Oneness of Juju African Rhythms 1970-1982 (3xLP COMP)
Strut present a comprehensive 2CD / 3LP compilation of the seminal Oneness Of Juju, led by Plunky J. Branch.
Tracing their career from the band’s earliest work in 1970 with South African exiled jazzman Ndikho Xaba in San Francisco, the compilation covers the band’s journey to New York’s loft jazz scene, forming Juju and releasing two landmark albums of hard-hitting percussive jazz on Strata-East.
“I saw myself as a cultural warrior,” explains Plunky. “We studied about Africa and tried to infuse our music with an African spirit.” Moving back to his hometown of Richmond, Virginia during the mid-‘70s, Plunky drew in a superb new group of musicians and vocalists and created the band’s new incarnation, Oneness Of Juju, retaining the African influence but fusing his sound with funk and R’n’B on the classic ‘African Rhythms’ album.
“We realised that, if we put a backbeat to the Afro-Cuban rhythms, people in Richmond and Washington D.C. could be drawn into it; it didn't change anything about our message.” The change would lead to a series of enduring soul-jazz classics on Jimmy Gray’s Black Fire label, including ‘River Luv Rite’, ‘Plastic’ and ‘Don’t Give Up’ and their biggest crossover international hit, ‘Every Way But Loose’ in 1982, later famously remixed by Larry Levan.
The band received renewed interest in their music during the mid-‘80s as Washington D.C.’s go-go innovators cited the band as a major influence and rare groove DJs revived their albums for London dancefloors.
‘African Rhythms 1970-1982’ reprises a compilation released on Strut in 2001 and is newly remastered by Frank Merritt at The Carvery. Both formats feature a 12” sized 4pp booklet featuring rare photos and a comprehensive interview with Plunky Branch within liner notes by Chris Menist.
1-1–Oneness Of JujuAfrican Rhythms (Album Version)7:15
1-2–Oneness Of JujuFollow Me4:59
1-3–Oneness Of JujuSpace Jungle Funk9:36
1-4–Juju (9) & The Space RangersGot To Be Right On It (Original 45 Version)5:17
1-5–Okyerema Asante With Plunky*Sabi (Black Fire Mix)6:201-6–
Oneness Of JujuInterlude: Rhythms Timelessness0:301-7–
Roach OmNo Name # III / Love Is ... / My Nigger & Me4:291-8–
Oneness Of JujuWest Wind (Previously Unreleased)7:401-9–
Juju (9)Freedom Fighter3:261-10–
Oneness Of JujuBe About The Future5:111-11–
Oneness Of JujuNooky4:341-12–
Oneness Of JujuInterlude: African Rhythms 10:401-13–
Plunky* & Oneness Of JujuEvery Way But Loose (Original Version)6:302-1–
Oneness Of JujuBootsie's Lament (Unreleased Version)11:052-2–
Oneness Of JujuChants / Don't Give Up6:552-3–
Lon MosheDoin' The Carvin' For Thabo5:292-4–
Oneness Of JujuRiver Luv Rite8:032-5–
Oneness Of JujuInterlude: African Rhythms Chant0:302-6–
Juju (9)Nairobi / Chants8:002-7–
Okyerema Asante With Plunky*Asante Sana6:312-8–
Oneness Of JujuInterlude: African Rhythms II0:402-9–
Ndikho XabaNomusa8:432-10–
Juju (9) & The Space RangersPlastic (Original 45 Version)6:072-11–
Oneness Of JujuAfrican Rhythms (Original 45 Version: Part 1)3:242-12–
Juju (9)The End Of The Butterfly King5:54
