The Return of the Juju King
| The Return of the Juju King | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Compilation album by | ||||
| Released | 1987 | |||
| Genre | Jùjú | |||
| Label | Mercury | |||
| King Sunny Adé chronology | ||||
| ||||
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
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
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [10] |
| Chicago Sun-Times |  [11] |
| Robert Christgau | B+[12] |
| Los Angeles Times | [9] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [8] |
| Spin Alternative Record Guide | 5/10[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
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 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
- ^ Ajayi, Dami (July 1, 2019). "Long Live the King: Nigeria's King Sunny Adé: 'I see myself as a freelance'". The Africa Report.
- ^ "World". High Fidelity. Vol. 38. 1988. p. 89.
- ^ "King Sunny Ade Biography by Craig Harris". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
- ^ Van Matre, Lynn (6 May 1988). "The Concert Line". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. 7.
- ^ MacInnis, Craig (8 May 1988). "Juju Music". Toronto Star. p. E2.
- ^ Brogan, Daniel (29 Jan 1988). "King Sunny Ade, The Return of the Juju King". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. 69.
- ^ a b Sheridan, Dave. "King Sunny Adé and his African Beats". Trouser Press. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
- ^ a b The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. pp. 7, 8.
- ^ a b c Lewis, Randy (15 Mar 1988). "The Return of the Juju King, King Sunny Ade". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 7.
- ^ a b c "The Return of the Juju King Review by Adam Greenberg". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
- ^ McLeese, Don (25 Jan 1988). "U. of C. Folk Festival thrives on diversity". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 2.27.
- ^ a b "King Sunny Ade". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
- ^ Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. 1995. p. 7.
- ^ Heim, Chris (21 Feb 1988). "Recordings". Arts. Chicago Tribune. p. 22.