When Bob Marley died in 1981, Island Records wanted to repeat the success they found with the reggae star by marketing King Sunny Ade as ‘The African Bob Marley’. It didn’t really work, but the attempt brought Nigeria’s unique style of afrobeat - “juju music” - to the international spotlight. Compiled in 2003 by Shanachie Records, ‘The Best Of The Classic Years’ documents the pre-Island period of Ade’s career (1969-1974) before the watered down attempts at crossover success - lyrics entirely in Yoruba, seventeen-minute long jams, and rawer production.
It’s also the 464th Greatest Album of All Time, according to Rolling Stone magazine. Christopher and Liam use the record as a springboard to discuss everything from the Yoruban talking drum, William Onyeabor, Ebo Taylor, Ghanian highlife, the difference between a nightclub and a hotel in Nigeria, doing the washing-up, the musical tastes of the British royal family, and the filmography of Richard Gere. All that and more, plus an even-handed installment of Secret Posho, on episode 36 of Enjoy An Album. Enjoy!