Aura is a studio album by the Nigerian jùjú musician King Sunny Adé, released in 1984.[2][3] It is credited to King Sunny Adé and His African Beats.
| Aura | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1984 | |||
| Genre | Jùjú | |||
| Label | Mango[1] | |||
| Producer | Martin Meissonnier | |||
| King Sunny Adé chronology | ||||
| ||||
Unlike Adé's previous two Mango Records albums, Aura did not make the Billboard 200.[4] Mango dropped Adé after its release, and Adé broke up His African Beats.[1][5]
Production edit
The album was produced by Martin Meissonnier.[6] Stevie Wonder contributed harmonica to "Ase".[7] Aura employed five guitarists and six drummers, including Tony Allen.[8][9]
Critical reception edit
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [10] |
| Robert Christgau | A[6] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [11] |
| MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide | [12] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide |  [5] |
| Spin Alternative Record Guide | 9/10[13] |
Trouser Press thought that "the rhythm tracks are almost pure beatbox in style... The vocal harmonies in [Adé's] work have a distinctive Latin feel."[14] The Philadelphia Inquirer called the album "subtly hypnotic, captivating," writing that "layer over layer of intricate rhythm is combined with swerving melodies, skirling guitar parts and the call-and-response chanting that is the heart of 'juju' music."[15] Jon Pareles, of The New York Times, listed Aura at number two on his list of the 10 best albums of 1984.[16]
AllMusic wrote that, "once again, Adé and a battery of guitarists are particularly impressive, laying down a wealth of nicely integrated solos; as with earlier Adé recordings, the pedal steel work is especially stunning."[10] Mojo deemed the album "even groovier" than Synchro System.[17] Miami New Times argued that, "because Aura's cutting-edge songs blended poorly with its more traditional Yoruban-based pieces, it ended up sounding more foreign than his other American LPs."[18]
Track listing edit
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Ase" | |
| 2. | "Gboromiro" | |
| 3. | "Ogunja" | |
| 4. | "Oremi" | |
| 5. | "Ire" | |
| 6. | "Iro" |
Personnel edit
- King Sunny Adé - guitar, vocals
- Ademola Adepoju - steel guitar
- Tony Allen - drums
References edit
- ^ a b "King Sunny Ade Biography & History". AllMusic.
- ^ "Sunny Ade: A Trailblazer Retrenches". Los Angeles Times. May 24, 1987.
- ^ Matos, Michaelangelo (2020). Can't Slow Down: How 1984 Became Pop's Blockbuster Year. Hachette Books. ISBN 9780306903359.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2010). Top Pop Albums (7th ed.). Record Research. p. 19.
- ^ a b The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. pp. 7–8.
- ^ a b "King Sunny Ade and His African Beats". Robert Christgau.
- ^ Jensen, David (30 Jun 1984). "Wonder Shows His Sunny Side". Daily Mirror. p. 19.
- ^ "Nuances of the African Sound". The Washington Post. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
- ^ Allen, Tony; Veal, Michael E. (September 27, 2013). Tony Allen: An Autobiography of the Master Drummer of Afrobeat. Duke University Press. ISBN 9780822377092.
- ^ a b "Aura". AllMusic.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 1. MUZE. p. 57.
- ^ MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 637.
- ^ Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. 1995. pp. 7–8.
- ^ "King Sunny Adé and his African Beats". Trouser Press. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
- ^ Rea, Steven X. (26 Aug 1984). "Pop and Folk Rhythms Fill Nigerian's New Album". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. I9.
- ^ Palmer, Robert (January 9, 1985). "Prince Leads Critic's List of Top 10". The New York Times.
- ^ The Mojo Collection: 4th Edition. Canongate Books. November 1, 2007. ISBN 9781847676436.
- ^ Tarte, Bob. "Raw and Uncooked". Miami New Times.