Twee Fela Kuti re-issue vinyl releases: “London Scene” en “Live! With Ginger Baker” wegens 50e verjaardag!

Image Credit: Fela Kuti via Facebook

Twee Fela Kuti re-issue vinyl releases: “London Scene” en
“Live! With Ginger Baker” wegens 50e verjaardag!
2021 marks the 50th anniversary of two of Fela Kuti’s most beloved recordings: “London Scene”, as well as the legendary double-album “Live! With Ginger Baker” he made with Ginger Baker of Cream. 
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​Both albums will be reissued on limited coloured vinyl via Partisan Records, with Abbey Road mastered audio and a collector’s edition gold foil 50th anniversary obi strip. “London Scene” comes on blue, red and white coloured splatter vinyl, while the 2lp-2021-reissue of “Live! With Ginger Baker” comes on red vinyl, with a beautiful frontcover edge design in red and blue as side D. It also contains the bonus-track “Ginger Baker & Tony Allen Drum Solo, part 1 (Live At Berlin Jazz Festival, 1978)” and the physically unreleased track “Ginger Baker & Tony Allen Drum Solo, part 2 (Live At Berlin Jazz Festival, 1978)”, which only became digitally available since yesterday. The Berlin Jazz Festival-gig marked Afrika 70’s final live-performance with Fela Kuti.

Fela’s legacy spans decades and genres, touching on jazz, pop, funk, hip-hop, rock and beyond. While he never achieved true icon status during his lifetime, the last (roughly) decade has seen a broad resurgence in his popularity, and a critical reevaluation of his life, music and influence. In 2008, the biographical musical “Fela!” (co-produced by Jay-Z and Will Smith) became a surprise hit off-Broadway and then Broadway itself. Since then, Beyoncé performed Fela’s “Zombie" at Coachella, he’s been called out as an influence by everyone from Paul McCartney to Questlove and sampled by Missy Elliott, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Nas and many more. Earlier this year, Fela was among the nominees for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Class of 2021, coming behind only Tina Turner in the fan vote, Fela’s song “Let’s Start” (from “Live! With Ginger Baker”) featured in the trailer of the upcoming Netflix movie “The Harder They Fall” (THE HARDER THEY FALL | Official Teaser | Netflix - YouTube, starring Idris Elba, Regina King and Lakeith Stanfield ) and vice-president Kamala Harris even used Fela’s music at her and president Biden's first joint event together.
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​“London Scene” – 2021-LP-tracklisting:
A1 J’Ehin-J’Ehin
A2 Egbe Mio
A3 Who’re You
B1 Buy Africa
B2 Fight To Finish

​“Live! With Ginger Baker” – 2021-2LP-tracklisting:
A1 Let’s Start
A2 Black Man’s Cry
B1 Ye Ye De Smell
B2 Egbe Mi O (Carry Me, I Want To Die)
C1 Ginger Baker & Tony Allen Drum Solo, part 1 (Live At Berlin Jazz Festival, 1978) – bonus-track
C2 Ginger Baker & Tony Allen Drum Solo, part 2 (Live At Berlin Jazz Festival, 1978) – unreleased bonus-track
D (amazing frontcover etch design in red and blue)