Gems From the Classic Years (1967-1974)
More than practically any other African musician, King Sunny Ade has enjoyed unparalleled longevity, both at home and with Western music fans. Born into Nigerian royalty (the "King" is not merely a courtesy title), he embarked upon his chosen career path early, incorporating traditional rhythms and percussion, chilled-out vocals, sinuous bass lines, and especially the wacked-out, psychedelic guitar of Bob Ohiri. During the '60s and '70s, Ade's mature sound slowly evolved; although he was years away from an international breakthrough, his trademark stylistic markers were already in place, hastening him toward historic doings. The bandleader's high, nasal voice, wreathed in talking drums and shakers, echoed by a call-and-response choir, reflected Yoruba folkways along with hints of Muslim and Christian religious and secular music. By now, Ade's songs had become longer and more subtle; many of his intricate, gradually unfolding sets of themes and variations were clocking in at twenty minutes-plus on record and over an hour live. As on Shanachie's excellentBest of the Classic Years(2003), these tunes, although unquestionably landmark recordings, have hardly been heard outside of the maestro's homeland. They constitute a crucial document of Ade's first flush of local fame, and if the sound quality is slightly over-resonant, it is also remarkably vivid and clear. --Christina Roden