Search - Fela Kuti :: Upside Down / Music of Many Colours

Fela Kuti
Upside Down / Music of Many Colours
Genres: International Music, Pop

Track Listings (4) - Disc #1
1. Upside Down
2. Go Slow
3. 2,000 Blacks Got to Be Free
4. Africa, Center of the World

CD Details

All Artists: Fela Kuti
Title: Upside Down / Music of Many Colours
Members Wishing: 3
Total Copies: 0
Label: Mca
Original Release Date: 1/1/1990
Re-Release Date: 7/24/2001
Album Type: Original recording reissued
Genres: International Music, Pop
Style: Africa
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPCs: 731454924726, 0731454924726, 5060001270548

Synopsis

Album Description

Digitally remastered two-fer containing a pair of albums from Fela Kuti's influential back catalog. Upside Down was written by Fela to portray a worldly travelled African, who searches the dictionary and finds the definition of upside down - a perfect description of the African situation. The album features Sandra who stood by Fela and introduced him to the Black Panthers during his time in the United States. Music Of Many Colours is a collaboration between Fela and African American vibraphone player Roy Ayers. They decided to do an album together after Fela's 1979 tour of Nigeria in which Roy was the opening act. Wrasse. 2010.

CD Reviews

Fela In His Prime

Jake Tha Snake | East Coast, USA | 12/03/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Although Nigeria's king of afrobeat never forgot that the strength of his material was the hypnotizing rhythmic groove, his early compositions were more or less African-tinged interpretations of James Brown's funky workouts. By the time "Upside Down" was released, Fela had honed his craft such that it still paid homage to Brown, but was far more reflective of Fela's own identity. This is still a fierce collection of afrobeat jams (highlighted by the almost 15 minute long title track), focused on the dancefloor with politically incisive commentary. You've likely heard the hype about Kuti and his legacy (which includes his son Femi and slavish devotees Antibalas). Here's the perfect validation of those claims."