Album Of The Day

Jan 27 2021 Author

5

I give this 28 stars--one for each of his wives.

May 27 2021 Author

5

This is why I’m doing this project to hear albums like this that I would never otherwise be exposed. This is awesome from the start.

Feb 18 2022 Author

5

This album has a fantastic start and then just keeps going. Very funky and jammy with great rhythms. Didn't even notice the songs are 12 min long! Just a fun, and well-rounded album.

Oct 17 2022 Author

5

I’m not sure what other Fela Kuti records are on this list, so I’m gonna take this opportunity to say that Fela Kuti was a certified badass. A legitimately revolutionary musician, from a political stand point, but also musically. If you’re unfamiliar with him, take a few minutes to read about his career and the oppositional force he was to the oppressive Nigerian government in the 70’s/80’s. Live! might not be his best record (that’s Zombie, or maybe Expensive Shit, in my estimation), but it’s a tight, funky firestorm that doesn’t let up across its 4 tracks.

Nov 29 2022 Author

5

Listened through 4 times. Morning, noon or night it's great. Just utterly outstanding danceable music. No, it's not like any Ginger Baker I've heard before, but yes it's as good as every Fela Kuti album I've heard.

Oct 03 2023 Author

1

be honest, do you really like fela kuti or are you just pretending to so that people think you are cool

Jan 23 2021 Author

3

Day 11 of Albums You Must Hear before you die. This serving is another live album, this one by Fela Ransome-Kuti and The Africa ‘70. It features the former drummer of the British rock band Cream, Ginger Baker. I’ve never heard of Fela Ransome-Kuti, nor do I know anything about Afro Beat music or the culture it rose from. Going in blind on that front! Cream, however, is one of the best bands of the 60’s hard rock era in my opinion. Their songs I’ve known all my life. One of my favorite Rock Gods is Eric Clapton. If I don’t make my personal observation of this album as short and sweet as possible, I won’t be doing either Fela Kuti, nor Ginger Baker their due respect. I’ll tell you this, I was a day late even writing this, because I fell in love with the music so much, that I fell into a research rabbit hole. I dug so deep into the super unlikely collaboration of these two, ummm, shall I say super gifted and influential but a little bit, no joke, bat shit craz... eccentric guys, that I’d have to write and research for years and probably go nuts, too. It’s that wild. That’s all I’ll say. This was a great listen and you must hear it before you die. The percussion alone will get your foot in the door on this album. Everything else is.. good. It’s so good. ✌️

Aug 06 2021 Author

5

I'm a jazz nerd and a drummer this album was unfair to the competition godlike

Jul 11 2022 Author

4

Fela the type of fella to only release bangers

May 14 2021 Author

5

Dude this album fucks. what a cool sound. read up on the artist bio a little, Fela Kuti was a neat man. Wish he hadn't died so soon. Wiki says the genre is afrobeat, really digging it. The Black Man's Cry-man, what a song. the growl in that cry. damn. Ye Ye De Smell-The druuuumms. Whew. Egbe Mio-honestly super funky. i dig. That was real cool man. I knew nothing about afrobeat until today but i enjoyed it. for a live album it was pretty sweet.

Nov 06 2023 Author

1

Not my style of music, too much going on and tracks went on forever.

Mar 14 2023 Author

1

Not far off elevator music. I guess it’d be ok in the background.

Jun 08 2024 Author

5

It’s funny because just yesterday I reviewed an album I said there’s no way in hell I’m listening to a long ass instrumental. Just one day later I have proven myself wrong because I just listened to a 15 minute drum solo and was completely enthralled with it. So maybe this music shit really is subjective!

Nov 28 2023 Author

1

Horrible. I hated every second of this. It was a real battle to not skip through any of it.

Feb 13 2022 Author

5

The definition of what a live album should sound like. An absolute surprising burst of euphoria. This album is why I signed up for this project some 267 days ago. Sure, I've enjoyed revisiting the classic albums I was already familiar with. But the biggest reason lies in the potential discovery of gems I'd never even heard of previously. Like this one.

Feb 08 2021 Author

5

Best thing i have ever have heard. Transcendental

Dec 07 2024 Author

5

I started this project on my own and got this as my 3rd album. Fela Kuta was completely new to me. My mind was blown, especially with Ye Ye De Smell, which for a while I listened to on the daily. When I created a group, I knew I'd be receiving albums I'd already rated, nbd. So now this is album 333 for me and this album and Pulp's Different Class are the two biggest wins for me with this project, making listening to way too much PJ Harvey, Bjork, and Fiona "fuck you" Apple (and yet only ONE Patti Smith album! WTF!) worth it.

Oct 31 2022 Author

5

30 Oct/22: I know next to nothing about Afrobeats as a genre and wow, this album is quite the introduction! Absolutely loved it, this is live music at its best. Standouts after listening to the whole thing once: Black Man’s Cry and the Baker/Allen drum solo. Something that surprised me right from the start is how much the trumpets remind me of the Salsa and Latin sounds of my youth; but of course they’re similar! Cuban salsa especially has a ton of influence from African sounds, so that was a component I held onto while listening to the record and it really enhanced the experience.

Jan 24 2023 Author

4

Afrobeat to the max. According to Wikipedia, Fela Kuti married 27 women in one ceremony… absolute lad. Overall, this shit SLAPS. Although I thought I was watching Whiplash for the last song

Dec 07 2024 Author

3

I ♥️ Fela, to where I would gladly listen to him suffer extreme intestinal distress so long as Tony Allen was backing him up on it. However, I don't know his discography well and yet would be surprised if a non Boomer, non British (ie, has no reason to give a shit about Ginger Baker) critic would cite this as a top pick of Fela's recordings. It sounds good enough but feels like a loose jam session more than an intentional musical statement we need to pay close attention to. It is also true that within five minutes it became my all time favorite thing Ginger Baker ever did. Hilariously, I looked at the credits and Ginger hadn't even yet appeared on the album when I rendered that judgement! 😅

Oct 21 2023 Author

3

Nr. 13/1001 Let's Start 4/5 Black Man's Cry 4/5 Ye Ye De Smell 2/5 Egbe Mi O 2/5 Drum Solo 2/5 Average: 2,8 The first two songs are super groovy, funky and soulfoul

Sep 23 2025 Author

5

Amazing vocals and music

Sep 10 2024 Author

5

My initial thought was "An hour for 5 songs?" Then the first beat hit and I'm locked in. This is like big band and jazz had a baby that was touched by the hand of the funk gods. Even at 13+ minutes the song "Ye Ye De Smell" was dope as hell. I found myself getting mesmerized by the extensive drum solo--and I can get bored of drum solos very quickly. Now that being said, if you don't like jazz or instrumental, solo-heavy music this is going to be an awful experience for you.

Aug 06 2024 Author

5

I loved every moment of it. It was electric and irresistible! The grooves are hypnotic and the dynamic range of the band is wide! Ginger Bakers drum solo on Ye Ye De Smell is mind-melting and Black Man’s Chris deeply moving both in body and sport. Gorgeous and important music!

Aug 06 2024 Author

5

Love Fela. Tony Allen is a contender for greatest drummer across time and genre. This all follows the Fela formula - extended groove, improved electric piano and brass, lyrics ranging from jokes to sociopolitical stuff, but you gotta wait for them. Its a hell of a formula, and the layers his African James Brown backing provide more than justifies the repetition. Not sure how valuable ol Gingers contribution was - but kudos for coming to learn off Tony Allen, and for promoting these guys!

Aug 03 2024 Author

5

What a ferocious drum showcase this album is! Kuti brings in his funky jam session with Cream drummer Ginger Baker and he just rips through these 4 songs, including a near 15 solo towards the end. It's a really great listen between musicians that are willing to let each other shine. Ye Ye De Smell was my favorite.

Jan 12 2024 Author

5

Loved this album. Ye Ye De Smell reminds me of five peace band. Very jazzy and lively. The layering of the instruments is fantastic. The drum solo track is an all-timer as well.

Aug 11 2023 Author

5

Absolutely killer. Never listened to this before. I wish someone would've shown me this 30 years ago. I'll be investing some time in Fela's catalog.

Mar 01 2023 Author

5

The Production is amazing and clear for a live album and the audience participation part on the shout chorus sounds like a chamber choir in a recording studio. The sound is amazing. I am a fan of Fela Kuti and Ginger Baker so I always knew I would enjoy listening to it but had never taken the time until know. All of the songs are complete jams that could be endlessly enjoyable and what make well played afro-pop so enjoyable to listen to when the greats are involved and this album has it all in that regard. From front to back it is an amazing listen that feels like your own personal concert at times that I would agree is a must listen for anybody with a healthy appreciation for Afro-pop, Jazz, World, or music in general.

Nov 12 2022 Author

5

Прослушано! Очень круто, прекрасный джазовый альбом.

Oct 04 2022 Author

5

I knew of Fela Kuti from how he influenced later projects by the Talking Heads, but being able to sit down and listen to his stuff from a clean lens is really enjoyable. I love the funk inspired sounds, but I never usually find people capitalize on them well. Fela definitely does.

Feb 09 2021 Author

5

Really enjoyed listening while I was working. Reminded me of ‘Whiplash’!

Mar 09 2021 Author

5

Given Ginger Baker was involved, this must have been widely available in 1971. I can't understand someone hearing it and not searching for more musicians from Nigeria. I ended up finding Miriam Makeba before finding Fela. In both cases it was mixed feelings. So glad to have made the discovery but unhappy I hadn't found them a decade or two sooner. What a fabulous LP.

Jul 16 2021 Author

5

Pues muy bien, variado, rítmico, ecléctico, hipnótico. Sin skips y eso que son canciones re largas y monotonas en ratotes. Fav: el solo de percusiones del final. Mood: johny la gente está muy loca

Jan 01 2025 Author

4

that was fire, special mention to the drum solo

Nov 26 2024 Author

4

Let’s Start with this, Fela is the man. Second, Ye Ye De Smell.

Jun 08 2024 Author

4

If a 16 minute drumming track is not the most fitting way to end this project, then I don't know what is.

Apr 30 2024 Author

4

Well, if there is anything I have learned in this exercise, it is not to judge anything in the first 60 seconds and that “Jazz” is a much broader category than I realized. This was a groovy listen making me wish I was in a hammock on the beach in Costa Rica or the Jungles of Belize. Huge props to the horns but most importantly the Drums on this one. Very interesting background stories on these artists too. Starting out I didn’t think I would be tagging anything for my 1001 playlist, but Ye Ye de Smell made the cut. 3.5/5 rounding up for the drums.

Feb 23 2023 Author

4

Fela Kuti always brings such energy to his performances, it's interesting to hear a live recording from so early on in his international career.Even before some of his biggest albums, he was always Fela, one of the main players in defining the Afrobeat genre.

Aug 29 2021 Author

4

Good funk afrobeat, but ignore the additional long drum solo tracks from track 5 (original album is 4 tracks)

Aug 02 2025 Author

3

Interesting afrobeats trance-like album with quite a James Brown vibe and even a touch of Miles Davis. Ginger's inclusion seems a bit promotional, even though he plays on every track, as Africa 70 already had a very capable drummer in Tony Allen. Some great rhythms and feel even if it is hard to identify songs with 3 of the 4 tracks over the 10 minute mark. Quite fun to listen to as I had never heard before.

Dec 04 2024 Author

3

Previously rated: Zombie (3/5) ********************* The drumming is great on this. I just wish I liked the style of music more. Tracks 2 and 4 are just so repetitive with the same bass riff repeated over and over. Besides that, not bad. Best track: Ye Ye De Smell

Nov 12 2024 Author

3

"Ṣe o fẹran jazz?"

Feb 19 2024 Author

3

Anticipated a 5, giving it a 3. The Drum solo track is my fave. Im probably to stupid to like it more.

Jan 23 2023 Author

3

Drummy

Aug 23 2022 Author

3

Always cool to listen to music outside of my wheelhouse, and this fits that. I was focused on the bass and thinking how I'd tire of playing the identical riff over and over and over and over in this band, and that didn't aid in my enjoying the music. It also speaks to why this is not music I am drawn to. It's impressive, the band is really good, but the redundancy of the material wears on me. It's not my bag, baby.

Sep 17 2021 Author

3

Way better than the last Fela Kuti album (Zombie). I'm still kinda against live albums being included in this book, but this has a pretty undeniable energy. It came out of the gate pretty strong - upbeat, jazzy as all getup, pretty tasty etc. Got a bit long in the tooth by the end, cause they're all extended jams and unless you REALLY dig this sorta stuff it'll just get old, but it did grab me for the first half. The last 15min drum solo was a bit much, but it was also a bonus track so can't chip it for that. And it's weird that they really tried to push Ginger Baker's name here, especially given he was only on 2 songs and one is a bonus track... maybe the name-drop added value at the time? Overall a good surprise considering how much I groaned and rolled my eyes through the last Fela Kuti album here haha. 3/5.

Sep 13 2021 Author

3

Kind of all sounds the same, good restaurant music though

Jun 25 2021 Author

3

Instantly hooked by those fat horns. The horns on Black Man's Cry might be some of my favourite bits of instrumental ever. Despite all that epicness I did get a tad bored at times and the music wasn't doing enough to keep me interested all the time, but for the most part it was fab. But it is Fela Kuti who in my eyes is a musical genius and one of the most influential artists on today's musical landscape so it is no surprise that this is great.

Jun 07 2021 Author

3

Definitely a lot of funk. I don't think I need to listen to it again. I didn't hate it. Also why so many live albums? (No pun intended)

May 19 2021 Author

3

Very nice background music

Aug 05 2024 Author

2

A few minutes in to 'Let's Start' I noticed that the drum (or is it the bass?) follows the same rhythm along the lines of "du du du du, dun dunnn" and it just never changes, and it's the same for 'Black Man's Cry' which I just couldn't ignore the repetitiveness of after 18 min of the same even if there's some nice guitar bits or trumpets on top of it sometimes I just could not focus on anything else Standouts Ye Ye De Smell "Du du du du, dun dunnn"/5 (2/5)

Nov 18 2023 Author

1

Not at all my type of music.

Jun 13 2023 Author

1

Very different music, never heard this style. Jazz with incoherent shouting. Great rythm but I didn’t like the vocal noises

Nov 29 2025 Author

5

This record features the father of Afrobeat performing live with Animal from The Muppets. I was a little surprised to see it here because, even though it's an awesome live recording of stellar performances, I've never considered this an "important" recording in Fela's catalog. It's cool that Ginger Baker is here, but, except for the bonus drum battle with Tony Allen, his presence is not highlighted. His playing is absorbed into the larger Africa '70 group, and that's for the better. The music is more important than the marketing on this recording. The drum solo/battle is cool to hear once or twice. I guess it was merely tacked on as a bonus track for CDs, maybe for marketing or preservation/completion. I'm glad it's the last track, because it would mess up the flow of the track list if placed anywhere else. I don't know how essential this recording is to understanding Fela's career (or Ginger Bakers', for that matter), but the music is smoking hot, and the recording is punchy and powerful. One more thing: If you can resist singing along to the hypnotic call-and-response sections of "Egbe Mi O," I don't think you and I are supposed to be friends. Five stars.

Nov 25 2025 Author

5

This is why we continue on this journey. The exact type of album that you wanted to listen to when you first started tracking this website, admit it. I love the combination of blues drumming and jazz on this album. Really cool extended jams and the African sound is so distinct and awesome. I bet this would sound really good while you are paroozing a record store in a city you have never been to. 9/10

Nov 25 2025 Author

5

Meer bongo meer beter

Nov 25 2025 Author

5

Fela Kuti is a legend for a reason. The only gripe I have with this album is that I wasn't alive to see this played live and now I'll have to carry that burden of knowing that for the rest of my life.

Nov 25 2025 Author

5

A genuine delight. 5 amazing tracks. A great album and the first album that I feel like I didn't know yet but did really enjoy discovering. Never expected to enjoy a 16 minute drum solo that much.

Nov 25 2025 Author

5

Superb. Love the energy, the music is great, the overall vibe is great. Honestly I really have no complaints this is a fantastic live album and I love the uber long drum solo at the end. I think I’ve talked myself into a 5 and I’m not mad about that.

Nov 21 2025 Author

5

Just an incredible listen. The jazz and afro elements in this thing intertwined so well. My only gripe is that the drum solo went on for fucking ages, but I don't know if it was supposed to be a part or this record nor is it going to deter me from a 5 star rating.

Nov 18 2025 Author

5

Finally some proper fucking music. Funky, jazzy, souly, I could listen all day

Nov 17 2025 Author

5

total jam, start to finish.

Nov 15 2025 Author

5

This was amazing. Loved the drum sounds throughout. Songs are a little on the longer side, but I don’t think it hurts the enjoyment of the record. Would’ve loved to experience the energy live.

Nov 15 2025 Author

5

Every song is a lengthy bop, even the drum solo at the end is noteworthy

Nov 13 2025 Author

5

After multiple days of (to me) mid-tier, forgettable records... finally, some good fucking food. What a supercharged live performance by Fela and Africa '70. I'm a drummer and admittedly had no idea that Fela released a live album alongside Ginger Baker, but damn did I enjoy this. "Ye Ye De Smell" has all the characteristics of Ginger's thunder, and his solo alongside Tony Allen on the final track is 16 glorious, bombastic minutes of pure drumming goodness. The singalong with the crowd on "Egbe Mi O" was so much fun as well... just a fun, electric album from front to back.

Nov 11 2025 Author

5

8.6

Nov 11 2025 Author

5

Really enjoyed this jazz

Nov 11 2025 Author

5

shockingly good. would recommend. Not sure why it was so addictive, but it was.

Nov 10 2025 Author

5

> the Beatles Very good

Nov 10 2025 Author

5

super fun and different. fantastic listen.

Nov 06 2025 Author

5

Loved it! Vivacious

Oct 31 2025 Author

5

The great Fela Kuti at his best

Oct 28 2025 Author

5

This album isn’t just live—it’s alive. It moves like blood through a city at night. Afrobeat in its purest, rawest state: rhythm as resistance, groove as gospel. Fela and his band don’t play the songs so much as summon them, brick by brick, horn by horn, until the whole room levitates. Every track stretches, breathes, argues with itself. You can hear the sweat, the laughter, the crowd caught in trance. This isn’t background music—it’s political, physical, and deeply spiritual all at once. Rating: 5/5 Short Review: Liberation through groove. Funk so tight it feels like a manifesto. Favorite Track: “Let’s Start” — it’s not a song, it’s an uprising with a horn section.

Oct 27 2025 Author

5

Great album! Fela Kuti is great influence on one of my favorite bands, Talking Heads. The power of the horns is amazing! The rhythm of the percussion from Ginger Baker and Tony Alllen was mind blowing.

Oct 25 2025 Author

5

Man oh man- Fela and Ginger Baker live? Yes please. Fuck yes, loved it. Biggs, if it’s too Afro pop, you’re too white!

Oct 25 2025 Author

5

My kind of music. Funky, jamming rock and African rhythm, horns, and Ginger Baker on Drums! What more could you ask for?

Oct 22 2025 Author

5

Despite being a live album, the quality you find here is rare.

Oct 20 2025 Author

5

The king, killing the game that only he could play!

Oct 20 2025 Author

5

FELA KUTI IS ONE OF THE GREATEST MUSICIANS OF ALL TIME. My dad used to play "Zombie" on the family computer. He claimed he hated jazz, but for Kuti he could always make an exception. He'd reminisce on how he'd dance with his classmates to the lyrics - trying to do each move as fast as Kuti sang it. Jazz gets stereotyped as a stuffy pretentious genre sometimes but there is so much life within it. The controlled chaos it embodies challenges a listener, and creates a small section of participation from the audience.

Oct 16 2025 Author

5

Loved it A LOT. Listened while running and it made me feel like I was in a movie.

Oct 16 2025 Author

5

The man

Oct 14 2025 Author

5

Easily among the top live albums on this list. Super fun all the way through.

Oct 11 2025 Author

5

It’s the sort of music my grandad listens to and it just makes me feel so joyous and warm inside

Oct 11 2025 Author

5

I rated "Zombie" at three stars, and I was expecting a similar result for this live album. In the end, though, I just couldn't stop moving to the tunes, and I thought the drum duel with Ginger Baker was absolutely stellar, so it's getting five stars and going in my Tidal library for future enjoyment.

Oct 08 2025 Author

5

Cool jazz funk with afro beats. Just terrific! Favorite track: Let’s start Other picks: ye ye de smell, drum solo, egbe me

Oct 07 2025 Author

5

This is great. I don’t remember if we’ve already done a Fela Kuti album yet - everything’s running together - but we should do more. Excellent.

Oct 06 2025 Author

5

I enjoyed it very much, maybe it was just a good sunday

Sep 30 2025 Author

5

The birthplace of Afrobeat!

Sep 26 2025 Author

5

What's not to love?

Sep 21 2025 Author

5

2/1001 Quite different from what i usually listen to. I read a bit about the album before i listened to it. Fela Kuti had something to do with the Talking Heads album Remain in the light which I really like and I have recently been listening to Creams White Room. As a result I was interested to see what this album was about. I really liked it, from the opening bars that made me think of Oceans eleven to the 14 minute drum solo at the end - great stuff. This will be getting another listen in the future.

Sep 16 2025 Author

5

Absolutely excellent, whatever it requires of you to get into, it gives you back tenfold.

Sep 11 2025 Author

5

Endless funk and rythm

Sep 10 2025 Author

5

Listening to this album is like watching Jordon in the 90s. Every musician is in the zone and executing to perfection their craft and showing their soul.

Sep 09 2025 Author

5

Toe-tapping good

Sep 05 2025 Author

5

What an amazing album! Thank you for introducing me to this "language of energy and rhythm; I enjoyed every track and the drum solo was inspiring...who on earth can play like that! Fela does "what he came to do"; create a new fan. Loved this

Sep 04 2025 Author

5

This is an incredible album and had me moving and grooving to the beat the whole time. You can feel the jazz influence in this album because it is sort of an organized chaos at points before Fela Kuti reigns it back in. This will definitely be added to my rotation.

Aug 29 2025 Author

5

Great music for a coffee getting ready for a long spicy day ahead

Aug 27 2025 Author

5

Likte den veldig godt! Jazz og funk i skjønn afrikansk harmoni.

Aug 26 2025 Author

5

Fela Kuti knows how to put on a show. Take notes people

Live!

Fela Kuti

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