value.The overall sound is warm and clear with very good separation and definition of sounds.
I have to say that this one is worth the price for the first track Shuffering and Shmiling alone,this is a funky , jazzy masterpiece that cannot be denied.If you want to dance and you want to sing...Fela is the king

"Suffering and Smiling" is a slinky smooth masterpiece, with a great vocal performance and lyrics that decry the colonialization of Africans by the Christian and Muslim religions. It is perfect. The "No Agreement" album is harder and funkier, the title track's repititious James Brown-style groove is attacked with such blunt ferocity as to remind one of the late-70's "No Wave" movement. Two great Fela albums here.

You cannot go wrong with this combo. Shuffering and Shmiling is a classic Fela track that you should know and love. But I want to point out that No Agreement is a stand-out Fela track on par with Zombie. Both of these tracks are among Fela and Africa 70 funkiest

another very good one. Shuffering and Shmiling is excellent