22754

    Fela Kuti Coffin For Head Of State

    Knitting Factory Records
    • Fela Kuti – Coffin For Head Of State part 1
    • 1. Coffin For Head Of State part 1
    • 2. Coffin For Head Of State part 2

    Fela Kuti made some frantic albums in his career--ones that popped with his enthusiastic political disobedience and ones that roared with fury at the Nigerian system and Africa's disadvantaged position in the late-20th century. But Coffin for Head of State is a different tiger. It's a downturned, sad, melancholic 22-minute work that signaled how Fela would make his previously general criticisms of Nigerian politics very specific. He recorded the album in 1981, several years after the Nigerian military's destruction of his self-declared Kalakuta Republic (a residential compound, in truth) and the ensuing, relentlessly violent assault on its residents, including his mother, who later died as a result of her injuries. Coffin finds Fela castigating Muslim and Christian leaders for idling while the government raped and pillaged, and it boasts a visionary quality in the antiphonal "Amens" that gets bounced through the band.

    Other Releases by Fela Kuti

    Fela KutiIkoyi BlindnessKnitting Factory Records
    Fela used the cover of ‘Ikoyi Blindness’ to announce his change of middle name from Ransome, which he now considered a slave name, to Anikulapo, which...
    • – Ikoyi Blindness
    • – Gba Mi Leti Ki N'Dolowo (Slap Me Make I Get Money)
    Fela KutiOriginal SufferheadKnitting Factory Records
    This edition of ‘Original Sufferhead’ is a major event. With the release of ‘Box Set #5’, and now on this reissue, the title track of this magnificent...
    • – Original Sufferhead
    • – Power Show
    Fela KutiO.D.O.O. (Overtake Don Overtake Overtake)Knitting Factory Records
    ‘Overtake Don Overtake Overtake’ was the penultimate album of newly recorded studio material released by Fela before he passed in 1997.Like its immediate...
      Fela KutiExcuse OKnitting Factory Records
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      • – Excuse-O
      • – Mr Grammarticalogy - lisationalism Is The Boss
      • New LP (Coloured Vinyl) KFR2014-3£20.99
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      Fela KutiKalakuta ShowKnitting Factory Records
      The ‘Kalakuta Show’ album was Fela Kuti’s undaunted manner of extracting revenge on the military regime that attacked and brutalized him in 1974....
      • – Kalakuta Show
      • – Don't Make Garan Garan
      • New LP (Coloured Vinyl) KFR2020-3£20.99
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      Fela KutiNoise For Vendor MouthKnitting Factory Records
      The Nigerian establishment labelled Kalakuta Republic inhabitants as ‘hooligans’, ‘hemp smokers’, etc. ‘Noise For Vendor Mouth’ is Fela’s...
      • – Noise For Vendor Mouth
      • – Mattress
      • New LP (Coloured Vinyl) KFR2019-3£20.99
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      Fela KutiWhy Black Man They SufferKnitting Factory Records
      ‘Why Black Man Dey Suffer’, recorded in 1971, was originally deemed too controversial for release by EMI, his label at the time. Having recently been...
      • – Why Black Man Dey Suffer
      • – Ikoyi Mentality vs Mushin Mentality
      • New LP (Coloured Vinyl) KFR2012-3£20.99
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      Fela KutiGentleman: 50th AnniversaryKnitting Factory Records
      “Gentleman is the last of Fela's early 1970s albums recorded with the Africa 70. The title track can be interpreted literally or as a metaphor concerning...
        • New LP (Coloured Vinyl) KFR2009-8£23.00
          Limited smoke coloured vinyl edition
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        Fela KutiOpen & CloseKnitting Factory Records
        Reissue of Fela's highly sought-after 1971 album, 'Open & Close'! Super-funky Afrobeat featuring the incredible title track!
        • – Open And Close
        • – Suegbe And Pako
        • – Gbagada Gbogodo
        Fela KutiArmy ArrangementKnitting Factory Records
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        • – Army arrangement (vocal)
        Fela KutiNo AgreementKnitting Factory Records
        ‘No Agreement’ is sometimes overlooked among Fela’s 1977 releases, eclipsed by albums such as ‘Johnny Just Drop (J.J.D.)’ and ‘Sorrow Tears...
        • – No Agreement
        • – Dog Eat Dog
          Fela KutiUnderground SystemKnitting Factory Records
          Reissue of one of Fela's later recordings, comprised of two extended tracks, the title cut and the classic, 'Pansa Pansa'.
          • – Underground System
          • – Pansa Pansa
          Fela KutiUp Side DownKnitting Factory Records
          Upside Down’ and ‘Zombie’, both released in 1976, were made at the midpoint of an extraordinary three-year purple period during which Fela recorded...
          • – Up Side Down
          • – Go Slow
          Fela KutiAlagbon Close Knitting Factory
          Unmissable classic afro-beat! Alagbon Close represents one of the first times anyone had directly taken on the Nigerian authorities in such a brash manner!   
          • – alagbon close
          Fela KutiRoforofo Fight (2015 Reissue)Knitting Factory
          Essential afro beat! A dancefloor bomb! You need this!! KILLER REISSUE of Fela Kuti's 1972 album Roforofo Fight! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!
          • – Roforofo Fight
          • – Go Slow
          Fela KutiNa PoiKnitting Factory Records
          Hypnotic afrobeat bullet from 1972 - recorded in Lagos. Sprited percussion, tight horns, and pure funk! As with most of the great man's albums, this is...
          • – na poi (part 1)
          • – na poi (part 2)
          • – you no go die...unless
          • LP + Download Code KFR2021-1£20.99
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          Fela KutiSorrow Tears & Blood (2014 Vinyl Reissue)Knitting Factory Records
          Originally released in 1977, Fela and Afrika 70 rise to their peak with rowsing, radical stuff as espoused by 'Colonial Mentality'.
            Fela KutiOpen & Close / AfrodisiacKnitting Factory Records
            Two classic Afro-beat albums on one bargain price CD! All Fela Kuti's albums are superb! Highly recommended!
            • – Open & Close
            Fela KutiOriginal Suffer Head And I.T.TKnitting Factory Records
            Yet more essential afrobeat from the African equivalent of James Brown! All his albums are great!
            • – I T T

            Other Releases on Knitting Factory Records

            Fela KutiIkoyi BlindnessKnitting Factory Records
            Fela used the cover of ‘Ikoyi Blindness’ to announce his change of middle name from Ransome, which he now considered a slave name, to Anikulapo, which...
            • – Ikoyi Blindness
            • – Gba Mi Leti Ki N'Dolowo (Slap Me Make I Get Money)
            Fela KutiOriginal SufferheadKnitting Factory Records
            This edition of ‘Original Sufferhead’ is a major event. With the release of ‘Box Set #5’, and now on this reissue, the title track of this magnificent...
            • – Original Sufferhead
            • – Power Show
            Fela KutiO.D.O.O. (Overtake Don Overtake Overtake)Knitting Factory Records
            ‘Overtake Don Overtake Overtake’ was the penultimate album of newly recorded studio material released by Fela before he passed in 1997.Like its immediate...
              Fela KutiExcuse OKnitting Factory Records
              ‘Excuse O’ is about natural human reactions to situations we confront in our daily endeavours. If you walk into a bar, ask and pay for a drink and...
              • – Excuse-O
              • – Mr Grammarticalogy - lisationalism Is The Boss
              • New LP (Coloured Vinyl) KFR2014-3£20.99
                In stockAdd to Bag
              Fela KutiKalakuta ShowKnitting Factory Records
              The ‘Kalakuta Show’ album was Fela Kuti’s undaunted manner of extracting revenge on the military regime that attacked and brutalized him in 1974....
              • – Kalakuta Show
              • – Don't Make Garan Garan
              • New LP (Coloured Vinyl) KFR2020-3£20.99
                In stockAdd to Bag
              Fela KutiNoise For Vendor MouthKnitting Factory Records
              The Nigerian establishment labelled Kalakuta Republic inhabitants as ‘hooligans’, ‘hemp smokers’, etc. ‘Noise For Vendor Mouth’ is Fela’s...
              • – Noise For Vendor Mouth
              • – Mattress
              • New LP (Coloured Vinyl) KFR2019-3£20.99
                In stockAdd to Bag
              Fela KutiWhy Black Man They SufferKnitting Factory Records
              ‘Why Black Man Dey Suffer’, recorded in 1971, was originally deemed too controversial for release by EMI, his label at the time. Having recently been...
              • – Why Black Man Dey Suffer
              • – Ikoyi Mentality vs Mushin Mentality
              • New LP (Coloured Vinyl) KFR2012-3£20.99
                In stockAdd to Bag
              Fela KutiGentleman: 50th AnniversaryKnitting Factory Records
              “Gentleman is the last of Fela's early 1970s albums recorded with the Africa 70. The title track can be interpreted literally or as a metaphor concerning...
                • New LP (Coloured Vinyl) KFR2009-8£23.00
                  Limited smoke coloured vinyl edition
                  In stockAdd to Bag
                Fela KutiOpen & CloseKnitting Factory Records
                Reissue of Fela's highly sought-after 1971 album, 'Open & Close'! Super-funky Afrobeat featuring the incredible title track!
                • – Open And Close
                • – Suegbe And Pako
                • – Gbagada Gbogodo
                Fela KutiArmy ArrangementKnitting Factory Records
                Fela Kuti stories Nigeria’s attempt at ‘democracy’ in 1979 after more than a decade ofmilitary rule told through this album, originally released...
                • – Army arrangement (vocal)
                Fela Kuti & Roy AyersMusic Of Many ColoursKnitting Factory Records
                Reissue of the classic ‘Music Of Many Colours’, the joint album between Roy Ayers and Fela Kuti, recorded after a three week tour of Nigeria’s major...
                • – 2000 Blacks Got To Be Free
                • – Africa-Center Of The World
                Fela KutiNo AgreementKnitting Factory Records
                ‘No Agreement’ is sometimes overlooked among Fela’s 1977 releases, eclipsed by albums such as ‘Johnny Just Drop (J.J.D.)’ and ‘Sorrow Tears...
                • – No Agreement
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                  Fela KutiUnderground SystemKnitting Factory Records
                  Reissue of one of Fela's later recordings, comprised of two extended tracks, the title cut and the classic, 'Pansa Pansa'.
                  • – Underground System
                  • – Pansa Pansa
                  Fela KutiUp Side DownKnitting Factory Records
                  Upside Down’ and ‘Zombie’, both released in 1976, were made at the midpoint of an extraordinary three-year purple period during which Fela recorded...
                  • – Up Side Down
                  • – Go Slow
                  Fela KutiNa PoiKnitting Factory Records
                  Hypnotic afrobeat bullet from 1972 - recorded in Lagos. Sprited percussion, tight horns, and pure funk! As with most of the great man's albums, this is...
                  • – na poi (part 1)
                  • – na poi (part 2)
                  • – you no go die...unless
                  • LP + Download Code KFR2021-1£20.99
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                  Fela KutiSorrow Tears & Blood (2014 Vinyl Reissue)Knitting Factory Records
                  Originally released in 1977, Fela and Afrika 70 rise to their peak with rowsing, radical stuff as espoused by 'Colonial Mentality'.
                    Fela KutiOpen & Close / AfrodisiacKnitting Factory Records
                    Two classic Afro-beat albums on one bargain price CD! All Fela Kuti's albums are superb! Highly recommended!
                    • – Open & Close
                    Fela KutiOriginal Suffer Head And I.T.TKnitting Factory Records
                    Yet more essential afrobeat from the African equivalent of James Brown! All his albums are great!
                    • – I T T

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