Fela Kuti - Alagbon Close

Fela Kuti & Africa 70 — Alagbon Close (1974/1975)

50th Anniverary album reissue

"Jollof" translucent orange LP

Another Afrobeat masterpiece from the Fela Kuti & Africa 70 archives!

Alagbon Close dates back to 1974, recorded at the Ginger baker-funded A.R.C. Studios and fuelled by their first major experience of police brutality — they'd searched in vain for weed at Fela's Alagabon Close compound, subsequently holding him in cells and the military hospital for seven days waiting for a swallowed joint to "pass" (more of that on "Expensive Sh*t").

Fela and Tony Allen tuck dig deep in the pocket with simmering, flaring organ and the tightest polyrhythmic tucks seared by Fela's incendiary lyrics and blazing organ/horn combo. Flipside the shorter, sweeter "I No Get Eye For Back" rolls out on a mostly instrumental groove, with some crucial contributions from Fela and chorus.

"Alagbon Close was the first of Fela's albums to have a sleeve designed by Ghariokwu Lemi, whose artwork fast became an integral part of Fela's catalogue and Afrobeat's message. The disc was named after the headquarters of the Nigerian Criminal Investigation Department in Lagos. The title track concerns two police raids on Fela's house, in April and May 1974. On the first occasion, they came looking for weed but could not find any. On the second, they attempted to plant a joint on Fela, but he grabbed it and swallowed it.

"He was detained at Alagbon Close for three days, while the police waited for the evidence to drop into his slop bucket. Fela was locked in a communal cell the prisoners jokingly called Kalakuta Republic ("kalakuta" is Swahili for "rascal"). His cellmates engineered a 'feces switch' and Fela was pronounced innocent. On his release he renamed his house Kalakuta Republic. Alagbon Close calls out the Nigerian police's violence and arrogance and apparent immunity from prosecution. 'Nothing special about uniform,' sings Fela. 'Uniform na cloth na tailor dey sew am like my dress,' replies the chorus (meaning: just because you are wearing a uniform does not make you above the law)."

 

1. Alagbon Close

2. I No Get Eye For Back

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