Fela Kuti and Africa '70 - Gentleman 50th anniversary edition on LTD colored vinyl
Artist: Fela Kuti and Africa '70 | Label: Knitting Factory | Format: LP | Genre: World | Vinyl Condition: Mint | Cover Condition: Sealed
Fela Ransome Kuti & Africa 70's
Gentleman
Knitting Factory Records 2009 - 50th anniversary edition on limited "IGBO SMOKE" vinyl
Fela Kuti (1938-1997) was a Nigerian musician, producer, arranger, political radical, outlaw and the originator of Afrobeat. A titanic musical and sociopolitical voice, Fela’s legacy spans decades and genres, touching on jazz, pop, funk, hip-hop, rock and beyond.
1973’s Gentleman is the 7th in the series of celebratory Fela 50th Anniversary reissues. Like its predecessors in the series, this version will be available on exclusive colored vinyl (Igbo Smoke) and the LP will be wrapped in a gold foil obi strip with a brief essay on the album and Fela's global impact on music. Like Fela's other early 70's releases, he used each side of his LPs to create a deep groove that pulls the listener in and follows with metaphoric lyrics that call out and critique the corrupt hangover of colonialism.
The title track can be interpreted literally, or as metaphor concerning a wider issue. In this case, Fela's topic is the colonialism-induced inferiority complex which led many in Africa's new governing elites to reject African style, concepts of beauty and modes of behaviour in favour of European imports. Gentleman's other tracks, "Fefe Naa Efe" and "Igbe," have briefer lyrics. On "Fefe Naa Efe," an Ashanti motto from Ghana, Fela tells a woman dumped by her boyfriend that she must get over the heartache and move on. On "Igbe" (shit), Fela declares that anyone who betrays a friend is shit, and that anybody who lacks self-respect is shit - something you want to expel from your body as soon as possible. He sings the word "shit" in several Nigerian languages, so there is no misunderstanding.
Songs are:
Gentleman (all of side one)
Igbe (na Shit)
FeFe Ne Eye
NEW SEALED re-issue LP set from Knitting Factory Records courtesy of
Kalakuta Sunrise -50th anniversary edition on "Igbe Smoke" vinyl
