Fela Kuti’s Long-Lost Debut Recording From 1960

9 Feb

Fela Kuti with British jazz great Johnny Dankworth in 1962. Photograph: PR

‘Fela’s Special’, his debut from from 1960 is included in the compilation ‘Highlife on the Move’. (I can really hear how Calypso came from Nigerian highlife music).

Long before he became the king of Afrobeat, and one of the most inspirational figures in African culture, Fela Ransome-Kuti was already a recording musician. His early recordings were in the highlife style, the first modern popular music of Ghana and Nigeria. Fela’s Special, premiered here, was one of his first recordings (alongside the track Aigana), which has recently been rediscovered and appears on the new compilation from Soundway Records, Highlife on the Move: Selected Nigerian and Ghanaian Recordings from London and Lagos – 1954-66.

Fela recorded the song in 1960 in London for the Melodisc label, which was one of the main outlets for Caribbean and African music. As Markus Coester writes in the sleevenotes to Highlife on the Move: “Even though [the recordings] had been discographically tracked and people interested in Fela’s musical life knew of them, they kept hiding for more than 50 years. Before I came across them, I was even in doubt whether they had been released at all. These are amazing first recordings, however.”

In conjunction with compiler and highlife researcher Dr. Markus Coester, Soundway Records present a very special release. Double CD & triple 180g gatefold vinyl (with a bonus 7 inch).

This 45 includes the two first ever recordings by a certain Fela Ransome Kuti with his band The Highlife Rakers. Recorded by Melodisc in London in 1960 both tracks have been unearthed after more than fifty years in hiding.

In many ways this compilation is a prequel of sorts to Soundway’s groundbreaking Nigeria & Ghana Special compilations, telling the early story of modern highlife’s foundation & formulation. It traces the music from West Africa to London, adding elements of jazz, mambo and calypso along the way and paving the way for the afro sounds of the 1970s.

Accompanied by a 44 page CD booklet and 12 page vinyl booklet, the notes by Dr. Coester include rare photographs, labels and advert reproductions alongside some stunning and very rare recordings.

Highlife On The Move: Selected Nigerian & Ghanaian Recordings from London & Lagos 1954-66

	1.	Ginger Folorunso Johnson & His Afro-Cuban Band – Highlife No 5 02:38
	2.	Kwamalah Quaye Sextetto Africana – Son of Africa 02:33
	3.	Nigerian Union Rhythm Group – Abeni02:55
	4.	Steve Rhodes & His London Hi-lifers – Drink A Tea 03:17
	5.	Fela Ransome-Kuti & The Highlife Rakers – Fela’s Special 03:44
	6.	Steve Rhodes & His London Hi-lifers – Oju Rere 02:53
	7.	Chris Ajilo & His Cubanos – Afro Mood02:53
	8.	Soundz Africana – Africana 03:08
	9.	The Black Star Band – Obaa Amponsa Pandogo 03:53
	10.	Buddy Pipp’s Highlifers – Ghana Special 02:06
	11.	The Quavers – Money Money 03:03
	12.	Afro Rhythm Kings – Donaldo’s Samba02:38
	13.	Afro Rhythm Kings – Marabi Dance02:40
	14.	The Quavers – Kitch 02:35
	15.	Bobby Benson & His Orchestra – Okokoko 02:51
	16.	John Santos Martins Accompanied By Zeal Onyia & His Band – Fancy Baby02:57
	17.	E. C. Arinze & The Empire Rhythm Orchestra – Biko Rapum Paulina 03:17
	18.	John Santos Martins Accompanied By Zeal Onyia & His Band – Maggie 02:57
	19.	Lord Ganda & Rupert Nurse’s Calypso Band – Ghana, Forward Forever 02:59
	20.	Adams’ African Sky Rockets – A Night in Port Harcourt 02:38
	21.	Fela Ransome-Kuti & The Highlife Rakers – Aigana 03:27
	22.	Nigerian Union Rhythm Group – Tortoise Mambo 02:27
	23.	Bobby Benson & His Combo – Niger Mambo 02:41
	24.	Rans Boi’s African Highlife Band – Highlife Comes to Europe 03:02
	25.	Eddie Lamptey & The Peoples Highlife Band feat. Eddie Red Tettey – Maria02:59
	26.	West African Rhythm Brothers – Egbe Mi 02:59
	27.	West African Rhythm Brothers – Iwa D’Arekere 03:01
	28.	West African Swing Stars – Omo Africa03:19
	29.	Ginger Folorunso Johnson & His Afro-Cuban Band – Brown Skin Gal 02:56
	30.	Awotwi Paynin & His Ghana Rockers – Brown Skin Gal 02:42
	31.	Buddy Pipp’s Highlifers – Georgina02:04
	32.	T. Odueso’s Akesan Highlifers – Eyo Mano Mi 03:17
	33.	Nigerian Union Rhythm Group – Ojikolobo 02:37
	34.	Willie Payne & The Starlite Tempos – Wa Sise 02:35
	35.	Fela Ransome-Kuti & His Koola Lobitos – Nigerian Independence 03:38
	36.	The Black Star Band – Abrokyiri Gwo Yi02:06
	37.	The Black Star Band – Ekuona Rhythm03:02
	38.	Victor Ola-Iya & His ‘Cool Cats’ – Anyin Ga Na 03:04