If you’re a Nigerian over the age of 25, then you probably know who Orlando Julius is. If you don’t, then your parents do. Orlando was and is a big deal in Nigeria and the neighboring countries. While his work is known to fellow West Africans, and diggers into West African music, he’s certainly not a household name globally. I’m glad to see his work get more spotlight. Frank Gossner of VoodooFunk fame is the brainchild behind this release. It’s the best Orlando Julius I’ve ever heard, and believe me, I’ve heard plenty. This was the music our parents played. Go pick this one up. The booklet, pictures and liner notes alone are worth it. Orlando himself wrote it. Forget the CD, get the LP for the full experience.
“In 1972 and 1973, Orlando Julius and his band The Afrosounders visited the legendary ARC studio of Ginger Baker and what OJ and the gang put to tape there was an entirely different beast: They recorded an album packed with unadulterated, funky Afrobeat of the heaviest caliber For the first time, Orlando and the his band were able to really let loose and showcase their full power with an unfiltered impact. They laid down six epic tracks that from a Funk or Afrobeat perspective definitely count as Orlando’s strongest work but it seemed that Philips were not too happy with this result. They completely botched the distribution of this record and while Orlando’s earlier and later work has all been re-issued over the past years, sometimes multiple times and from various international labels, this, his best record has remained under the radar and virtually unknown to the worldwide community of African music lovers. This was until I was sitting in my friend Damian Iwuagwu’s house in Lagos back in January of 2010, drinking a cold Star beer and enjoying the evening when he casually handed me this LP and asked “what about this one, I got this the other day and I don’t think I’ve ever seen it before”.
Now this record is re-released with its original artwork and extensive liner notes written by Orlando Julius himself, including loads of great vintage photographs.” – Frank Gossner
Filed under: Afrobeat, Funk, Video, Vinyl, Afro Sounders, Highlife, Juju, Nigeria, Orlando Julius, Voodoo Funk
a cool joint. –Ken Mac