Sorrow Tears and Blood

1977 studio album by Fela Aníkúlápó Kuti and the Afrika 70 Organisation

Sorrow Tears and Blood

Studio album by

Fela Aníkúlápó Kuti and the Afrika 70 Organisation

Released| 1977
Recorded| 1977 in Nigeria
Genre| Afrobeat
Length| 23:58
Label| Kalakuta
KK 001
Producer| Fela Kuti
Fela Kuti chronology
| No Agreement
(1977)  | Sorrow Tears and Blood
(1977)  | Shuffering and Shmiling
(1977)

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Sorrow Tears and Blood is an album by Nigerian Afrobeat composer, bandleader, and multi-instrumentalist Fela Kuti.[1] It was recorded in 1977 and originally released on the Nigerian Kalakuta label.[2]

## Music and lyrics[edit]

Over a midtempo groove, and interspersed with Kuti's relaxed saxophone playing,[3] the title track features him reproving what he felt was a docility among Africans in the face of political hardship.[4] The song was written in the wake of a raid on Kuti's Kalakuta Republic compound by 1,000 armed members of the Nigerian army on February 18, 1977. The scene is described in his lyrics, "Everybody run, run, run / Everybody scatter, scatter / Some people lost some bread / Some people just die ... Them leave sorrow, tears, and blood / Them regular trademark".[3]

The second composition is titled after the inferiority complex called colonial mentality, and whose lyrics list a range of examples of "things dem dey do, dem dey overdo all the things dem dey do" such as "think wey black no good, na foreign things dem dey like" and "dem go turn air condition, and close them country away" no be so?[citation needed]

## Reception and legacy[edit]

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
AllMusic| [3]
Robert Christgau| [5]
Tom Hull – on the Web| A−[6]

The AllMusic review stated: "In contrast to the hard-edged and aggressive Afro-funk that Kuti and his Africa 70 became synonymous with, both the A-side title track and B-side, 'Colonial Mentality,' are seemingly staid, in light – or perhaps because – of the cruel state-sponsored attacks that he and his extended family suffered."[3]

The title song has been sampled by X-Clan on their 1990 song "Grand Verbalizer, What Time Is It?", Missy Elliott on her 2001 song "Whatcha Gonna Do", and Skales on his 2016 song "Temper"'s remix with Burna Boy.[7] The American singer Bilal and the rapper Common remade the song for the former's second album, Love for Sale.[8]

## Track listing[edit]

All compositions by Fela Kuti.

1. "Sorrow Tears and Blood" – 10:15
2. "Colonial Mentality" – 13:45

## Personnel[edit]

* Fela Kuti – tenor saxophone, alto saxophone, electric piano, vocals
* Tunde Williams, Nwokoma Jkem – trumpet
* Lekan Animashaun – baritone saxophone
* Leke Benson, Clifford Itoje, Oghene Kologbo – guitar
* Nweke Atifoh – bass guitar
* Tony Allen – drums
* Ayoola Abayomi – percussion
* Babajide Olaleye – maracas
* Oladeinde Koffi, Addo Nettey, Shina Abiodun – congas
* Alake Anikulapo-Kuti, Emaruagheru Anikulapo-Kuti, Fehintola Anikulapo-Kuti, Kewe Anikulapo-Kuti, Ronke Anikulapo-Kuti, Shade Anikulapo-Kuti, Tejumade Anikulapo-Kuti – vocals

## References[edit]

1. ^ Wolgamott, L. Kent (February 18, 2000). "Like father, like son: Pair put out some of the best Afrobeat music". Ground Zero. Lincoln Journal Star. p. 20.
2. ^ Fela Kuti discography Archived May 31, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, accessed May 8, 2014
3. ^ a b c d Planer, L., AllMusic Review accessed May 8, 2014.
4. ^ Owoeye, Wale Sasamura (2020). "Police Brutality and Extra Judicial Atrocities". Tupac Amaru Shakur & Fela Anikulapo Kuti – Revolutionaries or Martyrs. Pipit Inc.
5. ^ Christgau, Robert (n.d.). "Fela Anikulapo Kuti: Opposite People/Sorrow Tears and Blood". robertchristgau.com. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
6. ^ Hull, Tom (n.d.). "Grade List: Fela Anikulapo Kuti". Tom Hull – on the Web. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
7. ^ Dami (January 22, 2018). "Timeless: Ten Tracks You didn't Know Sampled Fela Kut". OneTribeMag. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
8. ^ Bilal (May 9, 2011). "Bilal Interview – Bonafide Exclusive". Bonafide Magazine (Interview). Interviewed by Alex Nagshineh. Retrieved August 5, 2020.

## External links[edit]

* Sorrow Tears and Blood at Discogs (list of releases)

* v
* t
* e

Fela Kuti

Studio albums|

* Fela's London Scene (1971)
* Why Black Man Dey Suffer (1971)
* Na Poi (1971)
* Open & Close (1971)
* Shakara (1972)
* Roforofo Fight (1972)
* Afrodisiac (1973)
* Gentleman (1973)
* Confusion (1975)
* Expensive Shit (1975)
* Zombie (1977)
* Stalemate (1977)
* No Agreement (1977)
* Sorrow Tears and Blood (1977)
* Shuffering and Shmiling (1978)
* Unknown Soldier (1981)
* Army Arrangement (1985)
* Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense (1986)
* Beasts of No Nation (1989)

Live albums|

* The '69 Los Angeles Sessions (1969)
* Live! (1971)

Compilations|

* The Best Best of Fela Kuti (1999)
* The Underground Spiritual Game (2004)

See also|

* Discography
* Fela!
* Finding Fela
* Red Hot + Riot: The Music and Spirit of Fela Kuti
* Kalakuta Republic
* Afrobeat
* Felabration
* Ransome-Kuti family
* Lemi Ghariokwu
* New Afrika Shrine

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

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