Oneness of Juju

• 2-CD SET

African Rhythms 1970-82 requires open-minded immersion. A faithful reissue of Strut’s 2001 release, the 3-LP-sized compilation remains chronologically haphazard. It leads with the catchy grooves and improvisations from Oneness of Juju’s mid-’70s releases on the Black Fire label, a mixture of American jungle funk, Fela’s Afrobeat (“Follow Me”), and soul-friendly vocal choruses (“Got to Be Right on It”). Here and elsewhere, Branch’s versatile sax (he can be guttural or lofty, skronky or fonky, spacey or garrulous), his brother Muzi Branch’s bumping electric bass, and the gospelized vocals of Lady Eka-Ete Jackie Lewis variously rivet your attention as they batten down the mix.

TRACKS:

• CD ONE:
• 01. Oneness Of Juju - African Rhythms (Album Version)
• 02. Oneness Of Juju - Follow Me
• 03. Oneness Of Juju - Space Jungle Funk
• 04. Juju & The Space Rangers - Got To Be Right On It
• 05. Okyerema Asante With Plunky - Sabi
• 06. Oneness Of Juju - Interlude: Rhythms Timelessness
• 07. Roach Om - No Name # III / Love Is ... / My Nigger & Me
• 08. Oneness Of Juju - West Wind (Previously Unreleased)
• 09. Juju - Freedom Fighter
• 10. Oneness Of Juju - Be About The Future
• 11. Oneness Of Juju - Nooky
• 12. Oneness Of Juju - Interlude: African Rhythms 1(Original Version)

• CD TWO:
• 01. Oneness Of Juju - Bootsie's Lament (Unreleased Version)
• 02. Oneness Of Juju - Chants / Don't Give Up
• 03. Lon Moshe - Doin' The Carvin' For Thabo
• 04. Oneness Of Juju - River Luv Rite
• 05. Oneness Of Juju - Interlude: African Rhythms Chant
• 06. Juju - Nairobi / Chants
• 07. Okyerema Asante With Plunky - Asante Sana
• 08. Oneness Of Juju - Interlude: African Rhythms II
• 09. Ndikho Xaba - Nomusa
• 10. Juju & The Space Rangers - Plastic
• 11. Oneness Of Juju u - African Rhythms
• 12. Juju - The End Of The Butterfly King