Live!

comienza muy bien, pero se convierte en un jam session super enfadoso,.

💥💥💥💥💥

great

1h1m 5 songs 3/10 Not my style Wasn’t bad but I wouldn’t choose it A lot of saxophones and stuff

What a fun listen! A lively jazz performance, approached with attitude and finesse. Get lost in the rhythms!

Loved it. Funky and soulful. Had a dance in the kitchen!

Really enjoyed this, live aspect again was good and the jazz/afro elements just worked really well. Really interesting mix of songs as well. First and last tracks were my favourites.

I think, when done right, there's something very special about a live album. It can't simply be a collection of hits that are played live, there has to be purpose to the recording, and I think that's exemplified here. Every song is elevated here, the energy they bring is otherworldly. It reminds me a lot of the Sam Cooke live record that's on here, it's just a really phenomenal experience.

Let's Start 3.8 Black Man's Cry 4 Ye Ye De Smell 4 Egbe Mi O (Carry Me I Want to Die) 3.7 Ginger Baker and Tony Allen Drum Solo 3.6 Score: 3.82

Great groove - had heard of the artist but never heard the album.

Some really incredible music, and especially the drum parts. A unique blend of Africa and Europe.

Classic

I don't even have the words here. This exercise is loaded with inferior stuff that is Not Fela, when you could have just jam packed it with Fela and made me much happier. The music is a fusion of West African music, jazz, and funk called Afrobeat, a genre that Fela pioneered. This is music that could breathe life into a dead man, the kind that makes you want to get out of your goddamn seat. Fela's band The Africa '70 could tear it up, and Fela's voice is the ideal cherry on top. Raw, powerful, exuberant, thrilling. Oh yeah, Ginger Baker shows up, whatever. (I'm kidding, Baker's drum segments are pretty great, but when you've got Tony freaking Allen as the band's regular drummer, it's hard to get excited about anyone else in the chair. Tony would get mad at Fela over the dispersal of royalties for music that he had a very prominent hand in creating, and leave Fela, taking several band members with him.) If I have a complaint, it's the crowd. Why are they not losing their minds? Why is there only polite applause at the end? Maybe that's just not a thing that's done in Nigeria.

I don’t feel any particular way.

Pretty good!

Very groovy. Both drummers are mind numbingly brilliant, just wow. 8/10

A good time, not one i would go back to probably

Whoa, that was awesome. Drum solo on the last song kinda went on and on.

Really enjoyed this one. It was a mix between jazz, funk, and good mix of it all. Couldn’t really pick out a song. Overall great album.

Fun african music. Love the drum solo at the end

Meh

Pretty good African fusion. Ginger baker felt like more of the star here based on the emphasis of his drumming. Good stuff.

Tracks 1 and 3 were cool.

76/1001 First listen. Never heard of this guy before. I have heard badass Ginger Baker though. Others calling this jazz, I don’t think so because I liked this. I’ll be digging further into Fela Kuti’s discography. 5/10

Loved when I got the Zombie album, and this is sadly Fela Kuti's and the Africa '70's last album on this generator. This has crazy good energy even more than the albums, and Kuti's vocals sound so wild and ferocious ; I love it! I don't think any thing sounds AS rich as the arrangements by the Africa '70, those guys are just on another planet, they never fail the song. This one has a catch, that is it features Ginger Baker (the drummer guy from Cream,) specifically tracks 3-4; 5 if you have the bonus track version. I got Baker's former bandmate Eric Clapton as my previous album, it being the Layla album. So maybe we can complete the trifecta if Bruce Whatshislastnameicantremember is apart of the next album I get. Highlight Song/s: "Ye Ye De Smell" and "Egbe Mi O (Carry Me I Want To Die)"

Haven't listened to this in a long time and it's much better than I remember. Would throw on again

I like it but its just not my style, definitely if it werent as upbeat id love it!

Great

Chad drums by Ginger. I will not call him that.

aaaaaaaaaaaamazinggggg💗

-Fela Kuti is a somewhat challenging but also very rewarding artist to listen to imo. i absolutely adore a lot of his work (Zombie, Expensive Shit) though sometimes the long repetitive afrobeat numbers blend together for me -this isn’t my favorite thing i’ve heard from him, but i still thought it was cool. definitely best listened to as a full album because there were a lot of similarities in the song structures -Favorites: Let’s Start, Black Man’s Cry

Już jako młokos, najbardziej lubiłem...

chill. tribal. drums. beat.

The energy here is great. Even though it is a live album, it's a nearly perfect listen all the way through.

Fun, funky, and energetic

Incredible live musicianship. Funky, groovy, politically dense.

Was happy to see this pop up! Had a few Fela Kuti songs lurking around on my playlists but hasn't listened to this one, and enjoyed it! "Black Man's Cry" and "Let's Start" were faves on here.

I hear you, Fela Kuti... hot damn, this is a percussionist's dream. Sounded like everyone was having fun. Loved it.

Here's a collaboration between artists that I never imagined I'd see. Honestly, I can barely see any flaws in this album; it's practically perfect.

eh

Funky record. I like it.

i like it. funky, groovy, and energetic. cool environment

Really enjoyed Animal by Fela Kuti so I was excited to hear this. Very cool. Very funky. Plus Ginger Baker. You cannot lose. 4/5

Great musical wise but not for me. Found the solos a bit boring but loved the vocals. Not for me!

Probably my favorite album I've discovered from this (so far)

Wow, this was great! The rythm section sounds so goood on this! Loved it!

I may like this live album even better than his Zombie album.

Great energy, could probably get some good drum breaks and sounds from here

This has a really cool sound and awesome beat, and it's a genre and artist that are brand new to me. It would be so fun to dance to. However, I don't think I'd reach for it to listen to again.

Fuck yeah

nicht so meins

I never thought I would like afrobeats. Great album!

More jazz Love the talking and story elements Different language talking about roots Good character Not the type of jazz I like Too much brass imo Love the last song bc of percussion

Great funky vibes, really put me in a great mood for the day and made me want to listen to more of this artist. The album itself did feel a little long at times. And despite being a drummer, I didn't enjoy the final track as much as I thought I would. Super interesting listen and highly recommend. The mix of jazz, funk, brass works wonders!

Vibrant, fun, with that classic keyboard sounds like the break in Water Got No Enemy. Great to take some time to hear the This album made me realize how much more American rock there is than anything else, which got me upset. Zamrock is right there! Afro beats alone is too vast to reduce to Fela, no matter how iconic. How many U2 albums are on this???? And what is there to show for all of Africa??? Not enough of the good shit!

Solid Afro-funk

3.3 Second Fela Kuti album in the space of a week but in not upset about it. Tracks 2&3 were my favourite, but sadly too long to put on a lot of my playlists. Drum solo completely unnecessary, but don't mind skipping that given it's the outro. Like Zombie, not my normal thing, but I can appreciate the artistry

This is fun. Energetic long-form music. A bit too repetitive and not detailed enough in certain places but not to the point of being boring. Ye Ye De Smell is the standout track, in my opinion. The rest are not quite as fun but still enjoyable. 7/10

Fan-freaking-tastic. I discovered Fela Kuti through Talking Heads and it was my doorway into the amazing world of West African music

Wiggling around listening to this. Wonderful energy throughout

This is a really good jazz album that is percussion-centric. Pitchfork: Rolling Stone: Best Songs

Felt a bit like I was in Nando's

Delightful.

This one was a really cool surprise, I had no idea. Ginger breaker did so much outside of his work with cream. I can see Ware he’s one of the greatest drummers of all time, it’s fascinating to see the evolution where he went after words. Really fun, energetic music, this is a pretty great live album. Not one I necessarily go back and revisit, but it was a pleasure getting to listen to it. Solid three out of five.

Not bad for Afrobeat, especially as a live recording. Lengthy most of the time, but not boring.

Decent 4

Good vibes

One album. 5 tracks. Afro beat. Drums solos from Ginger. Glorious.

Should be dancing in a field listening to this, really enjoyed it.

Good for a train journey

Infectious beats. Impressive work from Ginger Baker to hold his own in that company, whether or not he was planted for marketing purposes.

p248. 1971. 3 stars. Well done African-rock hybrid. Production and playing as tight as a drum. Points deducted for being a live album, and for excessive wankage - do we really need multiple 10+ minute tracks? Not sure I'll listen to it again, but glad I heard it.

The third live album I've had so far and probably the best. I don't really know how to describe it and I obviously don't understand any of the words, but it sounds great and marvellously vibrant. Ginger Baker (of Cream fame) plays drums which seems an odd combination to me, but it works. It's not funk or soul, it's just some sort of African shit. That's my technical explanation, anyway. Loads of trumpets and saxophone, powerful vocals and then when the Hammond organ comes out it's like an African Doors, one big jam that would have graced the final track on the final Doors album, had Jim Morrison not died in his Paris bathtub 22 days before this gig. There's only five songs in one hour here, the last one being basically a 16 minute drum solo. I knew absolutely nothing about this fucker and only googled him after listening to the album. Apparently he died of AIDS after denying it existed. He also married 27 women on the same day.

sounds good

This was going to be a solid 3 star for me, an enjoyable funk/soul live show. It went a bit downhill when they started the 10+ minute drum solo on the final track. Maybe it's because I'm not a drummer, but anything longer than a minute or two and it's a "you had to be there" kind of thing.

это окей. интересные мелодии, местами очень даже танцевальные

Don't understand much, but I'm really digging the energy! Fela Kuti goes hard on these tracks. Each of the tracks is a bit too long and has no real direction, he's just jamming along with whatever he feels. But it is quite fun. Best song: Let's Start

I feel confident in saying that, given sufficient preparation time, I can successfully debate anyone who argues that there is not enough quality drumming on this album.

took me a minute to get into cos the songs do go for ages and can be quite repetitive but i came around to it in the end (although the drum song was a bit hard to get through) it was refreshing though

Live would be 5 stars for sure.

Solid, no real bangers.

Not my vibe

Usually albums with this high energy get on my nerves. But this one brightened up a gray rainy Saturday. Great rhythms. Only the drum solo they could have left out.

Could’ve easily done without the 15 minute drum solo, but otherwise, a nice groove.

Cross cultural album one pf the best

Как говорится, уважаем творчество, но слушать это... уж извините.

Fela Kuti is legendary, and this album is as good as any other to drive that point home. The energy is infectious and it's impossible to not get immersed and lost in the sound. Fantastic stuff.

this is an energetic live record full of rhythms and it deserves attention. not my vibe though. never heard of Fela and am impressed by his biography.

Acid jazz, partially in another language, and a freaking vibe. Not a huge fan, but I really see the appeal.

This looked like a recipe for disaster, but turned out to be the start of a wild and wonderful journey into Fela Kuti's back catalogue. I'm left a little surprised why this album made the list and others didn't, but I'm not bitter about it. Very enjoyable tracks that go places and never outstay their welcome. To my ears, this feels more jazz than soul, and all the better for it. Four stars.

I was scared of this at first, my last fela kuti album was a punish of 9 minute songs that followed the same formula. This was better, but I’m not rushing back. The drum solo last track is a cool addition and the sound is amazing for a live recording.

8/10

Interesting album, not sure I would ever choose to throw it on, but it was fun. 5.7/10

Cool album with nice rhythm. I enjoyed it a good amount!

Fela rarely goes wrong in his immense discography. Live! Is a perfect example, and the hypnotic grooves only deepen with the excellent addition of Ginger Baker. Great entry point to fela for the curious.

Very similar to the one I had yesterday. That was more jazz and this is more afro beat I guess? But it has the same type of spirit. The only thing is this is just more repetitive sadly. Puts it down a peg for sure. Alot of it is nice but its drove into my skull with a hammer over and over and over again. It just gets old. I do like the live element here. The language barrier honestly adds to the charm. He has to explain the names and have things almost explained to him. Thats great. The crowd clapping on a song here is nice too. Decent record and worth a listen. Im not sure it did too much for ne personally but I had enough fun

Funky! I liked it.

I think some has a bias for Afro-pop-jazz-fusion.

i mean what i was watching a video about fela's life this morning... starting december with this one but i dont think i like it that much. it goes on and on without rest and sometime i found it a bit boring 3/5

Not worth listening to

Nice!

Really solid. Nice jazz/world album. Drum solo was ridiculous.

Incredible, would have never found this on my own.

decent, goes on too long, but a pleasant sound that I wouldn't have listened to otherwise other than featuring Ginger Baker. 2.5

I just don't like jazz.

Nice live album. Enjoyed the drums and funk lines.

Ginger Baker is great, let loose from the constraints of being in a power trio he can show off his jazz chops. Tony Allen is just an incredible. Africa '70 is such an incredible band, incredibly tight yet bursting with energy. And Mr. Kuti is sublime. I'd known about him for a long time but the direction he brings to the band and his organ playing are just *chef's kiss*. Some people may find it rambling but I love the juxtaposition between the long rambling solos, the call and responses, the timing of the various sections and the incredible energy brought to this recording.

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.

An interesting time capsule. I enjoyed it for its originality and the individual skills of Ginger Baker and Fela Kuti. Together, what a unique fusion.

4/5

Funky and awesome! I want to play this at my next dinner party!

Surprisingly good!

Good

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

How do you make 5 songs and make an hour long album? And its soo good. The last song was too repeptitive for me but im so suprised by this album. Shook even. The rythms the pace the fact it can keep a 13 min song intresting and fresh. This is the kind of albums that makes me want to explore so many others. Finding gems like this can make a day. I want to give it a 4.75 but not sure how to rate it.

Meer bongo meer beter

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.

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.

If the album had been a bit shorter and not ended on a 15 minute percussion performance, then would have been a four.

I wish it was just a bit shorter

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.

was enjoying this as nice background music (didn't need to focus at all on lyrics). would have been a 4 but the 15 minute drum solo as final track knocked it back. that droned on way too long

Best Song: Ye Ye De Smell. This was nice and upbeat. The most enthusiastic song on the album. Worst Song: Black Man's Cry. I hate to say it, but his screaming cry just doesn't sound that musical. Overall: It's mostly good, although I feel like it lacks some of the energy that his son Femi's work has. I will say that if I am going to listen to jazz, I most frequently want to listen to the type of afro-jazz that Fela Kuti and his progeny make.

I was hoping to like this, but it was annoying as hell while I was working on something stressful.

This album is fantastic. From start to finish you are able to jam out.

This was a fascinating listen. Great chemistry between the full band, good vibes. The percussion at the end dragged on a bit for me. Overall, this is never something I would have sought out on my own, and I'm glad I can say I've heard this one.

Damn, some fantastic drums from Ginger Baker. Fela Kuti's funkiness is also shining bright here.

Jazz jams as they should be. Not sure if I could pick up on the added value of Baker's drumming outside of the last song. The Africa 70 deliver as always nonetheless.

I think I liked Femi more than Fela.

1...

Perhaps the lushest and fullest of funky jam sessions

Fun

First African album, I think, and it had to be one with a Brit on it. First couple of tracks are OK. Bit too jazz.

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.

See my previous reviews regarding live performances. It’s got the funk.

Fela Kuti is a silent giant in western music. He, and the wider genre of Afrobeat, have had an incalculable impact on pop, hip hop and rock. This doesn’t influence my final score but I think it’s important to note. I only discovered Fela Kuti a couple of months ago and this is not even his best album, I think it is only included on this list because Ginger Baker is on here. It’s a shame that this is his only album on this list, he is really an incredible artist. This is an end-to-end good time, no faults.

As much as I enjoyed Zombie, 4 stars, I didn’t really like this one. Too many times it faded into background music. Quite disappointed.

Enjoyed this in the background, but too jazzy for active listening for me.

Fela Kuti and The Africa '70: Such a lively, energetic sound on these tracks that makes it hard to sit still. Gooooood stuff. Fav tracks: Egbe Mi O (Carry Me)

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

Enjoy fewer tracks and longer runtime. Can get more into it and excited to see what this delivers, probably wouldn’t come across it otherwise… Great groove to get it started and set the precedent for the album 🕺🥁 yeh, really good feel to this. Love the live element and talking between tracks. SUCH good energy and skill. Would love to be there dancing to this 😮‍💨 Really great album and pretty sure I’ll listen through again straight after. How a live album should be and afrobeat down to a tea. Yes!

I know that Fela largely invented Afrobeat and this was a great live album, with energetic drumming and possessing an album cover that feels like the band are jumping off the photo. But I prefer a more lyrics-based sound so while liked, it was not something I would listen to again.

some great moments personal favorite is near the end of Egbe Mi O (Carry Me), where Fela gets the crowd to sing with the instrumental but overall the song are too long without enough unique moments. great talent is shown however.

skroz neloše, štoviše

Cool to vibe to but gets very samey after a while

this is great music to have on in the background. the "hidden track" drum solo is very fun, but i'd listen to the whole thing again

Great stuff here, fabulous drumming (no surprise), excellent horn section. Fela's vocals are energetic, I like the parts where the whole band sings as well as some of the call and response. Only critique is that sometimes the songs stretch on a bit long without enough melodic development/chord changes, but overall really enjoyed the energy.

total jam, start to finish.

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.

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

I thought this would be amazing, African drums and Ginger Baker, What a disappointment. It was boring from beginning to end, Drum solo could have been, and should have been awesome but it just went on and on, never varied and no great drumming.

I think I would need to see this live to enjoy it. I imagine a lot is happening on stage that I'm missing by just listening. It's so long. Parts of it are funky, parts of it are dull. Mostly dull. The drum solo is the biggest anticlimax ever. How do two drummers considered to be the best of their kind manage to come together and sound so bloody boring?

Funky and fun! I'm not usually a fan of long drum solos, but that final song is great.

70s World funk and soul. A famous drummer travelling around Africa to learn about local rhythm. Jazzy. Loads of drumming, solos, very long jam sessions.

drums are sick. not what i usually listen to. i enjoy!

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.

4.5

Really cool collaboration! Definitely will come back to this one in the future

8.6

*Very cool jazz with African drum beats...kind of fusion-ish at times *Even more impressive is that it's live

Really enjoyed this jazz

2 1/2 I liked the music but I’m not a fan of long drum solos.

Fela Kuti is at his best when playing live. Classic afrobeat stuff, long but never outstays its welcome. The only thing that does go on a bit is the Ginger Baker drum solo, a musical phenomenon I’ve never really had time for.

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

> the Beatles Very good

It's a jam band. Cool instrumentals. Nothing special

Really good afrobeat music. Enjoyed the vibes a lot, and would definitely listen again.

super fun and different. fantastic listen.

Blind review: Conor - I don't think it will be my cup of tea, but if it's got kinda of cool party/disco/harlem vibes it might be interesting. Shona - I'm excited about the divisive reviews this has garnered. I hope one track becomes this week's staple. Both enjoyed - better than we expected

Although not perfect, it gets a lot right and bonus cookie points. I do think the songs run too long, but it is a live performance, where you can expand your music with the energy of the crowd. The drums are incredible, the rythme they bring very much made me want to dance. So of course, at the second listen I was over the 16 minute songs, but as a fresh listen, what fun. To me it is better to be overblown with ideas than with nothing to say. And I really enjoy half of the album and will listen to that again, it is music that feels good.

Another banger, literally in this case, that I would have never heard otherwise. Really fun music that dominated the African music scene at the same time modern music was exploding in the US. It is so much fun to listen to an album, research it again and then give it another listen realizing that you are listening to modern music history. Kuti sounds like quite a character and the events surrounding the production of this album are just insane.

Fun album but not sure why it is on the list. Will not be upset to hear it again but I will not seek it out

Livealbum

Fela and Ginger. 5 songs, over 1 hour. Aftobeat endlessness and Ginger Baker rudimentaries until your ears bleed? We shall see! I like the liveliness of afrobeat, the mix of r&b, jazz and african ruthms and I like Fela, but i do find it can get a bit repetitive for me at times. And Ginger is an odd one on drums amd in life. Track one and its a bit as I expected. The drums follow the lead not the rythm section. Credits are sparse on iTunes for this. It basically lists Fela on vocals and Ginger on drums. Seems a bit unfair to the rest of the band Africa 70. Tony Allen was the drummer for Fela’s back band and given how associted he is with defining aftobeat i wonder how much was him and how much was Ginger? By the aounds of a few tracks it was both of them and a few more percussionsists thrown in for good measure. One thong i will say for Ginger, I suspect its not easy playing a beat like Afrobeat across from Tony who has grown up and lived these beats deep into his being and i fewl Ginger does a decent job of not sounding like an English rock muso trying to play afrobeat. Interesting alb. Not sure i would liaten to it a lot but worth 3 stars for the main characters alone.

Loved it! Vivacious

More interesting to listen to than I expected since this is definitely not a genre that I listen to; however, I will probably not listen to it again. Also, in a personal vein, I am not a fan of Ginger Baker as a drummer.

It was different from my current music. It was rhythmic, edgy, and completely unexpected it the best possible way.

Jam band vibes but old school. Only 5 songs but since they are so long it's a full album. It's good music, but the jam bands kill me.

It's great to listen to a really nice album that you never heard before. I can imagine how enjoyable it would be to be at this live performance.

If you just put 1001 Fela albums on here (and there probably are 1001 Fela albums out there), it wouldn't bother me one bit!

Very funky and jammy with incredible rhythms. I didn’t even realize the songs were 12 minutes long! This is exactly why I’m doing this project to find albums like this that I’d never have discovered otherwise. It’s awesome from the start. I’m a drummer so this album was unfair to the rest of the albums that I had or have to rate. Usually I’d say there’s no way I’m listening through a long instrumental album but I’ve proven myself wrong because I just listened to a 15 minute drum solo and was completely captivated. It’s got everything that I enjoy from sax solos, drum solos to Fender Rhodes solos. According to Wikipedia Fela Kuti married 27 women in one ceremony, insane. Overall this album is great it’s got that raw fusion of African rhythms and Afrobeats, funk, and jazz, a showcase of musicianship and a lot of energy. The chemistry between Fela’s band and Ginger Baker is felt very clearly. The percussion is the heartbeat of the album here, felt very organic, funky, and groovy as hell. Felt like watching Whiplash by the end just pure, sweaty fun, funky, jazzy energetic music. I can only imagine how fun this Live album would actually be to see live!

Loved it

not really my thing but better than I expected

Fantastic instrumentation and production. Loved the horns. And ginger baker of course!

Certainly is some cool, funky music but probably not something I think I would pick up and listen to again.

I can listen to an hour of upbeat jazz music, even if I wouldn’t ever chose to.

Vibe and get in a trance

Good to get a livecalb7m. Nor my type of music though

Really good, groving through the whole thing. Not far off 5 stars

Perfect music to move to. Whether it's dancing or cleaning.

6/10

8/10

3.5

let's start: love the initial vibes

The great Fela Kuti at his best

Energetic and something new.

Very upbeat, not the kind of music I typically listen to, but I like it!

Nope.

Another case of "appreciate the energy, wouldn't listen for the whole album"

It's ok as background music but it isn't good enough for me to want to ever revisit it. It's the kind of music you'd hear when a character is walking through a city during the opening scene of a B list romcom. Mastering is good though.

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.

Definitely a lively recording, with high points, but Ginger Baker’s over indulgent drumming can get quite tedious.

First listen. Man, I don't know. I wanted to like this, but it just kind of bored me. There doesn't seem to be a lot going on here; or maybe I'm just not hearing it. It sounds far too basic, and far too repetitive to keep my interest, and while neither of those things are bad on their own, it's difficult to pull them both off at the same time. The last track in particular was extremely tedious; I don't know if sixteen minutes of straight percussion is quite my thing. It certainly has its moments, though. The end of Egbe Mi O in particular was fantastic; partly because I tend to gravitate towards more melodic passages, but also because the crowd joining in felt quite magical. It's hardly a bad album, but not quite my thing, I guess. Fav. Track: Egbe Mi O (Carry Me)

A little too repetive for my taste.

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.

Could probably benefit from a bit more structure but still an enjoyable listen 3.5*

I loved this album. The open jam sessions. Drum solo closing track was great. 4/5

Of a time and a place, but not my time and not my place.

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!

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

Funky international

Afro- jazz

Das Album entstand im Juli 1971 in den Abbey Road Studios in London vor kleinem Publikum. Es dokumentiert die Zusammenarbeit des nigerianischen Bandleaders Fela Kuti mit seiner Gruppe Africa’70 und dem britischen Schlagzeuger Ginger Baker. Musikalisch bewegt sich die Aufnahme im Spannungsfeld von Afrobeat, Jazz und Funk, getragen von langen, hypnotischen Grooves und komplexer Percussion. Besonders prägend sind die treibenden Rhythmen von Tony Allen und Baker, die das Fundament für Felas Orgelspiel, Bläser und Chöre bilden. Songs wie „Let’s Start“, „Black Man’s Cry“ und „Ye Ye De Smell“ zeigen den charakteristischen Aufbau des Afrobeat: repetitiv, energetisch und gesellschaftlich aufgeladen. In „Black Man’s Cry“ thematisiert Fela Identität und Selbstbewusstsein nach der Kolonialzeit. Die Produktion ist roh und direkt, mit spürbarer Live-Atmosphäre. Bakers Beteiligung öffnet den Sound nach Westen, ohne die afrikanische Struktur zu verwässern. Das Zusammenspiel beider Welten verleiht dem Album eine besondere Spannung und historische Bedeutung. Ein frühes Schlüsselwerk des Afrobeat und ein wichtiges Dokument für Felas internationale Anerkennung.

This live album rips. So fun and alive.

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

Fela Kuti, Tony Allen, and Ginger Baker put on an epic show.

Fun 60s African Music.

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

¨Let’s start what we have come in this room to do.¨ So opens Fela Kuti’s live album, and since the music began on ¨Let’s Start¨ all I can do is nod my head and try not to spill my coffee. There is something so immediate, so consuming about a good beat, a good rhythm. There’s a primal part of our nature that reacts to it naturally- watch any small child, before they become self-conscious, react to a song with a good beat. There aren’t many other words that describe this music besides ¨fun.¨ Even when the songs blend together a bit I still have trouble keeping still or wiping the grin off of my face. Maybe that last drum duo with Ginger Baker goes on a bit too long, but you have to admire what they’re doing and how well they do it! Best songs: ¨Let’s Start,¨ ¨Black Man’s Cry¨

That drum solo was electric

nice

Cool sound but just way too long and repetitive. If you’re not experiencing live jazz live then it loses a lot of luster.

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.

#153/1001. Yet another interesting choice: from the wonderful Fela Kuti / Afrobeat / Tony Allen ouvre a live album with a random white guy? Ok perhaps not so random, but still. Of course Fela is great live, but I don’t think they captured all of the moves and grooves, the heat and the beat. Well they tried with the one album side long drum duel…which I read is a bonus track. Fuck bonus tracks, but if I never need to pull a 16 minute drum jam, i need to look no further.

Does this end with a 16 minutes long drum solo battle? You fuckin' know it does!

When I saw this was 5 songs in an hour my first thought was no thank you but I hit play and was sold on the joy sounds and dance. A solid album start to finish.

Great energy, a lot of drums

This is #day434 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… it's been 295 days since my first Fela Kuti album, which I rated a 3. It's fun to learn that Ginger Baker from Cream is on drums here. One of the better live records on the list: very jazzy, funky, and groovy, but jazzy most of all. I gave it a spin on my Technics SU-7300 (because it's the '70s), and it felt just right. This is a strong 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day435.

Jazzy, Worldly

The 16-minute drum solo at the end really ruined this for me lol. There was some fun and groovy stuff on here though.

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

The man

Funky, yet enticing album, which is rather jazzy and alive in a way that makes it familiar. Despite only containing 5 tracks, it manages to take up a bit over an hour of listening.

Interesting afrobeat/jazz album. However, I'm not sure I'm into the added 16 minutes drum duet. Whatever you need to have inside you to appreciate that, I don't have it.

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

No m'encanta, quasi tot instrumental. Musica molt semblant entre si. Es musica africa que segurament jo no acab d'entendre.

It’s something I could definitely put on while working on a project or cleaning and not get sick of it. If I wanted to be engaged by the music, which is what I usually want from music, I couldn’t see this keeping my attention all the way through. It’s not something I’d put on in the car. It’s perfectly good for background music though.

Fav: Let’s Start Least Fav: Black Man’s Cry Great album, glad to know that Ginger Baker uses the bath and doesn’t smell too ig

This was a nice surprise. I didn’t know what exactly to expect, and I wasn’t sure how this collaboration with Ginger Baker would work, but this live record is a lot of fun. There are jams that sound improvisational but never get lost or totally unfocused and have some moments of genius sprinkled throughout. The 13 min drum “solo” at the end may not be everyone’s cup of tea but I enjoyed it.

I certainly realize the strength of this performance and the brilliance of just about everyone playing on it. The rhythms and percussion is other-worldly. It is worthy of inclusion in the list of albums you must hear before you die.

Not for me

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

Nice enough album. A lot of his stuff suffers from droning on.

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.

Estu puf don greyway, nint.

Just not for me

I like it, but there isn't quite enough to latch on to to love it. You had to be there I guess.

Live! by Fela Kuti is an album I’ve always wanted to listen to, so I was looking forward to giving it a try today. Fela Kuti is certainly an interesting listen — there’s so much happening musically, with incredible musicianship throughout. That said, I’m not a huge fan of long, largely instrumental tracks, and that’s exactly what this album offers. There’s a lot of repetition and some seriously extended drum and guitar solos. I can fully appreciate the talent on display, but for me, this works best as enjoyable background music rather than something I’d sit down and focus on. Favourite track: All of the tracks are worth a listen, aside from the lengthy drum solo. Least favourite track: The extended drum solo — it goes on far too long for my taste. Album artwork: Cool album cover — simple but effective.

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

Just like Bitches Brew by Miles Davis, this is a great album for getting some writing done. And I kept forgetting it was a live album because everything sounded crisp and perfect. Not one for everyday listens, but this album goes straight into my "will revisit" folder.

Yikes, that was rough. It’s true that my ears aren’t trained for this kind of music, but I prefer my music to have a bit more direction.

Not his best, but his first ?

I have little patience for live albums, and while "Live!" by Fela Kuti wasn’t bad, I just can’t enjoy them the way I wish I could. You really had to be there to fully appreciate the energy and vibe I guess...

This is an amazing collaboration and I'm happy to know it happened and was recorded.

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.

01) Let's Start - 6,5 02) Black Man's Cry - 6,5 03) Ye Ye De Smell - 6,5 04) Egbe Mi O (Carry Me I Want to Die) -6,5 TOTAL: 6,50 (65/100) Current ranking: 480/692

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

Je n’apprécie pas vraiment les albums « live », et celui-ci n’a pas fait exception à la règle.

Rating: 1.0 I have very little patience for live albums already, I just can’t do this shit anymore.

This is a fun one

Jammin

That was fun.

Excellent album to cook dinner to, unless you include the bonus track and singe the potatoes.

Parecía mejor... Pero bastante repetitivo

Great rhytms and lots of power

Acrobat is not a genre I am familiar with. However I love the rhythms and I liked the sound (most of it) However to quote Captain Sensible "the British charts consisted of Little Jimmy Osmond, the Partridge Family ans 20 minute drum solos. This album has a16 minute drum solo......too much

The birthplace of Afrobeat!

Perfect album for a Monday, sustained grooves that just blended into the work I had to get done.

Afrobeats is a cool cool genre of music. And knowing this guy was the godfather? Really great album.

Quite nice, the instrumental was great, not a huge fan of the vocals. Solid live record.

Funky but lengthy

This music is always so much fun. I feel like you can feel the players interacting with each other, and I'm not too sure how much of this was improvised and how much was already planned. I think the stuff he did with Ginger Baker is quite famous for being a bit hectic, but its a cool collaboration, and shows that he was willing to go outside of the Western music of the time. I feel like you could also consider this jazz fusion, but this was kind of before that word was commonly used. I really like the vocals, as they are purposely melodic rather than lyrical, which I think works as its done more as an instrument than anything. Its also very funk, but while still retaining the traditional African melodies. Favourite songs: all. Overall around 8/10

Now THAT is right up my alley ! Been waiting this stuff for a while. Fela Kuti is one of the music giants of Africa, and he fully deserves a place here as the godfather of Afrobeat. Considering his giganormous discography, however, I find it odd that this list chose to pick a live album that is neither his best nor his most iconic. It’s probably because there’s a Western musician involved... Music critics are notoriously timorous when exposed to non-Western music, and need to be reassured by familiar names. This album is still a fascinating example of how African music, after changing and evolving in America, gave birth to gospel, jazz, soul and blues, then came back to Africa thanks to artists like Fela, and was once again mixed with indigenous music to create new sounds. I’m usually not big on live albums, but this one is really good. It’s full of energy and super groovy. The various influences blend seamlessly together, backed by haunting beats. My only gripe is the relative lack of vocals – Fela doesn’t sing a lot, and when he does it’s often low-key, mostly eclipsed by the instruments. It’s a pity because the first song clearly shows how powerful he can be. As a result, I found the album to be a bit too much of an instrumental performance (especially the last track with its dizzying drumming duel). Still a great concert, a strong 4* for me.

What's not to love?

It's a very beautiful live album full of energy and rhythms but it lacks lyrics! The drum duet of the last track is very nice and it's a great discovery of Afrobeat music

The mix is surprisingly good for a live show from 71, the warm sound is super pleasant. The jazz-funk-Afro rhythm crossover works so well, full of joy, and it feels more like a festive jam than a technical showcase. The groove is spot on but it doesn’t seem to be Kuti’s very best, yet I love it. Only downside: a few stretches with those typical live interludes that drag a bit. What else? Kuti had a fabulous life of freedom fighter and had married 27 wifes simultaneously. Playlist straight ahead!

cool, but I'm not too big of a fan of live albums.

Ei oikein iskenyt. 2/5.

Fela gotta be one of the coolest to ever do it. Again I wish I could have actually seen this live because I feel it would hold so much more power than on the recording but still a solid experience, even if I did drift off during the 14 minute drum solo. Couple moments made me think of The Cat Empire too.

It's no secret this is not the kind of music I would typically seek out, but I can see why this particular album is on this list. Aside from just having a more global focus on music, Fela Kuti's Live album which only features 6 songs, but most of them range from 7-16 minutes in length, and each one is sensational for its rhythmic tunes, but also the way the instrumentation itself can tell a story. Each song is given a small introduction and then we're off to discover what a Black Man's Cry sounds like. Hearing this live was a transporting experience. A masterclass on what you can do with rhythms, sounds, and instruments when you understand the feel they are supposed to provide.

4/5

Some great funk with tracks that aren’t afraid to be long listens

Not for me? I don't enjoy live albums, plus the 10+ minute songs really just make me not want to listen. The actual content is solid, but it really feels like a jam session for a live audience. 2/5.

Really just a big jam session. Not particularly blown away. I got into certain parts but then they seemed to go on and on and on. Very repetitive and not as intricate or rhythmically complex as I had anticipated aside from the drum solo track which i gather wasnt part of the original album. For the most part we are locking into a groove and then noodling on top. Highlights are when the drums do start jazzing outward here and there. At times the two drummers syncopated in such different ways whilst somehow blending together and maintaining the flow. For me the percussion was definitely the stand out factor in the album, just hoped for a little more in the body of the songs. Favourite track probably - Egbe Mi O, enjoyed the crowd singalong. Bonus points for how good the album sounds live, in fact its easy to forget its live at times. 6.5/10

Amazing vocals and music

3.5 stars

This hits like a damn freight train.

driving and grooving

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.

Reminds me of the Door album. Learned of Fela Kuti's huge influence. Otherwise groovy

I don’t get the hype. It’s funky, that’s for sure.

Just another world record.I mean, it's pretty good at times but it does get very repetitive.I don't mind repetitive music, but it doesn't warrant anything.Past the normal, three stars for a solid world beat record

Would have been 5 stars if not for the 16-minute drum solo.

fela kuti nunca errou (musicalmente) gostoso demais

que capa cabulosa hein pedradaça, inclusive. afrobeat gostosim animado do jeito que nós gosta!!!!!!

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

Fela Kuti is probably one of the artists that I am most sad about never being able to see. These live sessions sound like so much fun

This is an album to put once the sun sets and let the rhythm take you on a ride. The first song and the album's most famous export, Let's Start, is groovy and effortless. The music beckons your spirit to sing along. Black Man's Cry is a jam session that simmers as Fela's voice soars. Ye Ye De Smell is the album's hidden highlight as a musical manifestation of a train marching at full speed. Egbe Mi O carries the swagger and confidence of a midnight stroll. The ending benefits of a live audience that somehow makes the album feel present, even decades after its recording. The finale is a decadent drum solo, or rather, a duel between two masters of their craft. If you haven't been dancing like possessed throughout the runtime of this album, you're not listening.

Extremely good sounding for being recorded live. The chemistry is palpable and the jams are very good. That being said, imo, you need to be a fan of the genre and/or the musicians to truly want to repeat a listen. Being somewhat familiar with Kuti's background and story makes it a tiny bit more enjoyable, and the full play through is consistent, setlist and mood wise. I'm just not a big fan of the genre.

i have enjoyed fela kuti’s studio albums that i’ve had so far on this project, but i always struggle with properly engaging in live album. this one in particular drags on quite a bit. they are no doubt very talented and i bet it would’ve been amazing to see this live. even just cooking to this album i wanted to change music at times. i was very engaged at first. then yeah, got bored of it i guess. ⭐️⭐️⭐️