About this Artist

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Editorial Reviews

A 1977 release (J.J.D) and a 1976 one (Unnecessary Begging) are paired together on this two-for-one CD reissue, one of the less remarkable ones in MCA's Fela series, though not unworthy. J.J.D. consists solely of one 22-minute song, "J.J.D. (Johnny Just Drop)." It actually isn't much different in length than most of his releases from this era (which usually contained two songs adding up to half an hour), but still made rather short value. The song is decent enough, making extensive use of a live crowd and busy hand-drummed rhythm at the beginning, then gliding into a typical (if very long) Afro-funk-jazz vamp. The title track of the two-song, half-hour Unnecessary Begging has an uncommonly (for Fela) slow-burning tempo that effectively maintains its slow, moody pace as instruments drop in and out. Philosophically, Fela takes his usual stance here -- not that it's a bad one -- deploring poverty and government inadequacy. His trademark weird electric keyboards are heard near the conclusion, sounding like a warped record that's out of sync with the rest of the track. The other song, "No Buredi (No Bread)," is a bit more up-tempo and, in its favor, makes greater use of those indefinably strange keyboards, which have an extraterrestrial quality when heard at length. Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide

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