31108

    Fela Kuti The Best Of Black President (Deluxe Edition)

    Knitting Factory Records
      • 1. Lady
      • 2. Shakara
      • 3. Gentleman (Edit Version)
      • 4. Water No Get Enemy (Edit Version)
      • 5. Zombie
      • 6. Sorrow Tears And Blood
      • 7. No Agreement (Part 2)
      • 8. Roforofo Fight
      • 9. Shuffering And Shmiling (Part 2)
      • 10. Coffin For Head Of State (Part 2)
      • 11. I T T (Part 2)
      • 12. Army Arrangement (Part 2)
      • 13. O.D.O.O. (Edit Version)

      Fela Anikulapo Kuti was a transformational figure not only in Africa, but throughout the world. Very few individuals can lay claim to being the creator of a genre, yet Fela’s Afrobeat, a fusion of jazz and funk fundamentals with traditional African music, is one who can be deemed at the forefront and creator of the medium. 

       

      Best of the Black President is a window into the world of Fela Kuti and his expansive songwriting career. With over 45 albums available, it is hard to pinpoint an individual who wrote hours upon hours of songs, many of which were never recorded, yet Best of the Black President is truly one of the best snapshots at the prolific life and output of one of Africa’s most beloved musicians. Some of Fela’s most popular and controversial tracks are covered in this collection, giving those who need an introduction to the man a first glimpse into his epic life and storytelling style. 

       

      This double-CD collection also includes a compiled DVD of excerpts from documentaries, live concerts and interviews


      Other Releases by Fela Kuti

      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
      • Original LP£80.00
        Vinyl condition: VG+Sleeve condition: VGOriginal Pre-Owned Out-of-Print UK/Nigerian Vinyl, sleeve wear, creasing, spine wear, small tears at opening, vinyl good
        In stockAdd to Bag
      • LP KFR2023-1£22.99
        In stockAdd to Bag
      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
      • New LP (Coloured Vinyl) KFR2039-3£20.99
        In stockAdd to Bag
      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 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 KutiRoforofo Fight (50th Anniversary Edition)Partisan Records
          By 1972, when Music of Fela: Roforofo Fight was originally released (on two vinyl albums, Music of Fela Volume One and Volume Two), Fela was becoming one...
          • – Roforofo Fight
          • – Go Slow
          • New 2×LP (Coloured Vinyl) KFR2006-8£26.00
            Limited yellow & green 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 KutiCoffin For Head Of StateKnitting Factory Records
          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...
          • – Coffin For Head Of State part 1
          Fela KutiJ.J.D (Johnny Just Drop!!) Live!! At Kalakuta RepublikKnitting Factory Records
          Originally released in 1977, ‘Johnny Just Drop (J.J.D.)’ features Fela lampooning Nigeria’s ‘been-tos’, people who had been to Europe or America...
            • LP + Download Code KFR2026-1£20.99
              In stockAdd to Bag
            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
            • LP + Download Code KFR2007-1£20.99
              In stockAdd to Bag
            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 KutiAfrodisiacKnitting Factory Records
            1973 Nigerian afro beat funk at it's best from the master - Fela Kuti 
            • – Alu Jon Jonki Jon
            • – Eko Ile
            Fela KutiFela's London SceneKnitting Factory Records
            Recorded at Abbey Road Studios in 1971. Essential Fela Kuti, featuring Tony Allen on drums!
            • – J'Ehin J'Ehin
            • – Who're You?
            • – Buy Africa
            Fela KutiZombieKnitting Factory Records
            On the title track Fela and the backup singers ridicule the mindset of men in uniform over an urgent, quick-march accompaniment from Afrika 70. The album...
            • – Zombie
            • – Mr. Follow Follow (Mister Follow Follow)
            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
            • New LP (Coloured Vinyl) KFR2011-8£22.99
              50th anniversary special - Jollof orange vinyl
              In stockAdd to Bag
            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
            Fela KutiExpensive ShitKnitting Factory Records
            'Expensive Shit' is one of Fela's most notorious albums! This killer afro-beat LP was originally release in 1975 and now gets a reissue on Brooklyn-based...
            • – Expensive Shit
            • – Water No Get Enemy
            Fela KutiTeacher Don't Teach Me NonsenseKnitting Factory Records
            In 'Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense', Fela explains the role of the teacher in any society with the concept that all the things we consider to be problems...
            • – Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense
            Fela KutiAlagbon Close / Why Black Man Dey SufferKnitting Factory
            Alagbon Close represents one of the first times anyone had directly taken on the Nigerian authorities in such a brash manner. Why Black Man Dey Suffer:...
            • – Alagbon Close
            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
            Fela KutiEverything Scatter / Noise For Vendor MouthKnitting Factory Records
            The king of afro beat does it again! Two essential classic albums on one budget CD!
              Fela KutiYellow FeverKnitting Factory Records
              Yellow Fever’ was originally released in 1976, during Fela’s extraordinarily prolific 1975-77 purple period, when he released 24 albums in Nigeria...
              • – Yellow Fever
              • – Na Poi ‘75

              Other Releases on Knitting Factory Records

              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
              • Original LP£80.00
                Vinyl condition: VG+Sleeve condition: VGOriginal Pre-Owned Out-of-Print UK/Nigerian Vinyl, sleeve wear, creasing, spine wear, small tears at opening, vinyl good
                In stockAdd to Bag
              • LP KFR2023-1£22.99
                In stockAdd to Bag
              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
              • New LP (Coloured Vinyl) KFR2039-3£20.99
                In stockAdd to Bag
              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 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 KutiCoffin For Head Of StateKnitting Factory Records
                  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...
                  • – Coffin For Head Of State part 1
                  Fela KutiJ.J.D (Johnny Just Drop!!) Live!! At Kalakuta RepublikKnitting Factory Records
                  Originally released in 1977, ‘Johnny Just Drop (J.J.D.)’ features Fela lampooning Nigeria’s ‘been-tos’, people who had been to Europe or America...
                    • LP + Download Code KFR2026-1£20.99
                      In stockAdd to Bag
                    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
                    • LP + Download Code KFR2007-1£20.99
                      In stockAdd to Bag
                    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 KutiAfrodisiacKnitting Factory Records
                    1973 Nigerian afro beat funk at it's best from the master - Fela Kuti 
                    • – Alu Jon Jonki Jon
                    • – Eko Ile
                    Fela KutiFela's London SceneKnitting Factory Records
                    Recorded at Abbey Road Studios in 1971. Essential Fela Kuti, featuring Tony Allen on drums!
                    • – J'Ehin J'Ehin
                    • – Who're You?
                    • – Buy Africa
                    Fela KutiZombieKnitting Factory Records
                    On the title track Fela and the backup singers ridicule the mindset of men in uniform over an urgent, quick-march accompaniment from Afrika 70. The album...
                    • – Zombie
                    • – Mr. Follow Follow (Mister Follow Follow)
                    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
                    Fela KutiExpensive ShitKnitting Factory Records
                    'Expensive Shit' is one of Fela's most notorious albums! This killer afro-beat LP was originally release in 1975 and now gets a reissue on Brooklyn-based...
                    • – Expensive Shit
                    • – Water No Get Enemy
                    Fela KutiTeacher Don't Teach Me NonsenseKnitting Factory Records
                    In 'Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense', Fela explains the role of the teacher in any society with the concept that all the things we consider to be problems...
                    • – Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense
                    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
                    Fela KutiEverything Scatter / Noise For Vendor MouthKnitting Factory Records
                    The king of afro beat does it again! Two essential classic albums on one budget CD!
                      Fela KutiYellow FeverKnitting Factory Records
                      Yellow Fever’ was originally released in 1976, during Fela’s extraordinarily prolific 1975-77 purple period, when he released 24 albums in Nigeria...
                      • – Yellow Fever
                      • – Na Poi ‘75

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