Nigeria Afrobeat Special: New Explosive is a pretty strong compilation with few bummers, if none, and a previously unreleased Fela track. To get the original 45 version of “Who’re you?” was the main reason for buying it, but even if this version contains some good moments, it’s not a Fela classic, and too careless compared to his best work.

The big nugget here comes from Saxon Lee & The Shadow Internationals with “Mind Your Business”. I’ve heard it at least 30 times the last two days and am still amazed when I play it. 10 minutes of pure afrobeat bliss! The rhythm section and the organ gets into a killer groove. It struts along with a walking rhythm that could make hippos swing their giant yash with
ease, and is something related to reggae. Everything here comes up smoking; the rhythm section, the horns, the scratchy guitar. As funky as it gets!

The singer Pax Nicholas was also a background singer and percussionist for Fela’s Africa 70, and released a solo-album called “Na Teef Know de Road of Teef”, that Fela supposedly told him to never play again, when he heard how strong it was. I don’t think the “Na Teef” album is that strong, the title track is good, but too repeating and I can’t imagine it got Fela sweating.  But if he heard “Mind Your Business” he would at least have turned up the air-condition. And burned one down. What a groove!