New FELA! Streams Now Available, The Na Poi Releases Set For 5/11

On May 11, 2010 Knitting Factory Records continues its re-release campaign of Fela's entire catalog with the "Na Poi" releases. The newest collection, The Na Poi releases, includes 7 CDs, containing 14 albums total. Most of these albums are from the mid-70s and represent Fela and Africa '70 in their prime. Unique pre-sale offerings via Fela.net.

Alagbon Close (1974) / Why Black Man Dey Suffer (1971)Expensive Shit (1975) / He Miss Road (1975)Everything Scatter (1975) / Noise For Vendor Mouth (1975)Monkey Banana (1975) / Excuse
O( 1975)Ikoyi Blindness (1976) / Kalakuta Show (1976)Yellow Fever (1976) / Na Poi (1976)J.J.D. (Johnny Just Drop) (1977) / Unnecessary Begging (1976) Clearly Fela and the band's most productive period (12 of the albums were released in 1975 and 1976 alone), it is during this point in his life that Fela's social commentary began to reach a boiling point with songs such as "Icy Blindness" and "Expensive Shit." However, in this collection of songs he also touched on more sensual subjects as in "Na Poi," philosophy as in "Water No Get Enemy" and the shaking loose of the colonial mentality as in "Yellow Fever."

FELA! - ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST RECORDING OUT JUNE 8

More exciting news on the Fela front! June 8 marks the release of Fela! - Original Broadway Cast Recording via Knitting Factory Records. The record documents the magic of the hit Broadway musical that Ben Brantley of the New York Timescalled "hot (and seriously cool)." He went on to say that "there has never been anything on Broadway like this production." This album is currently available for pre-order or the image below to see of video of the musical. Based on the life of groundbreaking African composer and performer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, FELA! is the critically acclaimed Broadway musical that uses Fela's music to explore his life as an artist, political activist and revolutionary musician. Fela! - Original Broadway Cast Recording features the incomparable Sahr Ngaujah as Fela singing with members of the irrepressibly funky Antibalas. A version featuring Kevin Mambo will be available for download and for sale at the theater. All 16 of the Fela compositions that are performed on stage each night, leaving sold-out audiences astonished and breathless at the end of every show, are on the record as are several songs performed by Funmalayo (Fela's mother) as played by the Tony-award winning Lilias White, and Sandra Izadore (Fela's American girlfriend) as played by Saycon Sengbloh. The record was produced by the Grammy-nominated Robert Sher. Directed and choreographed by Tony® Award winner Bill T. Jones, with arrangements by Aaron Johnson and Jordan McLean, FELA! is a provocative hybrid of concert,
dance and musical theater. The cast recording captures the electricity and joy that thousands have experienced at the EuGene O'Neill Theater every night since the play opened on November 23, 2009. The record is a document of that experience, yet at the same time is a musical statement in its own right.