Similar Albums:
- Artist: Oneness of Juju
- Rating:
- Release Date: 1975
- Genre: Rhythm & Blues
Review
From a trailblazing band featuring members well-versed in jazz, funk, gospel, and African music, the debut album by the Oneness of Juju displayed a group playing with the dexterity of Kool & the Gang, the forward-thinking musical ideas of Herbie Hancock, and the social consciousness of Gil Scott-Heron. The title track is fiercely kinetic, with vocal choruses prodding listeners to dance and Plunky's echo-drenched saxophone floating serenely over the top of a funky space-jazz backing. Elsewhere, the band lapses into a few dated mid-'70s arrangements (reminiscent of Pharoah Sanders, Lonnie Liston Smith, etc.), but the playing is always wonderful -- Plunky especially distinguishes himself in many different modes -- and the production is crystalline. "Don't Give Up" and "Liberation Dues" are two other highlights, with positive-minded chants and funky arrangements. [In early 2002, the British jazz/funk/world reissue label Strut brought African Rhythms back from the brink, with two bonus tracks: an instrumental version of "Liberation Dues" and the single version of "African Rhythms."] ~ John Bush, All Music GuideTracks
| Track Title | Composers | Performers | Time |
| African Rhythms | Oneness of Juju | (7:18) | |
| Kazi | Oneness of Juju | (4:20) | |
| Funky Wood | Oneness of Juju | (1:13) | |
| Tarishi | Oneness of Juju | (3:55) | |
| Mashariki | Oneness of Juju | (3:25) | |
| Chants | Traditional | Oneness of Juju | (1:14) |
| Don't Give Up | Oneness of Juju | (5:43) | |
| Incognito | Oneness of Juju | (8:14) | |
| Poo Too | Oneness of Juju | (3:43) | |
| Liberation Dues | Oneness of Juju | (4:36) | |
| Liberation Dues [#][Instrumental] | Oneness of Juju | (9:07) | |
| African Rhythms [45 Version] | Oneness of Juju | (3:30) |
