One of my all time favourite South African instrumentals is "Here We Come" by Mister King Jerroo. When I first heard this back in 1983 I just kept wondering who the hell this guy with the great name is. Back then I had a cassette dub from a friend who bought the LP on an "overseas" trip to London and Amsterdam, but during this last summer I found a mint copy at Crocodisc in Paris. The download of the LP along with a limited extra comes courtesy of http://brotbeutel.blogspot.com
Rough Trade turned their back on distributing South African material when they realised that a percentage of sales revenue was being paid through to the South African government. Earthworks were dropped from Rough Trade distribution because of this hard-line position. Looking at it now and re-reading the notes on the LP it seems quite apparent that this Soweto LP was a bootleg anyway and unless someone out there corrects me I'm not sure any money got to the artists.
Here are brotbeutel's notes:
In 1983 Rough Trade Records released "Soweto", a compilation with rough and enthusiastic sounds from South African townships. 3 years later Paul Simon used this music for his "Graceland" album, but this is the original stuff. I included the 2 tracks from the Masterbag flexi disc which were not included on the original album. Masterbag was a promotional magazine issued by the independent British distributor The Cartel.
Soweto" (Rough Trade Rough 37, LP, 1982)
New Lucky Boys "Jane"
Kid Bera-Bera and Mister King Jerroo "Katanga Country"
Unknown "Nobamba"
Unknown "Wilburforce"
S. Tshabalala "Bonakele"
Unknown "Saulsville"
New Lucky Boys "Indoda"
Steven Phiri "Malangabi D-One"
S. Tshabalala "Ukwenza Kwendoda"
John Motha "Zulu Boy"
Unknown "Queen Shikwambani"
Elfas Zondi "Umkumbani"
Saul Malapane and Mister King Jerroo "Here We Come"
Albert M'Kosane "Amaswati Special"
+ Soweto Selection (Masterbag BAG007, 7"/33.3rpm flexi disc, o.J.)
Unknown / Albert M'Kosane (Title unknown)
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8 comments:
Hello,
One more great album, thanx. Crocodisc is definitively one of my favourite place in Paris. where you can find some good and not too expensive funk, latin, jazz, reggae and of course african good old lp.
I spent so much time (and money) in this little shop. Go there, will probably be one of my first thing to do when i'll be back in Parisian winter in few weeks.
Thanx again.
Aduna
rapidshare has told me for the eleventh time that I have exceeded my free user limit ... yet this is the first time I am trying a download from there for more than a month!!!
I got this LP when it first came out - good to see you're making it available again!
This is a great album, bootleg or no. I didn't actually know Rough Trade ever put out any South African music. Thanks!
Great blog by the way!
Thanks a million. I got this at the time, lent it to a flatmate 10 years later, flatmate moved to London... Old story. Really looking forward to hearing it again.
Wow... wonderful album. I haven't heard these songs in years! Thanks for uploading them.
I still have my copy of that Soweto album. But no phonograph. I wish I could get hold of a digitized copy but the download link doesn't work.
I remember this album and would love to hear it again...
Please could you renew the link.
Many thanks,
William
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