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 in the top 3. Good Name is too short for BEA, but that one would rank in the top 3 as well.
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 the 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.
- Chart updated: 03/13/2025 15:15
- (Created: 11/08/2021 15:46).
- Chart size: 7 albums.
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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]
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]
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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]
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]
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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]
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]
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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]
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]
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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]
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]
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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]
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]
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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]
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]
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% |
Who Is William Onyeabor? chart changes
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Who Is William Onyeabor? similarity to your chart(s)
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Who Is William Onyeabor? forum mentions
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From LedZep 11/08/2021 23:44 in Chart talk
LedZep 11/08/2021 23:44 in Chart talk“So, I usually have a lot of (what seem to be) great ideas for original, cool charts. All of them are written... somewhere... or are perhaps even in the beginning stages on my charts page. But finally, FINALLY, I did the thing. I finished one chart. It's a simple one, honestly. So,”
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