Fela with Ginger Baker Live!

by Fela Kuti, Ginger Baker, Fela Kuti & Africa 70

Overview

Originally released in 1971, this LP had Fela Kuti solidifying the format that would take him into international visibility in the years to come: extended tracks with grooves that mixed African and funk rhythms, punctuated by rudimentary lyrics. There are just four songs on the album, none shorter than seven minutes, and all but one going over the ten-minute mark. More than a dozen strong, his band, the Africa '70, cooks pretty well on tracks that fuse jazz, soul, and African music in a trancelike fashion that avoids becoming stale, despite the length of the arrangements. Ex-Cream/Blind Faith drummer Ginger Baker's name was given prominence in the billing, probably to attract rock- and pop-oriented listeners who might not ordinarily take a chance on music from the African continent. However, it's Fela and Africa '70, not Baker, who are the dominant presence on a record that sounds much like a mixture of James Brown, fusion, and Nigerian forms. ~ Richie Unterberger

Product Details

Release Date:	02/16/2010
Label:	Knitting Factory Records / Knitting Factory Works / Mri Associated Labels
UPC:	0720841800125

Tracks

1. Let's Start
2. Black Man's Cry
3. Ye Ye Smell
4. Egbe Mi O [Carry Me I Want To Die]
5. Ginger Baker & Tony Allen Drum Solo

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Fela Kuti   Primary Artist,Keyboards,Vocals,Piano,Guitar
Fela Kuti & Africa 70   Primary Artist
Ginger Baker   Primary Artist,Drums,Featured Artist
Afrika 70   Primary Artist
Tony Allen   Drums
Lekan Animashaun   Sax (Baritone)
Akwesi Korranting   Congas
Igo Chiko   Sax (Tenor)
Maurice Ekpo   Guitar (Bass)
Peter Animashaun   Guitar (Rhythm)
Tony Abayomi   Stick
Tunde Williams   Trumpet
Friday Jumbo   Congas
Isaac Olaleye   Shekere

Technical Credits

Femi Kuti   Composer
Jeff Jarratt   Producer
Ginger Baker   Composer
Fela Kuti & Africa 70   Composer,Performer
Fela Kuti   Composer