Spokes Mashiyane on 78rpm

Every now and then record digging in Durban turns up some rarities that convince you to keep on perservering. In addition to the last two posts on Electric Jive, a pile of five shellac 78rpm’s found their way to me from an older person who was leaving the big city for a small house in a small rural town - just could not afford big city life anymore. Herewith a quick-fire one-two of Spokes Mashiyane recordings done on the “New Sound” label. ClickRepair has been used to tidy up the standard hiss one gets from these old 78s.

Spokes Mashiyane and his All-Star flutes is more in the mould of the traditional banjo and flute kwela music that was so popular in the late 50s and early 60s. The third song offered today. “Bo Joang Joala” is a combination of pennywhistle and banjo backing to a more mbaqanga-oriented vocal platform for male and female voice, replete with great ululating. The “B” side of this particular recording “Qo Petsa” is unfortunately damaged. The surface is not scratched or visibly impaired, and no matter how much careful cleaning, the sound still comes out muffled and inconsistent. I can only conclude that it was an “off” pressing?

Tomorrow’s offering takes Spokes into saxophone territory.

Spokes Mashiyane and His All Star Flutes
The Last Sixpence - GB 2964A
Banjo Special - GB 2964B

Spokes Mashiyane and His All Stars
Bo Joang Joala GB 2941B
Qo Petsa GB2941A - damaged

Rapidshare here and here
Mediafire here and here