From the original sleeve notes: "I first knew Mankunku back in 1968, though only as a groupie then. I turned onto "Jakal Inkomo" and all of a sudden it didn't seem so neceesary to be President of the Chubby Checker Fan Club any longer (No offence meant to Chubby - he really was very funky!) As a columnist - cum -hustler on the Pretoria News I gave Mankunku and the 1968 Castle King Jazz Festival in Memlodi two ecstatic columns of review. I took about 50 snaps which I will always cherish, but may never reveal. This album brings the maginificent Mankunku together with another very special person - a new and very bright star - Mike Makhalemele. Mike as the Lion could not be more gentle - Winston as the Bull is strong yet alone.The Bull and the Lion will make you feel sexy - and your wash will be whiter - Patrick van Blerk."
Mike Makhalemele and Winston Mankunku Ngozi - The Lion and the Bull (Jo'Burg Records, TJL13010, 1976)
1. Togetherness
2. Snowfall
3. Rainyday
Recorded at SATBEL Recording Studios. Produced by Robot, Cloud, Rabin and van Blerk.
Ronnie Robot (bass), Neil Cloud (drums), Trevor Rabin (Guitar), Mankunku and Makhalemele (Voices)
Togetherness and Snowfall Makhalemete comps and Rainy day from mankunku
UPDATED LINKS WITH IMPROVED SOUND
Rapidshare here
Mediafire here
The SA pop sensation Rabbit who provided backing for this jazz recording.
Wow, really enjoying the blog so far. One suggestion: The volume levels on your files are set way too low! I can increase them myself with audio restoration software, but this entails opening up the MP3s to .wav files, then highlighting the file & clicking "gain normalize," then reconverting the file to MP3. Would you be able to do this before you make the MP3s and save me a big hassle?
ReplyDeleteOtherwise, great job!
Is anyone else experiencing low volume levels? Is it on all or just some of the posts? We will look into it, and do our best to ensure good listening satisfaction. Using Stanton USB turntable with Audacity software - levels set just below levels at which clipping starts. Will check out options on next rip. Playback on this end sounds no different from other files from elsewhere. Thanks for the encouragement John.
ReplyDeleteI use DC6 software myself. I usually record .wav files at a pretty low level also to avoid clipping. Then I highlight the whole file and click "Gain Normalize" in the options (I'm sure your software has a similar option but it may be called something else.) In the words of the software manual, "The Normalize Gain feature searches an entire Wave file looking for the peak signal level. Then, it adjusts the gain applied to the file so that the overall level is below that value. This will provide the best signal to noise ratio and a reasonable volume balance for each 'cut' on your final master."
ReplyDeleteYou'll find in actual practice that the "peak signal level" on a particular file is usually a pop or scratch on the LP you recorded from. You can usually increase the overall volume level a little more by applying the Impulse Noise or Continuous Noise filters (best done sparingly) or removing individual pops and clicks manually (very time-consuming!), then applying Gain Normalize again.
At least according to DC6 the volume levels on all of the files I've dowloaded from your site are pretty low. Normalized they usually gain about 6-10dB without introducing any clipping.
Thank you John for taking the trouble - I will explore further and learn more. There will be one or two more at the old levels - but will work on future rips.
ReplyDeleteA much easier way to pump up the volume is on Goldwave. No need to convert files to *.wav first.
ReplyDeleteAs for Mankunku and Makhalemele, what legends! Didn't know that Rabbit were jazzy!!!
By the way, are you in SA? If so, where? e-mail me (address over at my blog)
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI am a contributor to the French Jazz Magazine. We would like to publish a tribute to Winston Mankunku Ngozi on our website (jazzmagazine.com), could we one of the pictures that you're using on your blog, please? We'd like the portrait (with Mike Makhalemele). Let me know if there is any copyright on it.
Thanks.
Lorraine Roubertie Soliman
Greetings Lorraine
ReplyDeleteWe are not in a position to authorise clearance for use of the picture as it is not ours. It comes from the album. We do not know who the owners of any copyright (if it exists) might be.
This is without question the greatest jazz record every recorded!!! At least that is what I am feeling after hearing Rainy Day. Reminds me of Gil Scott Heron without the vocals. This is pure bliss and I am so grateful that you have shared it and that I have this beautiful music in my life. THANK YOU!!! I am totally blissed out.
ReplyDeleteJust love your blog. Your insight & research are just wonderful. I can't hear the volume at all so maybe you can tweak this.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all of your dedicated research, photos & more of some of S. Africa's most landmark artists.
Arlene R. Weiss
Just love your blog. Your insight & research are just wonderful. I can't hear the volume at all so maybe you can tweak this.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all of your dedicated research, photos & more of some of S. Africa's most landmark artists.
Arlene R. Weiss
Hi Arlene - you are right - the sound is not good - I will try and find some time over the next trwo weeks or so to re-digitise it with the better system I have managed to get since the original post. Chris
ReplyDeleteNEW RE-DIGITISED VERSION NOW AVAILABLE ON RAPIDSHARE AND MEDIAFIRE - VISIT THE POST TO FIND THEM
ReplyDeleteNEW RE-DIGITISED VERSION NOW AVAILABLE ON RAPIDSHARE AND MEDIAFIRE - VISIT THE POST TO FIND THEM
ReplyDelete