Fantastic Man: William Onyeabor Atomic Post (*UPDATED*)

This fine Nigerian master has made many an appearance on the blogosphere, but in the interest of continuing to vigorously spread the very good word of Mr. William Onyeabor, I offer this post. This is not the complete Onyeabor discography, but it is everything I can find, assembled in one place. Here is a brief biography of the man, lifted from the liner notes of the Nigeria 70 comp "The Definitive Story of 1970's Funky Lagos":

William Onyeabor studied cinematography in Russia for many years, returning to Nigeria in the mid-70s to start his own Wilfilms music label and to set up a music and film production studio. He recorded a number of hit songs in Nigeria during the 70s, the biggest of which was ‘Atomic Bomb’ in 1978. ‘Better Change Your Mind’ is taken from the same album, and, as well as slating the power-crazed nations of the world, the second half settles into a unique slice of stripped down spacey, lo-fi funk which is unlike any other Nigerian music being made at the time. William has now been crowned a High Chief in Enugu, where he lives today as a successful businessman working on government contracts and running his own flour mill.

Let's start with 1978's Atomic Bomb, his second record (which I believe I originally came across at the excellent blog Big Head Stevenson). Here we see the first example of the definitive Onyeabor sound: repetition, gorgeously simple electronics and synthesizers, a tradeoff between his own laconic vocals and unmistakable-yet-never-credited female backup singers, and uncomplicated, uplifting messages of positivity, world peace, or everyday emotions. This album contains one of his best songs (the perfect little funk-run "Atomic Bomb") and one of his most well-known ("Better Change Your Mind", featured on the World Psychedelic Classics 3: Love's a Real Thing comp). There's not a bad song here, but another highlight worth mentioning is the charming ode to lifelong fidelity "I Need You All Life", a smile in song-form, bubbling over with gurgling synth sounds of the most optimistic variety and one of the most winning examples of his patented back-up vocals in action. Not to be missed.



ATOMIC BOMB (256)



Next in line we have Tomorrow (1979), which I believe I found at the now defunct Fishtail Lion. All the same elements are in play here, which is for the best. More of the same, in this case, means another little masterpiece- if anything, the beats and compositions are slightly stronger. One of my very very favorite songs of his is here, the fantastic "Fantastic Man", which finds his singers cooing to him "you loook soooooooooooo good.... fantastic man." This is an essential record.



TOMORROW (320)





1980 brought an LP entitled Body and Soul, the entirety of which I've never been able to find. One song, the ten-minute title track (which I found over at DOSCI) can be heard, and it's pretty much a huge home run in my book. Anybody got a line on getting this whole slab?

Update!!! Mr. Feq'wah has indeed found the line on the slab, and he has shared, in the comments. Oh, how grand it is! Check out a post I've done on the record here, or just grab the complete album at the link below. And thank the man in the comments.

BODY AND SOUL (complete LP)





We jump ahead now to his final record, Anything You Sow (1985). In a lot of ways, it's my personal favorite. The sounds are a little fatter, a little goofier, and it's just a damn fun record. Fun as hell. Honestly, it's not all that different from any of the others, but the electronic factor is upped considerably. I guess it's extra-bubbly? With more handclaps, perhaps? Trust me, you're gonna need it, because it's amazing.

This excellent quality rip came, too, from the now sadly gone Fishtail Lion blog.

ANYTHING YOU SOW





Crashes in Love is Onyeabor's 1977 debut. Very little electronics present here- in many ways it's not atypical Nigerian soul/funk- but the specific genius of Sir William is very much in evidence. Were this his sole release, it would likely still be hailed as a lost masterpiece of Afro-funk. As it is, it stands as a bit more of a minor effort in his canon- just not one to be overlooked. Its marvellous, low-key funk sound lays out a loose narrative of, as the cover explains, "a tragedy of how an African Princess rejects the love that money buys." Don't tell me you don't need to hear this now. It's groovy as a jeep on a dirt road, too.



This rip came from the womb of the great Music City- home to many other treasures and more than worthy of your gratitude and respect.

Apparently, there is another, more electronic, version of this record- can anyone confirm this? Has anyone heard it?

CRASHES IN LOVE (320)



That is the entirety of Onyeabor's output that I can both find and recommend. There are two additions to this, both from the grave of Fishtail Lion. The first is 1982's Hypertension, which is good but not a favorite of mine. There's a slightly undignified Caribbean flavor doesn't add much to his usual minimalist funk genius, pushing his typical goofiness a tad too far. You can still find it here. It's definitely worth a listen, since he's always at the very least good.


The second is an Onyeabor-produced 1979 N'Draman Blintch record, Cikamele. The jams are super, super awesome, funkier and nastier than anything on a proper Onyeabor joint, but Blintch doesn't bring anything too intriguing to the table, sometimes spoiling the party with kind of awful vocal performances. Or am I just wrong? Certainly this record has been growing on me (more and more everyday, really), and I can't find where it's hosted elsewhere, so I'll put it up as soon as I can for those who want to give it a shot.

To clarify: It's pretty awesome.

CIKAMELE´

Remember, y'all, much of this bounty came to us through Feq'wah of Fishtail Lion, so keep him in your thoughts as you groove and maybe give him (and all the other OPs) a shout-out in the comments, in case he ever sees this.

And if you have a line on anymore Onyeabor stuff- anything at all- I would love to know about it, and the world, I think, is ready for it. If you've got anything to share. Let us spread William Onyeabor's love.


UPDATE!!!! The Fantastic Mr. Feq'wah has graced the comments here with a bit of additional info and, most thrillingly, one-half of a 1983 Onyeabor joint, Good Name. It's a 10-minute joyride of a jam, with a really full, rushing, sci-fi funk sound- and one of the most fun things I've heard from the guy. I gotta say, this track is essential Onyeabor. Thank you, Feq'wah! Know that you are appreciated and missed.

DOUBLE UPDATE!!! Here's the whole kit n' caboodle. It's wonderful. Check out a post I've done on it here, if you like.

GOOD NAME (complete album)


Aaaaaaand once again, Feq'wah has come up with some additional Onyeabor treasures. This time it's a lone track from 1981's Great Lover, found over at Art Decade called "Love is Blind". Check it out! Thanks to Art Decade and once again to Feq'wah! Keep me in my mind if any of you ever find a line on the whole LP.

GREAT LOVER-(Love is Blind)