Baker's Dozen

Artists discuss the 13 records that shaped their lives

7. King Sunny AdéSynchro System

In 1993, a decade after first discovering and falling in love with King Sunny Adé’s music, I was tracing my birth father, who was dead by then, but I found out he actually knew King Sunny Adé and this was one of his favourite albums as well as one of mine, and I was given his copy of the record by one of his wives and it made me feel a real connection to him. Back in 1983 though, I was dating our tour manager who when he wasn’t looking after The Selecter was working with King Sunny Adé when he was in the UK. I loved the talking drums and the wash of gentle guitars. That’s how I like my guitars to sound; when they are allowing the rhythm to just ride. Commie [Compton Amanor, The Selecter’s original guitarist] had that sound, he would just bubble away.

Selected in other Baker’s Dozens: Ibibio Sound Machine, Lord Spikeheart, Seun Kuti, Simple Minds
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