Project 1001: Femi Kuti by Femi Kuti
Just like his father, Femi Kuti is a staunch pan-Africanist.1 That comes through loud and clear on this beautiful album. I love the rich horns and exciting percussion. There are beautiful vocals as well. Another fine example of Afrobeat music. My rating:
I wrote about Femi Kuti’s father Fela Kuti some time ago. You can refer to that piece here if you like.
Femi Kuti Review in AllMusic by Rosalind Cummings-Yeates
“This debut album was an extremely popular record in Africa and Europe; it introduced Kuti's cleaner, more succinct take on his father Fela Kuti's legendary Afro beat sound. Packed with contagious rhythms born of African, jazz, and funk melodies, Femi Kuti represents an important offering to world music. Standout tracks include ‘Wonder,’ which is full of funky grooves and pointed lyrics about African unity, and ‘Survival,’ with its swinging, hip-rolling percussion.”
Enjoy and listen without prejudice. Cheers!
Prime Playlist: 248. Femi Kuti by Femi Kuti
If you’re new here, welcome! Please consider subscribing and sharing with friends.
For details about this project, read this: Project 1001 Albums
Charts
• Peak on Billboard 200 album chart: n/a
• Singles on Billboard Hot 100 chart: n/a
• RIAA certification: n/a
Released on September 28, 1995. Here’s what else was happening:
Pop Culture
• Number one song: “Fantasy” by Mariah Carey2
• Number one album: Cracked Rear View by Hootie and the Blowfish3
• Number one movie: Se7en by David Fincher4
• Most watched TV programs: ER, Seinfeld, Caroline in the City, Friends, Home Improvement, Single Guy, Coach, Murphy Brown, NFL Monday Night Football, Grace Under Fire, Hudson Street, Frasier, Murder One, Rosanne, Mad About You, ABC Sunday Night Movie: Lethal Weapon 35
• NYT bestseller, fiction: L is for Lawless by Sue Grafton6
• NYT bestseller, non-fiction: My Point … And I do Have One by Ellen DeGeneres7
Some other albums released that month
• Ballbreaker by AC/DC
• The Gold Experience by Prince
• Washing Machine by Sonic Youth
• Abriendo Puertas by Gloria Estefan
• 4,5,6 by Kool G Rap
• Exit the Dragon by Urge Overkill
• For Lovers Only by The Temptations
• Forgiven, Not Forgotten by The Corrs
• Tails by Lisa Loeb
• Wrecking Ball by Emmylou Harris8
Sport
• Sep 15 St Louis Cardinals shortstop Ozzie Smith sets record of 1,554 double plays.
• Sep 16 Greg Maddux of Braves sets record of 17 consecutive road victories.
• Sep 24 Ryder Cup Golf, Oak Hill CC: Europe wins 14½-13½; unheralded Irish rookie Philip Walton secures victory for Europe beating Jay Haas 1 up.9
Notable Births
• Sep 17 Patrick Mahomes, American football quarterback (Super Bowl MVP 2020, 22; KC Chiefs), born in Tyler, Texas.
• Sep 19 Brent Faiyaz, American R&B singer (Wasting Time), born in Columbia, Maryland.
• Sep 22 Juliette Goglia, American actress (That's So raven), born in Los Angeles, California.10
Historical Events
• Sep 1 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum opens in Cleveland, Ohio.
• Sep 19 The Washington Post and The New York Times publish the Unabomber's manifesto.
• Sep 22 E-3B AWACS crash outside of Elmendorf AFB, Alaska after multiple bird strikes to two of the four engines soon after takeoff; all 24 on board killed.
• Sep 28 Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat sign the Oslo 2 Accord to transfer West Bank to the PLO (Taba, Egypt).
• Sep 29 Trial for former NFL running back, broadcaster and actor O.J. Simpson sent to the jury.11
Notable Deaths
• Sep 19 Orville Redenbacher(1907-1995), American popcorn magnate (Orville Redenbacher's Gourmet Popcorn), suffers heart attack drowns in his whirlpool bathtub at 88.
• Sep 20 Walter Haas Jr., American businessman and sports team owner (Levi Strauss & Co, Oakland A's), dies of prostate cancer at 79.
• Sep 21 Vernell Townsend, American blues and gospel singer, dies at 64.
Sep 25 Bessie [Annie Elizabeth] Delany, American dentist and civil rights pioneer, dies at 104.12
Ibid.