Sh-boom: additions to the 50s archive

The thrill of stumbling across previously unknown gems really does feel special for record diggers – all the more when fellow collectors come forward to share what they have found on their own journeys. These 78rpm vinyls come courtesy of Ned Newitt’s collection – thank you Ned.

Thoko Thomo and the Lo Six do feature amongst the more than 13,000-strong collection of the South African Music Archive Project (SAMAP) – though the two songs on offer here are additional to that archive. While the “Germiston Brown Dots” do not feature at SAMAP, the translator and arranger of their fabulous version of Sh-boom, Walter Theletsane, also did a translation and arrangement of “Day-O”, again for the Columbia label.

I am sorry to say I cannot enlighten you any further on the Four Bright Lads from Durban, except to say these 1950s harmonies are categorised as 'Zulu Jive'.

Many recordings from the 50s just do not have dates printed on them. While Sh-boom (Life Could be a Dream) was first published in 1954, 78 rpm records were pressed well into the 1960s in South Africa. Whatever their dates, ElectricJive is just happy to play a small part in ensuring that these well preserved recordings of 1950s Zulu jive, vocal and cover adaptations are a) not lost, and b) are heard by an appreciative audience.

QUALITY
TJ 112 Zulu Jive vocal
THOKO “SHUKUMA” THOMO & LO SIX
Buya Jimmy (Restell)
5819-1
Rand Baby (Restell)
T 5815-1

PHILLIPS
SB 54 Zulu Jive
THE FOUR BRIGHT LADS OF DURBAN with Rhythm accompaniment
Unomathemba (Remigius Hlophe)
AA 30053.2H
Umuntu Wembazo (Remigius Hlophe)
AA 30053.1H

COLUMBIA
YE 133 Zulu
GERMINSTON BROWN DOTS Acomp.: Busy Bees
Sh-Boom ( J. Keyes, C. Feaster, F.W. Marne, J. Edwards- Zulu lyric, Walter Theletsane)
CEA 2989
Mamazala (trad arr Walter Theletsane)
CEA 2990

RS link
MF link