“Oh
believers gather around and start praying, for the devil has arrived!” Joseph
Kumalo is not alone in blaming the devil for ‘changes’ he is not happy with.
For Kumalo, South African cities in the early 1960s were dens of iniquity
corrupting the traditions and values of rural folk. Drinking, smoking
marijuana, gambling, fighting were the work of the devil.
We
have all encountered a few “devils” of our own this year, and I thought it a
good time to dig through my ‘new finds’ for a year-end Office Party shake-out. Welcome
to a bumper edition of the Electric Jive 2016 Durban Office Party. Sadly, unexpected
changes to my work-travel commitments prevent me from actually spinning these
discs, as planned, at the Electric Jive Office Party at Khaya Records on Friday
9th December. A party of one sort or another is still happening though. "Familiar Favourite" (Mxolisi Makubho) and Hotdog Fingarz of Fly
Machine Sessions are keeping their part of the bargain and will be coming
through from Johannesburg with some great tunes on vinyl. Make a note: Khaya Records, Durban – Friday evening 9th
December. I will leave a gift for the first thirty or so people who make it through the door. Thanks to Vusi of The Fly Machine Sessions for the graphic at the top of this post!
So,
herewith two hours of what I would have played, if I could have. First up is a
one-hour trip that sets off from the countryside with guitar and vocal
commentary from the late 1950s, early 60s, building up via violin jive through
Zulu blues, to early rock and roll. Victor Ndlazilwana (later of Jazz Ministers
fame) is credited with writing and playing on “Please do it oh Baby”, a song
that would not have been out of place on an Elvis album from that time.
The
merriment builds, morphing from rock-influenced marabi jive through to big-band
ska from the likes of Orlando Jazz Combo. Have a listen to Chris McGregor and the
Blue Notes playing Dudu Pukwana’s “Ndiyeke
Mra” and check out the strong ska influence! Likewise, Africa’s Hot Ten
(including Kippie Moeketsi and other jazz luminaries) showcase the deep well of
great talent and technical dedication from the time.
The
mix changes direction, revisiting some great brass-driven marabi jive tracks
from the likes of “The New Havana
Orchestra, The Shakers, and the The
Kwa Mashu Swingsters”. We warm down with the sweet vocals of the “Dark City
Sisters” and end as we began, artists referencing “Inhliziyo Yam” (my
disposition, or mood). Whereas Job Ndlangalala starts this set with a
hauntingly beautiful guitar track
telling of the circumstances that were ‘killing’ his mood, The Shakers end-off
with an upbeat simple finale.
So
– if you feel the need to cleanse, purge, indulge, exorcise, dance, this mix
can help. The 78rpm recordings are being shared as a single mix-tape. Sorry, no
separated tracks on this one.
I wish all visitors to Electric Jive happy holidays, and a much, much better 2017!
1. The Play Singer: Hambabamfana. (Job
Ndlangalala) Columbia YE208.
2. The Play Singer: U Ngi Cebe E Poisen. (Job
Ndlangalala) Columbia YE129.
3. Joseph Khumalo: Usathani Sefikile. (Joseph
Khumalo) Quality TJ.855.
4. Nongomo Trio: Zulu Violin Special. (Nongomo
Trio) Columbia YE.333.
5. Gumede's Happy Violin: Thatha Jou (J. Gumede) Gallotone
Jive GB.3212.
6. Stanley Caluza: Sengimtholile. (Stanley
Caluza) Columbia YE392.
7. Daisy Newman: Abafana. (Daisy Newman) Winner
OK.051.
8. Cooper & The Black
Be-Bop Sisters: Ebusuku
Nemini (Theodora Ngcongo) Winner OK.114.
9. Merebank Youngsters: Ngiyazisola (Merebank
Youngsters) Columbia YE.85.
10. The Bogard Brothers: Che Boogie Here. (L.
Motau) His Master's Voice JP.750.
11. Big Rock Chaka: Please Do It Oh Baby (Victor
Ndlazilwana). Tropik DC.751.
12. Almon's Jazz Kings: Uyidoda (Almon Memela) Gallo
USA USA280.
13. Orlando Jazz Combo: Imbasha (Percy Gumbi) Gallo
USA USA304.
14.
Chris McGregor & His Blue Notes: Ndiyeke Mra (Dudu Phukwana) Winner
OK.125.
15. Africa's Hot Ten: Club 600 (E. Williams) Winner
OK.001.
16. Christopher and his Home
Swingsters: T.
Time Ska (Chris Songxaka) Gallo New Sound GB3581.
17. Sofasonke Swingsters: Umlahla (Edmund Piliso) His
Master's Voice JP.857.
18. Cooper & The Black
Be-Bop Sisters: Vat
en Sit (Gloria Malete) Winner OK.114.
19. Zee Zee Jazz Appointment: Jazz Palace (Rupert Bopape) His Master's Voice JP.741.
20. The New Havana Orchestra: City Phata (Ngubane) Troubadour
AFC.605.
21. The Shakers: Shake Shake No. 1 (Busi)
Troubadour AFC.643
22. Kwa Mashu Swingsters: Siyanda (Roland Mqwebu)
RCA.250.
23. The City Dazzlers: Ngenye Mini (The City
Dazzlers) HIT.120.
24. The Dark City Sisters: Tap Tap Ntshebe (Zeph
Nkabinde, Michael Xaba, Rupert Bopape, Elijah Nkwanyane) His Master's Voice
JP.700.
25. The Shakers: Intlyizo Yam.(Busi) Troubadour
AFC.643.
The
second one-hour set is drawn from 45rpm, most of which found their way to my
drawers this year. Seventies South African soul, funk, pop, jazz and then some
mbaqanga to round it all off.
1.
The V.I.P.s: Maxie's
Mood. (M. Kubekha, I. Twala). Love Love LVB220.
2.
The Anchors: Friends In Soul. (The Anchors). CYB69. (1969).
3.
The Inn Lawes: Peter and Zacks Special (Peter Morake, Zacks Kgasapane) CBS AB
326.
4.
S. Piliso & His Super Seven: Papa Was A Rolling Stone (Whitfield and
Strong) FGB625 (1973).
5.
Cool Cats: Wilderness (Gilbert Matthews, G. Sabela) Soweto SWB 4 (1973).
6.
The Special Sounds: Mngani (Rupert Bopape and
Shadrach Piliso) Soul Jazz Pop SOJ 2 (1974),
7.
Cool Cats: See You Later (P. Nkosi, B.
Kgasoane) Soweto SWB 4 (1973).
8.
The Black Pages: There Goes (N. Makua, E. Kheswa, G.
Molefi). Soul Jazz Pop SOJ 140 (1977).
9.
S. Piliso & His Super Seven: Umgababa (Edmund Piliso & Themba
Dlamini) FGB625 (1973).
10.
Bops and Son: Chicken Soul (D. Mchunu) MJW Records MJW.107 (1976).
11.
Inthuthuko Brothers: Soweto Disco (S. Jibiliza)Black Cherry
BCS110 1978.
12.
Shumi: Gideon, Early & McKay (Holler/Arr: Masingi) BUA8803 (1974).
13.
Jazz Disciples: Tete’s Jump (Tete Mbambisa) HMV JP887 (1967).
14.
Rift Valley Brothers: Mutirima Waka (Lawrence Nduku) Mercury
MER11.
15.
Abafana Bentuthuko: Double Line (Hansford Mthembu) AB666.
16.
John Mkhabela and the Fire Wizards: Umdidyelo (J Nhlapo) GGB456 (1971).
17.
The Play Boys: Cross Road (D. Mokoka - M.
Maliehe) JP1338 (1973).
18.
Izintombi Zomoya: Oseke Walla (Rupert Bopape and Irene
Mawela) Motella MO 522 (1974).
19.
Abafana Besi Manje Manje: Bathini Nzimande (Hamilton Nzimande) HVN
NZ.68 (1974).
20.
Johanes Lenkoe with the Suger Suger Boys:
NU 3 (Johannes Lenkoe) Six Mabone SMB
728 (1975).
21.
Makhona Zonke Band: Durban Road. (
22.
The Creations: Wild Man in the City (Manu
Dibango) PD 1270 (1976).
Download
links:
78rpm
mix-tape
45rpm
mix-tape
45rpm
separated tracks