Who Is William Onyeabor? by LedZep

Excluding the compilations and remixes, as well as the 2nd (inferior) version of Crashes in Love. Including them would make the rankings tough, for example, what to do with the Box Set of all of his work? His most well-known comp, Psychedelic Classics 5: Who Is William Onyeabor?, is a great place to start, though. It would probably rank 3rd in this list.

The reason I've made this chart is William Onyeabor's incredibly good discography. There isn't anything resembling a bad album. However, even though I'm usually not attracted to the music because of the musician's backstory, this is a special occasion. Seriously, who is William Onyeabor? Did he study filmmaking in Russia? Did he run a successful flour mills business? Was he a High Chief in the city of Enugu? Some of these questions will probably never be answered, but it's still worth seeing the "Fantastic Man" documentary, it's 30 minutes and free on YT.

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Buy album United States
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Track picks: Atomic Bomb, Beautiful Baby

Synth-funk essential. One of the best and most inventive funk album I've had the pleasure of hearing and one of the best places to start your deep dive into African funk, electronic and underground music.
[First added to this chart: 11/08/2021]
Year of Release:
1978
Appears in:
Rank Score:
469
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Buy album United States
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Track picks: Anything You Sow, Everyday

Ole Will embraces the 80s synth music. It's both groovy and powerful, perhaps the best he's ever sounded.
[First added to this chart: 11/08/2021]
Year of Release:
1985
Appears in:
Rank Score:
155
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Buy album United States
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Track picks: Ride on Baby, Something You'll Never Forget, Heaven & Hell

Where it all started. With that Afrobeat-funk fusion. There's essentially nothing separating this, Tomorrow and Hypertension (except the growing amount of synths, I guess).
[First added to this chart: 11/08/2021]
Year of Release:
1977
Appears in:
Rank Score:
83
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Comments:
Buy album United States
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Track picks: Fantastic Man, Try and Try

A fantastic album, honestly should be higher. If there was a single album that describes Onyeabor as a musician and producer, it's this one. A great musical mind at the height of its power. Has several of his top-tier songs, as well as the most iconic one in Fantastic Man.
[First added to this chart: 11/08/2021]
Year of Release:
1979
Appears in:
Rank Score:
45
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Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Track picks: The Moon & The Sun, Politicians

Electro-funk, synths (perhaps even synthpop?) and, in this reviewer's honest opinion, the best utilization of backing vocals in all of his opus on the opening track. Also, am I crazy or does the aforementioned opener have a slightly reggae rhythm? The whole album is a treasure, wobbly, warm, silly and fun.
[First added to this chart: 11/08/2021]
Year of Release:
1982
Appears in:
Rank Score:
22
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Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Track pick: I've Got Love

His most unremarkable work imo, Onyeabor's done this style better elsewhere. Every song drags on for too long, but you're still gonna have a very good time. The tracks Love is Blind, and especially I've Got Love, have some of his best synth melodies.
[First added to this chart: 11/08/2021]
Year of Release:
1981
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6
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Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Track pick: Body & Soul

Another fun funk one, but I think he went too far with the track lengths here. Excessive lengths are often a slight problem with Onyeabor's tracks, but never truly get in the way except on these last 2 entries, imo. Still, this is his funkiest one I think, and everybody who likes long soul/funk jams will rate this higher than I do.
[First added to this chart: 11/08/2021]
Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
26
Rank in 1980:
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Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 7. Page 1 of 1

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Who Is William Onyeabor? composition

Decade Albums %


1930s 0 0%
1940s 0 0%
1950s 0 0%
1960s 0 0%
1970s 3 43%
1980s 4 57%
1990s 0 0%
2000s 0 0%
2010s 0 0%
2020s 0 0%
Artist Albums %


William Onyeabor 7 100%
Country Albums %


Nigeria 7 100%

Who Is William Onyeabor? chart changes

Biggest climbers
Climber Up 1 from 8th to 7th
Body & Soul
by William Onyeabor
Climber Up 1 from 7th to 6th
Great Lover
by William Onyeabor
Climber Up 1 from 6th to 5th
Hypertension
by William Onyeabor

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