I beg-ee, oh, make you hear me well!

February 9, 2014 6:19 AM

Forty eight, uh-huh, count 'em, FORTY EIGHT Fela records are now available for streaming. Make you hear this one!
posted by flapjax at midnite (28 comments total)

Perfect for a weekend lifestyle culture post, thank you kindly, oh musicman of the eastern shores
posted by infini at 6:32 AM on February 9, 2014

Awesome!
posted by growabrain at 6:52 AM on February 9, 2014

WHAAAAAAAT
posted by Going To Maine at 6:55 AM on February 9, 2014

This is better than youtube, grooveshark and spotify combined (when it comes to Fela's stuff, at least). :)
posted by symbioid at 7:18 AM on February 9, 2014

Finally, Fela is free!
posted by chavenet at 7:22 AM on February 9, 2014

Just in time for my birthday! Thank you!
posted by the_royal_we at 7:25 AM on February 9, 2014

Aw, this is awesome. I saw Fela play a double bill with Jimmy Cliff at Pier Six in Baltimore harbor, summer 1990.

It was an incredible show, the monster fuck of my young life.

I listen to Sorrow, Tears & Blood and Opposite People every couple months. Now I can listen to all the rest, this is perfect. Thanks!
posted by Ice Cream Socialist at 7:35 AM on February 9, 2014 [1 favorite]

wow!
posted by ardgedee at 7:41 AM on February 9, 2014

For those not yet familiar with Fela Kuti, a good point of entry is "Live with Ginger Baker," the second album linked above.

Thank you for this find, Flapjax.
posted by ferdydurke at 7:46 AM on February 9, 2014

Recently Seun Kuti penned an op-ed against the newly signed anti-gay law in Nigerira. I don't agree with him 100%, but the fact he's attempting to make a statement against it is better than nothing. I think he's probably more progressed than his father was -- I hope if Fela was alive, he would have evolved his stance towards Women and Gay Rights.
posted by symbioid at 8:00 AM on February 9, 2014

I found this last week after watching Beware of Mister Baker. I hadn't known Ginger Baker played with Fela, searched for some songs and ran smack into that.
posted by yerfatma at 8:22 AM on February 9, 2014

I'll make my recommendation for starting place, if you don't know Fela and tend to like studio albums more than live recordings (like I do): Army Arrangement - probably because that's the one I first heard.
posted by benito.strauss at 8:51 AM on February 9, 2014

http://www.afropop.org/wp/ "a power stronger than itself"
posted by sieve a bull at 8:52 AM on February 9, 2014

Oh my god. What a treasure trove.

I'll throw a vote in for Sorrow, Tears & Blood. Or, wait, maybe
Expensive Shit b/w "Water No Get Enemy." Or, I know, Shuffering and Shmiling...

This is a great thing.

Thanks for posting this.
posted by the sobsister at 9:06 AM on February 9, 2014 [2 favorites]

Thanks.
posted by humboldt32 at 9:35 AM on February 9, 2014

Yes please and thank you!!!
posted by These Birds of a Feather at 10:28 AM on February 9, 2014

Thanks for this. Always been a fan of his slow burners like Water No Get Enemy, Go Slow and Colonial Mentality.

He could build a song like no other performer.
posted by cloeburner at 11:07 AM on February 9, 2014

Been listening to some of my old faves and thanks again. I'm also liking people recommending their faves. Keep 'em coming.
posted by benito.strauss at 11:22 AM on February 9, 2014

This is awesome as always Flapjax thank you! I promptly put it up on Facebook, so my extended circle of non mefite friends and relatives thanks you as well.
posted by mygothlaundry at 11:31 AM on February 9, 2014

Thom Yorke on the genesis of Atoms for Peace: "We were at Flea's house. We got wasted, played pool and listened to Fela Kuti all night."
posted by stinkfoot at 12:08 PM on February 9, 2014

Shit yeah! I can dig this!
posted by quazichimp at 12:43 PM on February 9, 2014

Sizzlingly good! Wow.
posted by nickyskye at 2:43 PM on February 9, 2014

...probably because that's the one I first heard.

As good a place to start as any, because I think you just can't go wrong here.

I love all of these album sleeve designs.
posted by ovvl at 5:34 PM on February 9, 2014

I am going to just lay down for a while and listen to these.
posted by humanfont at 7:17 PM on February 9, 2014

I am going to just lay down for a while and listen to these.

I dunno, man, some of 'em might just get you up and dancing!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:30 PM on February 9, 2014

A Metafilter user going by the wonderful handle “flapjax at midnite” has alerted the world to the existence of a Bandcamp page full of complete Fela Kuti LPs.
posted by homunculus at 2:59 PM on February 10, 2014 [1 favorite]

Aww man, looks like they just now (moments ago) killed the streaming.
posted by echo target at 2:06 PM on February 18, 2014

Yeah, the good times seem to have ended. On the plus side, you can still stream the enitre Kill Rock Stars catalog, but that's hardly a replacement.
posted by Going To Maine at 8:16 PM on February 20, 2014