Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense [LP]

by Fela Kuti

Overview

With production help from Wally Badarou, Fela Anikulapo Kuti offers up an interesting mix of songs (well, two to be exact) in both vocal and instrumental versions. Most compelling is the track "Look and Laugh," which details the attack by Nigerian soldiers on his Kalakuta compound. With simple lyrics, Fela runs down the horror of that attack in a detached, almost journalistic manner: "Till dem come/burn my house/burn my house/all my property/burn burn dem/beat beat me/kill my mama." Badarou's production help gives Fela his most full-bodied sound; the horn section is much hotter and brassier than ever before. The problem with this record is that with following an instrumental track with a vocal version of the same song, there's a certain lack of drama that blunts the impact of songs as powerful as "Look and Laugh." That said, this is very good mid-'80s Fela. The 2001 reissue on MCA adds a 22-minute bonus track, "Just Like That," which was originally released on 1989's Beast of No Nation album. ~ John Dougan

Product Details

Release Date:	08/19/2014
Label:	Knitting Factory Records
UPC:	0720841205517

Tracks

1. Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense, Pt. 2
2. Look and Laugh, Pt. 2

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Fela Kuti   Primary Artist,Piano,Guitar,Vocals,Keyboards
Fela Kuti & Africa 70   Sax (Tenor)
Lekan Animashaun   Sax (Baritone)
Idolo Umokoro   Vocals
Keji Hamilton   Piano
Fehintola A. Kuti   Vocals
Kola Oni   Sax (Alto)
Folake A. Kuti   Vocals
Oyinade Adeniran   Sax (Tenor)
Clifford Itoje   Guitar (Rhythm)
Itam Mann   Guitar (Rhythm)
Ijagun Benjy Ola   Drums
Kemi Williams   Vocals
Ajayi Adebiyi   Congas
Lampety Addo   Shekere
Oye Shobowale   Trumpet
Akomeah Dodo   Trumpet
Rilwan Fagbemi   Sax (Baritone)
Yinusa Akinibosun   Sax (Tenor)
Soji Odukogbe   Guitar (Tenor)
Michael Obeatta   Congas
Bola Taiwo   Trumpet
Stephen Ukem   Trumpet
Atiba Tiamiyu   Drums
George Kassim   Shekere
Stephen Nkem   Trumpet
Femi Oladegunwa   Bass
Keuwe A. Kuti   Vocals

Technical Credits

Fela Kuti   Composer
Wally Badarou   Producer
Joelle Bauer   Mixing
Pulcherie Hoga   Dancer
Sege Devevres   Assistant Engineer
Najite Anikulapo Kuti   Dancer
Herve Marignac   Mixing,Engineer,Mastering
Fumilayo Anikulapo Kuti   Dancer
Nosa Amayo   Dancer
Serwa Asiedu   Dancer
Bernard Matussiere   Cover Photo
Jumoke Osunla   Dancer