Sell More Records - Tom Vuma promotes EMI records (1978)

No cover and warped to the limits of playability this 1978 curiosity probably hasn't seen a turntable for the last 30 years. Amidst the pleas from DJ Tom Vuma to sell more records (and remember the catelogue number) we also get very best wishes for Christmas. Its an interesting view into the music EMI Brigadiers in South Africa was trying to shift in the late seventies through predominantly black music distribution channels. The mix of jazz, fusion, jive, reggae and soul and high local content is enlightening. Look out for the wonderful early version of Woza Friday from the two original members of Juluka, Johnny and SIpho.

Tracklisting
Hamba Juba :: The Covers
Kenny's Feelings:: The Savers
Maria :: The Jive Heroes
Warm Love :: Eric Donaldson
Isethembiso :: Mthembu Queens
Can't Live Without a Woman :: Bald Heads
Ngifuna Ududu :: The Covers
Cliff :: The Strong Sounds
Come With Me Girl :: The Savers
Izinyambezi :: The Additions
Woza Friday :: Jonathan & Sipho
Ain't Too Proud to beg :: Eric Donaldson
Izandla Ziyagozana :: The Additions 

ENJOY MF 

The Best of NUMBER ONE [MILLION]

Yesterday Electric Jive reached a milestone of one million page views! And July 2014 marks the fifth year since Chris and Matt launched this blog... and so thank you all who have visited these pages over the last 60 months!!!

What better way to celebrate than with this elusive instrumental mbaqanga compilation: The Best of Number One Records (N 9000). Number One was developed in 1972 by EMI, South Africa as a budget label and this unique sampler disc features nearly one track from each of their first fifteen LPs (N 9001 - N 9015). The label is perhaps best known for re-issuing some of the most desirable SA LPs of the mid to late 1960s, including: Armitage Road by the Heshoo Beshoo Group, the 1964 Castle Lager Jazz Festival featuring the Malombo Jazz Men, Nomvula's Jazz Dance by the Jazz Ministers, and a number of albums by The Kings Messengers Quartet (which still leads EJ in the most page views).

Ironically (or typically) this album does not feature any artists names, even though it is labeled as a "Special Sample Record for the SABC" (South African Broadcasting Corporation). Most tracks are attributed to Tom Vuma and/or P. Manthata, but some of the albums have been featured here at EJ so we can extrapolate at least these four artists: Alfred Ndima (N 9005), The Black Eagles (N 9006). The Moon Stars (N 9009) and Abafana Basekhaya (N 9015). Of course there is the possibility that these are all the same session musicians, but if anyone is able to identify any of the other artists, please let us know.

The Best of Number One Records
Various Artists
1972
Number One (EMI)
N 9000

Sea Water: minimal mbaqanga (1972)

  

Alfred Mthabane Ndima's track "Sea Water" appears on Nick Lotay's classic Mavuthela compilation shared on Matsuli during 2009. This album features Ndima with a session band playing "Sea Water" and eleven other tracks written by Tom Vuma. Most tracks are all more than decent 'stripped down'  instrumental mbaqanga samples - electric guitar, bass, drums, keyboards and sometimes accordion - just waiting for a trio of singers and saxophones to fill it all out. The guitarist sounds suspiciously good enough to be Marks Mankwane.

Rapidshare here

Mediafire here