Lets Go to Orlando Stadium (Laduma pt 2)

Celebrating the all conquering Orlando Pirates side that lifted the Mainstay Cup, the Benson and Hedges, Sales House Champ of Champs and BP Top Eight trophies back in the eighties. Can you pick out any of the following big names: Eric Chippa Chauke, Jomo Troublemaker Sono, Webster City Late Ditchaba, Johannes Staff Nurse Kholwane, Andy Jesus Karajinski, George Harare Makhubela, Toy Digger Jazz Ramosa, Sparks Kamuzu Banda, Phil Jones Setshedi, Chilli Boy Keo Shebile Kaloba and Yster Ntsimbi Khomane. A slow paced afro-synth and syn drums work-out courtesy of Condry Ziqubu and production from Mr Tom Vuma.
RS/MF

Laduma!

World Cup fever strikes! And to start the celebrations a nod to the fantastic Next Stop Soweto compilations from Strut we thought we'd repost a matsuli compilation (thanks Matt)subtitled South African Soul, Funk and Fusion from the Seventies. Watch Out!

LM Radio excerpt
The Boy’s Doin’ It - Hugh Masekela
Chapita – Dick Khoza
Switch #2 - Jonas Gwangwa and African Explosion
Johannesburg Love Trip – Thembi
Kinzambi – Assegai
For Your Precious Love – The Flames
Harari - The Beaters
I Never Loved a Man - Margaret Singana
Ngasuka Ekhaya - Stephen Moleleki
Katlehong - Mpharanyana and the Cannibals
How Long - The Movers
Get Funky(edit) - The Cannibals
Brother - Pacific Express
Take Me Home Taximan - Soul Brothers

The original track notes are here:
RS LINK
MF LINK

Classic South African Jive from Nick Lotay

If you enjoyed “Mavuthela – The Sound of the Sixties” over at Matsuli, you’ll definitely love this second and equally special compilation: “Classic South African Jive” – thirty more songs from the golden age of mbaqanga, all originally released on 78 and 45 rpm records between 1964 and 1977. A respectable history of mbaqanga music can be revealed by this collection: the origins of early jive in the 1960s (“Isikebe Siwile”, “Rocsy Pie Conti”), the “toughening-up” and growing elasticity of the sound in the middle 1960s (“Duba Duba 900”, “Ngikhala Ngiya Baleka”, “Izihambi”), and the very zenith of mbaqanga in the 1970s (“Deda Endleleni”, “Izinto Zimanukwenza”, “Vuka Uzibuke”). There are many famous names adorning this compilation – among them Shadrack and Edmund ‘Ntemi’ Piliso, Elijah Nkwanyane, West Nkosi, Simon Nkabinde, the Mavuthela girl group team in all their pseudonymous guises, and of course the solid backing unit the Makhona Tsohle Band who are present on all recordings here with very few line-up changes, led by the fantastic two – Marks Mankwane on electric lead and Joseph Makwela on electric bass.

All of these songs were originally released on hard-to-find discs on Mavuthela’s “Motella”, “Gallo New Sound”, “C.T.C. Star Record”, “Smanje Manje” and “Gumba Gumba” labels and come from my modest assortment of vinyl. The big thank you must go to Siemon Allen, who contributed eight wonderful tracks to the first Mavuthela compilation and has shared many vinyl treats over the last few years with both Matsuli and ElectricJive. Siemon is responsible for fourteen of the thirty tunes here in this second instalment, and I’m sure that once you listen to this compilation you’ll be as grateful to him as I and many others have been!

Treat yourself to this second helping of delicious electric jive. Enjoy it as much or as often as you see fit!
Nick Lotay, May 2010


Tracklist
1 ISIKEBE SIWILE – ALEXANDER ALL BAND (1964)*
2 UMKHOVU – ALEXANDER ALL BAND (1964)*
3 ROCSY PIE CONTI – BOB-CATS (1964)
4 BACKYARD 21 – BOB-CATS (1964)
5 BALA THOKO – MARULA BOOM STARS (1964)
6 WATHELA, WAYEKA – MARULA BOOM STARS (1964)
7 EFLETHINI – L.V. SISTERS (1964)*
8 ISALUKWAZI – L.V. SISTERS (1964)*
9 GUN 077 – ANANIA WA MOFOLO (1964)
10 JIVE SOPHIA – ANANIA WA MOFOLO (1964)
11 DUBA DUBA 900 – WEST NKOSI & HIS ALTO SAX (1966)
12 JIVE MTSHIKISA 500 – WEST NKOSI & HIS ALTO SAX (1966)
13 NTOMBI ZODWA – MTHUNZINI GIRLS (1967)
14 NGIKHALA NGIYA BALEKA – MTHUNZINI GIRLS (1967)
15 VALA IZWE – BIG VOICE JACK (1967)*
16 BAILE BATHO – BIG VOICE JACK (1967)*
17 IZIHAMBI – IZINTOMBI ZOMGQASHIYO (1968)*
18 USIKHESHE KHESHE – IZINTOMBI ZOMGQASHIYO (1968)*
19 BASIBON’ IZITHUTHA – MAHLATHINI AND IZINTOMBI ZOMGQASHIYO (1969)*
20 ABANGANI BAMI – MAHLATHINI AND IZINTOMBI ZOMGQASHIYO (1969)*
21 NAMHLA KUNGAMI – MAHLATHINI AND IZINTOMBI ZOMGQASHIYO (1970)
22 OKWAMADODA KUYA BHIKWA – MAHLATHINI AND IZINTOMBI ZOMGQASHIYO (1970)
23 DEDA ENDLELENI – MAHOTELLA QUEENS (1972)
24 IGUGU LEZWE – MAHOTELLA QUEENS (1972)
25 ITHENDELE ELIHLE – EMILY ZWANE & THE SWEET SOUNDS (1974)*
26 IZINTO ZIMANUKWENZEKA – EMILY ZWANE & THE SWEET SOUNDS (1974)*
27 UMNTANAM’ ULAHLEKILE – MAHOTELLA QUEENS (1975)*
28 IZINYEMBEZI ZESULIWE – MAHOTELLA QUEENS (1975)*
29 VUKA UZIBUKE – MAHOTELLA QUEENS (1977)
30 YADILIKA INTABA – MAHOTELLA QUEENS (1977)
*courtesy of Siemon Allen at flatinternational

The original "Ghana Soundz": Ogyatanaa Show Band (1975)

If the name of the 70s Ghana funky highlife sensation “Ogyatanaa" somehow sounds familiar, you probably have the excellent Soundway collection “Ghana Soundz” – volume one or two; or the “Ghana Special” compilation. Ogyatanaa appear on all these excellent compilations.

Today’s ElectricJive diversion offers the legendary 1975 “African Fire” (also known as Yerefrefre), the band’s first album, containing their early 70s hits, along with a sumptuous twenty-minute tribute to Ghana’s highlife kings.

Recorded at the Ghana Film Studios, the original vinyl of “Yerefrefre” has today’s collectors paying high prices for yet another African gem that was never re-released.

Excerpt from the album back-cover written by Kwesi Yankah: “It is difficult to talk about the best in the highlife sounds of the seventies, and not to mention the music of the Ogyatanaa Show Band. In 1971 it is established. Barely a year later in its very infancy it takes second position in the National Dance Bands competition (small bands) – taking the whole of Ghana by storm with its unique and yet to be surpassed arrangement of the highlife classic “Yaa Amponsah” gratefully served on this album. In 1973 it turns the highlife world topsy-turvy with the hit tunes “Mmobrowa” “Ebe Yie Nie” and others. In 1974 it goes into seclusion; it does not rest, mind you, it begins home-working on a big something – a big something which eventually materialises in 1975, in the precious album you hold now!”

Personnel:
Nana Ofori – Leader / Guitar
Ocloo Jackson – Asst. Leader – Percussion/Drums
Ofori Frimpong – Keyboards
Kobina Gardiner – Bass Guitar
Nakai Nettey – Percussion
Pa Owiredu – Vocals / Percussion
Kwaku Dua – Vocals / Percussion

RS Here
MF Here

Meet the Mahotella Queens (1966)

Thanks everyone for your comments and mails - and especially to those of you offering to share that special music you have collected. We look forward to widening all of our horizons! Another classic and crucial out-of-print rarity for your enjoyment this week!

“Not long ago – about two years – the country was swept by a craze for a new kind of jive. First presented and popularised by the Mahotella Queens, it shows no signs of decreasing – in fact it gets bigger with the release of each new “Queens” record. Demonstrating the dance all over the country, The Mahotella Queens (not to forget their “King” Mahlatini Nkabinde) have become the idols of the young “with it” crowd. Growing from original “Jive Motella” many other fads and variations have recently hit the scene – all of them introduced and demonstrated by The Queens and their King: Jive Mgqashiya (which is available on MO 33 and, incidentally is named after the word meaning the Bantu traditional way of dancing), Jive Jibav (on MO 50) and most recently a wild, crazy jive called ‘S’modern’.

The charm, vivacity and ultra-modern go-ahead spirit of these vital young artists fully deserves to have captivated the country. Ever since they started, back in Johannesburg in 1963, their fame has been growing by leaps and bounds. Today they have no equal in their field. But although they are the ones who glory in all the limelight, they owe an enormous debt to the “man behind the scenes”. He is the “brain” who guided, formed and trained the group – Rupert “Bops” Bopape. “ From the cover.

Much more on the “Queens” can be found on the internet, including: here and here and here
Buy more recent releases here and here.
Rapidshare here
MediaFire here
 

Batsumi brings the sunshine

"Contemporaries of Malombo, the Dashiki Poets and other conscious African artists, Batsumi fused jazz, African drums, poetry and words delivering a powerful fusion that was in itself an expression of freedom from physical and mental chains. Just two albums of original music was recorded and released although a third LP is mentioned int eh sleeve notes of the second album. In 1982 an LP under the band name Marumo and titled Modiehi (Spade, 1982) included some members of Batsumi. There is also a catelogue number on the Stax label (Stax 5517) which appears to have been allocated to the first Batsumi LP. To add to the confusion a compilation of Batsumi tracks was issued in 1977 and the first LP was reissued in the same year on the J-Town label. " Matt from matsuli.blogspot.com

BATSUMI (RTL 4041, 1974)
Produced by Baba Matiwane. Cover illustration by Zulu Bidi.
1. Lishonile
2. Emampondweni
3. Mamshanyana
4. Itmuleng
5. Anishilabi
Musicians: Thabang Masemola (Flute & Jew Harp), Themba Koyana (Tenor Sax), Buta-Buta Zwane (Vocal and Bongos), Maswaswe Mothopeng (Vocal and Guitar), Sello Mothopeng (Organ), Thabang Masemola (Batsumi Drums), Lekgabe Maleka (Drums), Zulu Bidi (Double Bass)
EDIT: Links removed due to forthcoming licensed reissue via Matsuli Music

Can’t stop myself: Makeba sings for Toyota

Is the impact of your political praise song lessened if you also sing songs to sell cars? That might have been an interesting question to ask both Franco (Azda) and Miriam Makeba (Toyota). Using existing songs to sell a product is one thing. Being paid to make songs to praise a product or person is a little different.

Sean over at “Africa is a Country” points to the recent ‘trivialisation’ of Miriam Makeba’s Pata Pata being used to sell Hondas. He also digs up a challengingly good old NY Times article on this trend of artists licensing songs to advertising agencies.

For many from South Africa I would guess that Pata Pata has its own speical associations already ingrained in our imaginations. Once the advertising jingle invades the association, our own memories can become disturbed; forever changed. A bit like Satchmo’s “What a Wonderful World” in “Good Morning Viet Nam”.

But what is happening with artists when they compose or perform songs specially created to sell a product to make someone else a profit? Praising political heroes is one thing, but selling cars is another. Either times are bad, or the sales punt does nothing to your conscience? In Makeba’s case, I want to believe that 1980 was a tough year for her? When Siemon Allen, collector of everything Makeba, shared this with me on a recent visit I knew it somehow had to make its way onto ElectricJive. An historical curiosity – in French and English.
RS Link
MF Link