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The Return of the Juju King

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The Return of the Juju King
Compilation album by
Released1987
GenreJùjú
LabelMercury
King Sunny Adé chronology
Aura
(1984)
The Return of the Juju King
(1987)
Live Live Juju
(1988)

The Return of the Juju King is a compilation album by the Nigerian musician King Sunny Adé, released in 1987.[1][2] It was his first album after being dropped by Island Records.[3] Adé supported the album with a North American tour that featured a 15-member version of his band, the African Beats.[4][5]

Production

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The compilation collects tracks from several of Adé's Nigerian albums, which were released on his Atom Park label; Adé had formed a new version of his band to record them.[6][7][8] Most of the 17 tracks run together, producing five sections.[9] Adé emphasized the sound of a ukulele on many tracks.[10]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[10]
Chicago Sun-Times[11]
Robert ChristgauB+[12]
Los Angeles Times[9]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[8]
Spin Alternative Record Guide5/10[13]

The Chicago Tribune wrote that the album "serves to highlight Ade's patented 'Synchro System' style, emphasizing a balance between all the 20-odd instruments in his band—the burbling, clattering, thumping riot of talking drums, shakers, rattles and other percussion, the sinuous electric and Hawaiian guitar lines and the synthesizer fills."[14] The Los Angeles Times deemed the music "characteristically hypnotic, joyful and eminently danceable."[9] Robert Christgau panned "the weakness of digital remixers for percussion."[12] Trouser Press concluded: "Shaking off his failure to win Western hearts, Adé sounds like a happy man again; the joyous juju reaffirms his status as one of the most captivating and important musical talents anywhere in the world today."[7]

AllMusic stated that "the sound is from the 'synchro system' end of the spectrum, with slightly psychedelic guitar effects here and there and loping beats bumped out by a collection of talking drums as well as the usual drum kit."[10]

Track listing

[edit]
No.TitleLength
1."Sunny Loni Ariya" 
2."Sweet Banana" 
3."Olomoge Ma Jo" 
4."Mo Ti Kole Mi Sori Apata" 
5."Ona Mi La" 
6."My Dear" 
7."E Gbe Kini Yi Laruge" 
8."Odu Oteyi Yato" 
9."Emi Nfe" 
10."Ori O Bami Se Temi" 
11."A Mbo O" 
12."Oluwa Lo Yan Mi Wa" 
13."Let Them Say" 
14."Mo Ti Gb'Ohun Oluwa" 
15."Gbass Kelele" 
16."Ma Jo Bi Olokun" 
17."E Ba Mi Dupe F'Oluwa" 

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Ajayi, Dami (July 1, 2019). "Long Live the King: Nigeria's King Sunny Adé: 'I see myself as a freelance'". The Africa Report.
  2. ^ "World". High Fidelity. Vol. 38. 1988. p. 89.
  3. ^ "King Sunny Ade Biography by Craig Harris". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  4. ^ Van Matre, Lynn (6 May 1988). "The Concert Line". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. 7.
  5. ^ MacInnis, Craig (8 May 1988). "Juju Music". Toronto Star. p. E2.
  6. ^ Brogan, Daniel (29 Jan 1988). "King Sunny Ade, The Return of the Juju King". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. 69.
  7. ^ a b Sheridan, Dave. "King Sunny Adé and his African Beats". Trouser Press. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  8. ^ a b The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. pp. 7, 8.
  9. ^ a b c Lewis, Randy (15 Mar 1988). "The Return of the Juju King, King Sunny Ade". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 7.
  10. ^ a b c "The Return of the Juju King Review by Adam Greenberg". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  11. ^ McLeese, Don (25 Jan 1988). "U. of C. Folk Festival thrives on diversity". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 2.27.
  12. ^ a b "King Sunny Ade". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  13. ^ Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. 1995. p. 7.
  14. ^ Heim, Chris (21 Feb 1988). "Recordings". Arts. Chicago Tribune. p. 22.