Thursday 7 January 2010

The Sound of Now



We can only speculate about a parallel universe in which Joseph Makwela never bought an electric bass off Mannie Parkes (see the Mavuthela story at matsuli) or where Robert Bopape at Mavuthela Productions never introduced Marks Mankwane to Joseph and the other band members that were to solidify the foundations of mbaqanga as the Makhona Tsohle Band. But enough speculation...by the late sixties the formula had been laid and "vocal jive" (we like to call it electric jive) was the modern urban sound of NOW. Its not surprising that the female band to challenge the crown of the Mahotella Queens and the Dark City Sisters was Izintombi Zesi Manje Manje - literally "the NOW NOW GIRLS". Other girl groups heralding the new were the S'modern Girls, the Queue Sisters, the Manzini Girls, the Flying Jazz Queens, Mgababa Queens and the Space Queens amongst others. And so today...one serious dose of electric jive from Izinthombi Zesi Manje Manje and the Space Queens.

Ingwe idla Ngamabala (CBS, LAB4005, 1968)
1. Ingwe Idla Ngamabala - Izinthombi Zesi Manje Manje
2. Shela Wethu - Izinthombi Zesi Manje Manje
3. Isinkwa Nobanana - Izinthombi Zesi Manje Manje
4. Siy' Emshadweni - Izinthombi Zesi Manje Manje
5. Indandato - Izinthombi Zesi Manje Manje
6. Sizoni Dlalela - Izinthombi Zesi Manje Manje
7. Siyo Ba Bamba - Space Queens
8. Sesi Ngenile - Space Queens
9. Sesi Yeza - Izinthombi Zesi Manje Manje
10. Jabulani Nonke - Space Queens
11. Sivela Pesheya - Space Queens
12. Isalukazi - Izinthombi Zesi Manje Manje

DOWNLOAD LINK HERE

If you wish to purchase the CD compiling their greatest hits then you can buy the Best of Izintombi Zese Manje Manje from Kalahari.net for ZAR40.00. This release was re-mastered as part of Rob Alingham’s work whilst at Gallo Archives. Louise Meintjies has also written extensively on Izinthombi Zesi Manje Manje in her fascinating book Making Music Zulu. More details via AMAZON.

Oh, and happy 2010!

5 comments:

  1. Wow... I'm going to be holding my breath while this one downloads. Thank you a million. Miami is about to hear some Jive! cheers, Cole

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  2. This looks like a fantastic post - IZMM are a legendary band among Mbaqanga fans - a big thankyou for this from MamboPete

    p.s. I've not been able to download it all day though, and here's why....
    ...I've noticed that rapidshare are making things increasingly difficult for free users to download - other comments around the blogs seem to confirm this, and some sites have given up on rapidshare altogether and now use mediafire or other alternatives. Have any other bloggers noticed this??

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  3. I find rapidshare very frustrating, i have bought two 30 days passes but this is getting ridiculous

    megaupload or media fire are much better

    wuod k

    ReplyDelete
  4. Guys, bear with us. Rapidshare seems to be a hot and cold thing, like marmite. Some people have no issues whilst others seem to have constant problems.

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  5. A wonderful compilation comprising some of the best 1960s SA jive recorded - what more could one ask for? And listening to this compilation, it's easy to see why Mavuthela's crown was challenged... ;)

    all the best
    Nick

    ReplyDelete

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