Fela Kuti
Alagbon Close/Why Black Men Dey Suffer
Knitting Factory Records
www.knittingfactoryrecords.com
By George W. Harris

For the ongoing series that brings all of Fela Kuti’s music back to light, this pair from the early 70s is a real treat.

Recorded in 1974, Alagbon Close was Kuti’s first US release in 1975, and it sure woke a lot of people up. With Tony Allen on drums, Africa 70 sounds fresh, tart and above all, well recorded on this disc with extended jams and irresistible riffs. The horns are concise, and the grooves click like the Fabulous Flames on extra vitamin B. Fela, on both this and the 1971 Why Black Men… is in excellent voice, coming in about mid way on each songs with cleverly written and delivered lyrics. Still exciting after 30+ years!