Kedu America (Igbo for 'Greetings from America')[2]) is a studio album by Nigerian highlife musician Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe released in 1996. Recorded in one day during his first American tour,[3][4] Kedu America contains new recordings of some of Osadebe's previous songs, including "Onuigbo" and "Osondi Owendi".[5]
| Kedu America | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Studio album by | |
| Released | 1996 |
| Recorded | December 1994 |
| Studio | Studio Unicorn, Redding, Connecticut |
| Genre | Highlife |
| Length | 69:18 |
| Label | Xenophile Records |
| Producer | Andrew Frankel, Nnamdi Moweta[1] |
Reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [4] |
| Robert Christgau | A−[6] |
Kedu America received generally positive reviews from critics. Bob Tarte of AllMusic gave the album 4.5 stars, stating that the album "offers bounty beyond expectation".[4] Robert Christgau described the album as a "delight"[6] and in a further retrospective review as a "mood album [...] set on giving you a good time".[5]
Drew Wheeler ranked the album 4th in Billboard's 1996 Critics' Poll.[7]
Track listing
editAll music is composed by Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe[1]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Onuigbo" | 8:01 |
| 2. | "Ka-Anyi Jikota" | 5:04 |
| 3. | "Aye Mama" | 6:17 |
| 4. | "Merenge Sposa" (instrumental) | 4:01 |
| 5. | "Nyem Obi Gi" | 5:49 |
| 6. | "Agbalu Aka Na Azo Ani" | 8:49 |
| 7. | "Osondi Owendi" | 7:50 |
| 8. | "Nwanem Ebezina" | 7:27 |
| 9. | "Kedu America" | 16:00 |
Personnel
editCredits adapted from the liner notes.[1]
Musicians
edit- Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe – lead vocals
- John Odagwe – bass guitar
- Ezikel Uti – lead guitar
- Fidelis Mazua – rhythm guitar
- Dede Uzoma – drums
- Chukwodozi Obi – Igbo congas
- Christian Ibekwe - trumpet
- Stephen Udechukwu – trombone, backing vocals
- Joseph Ugokwe – tenor saxophone, backing vocals
- Willie "Pepper" Chijoke – claves, backing vocals
- Obi Osadebe – backing vocals
Production
edit- Paul Avgerinos – recording engineer
- Jack "That Dog'll Hunt" Burke – engineer
- John Nelson – engineer
- Ross Nyberg – mastering
- Adam Traum – photography
Further reading
edit- Phil, Weinrobe; Inayatullah, Naeem (2005). "A Medium of Others: Rhythmic Soundscapes as Critical Utopias". In Franklin, M. I. (ed.). Resounding international relations: on music, culture, and politics. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 239–262. ISBN 978-1-137-05617-7.
References
edit- ^ a b c Kedu America (Liner notes). Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe. 1996. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Kedu America". Compass Records. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
- ^ Zachary, G. Pascal. "Living the Highlife". In These Times. Vol. 26, no. 19. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
- ^ a b c Tarte, Bob. Kedu America at AllMusic. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
- ^ a b Christgau, Robert (April 22, 2011). "Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe, Kedu America". Archived from the original on April 18, 2015. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
- ^ a b Christgau, Robert. "Review: Kedu America". Retrieved May 1, 2021.
- ^ Wheeler, Drew (December 28, 1996). Verna, Paul (ed.). "The Critics' Poll". Billboard. Vol. 108 (52 ed.). p. YE-92. Retrieved May 2, 2021.