Various - Nigeria 70 - Sweet Times - Afro-Funk, Highlife & Juju From 1970s Lagos (2011)

Strut announces the return of their pioneering Nigeria 70 compilation series with an exclusive new third volume: Sweet Times: Afro Funk, Highlife & Juju from 1970s Lagos. Compiled again by series curator Duncan Brooker, who excavates another choice batch of rare grooves from Nigeria's label archives, the new edition places the spotlight on some of the deeper fusions happening across the country during the 70s as traditional guitar highlife blended with jazz and funk, hypnotic juju grooves became more progressive and young Nigerian bands came through with their own heavy West African take on U.S. soul, funk, disco and rock. Tracks range from the dynamite big band workout of Alex Ringo's "Moneyman & The Super 5 International" to the Congolese guitar-drenched "Henrietta" by the late Ali Chukwumah, former member of Stephen Osita Osadebe's Sound Makers. Darker psych grooves from Don Isaac Ezekiel sit alongside raw college funk from college band Tabanaku comprising students from the University Of Ife. Highlife legend Victor Olaiya unleashes a slow, languorous Afro jam lifted from a rare Polydor 45 and juju legend Ebenezer Obey cooks up a lilting, deeply beautiful mid-tempo groove from 1970 in a musical plea for peace. Nigeria 70: Sweet Times is another essential celebration of the glut of incredible music that surfaced in post-independence Nigeria.

Tracklist:
01. Moneyman And The Super 5 International - Life (6:18)
02. Ali Chukwumah & His Peace Makers International - Henrietta (4:41)
03. Don Isaac Ezekiel Combination, The - Ire (3:22)
04. Dr Victor Olaiya's International All-Stars - Kinringjingbin (4:30)
05. Zeal Onyia & His Music - Idegbani (6:06)
06. Admiral Dele Abiodun & His Top Hitters International - It's Time For Juju Music (15:11)
07. Eji Oyewole - Unity In Africa (8:05)
08. Tunde Mabadu - Viva Disco (Instrumental) (5:40)
09. Sina Bakare - Inu Mimo (5:20)
10. Soki Ohale's Uzzi - Bisi's Beat (5:19)
11. Bola Johnson & His Easy Life Top Beats - E Ma S'eka (3:07)
12. Etubom Rex Williams & His Nigerian Artistes - Ama Mbre Ewa (5:37)
13. Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey & His International Brothers - Ajoyio (6:40)