World Music: Top 25 Albums

World Music: The Top 25 Albums

Wikipedia defines world music as “is an English phrase for styles of music from non-English speaking countries, including quasi-traditional, intercultural, and traditional music.” I compiled a dozen lists of the best world music albums and consolidated them with albums in the Dave’s Music Database with albums labeled as “world music.” These are the results. Note: the act’s country of origin is listed after the album title. Check out other best-of-genre/category lists here. Paul Simon Graceland (1986): USA various artists Buena Vista Social Club (1997): Cuba Harry Belafonte Calypso (1956): USA various artists The Indestructible Beat of Soweto (1986): South Africa Tito Puento Dance Mania (1958): Puerto Rico King Sunny Adé & His African Beats Juju Music (1983): Nigeria Manu Chao Clandestino (1998): France/Spain Paul Simon Rhythm of the Saints (1990): USA Os Mutantes Os Mutantes (1968): Brazil Youssou N'Dour Immigrés (1983): Senegal Tito Puento Top Percussion (1957): USA Bulgarian National Radio and Television Chorus Le Mystere Des Voix Bulgares (1988): Bulgaria Salif Keita Moffou (2002): Mali Césaria Évora Miss Perfumado (1992): Cape Verde Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan En Concert a Paris (1988): Pakistan Konono No. 1 Congotronics (2005): Congo Fela Kuti Zombie (1977): Nigeria Baobab Orchestra Pirates Choice (1982): Senegal Ali Farka Touré Savane (2006): Mali Astor Piazolla Tango: Zero Hour (1986): Argentina Amadou & Miriam Dimanche à Bamako (2005): Mali Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Mustt Mustt (1991): Pakistan Juan Luis Guerra y 440 Bachata Rosa (1990): Dominican Republic Rubén Blades & Willie Colón Siembra (1978): Puerto Rico/Panama Tougher Than Tough: The Story of Jamaican Music (box set: 1958-93, released 1993): Jamaica Resources and Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: other best-of-genre lists First posted 8/27/2024; last updated 8/28/2024.

King Sunny Ade charted with Juju Music

First posted 4/1/2008; updated 9/8/2020.

Juju Music King Sunny Adé

Charted: April 9, 1983 Peak: 111 US, -- UK, -- CN, -- AU Sales (in millions): -- US, -- UK, -- world (includes US and UK) Genre: world music

Tracks: (Click for codes to singles charts.) Ja Funmi Eje Nlo Gba Ara Mi Mo Beru Agba Sunny Ti de Ariya Ma Jaiye Oni 365 Is My Number/ The Message Samba/ E Falaba Lewe

Rating: 4.630 out of 5.00 (average of 9 ratings) Quotable: “First-disc choice for…the Afro-pop curious” – Stephen Cook, All Music Guide Awards:

About the Album: “After nearly 15 years as Nigeria’s biggest musical draw and juju music’s reigning monarch, King Sunny Adé went global in 1982 with a brief but fertile stint on the Mango label. The three albums that resulted – Juju Music, Synchro System, and Aura – gave Ade unprecedented exposure on the Western market and introduced a slew of music lovers to the sounds of Afro-pop” (Cook). “Juju Music was the first of Adé’s Mango titles and remains the best of the lot. Over the course of seven extended cuts, King Sunny Adé & His African Beats lay down their trademark mix of talking drum-driven grooves, multi-guitar weaves, lilting vocal harmonies, and pedal steel accents; for this major-label debut, the band also chucks in some tasteful synthesizer bits and a few reggae-dub flourishes. Besides classic juju pop like Ja Funmi and Ma Jaiye Oni, Ade and his 20-piece entourage serve up percussion breakdowns like Sunny Ti de Ariya and a heady blend of soul, dub, and synth noodlings on 365 Is My Number/ The Message. Throughout, Ade deftly inserts Hawaiian slide guitar licks and Spanish-tinged lines reminiscent of Hendrix’ ‘All Along the Watchtower.’ Juju Music should not only be the first-disc choice for Adé newcomers, but for the Afro-pop curious as well” (Cook).

Resources and Related Links: Stephen Cook, All Music Guide