The Movers Greatest Hits: Volume Six (1972)

 It has been a while since we posted anything from this stand-out seventies band. Electric Jive still has some way to go in documenting the prolific output of a band that started with soul, and changed with the times, chewing up and delivering distinctly South African takes on ska, pop, bump, disco and more during a hugely prolific decade.

Like Siemon's 2011 post of Volume 4 from the Movers, here, this and next week's post - perhaps another Movers rarity - are put together in more of a hurry than I would like, as I try and complete my "to-do" list ahead of some required travel.

If you have not worked it out yet, check out the search bar on the right hand side of this blog. If you type in "Movers" there you will get a listing (at the top of the page) of seven previous posts on this blog. Enjoy!

Download link here

Roots Crossover

Another reposting from the archives this week. This time from 1982. I first heard it on cassette in 1983 and had been searching high and low for it for some time. Its an uneasy crossover that combines lots of 4x4 drumming, Zulu vocals and plenty of keyboard. I love some of the tracks and thinking back it was a nice contrast to the work of artists like Juluka, Via Afrika, Hotline and others that were attempting different combinations of western and indigenous styles. 

From the sleeve notes:
"Music crosses all boundaries and is understood. The culmination of two years in a working together atmosphere which epitomises music team. A concept album that is pure Africa The crossover influence of two totally diverse styles...that of Tom Mkhize and Glynn Storm" 

Glynn Storm was best known for this work with SA rock group Backtrax whilst Tom Mkize had many gold records as artists and producer with groups such as The Daffodils and Abangani. 

African Image - Roots Izimpande (SPINL 3313, 1982)
Tracks:
1. Ibhanoyi (Fly Machine)
2. Ikhalaphi (War Cry)
3. The Way I Feel
4. Isoka Liyatatzela (Uneasy Playboy)
5. Utshwala Bumnandi (African Beer)
6. From the Roots
Sibusiso Mbatha (lead vocals), Abangani (backing vocals), Denny Lalouette (bass), Jethro Butow (guitar), Kendall Kay (drums, percussion), Glynn Storm (keyboards). Arranged and produced by Tom Mkhize and Glynn Storm.

ENJOY

Malombo - 1984 Live from the Old Main Hall, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

Gabriel 'Mabi' Thobejane and Philip Tabane, Market Café 1976 (Photo: David Marks)

Today another repost from the old matsuli blog:
Philip Tabane is the founder of the group Malombo, a Venda word for spirit. Today he is known as Dr Malombo and whilst the group has been through many iterations over the past 45 years they are still performing and astounding audiences worldwide. 

My introduction to Malombo was at University in 1982 when a friend passed on a dubbed cassette copy of The Indigenous Afro-Jazz Sounds of Philip Tabane and his Malombo Jazzman. Later I saw him play at the Rainbow Jazz Club in Durban and at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg. In 1984 I worked in a team to put on a series of concerts by Malombo under the auspices of the United Democratic Front - a non-racial coalition of about 400 civic, church, students', workers' and other organisations. We organised three concerts including one at the University's Old Main Hall from where the live recording being shared today comes from. 

Guitar scorcerer Philip Tabane at the Old Main Hall, University of Natal Pietermaritzburg, South Africa 1984 (Photo: Natal Witness) 

I find it difficult to express the power and beauty that comes from his performances. So I will leave it to a sleeve note writer to paint a picture: "Malombo's music is a blend of the sophisticated and the primeval, of electric and traditional instrumentation, of tone poems about the natural world and its close link to human communities. Malombo has strong roots in traditional African music but they draw from such a broad spectrum of influences as to render categorizations difficult. If you can imagine an African Chuck Berry who plays six flutes at one time awhile humming and singing, you're beginning to visualise the persona of Philip Tabane - leader of the group." (from the sleeve notes to the Kaya self-titled release)

For a long time I've lamented the fact that the Malombo back catalogue has fallen into disarray. Currently only five from a total of 13 releases are commercially in print. And of these five there is one obscure release - SIlent Beauty - not even credited to Phiip Tabane or Malombo. Recently Francis Gooding compiled an anthology of featuring the Julian Bahula branch stream of Malombo. You can find that here.

A (near) comprehensive discography is available at FlatInternational

The recording being shared was taped directed from the mixing desk but unfortunately has been through a few generations of dubbing before being digitised. I hope you enjoy it!
MEDIAFIRE

Alpheus Ramavhea - Ndo Shavha Tshikolo (1982)

Alpheus Ramavhea ranks alongside Eric Mukhese and the Takalani Band, Irene Mawela, Daniel Luambo, Colbert Mukwevho and Adziambei Band as one of the most influential Venda artists of all time. Today we share Ramavhea's 1982 album, Ndo Shavha Tshikolo, released on the Igagasi label and produced by Mavuthela guitarist Marks Mankwane.

By the late 1970s, Irene Mawela had become highly revered by Venda listeners and artists alike as the first artist to record mbaqanga songs in her mother tongue. (Record companies generally discouraged artists from recording songs in 'unsellable' languages, so the bulk of Irene's compositions were written in Zulu and Sotho for Gallo to release on 45rpm singles. Irene would then translate most of these into Venda for airplay on the then-Radio Venda, a unique move making her the first 'pop star' of the station when all other music broadcast was labelled 'traditional'.) Alpheus Ramavhea signed a recording contract with Gallo/Mavuthela in about 1979 and was immediately joined by Irene in the studio, who provided backing vocals and offered suggestions on how to make his sound more distinctive over potential competitors.

With the help of both Irene and guitarist and producer Marks Mankwane, Ramavhea's laidback vocals, groaning moans and acoustic picking were infused with the trademark mbaqanga sound. Ndo Shavha Tshikolo is Alpheus Ramavhea at his best, featuring twelve foot-stomping tracks. The vocal patterns here are just excellent and the backup is crisp. Particular highlights include "Vhuhadzi" (that is Irene doing the solo halfway through the song), "Muhadzinga", "Tshililo" and "Lufuno". Simply great music!

Enjoy!

ALPHEUS RAMAVHEA
NDO SHAVHA TSHIKOLO
produced by Marks Mankwane
engineered by Keith Forsyth
Igagasi IAL 3029
1982
Venda Vocal

MF

S'modern Girls - Unina Kavusi (1980)

We share another album of crisp and clean 1980s female mbaqanga today, this time from Izintombi Zesimanjemanje under their alternate pseudonym, S’modern Girls. 1980’s Unina Kavusi features 10 strong Zulu vocal numbers with powerful harmonies, sunny guitar, pounding bass and glorious organ.

Izintombi Zesimanjemanje (usually corrupted as ‘Izintombi Zesi Manje Manje’ on their record sleeves thanks to careless designers) established itself as a serious competitor in the local music scene early on and had been a relatively dominant force for just over five years when the original line-up, fronted by Sannah Mnguni, quit and went over to form Amagugu Esimanjemanje at EMI. Isibaya Esikhulu producer Hamilton Nzimande quickly reformed the group. His partner Jane Dlamini – the only Zesimanjemanje vocalist who stayed on at Isibaya – was soon joined by Lindiwe Mthembu (from Izintombi Zephepha), Nobesuthu Shawe (from the Mahotella Queens) and Ruth Mafuxwana. From 1972 to 1976 the quartet produced some brilliant high-quality vocal jive LPs (although naturally the 45s came first, then the albums), some of which were Nomali (1974), A Man and a Woman (1974), Isitha Sami Nguwe (1976), Bomakoti Bakajeno (1976) and Usithathaphi Isibindi (1976).

In 1977, the Zesimanjemanje maidens were joined by Hilda Tloubatla, who had recently left Gallo-Mavuthela after more than 12 years as the famous lead singer of the Mahotella Queens. It was at this same time that Nzimande began developing the famous Soul Brothers, then virtually unknown but soon to become Isibaya Esikhulu’s (and ultimately one of South Africa’s) biggest selling artists. As the era of girl group mbaqanga began to come to an end, Nzimande reinvigorated Zesimanjemanje’s backup to resemble that of the Soul Brothers, with a horn section, synth, organ, disco beat and just one guitar. The changes were a step into the future but the material remained very strong, notable albums including Ho Buoa Morena (1977), Ujabulisa Abantu (1978), Ha Le Dikela (1979), Umuntu Othulile (1979), Makoti Wakena (1980) and today’s share, Unina Kavusi (1980). In a bid to maintain the group’s popularity, Nzimande arranged for the ladies to record some of their own compositions using the same musical arrangements from the most popular Soul Brothers singles.

Most of the vocals on Unina Kavusi are split pretty evenly between the Zesimanjemanje maidens and a male soul chorus (not actually the Soul Brothers on this LP, although they do sing on Ujabulisa Abantu). The trademark mbaqanga rhythms are definitely imbued with that Soul Brothers magic and the result is happy, sunny and delightful. Every number is brilliant but particular standouts include “Ukuhlakanipha Akukho”, “Utshwala”, “Thathakahle” and “Mawumthanda”.

The female vocalists on this LP are: Jane Dlamini, Julia Mangqu, Lindiwe Mthembu, Nobesuthu Shawe and Hilda Tloubatla.

Enjoy!

S’MODERN GIRLS

UNINA KAVUSI

produced by Hamilton Nzimande

Umjondolo LJD 30

1980

Zulu Vocal

MF