Item added to your cart.

Checkout
Close
ReleaseProduct
African Rhythms
Artist
Oneness Of Juju
Label
Strut
Catalogue Number
STRUT188
Release Date
September 21, 2018
  • Vinyl 2×LP

    Sold out

    2LP Vinyl Album

    Read More
    • + WAV / FLAC

    STRUT188LP

    SIDE A

    1. AFRICAN RHYTHMS
    2. KAZI
    3. FUNKY WOOD
    4. TARISHI
      SIDE B
    5. MASHARIKI
    6. CHANTS
    7. DON’T GIVE UP
      SIDE C
    8. INCOGNITO
    9. POO TOO
    10. LIBERATION DUES
      SIDE D
    11. AFRICAN RHYTHMS (45 VERSION PARTS 1 & 2)
    12. AFROBEAT
  • CD

    $13.99
    Read More
    • + WAV / FLAC

    STRUT188CD

    1. AFRICAN RHYTHMS
    2. KAZI
    3. FUNKY WOOD
    4. TARISHI
    5. MASHARIKI
    6. CHANTS
    7. DON’T GIVE UP
    8. INCOGNITO
    9. POO TOO
    10. LIBERATION DUES
    11. AFRICAN RHYTHMS (45 VERSION PARTS 1 & 2)
    12. AFROBEAT

Strut present a brand new edition of Oneness of Juju’s Afro-jazz classic ‘African Rhythms’, originally released on Black Fire in 1975 and first reissued on Strut in 2002.

For bandleader James “Plunky” Branch, ‘African Rhythms’ marked a significant return to his home town of Richmond, Virginia after a politically charged five years based on the East and West coasts. His personal journey had taken him from activism at Columbia University to San Francisco where Zulu musician Ndikho Xaba used theatre to “resurrect” Afro-Americans with a new African identity. The first incarnation of Plunky’s band, Juju, drew attention to the struggle in South Africa under apartheid, layering heavy Afro rhythms under uncompromising avant garde jazz.

Back in Richmond, Plunky tapped into the mid-Atlantic preference for Southern R&B and gospel: “Juju had always been blues-based and it was a natural progression to add R&B and dance rhythms. It didn’t change our message.”

Produced by Jimmy Gray of Black Fire Records, the new sessions included the title track (“We wanted a song to dance to with a message – ‘you are dancing to African rhythms’”), the positive message of ‘Don’t Give Up’ and political commentary on ‘Liberation Dues’.

Originally just a regional hit on the East coast and in Washington DC specifically, the album gradually spread, influencing the nascent DC go-go scene. The UK revived the album during the rare groove era of the late ‘80s and the title track has since become a soul-jazz favourite worldwide.

Remastered from the original sessions and featuring rare photos and extensive liner notes, this new repress also features Part 1 and Part 2 of the original 45 version of ‘African Rhythms’ and the previously unheard ‘Afrobeat’, recently unearthed from the original tapes.

Digital Tracklist

  1. 1 African Rhythms 7:17 Buy

    African Rhythms

  2. 2 Kazi 4:20 Buy

    Kazi

  3. 3 Funky Wood 1:18 Buy

    Funky Wood

  4. 4 Tarishi 3:51 Buy

    Tarishi

  5. 5 Mashariki 3:25 Buy

    Mashariki

  6. 6 Chants 1:14 Buy

    Chants

  7. 7 Don`t Give Up 5:41 Buy

    Don`t Give Up

  8. 8 Incognito 8:12 Buy

    Incognito

  9. 9 Poo Too 3:43 Buy

    Poo Too

  10. 10 Liberation Dues 4:36 Buy

    Liberation Dues

  11. 11 African Rhythms (45 Version Parts 1 and 2) 6:39 Buy

    African Rhythms (45 Version Parts 1 and 2)

  12. 12 Afrobeat 3:57 Buy

    Afrobeat

Track List: LP

A1 African Rhythms 07:17
A2 Kazi 04:20
A3 Funky Wood 01:18
A4 Tarishi 03:51
A5 Mashariki 03:25

B1 Chants 01:14
B2 Don’t Give Up 05:41
B3 Incognito 08:12
B4 Poo Too 03:43
B5 Liberation Dues 04:36

Track List: CD

  1. African Rhythms 07:17
  2. Kazi 04:20
  3. Funky Wood 01:18
  4. Tarishi 03:51
  5. Mashariki 03:25
  6. Chants 01:14
  7. Don’t Give Up 05:41
  8. Incognito 08:12
  9. Poo Too 03:43
  10. Liberation Dues 04:36
  11. African Rhythms (45 Version Parts 1 And 2) 06:39
  12. Afrobeat 03:57

Oneness Of Juju

Close
Loading:
--:-- --:--

Privacy Settings

This site uses cookies. For information, please read our cookies policy. Cookies Policy

Allow All
Manage Consent Preferences