Julius, Orlando & His Afro Sounders “Orlando’s Afro Ideas ’69-’72” [Soundway]

Mr. Lucky   9/13/2006   12-inch, International

Orlando Julius isn’t necessarily the name that comes to mind when speaking of African Funk music. But this man and his band were peers of Fela and the Africa 70, and are credited with infusing African traditional musics with the stylings of Stateside music. And really, while Fela and crew were the Kings of Afro Beat, Julius and the Sounders were the Kings of Afro Soul. Taking elements of Highlife and fusing them with the American sounds of Soul, OJ and the Sounders have here a music that is soothing to the ear and exciting to dancing feet. Jazzy solos on saxaphone waft among the shuffling drums, wailing horns, gliding bass, and ringing guitars. They even released songs on Polydor, and composed a welcome song to the Godfather himself, who would come and visit them in Lagos. This is lovely stuff that shows a different side to the vibrant Afro-Music scene of the late 60’s-early 70’s in Nigeria. -Mr. Lucky