Funky Soul Volume 1 (1982)

South African recordings on the Atlantic label generally do not disappoint. This one is a mixture of slow ballads with some strong more funky uptempo numbers from the likes of Kabasa, Xoliso, Marimba and Lerato.

The Kabasa tracks (Searchin; Happy Together) have featured on Electric Jive before.

Get Yourself Together from Xoliso is off their self-titled debut album. See picture to the right. Francis Gooding also points out that Stompie Mavi (featured as solo artist here) was also a member of Era, whose Manyano album you can find here. Thanks Francis.

Amanzi by Lerato is a funky conscious commentary on the importance of water. In the Lerato album shared here earlier on Electric Jive Matt writes: "Lerato (Sesotho for love) was a short-lived trio comprising Steve Woycieh (drums and percussion), Wally Fry (lead vocals) and Vuli Yeni (bass, saxophone and vocals). It's probably best filed under South African "cross-over", next to Izimpande or even Juluka. But still worth a listen even if the rock drumming accentuates the 4/4 timing a little too strong and leaves little space for the rhythm to breathe."

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Lerato (c1980)

Lerato (Sesotho for love) was a short-lived trio comprising Steve Woycieh (drums and percussion), Wally Fry (lead vocals) and Vuli Yeni (bass, saxophone and vocals). It's probably best filed under South African "cross-over", next to Izimpande or even Juluka. But still worth a listen even if the rock drumming accentuates the 4/4 timing a little too strong and leaves little space for the rhythm to breathe. Midst the moustache, pastels and dungarees it's the Rhodes piano that draws my eye. The Rhodes was invented by Harold Rhodes in the 1950s and was used extensively during the 1970s until digital synthesisers took prominence in the middle 1980s. But it's been back in fashion with a number of artists including Air, Radiohead, Portishead, Erykah Badu and Jamiroquai. Vuli Yeni went on to play in Lucky Dube's backing band on saxophone. Wally Fry started Fry's Vegetarian in 1990, a company that manufactures meat substitute food products. Steve Woycieh moved to Canada.

Enjoy the love!

Lerato (ATH 4053, c1980)
1. Izinkukhu
2. Stonky No Nungade
3. Isele-sele
4. Uphi Usandile
5. Sizoxabana
6. Lerato
7. Amanzi
8. Inhlupheko

ENJOY! RS / MF