Fela Dis 'n Fela Dat

A tasty set of tunes due out in February via Stones Throw imprint Now Again. 4 x 10inch vinyl, Single CD and MP3 versions
"Covers and music inspired by the Godfather of Afro-Beat. This Fela Estate-approved anthology includes rare and previously unreleased music from Nigeria, Ghana, Colombia, Trinidad and more. "
Black Man's Cry - The Inspiration Of Fela Kuti (Stones Throw, 2010)
Tracklisting
1. Shacalao -Cumbia Moderna De Soledad
2. Woman Pin Down - Dan Satch & His Atomic 8 Dance Band
3. Black and Proud - 6th Infantry Brigade Of The Nigerian Army
4. Hot Pants - Bola Johnson
5. Adebo - Segun Bucknor
6. Never Trust A Woman - Bola Johnson
7. Sisi Mi - Jerry Hansen
8. Up Side Down - Daktaris
9. Comencemos - Phirpo Y Sus Caribes
10. Egbi Mi O/Black Man's Cry (Medley) - Lever Brothers Gay Flamingoes
11. Black Man's Cry - Mosco Tiles Fonclaire Steel Orchestra
12. Egbi Mi O/Black Man's Cry (Medley) - Sylvania East Side Symphony
13. Shacalao - Lisandro Meza
14. Toure Samar- Karl Hector & The Malcouns
15. Lullaby For Lagos - Whitefield Brothers
MP3: Dan Satch and his Atomic 8 Dance Band: “Woman Pin Down”

And appearing at about the same time is this new volume in Soundway's Nigeria Special series:

"It was Fela Kuti and his musical and political ideals that formed the core of afrobeat’s message. Blending highlife, Yoruba music, funk and jazz, Fela dominated the musical tapestry of 1970’s Nigeria and his influence in Nigeria and West Africa led to a craze where most of the bands of the day incorporated this new sound into their repertoires to satisfy the tastes of the audiences of the time. This compilation highlights some of those recordings that have, until now, not seen the light of day."
Nigeria Afrobeat Special
1. Fela & The Africa 70 – Who’re you? (Original 45 Version)
2. Eric Showboy Akaeze & His Royal Ericos – We Dey Find Money
3. The Anansa Professionals – Enwan
4. Saxon Lee & The Shadows International – Mind Your Business
5. Bongos Ikwue & The Groovies – Otachikpopo
6. Orlando Julius & His Afro-Sounders – Afro-Blues
7. Bob Ohiri and his Uhuru Sounds – Ariwo Yaa
8. Mad Man Jaga – Hankuri
9. Godwin Omabuwa & His Casanova Dandies – Do The Afro Shuffle
10. Segun Bucknor’s Revolution – Gbomojo
11. The Black Santiagos – Ole
(3 x LP contains 5 extra tracks)

Feel the Pulse of Amampondo

Anyone who has experienced the live force of Amampondo is almost certain to have been disappointed with their recorded output. Nothing quite matches the spectacular energy and passion of the band playing live. Except perhaps for this single which was released in 1984 and has long since been deleted. Just a year earlier I was involved in hosting Amampondo live in concert at the University of Pietermaritzburg's Old Main Hall. The lo-fi recordings we made of that performance are still remarkable. Before listening to the blistering 915 take some time out to listen to the Amampondo version of Qongqothwane aka The Click Song recorded at that 1983 concert.

LISTEN: Qongqothwane (live at the PMB Old Main Hall, 1983 - A Stun Production)


Amampondo - Sibuyele 915 (Gallo, XPD2313, 1984)
1. Sibuyele 915 (Dub)
2. Sibuyele 915
"Dedicated to the people of the No 915 Langa Barracks"
(More background on the Langa township here).
Amampondo: Dizu Plaatjies, Mzwandile Qotoyi, Simpiwe Matole, Nkululeko Ludonga, Blackie Mbizela, Mandla Lande, Xola Mlambo, Thandi Mashiloane, Mapule Mlambo.
Mixed by Nic Pickard and Amampondo. Produced by Bruce Gordon and Amampondo. Recorded at Revill Studios.
LINK

SANGO TIME: Mangelepa in Malawi!

LP Cover pic courtesy Nick (thanks!)

"Based in Nairobi, Les Mangalepa are sovereigns in their own musical kingdom 'Le Royaume Mangalepa' - which extends far beyond Kenya to encompass Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Malawi, Zambia and DR Congo (ex-Zaïre).

"The story of Les Mangalepa starts in the 1960s when, as members of Baba Gaston’s band in Lubumbashi, they led the migration of musicians out of Zaïre and into Eastern Africa, via Tanzania and on to Nairobi. Striking out on their own, they played their first gig as Les Mangalepa at the Park Inn, Nairobi, in July,1976.

"The name was corrupted from the French ‘Marquez le Pas’ meaning 'marching time', in which they parodied the army style, laying down an irresistible beat, which became the stylistic expression for their ever-growing 'marching army' of fans. The songs in this collection are taken from the period when Les Mangelepa were in their full pomp. They conjure memories of a golden period of East African music when the crowds flocked to Uhuru Park, Garden Square, Tents Club and Park Inn. Those coming to the floor for the first time can anticipate a sense of surprise at the joy and vitality of these recordings." - FROM RETROAFRIC.COM

This LP had been sitting, dusty and undisturbed for at least 10 years before the matsuli crew rescued it from the humidity, dust and heat of a warehouse in Durban. Unfortunately no cover! Previously we'd had a number of ideas as to the origins of the Sango label and no-one seems quite sure about its origin or history. The best guess so far is that it was an "export" only label for countries such as Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique and South Africa. "The second part of the Sango story is as a late 1970s-early 1980s label of convenience for East African records from the ASL, African Beat and Polydor catalogues that were evidently pressed up for export, many retaining their original catalogue numbers for those labels." (Tim at KenTanzaVinyl)


Orchestra Mangelepa - Live Recording of the Malawi Tour (Sango, ASLP 921, 1980)
1. Ole Pts 1 & 2
2. Saad Pts 1 & 2
3. Malawi Zikomo Pts 1 & 2
4. Kanemo Pts 1 & 2
RS LINK
MFIRE LINK

For more information on Congolese bands in East Africa visit MUZIKIFAN. You can buy the wonderful compilation of their material ENDURANCE through most friendly retailers such as STERNS.

Next Stop Soweto!

Our good friends at Strut make their foray into South African sounds with a three release series, the first of which focusses on mbaqanga, the second on soul, groove and fusion and the final installment jazz. Just in time for the world cup!

VOL. 1: UNDERGROUND TOWNSHIP JIVE 1969-1975
Tracklisting:
1. MELOTONE SISTERS WITH AMAQOLA BAND – I SIVENOE
2. THE MGABABA QUEENS – MAPHUTHI
3. S.PILISO & HIS SUPER SEVEN – KUYA HANJWA
4. THE BIG FOUR – WENZANI UMOYA
5. MAHLATHINI & THE QUEENS – UMKHOVU
6. ZED NKABINDE – INKONJANE JIVE
7. INTOMBI ZEPHEPHA – INGOINA LE NYATHI
8. TEMPO ALL STARS – TAKE OFF
9. BOY-NZE NA MAQUEENS – I’SMODENI
10. MAHOTELLA QUEENS – ZWE KUMUSHA
11. AFRICAN SWINGSTERS – EMUVA
12. UBHEKITSHE NAMAJONGOSI – UMADUNA OMNYAMA
13. LUCKY STRIKE SISTERS – MR J.S. MPANZA
14. ABA-LILIZELI – SIKHWELE
15. REGGIE MSOMI & HIS HOLLYWOOD JAZZ BAND – SOUL CHAKARI
16. AMAQAWE OMCULO – JABULANI BALALELI (PART 2)
17. PISTON MAHLATHINI & THE QUEENS – NOMACALA
18. SAMMY BOY – 10 TO 11
19. IZINTOMBI ZASI MANJE MANJE – AWUFUNI UKULANDELA NA?
20. ‘IZA WENA’ HAPPY AFRICA
Release date: International1st February 2010 / 2nd February 2010

In the meantime go and pick up an original Izintombi Zesi Manje Manje link from electricjive to see what all the fuss is about. Myself I'm keen to see the selection for the Volume 2!

Still Grazing (Happy 2010!)

I made a conscious effort to avoid any kind of 2009 round-up or summation of the past decade. Partly laziness and a lack of time on my part but mostly due to an overiding sense of that the practice of reducing everything to top 10 lists simply cheapens everything. My private and symbolic "act of resistance" was reading two books: Still Grazing, the biography of Hugh Masekela and De Capo's Best Music Writing 2009, edited by Greil Marcus. The Masekela book has been rather elusive and I eventually found my copy at a second hand bookstore in Durban. The De Capo book saved me from pulling my hair out whilst with relatives over Christmas.

But enough about me. What about you? What would you like to see here? In many ways our friends at ELECTRICJIVE have taken over the baton of sharing rare South African material and I've told them to reload a lot of stuff I had previously featured here. I'm going to try to share some more rarities, a few more mixes and focus on the building the reissue programme of South African classics. But I'd still love to hear from you.

On the Masekela side check out this track from his great LP Introducing Hedzoleh Sounds

Rekpete (DOWNLOAD)

and then check out this tune from J.O. Oyeshiku and his Rainbow Quintet:

Oro re o repete (DOWNLOAD). Spot anything?