Fela Kuti | Expensive Shit / He Miss Road | CD 737

Newcomers to the music of Fela Kuti are faced with some difficult choices since the late-1990s/early-2000s reissues of his string of classic '70s albums (the reissues put two records back-to-back). In truth, they're all good, so it is hard to go wrong picking one at random. Still, EXPENSIVE SHIT/HE MISS ROAD is arguably one of his best. In addition to its burbling percussive groove, infectious horn melodies, and Fela's inspired vocal performance, the anecdote behind the title cut is an amusing tale involving the Nigerian authorities' raid of Fela's home compound, during which he was framed for the possession of marijuana. (Fela ultimately escaped charges.)

The rest of the disc--the keyboard-and horn-dominated instrumental "Water No Get Enemy," HE MISS ROAD's subtly grooving title track, the loping "Monday Morning in Lagos" and the staccato "It's No Possible"--continues in classic Afrobeat style. Even decades later, this collection plays like revolutionary music--free, defiant, pleasure-giving, and full of passion and conviction.

2 LPs on 1 CD