Soul on Special Offer – the Office Party Part 1

Its Electric Jive Durban office party time again! The first set focusses mostly on soul from some of the 45s found this year.  While we start with a few early 1970s questions about a mad-mad world whose seasons have all changed, the party loosens up with some interesting 78rpm recordings from the fifties, asking and answering perpetual questions. There is some inebriation being promoted by a great fifties South African Gilbey's Gin commercial (no they did not sponsor the office party), and then we slide into beautifully b(l)oozy Zulu Rock and the Zulu Roll.

Miriam Sibisi and the Can-Can Stars carry the tone by lamenting MaGumede spending all the family money at a shebeen. We then lurch towards a trio of 70s mbaqanga songs from Victor Zulu (Mahlabatini) that lament on how Christmas empties the pocket; how money is the root of all evil; and how there is just not enough money ‘for the girls anymore’. Expect a focus post on Victor in the new year.

In the soul focus we kick off with a disco-soul groover showcasing Jacob Nabayaluzi’s great voice declaring undying love for Sylvia Mtakwethu. Patience Africa gives her womanising man the boot in “Ngiyathandi Nsizwa”. “Friends” pick up the theme in isiXhosa, singing of lessons their grandfather taught them in Butterworth (Iguwa) over waiting to first grow up and respect themselves before expressing love for a woman.

In the first of two great “Soul Sisters” tracks, the woman has been dumped by her man because of her over-emphasis on material gains, and she is pleading with him to take her back. In “Shay'istulo Bhiza”, the Soul Sisters are telling their man, Bhiza, to ‘take a hike’. Even though she loves Bhiza, he is a terrible womaniser, promising all the woman in the district that he will marry them. So, she concludes that he must try his luck elsewhere.

Travelling via Lemmy Special playing sax to a 1971 Almon Memela ‘wha-wha’ guitar composition, we get to some deep late sixties and early seventies South African soul from “The Xperts”; “The Macoys” and “The Anchors”.

Guy Buttery's album - check it out

Winding down for this set we take in some soul blues from the Elite Swingsters, a funky jazz number from Barney Rachabane and the Soundproofs, landing up with a wonderful surprise find – “The Creations” in 1976 doing a lovely rendition of Manu Dibango’s “Wild Man in the City”.

The after-party chill can't be complete without Guy Buttery. Once again, Guy has generously consented for ElectricJive to share a recent track of his – released this year on a great vinyl selection of tracks. Guy has named this song, Umtamvuna , after a river and an area that demarcates the start of the spectacular Wild Coast. I  encourage you to check Guy Buttery out here.

The second non-stop boogie, bump and jive offering arrives early next week.

Two options – a continuous mix, or download the individual tracks.

Best wishes to all visitors to Electric Jive – thank you for your company this year.

1.World Today:: Peanut Butter Conspiracy - 1972 (Brian Moulder) 45rpm CBS SSC1207.
2. It's a Mad Mad World:: Cambridge and Portia acc. by The Souls – 1968 (Cambridge B. Matiwane) 45rpm Ster Records SZ 8008
3. Cry My Baby:: The Anchors – 1969 (Patrick Nkosi) 45rpm City Special CYB36
4. Everything will be alright:: Spike Hornett and His Music – 19 fifty something 78rpm - Decca FM6374;
5. Gilbey's Gin (english):: Gilbey's Gin Promotional 78rpm - 19 fifty something (b side in Afrikaans)
6. Zulu Rock:: African Symphonics – 19 fifty something (Ngubane) 78rpm Troubador AFC941
7. Zulu Roll:: African Symphonics – 19 fifty something (Ngubane) 78rpm Troubador AFC941
8. Hay Magumede:: Miriam Sibisi and the Can-Can Stars – 1957 (M. Sibisi) 78rpm GB3275
9. Stop Coughing:: Bra Sambo – 19 fifty something (Bhengu) 78rpm Troubador AFC828 65149
10. Ukhisimusi Uqeda Amadola:: Mahlabatini - 1977 (V. Zulu) 45rpm KGB50B
11. Imali:: Intombi Zephepha and Mahlabatini – 1971 (V. Zulu) 45rpm Star Back LP SKL 3002
12. Anginamali:: Mahlabathini and Izintombi Zephepha - 1976 (V. Zulu) 45rpmSWB 236B
13. Sylvia Mntakwethu:: Jacob Nabayaluzi - 1978 (J. Khoza) 45rpm Disco Soul DCO 16
14. Ngiyathandi Nsizwa:: Patience Africa – 1976 (J. Zikhali) 45rpm SOJ101
15. Zimandi Qgitha:: Friends – 1976 (C.B. Matiwane) 45rpm PB36
16. Mtakwethu:: Soul Sisters – 1978 (G. Zulu) 45rpm Soul Brother PB 68
17. Shay'istulo Bhiza:: Soul Sisters- 1978 (C. Nombewu, C. Velem) 45rpm Soul Brother PB68
18. Ezola Emdeni:: Lemmy Special Mabaso – 1971 (A. Memela ) 45rpm HMV JP1241
19. Go-Go Underground:: The Macoys – 1970 45rpm Up Up UP UPB500
20. The Xperts:: Happy People Part 1 – 1976 (O.B. Sakoor). 45rpm RPM7800
21. The Xperts:: Happy People Part 2 – 1976 (O.B. Sakoor). 45rpm RPM7800
22. Uyeye (Papa Bull):: The Anchors & the Creche Kids – 1969 (Patrick Nkosi) City Special 45rpm CYB 53
 23. Isikhova (Pat's Blues):: The Anchors & the Creche Kids (Patrick Nkosi) City Special 45rpm CYB 53
24. Soul Girl:: Sophie Thepedi with the Soul Throbs – 1975 (S. Thepedi) 45rpm soul.soul SSB023
25. Soul Blues:: Elite Swingsters 45rpm UPB521
26. Lovely Betty:: Barney Rachabane and the Soundproofs- 1976 (Sankie Chounyane) 45rpm soul.soulSSB075
27. Wild Man in the City:: The Creations – 1976 (M. Dibango) 45rpm PD 1270
28. Umtamvuna (To Disappear in Place Version):: Guy Buttery - 2011 - check it here

TRACKS MIXED

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SEPARATE TRACKS

Mediafire 

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