Funk Soul Brothers – part 2-The Flaming Souls ‘Soul Time’ 1969 South Africa

Already posted in 2013 but still such a real gem that I’d like to share again….a great LP by one of the best groups in soul-jazz style that ruled from mid 60s to mid 70s in South Africa.

Only a few studio-albums and a bunch of rare 7″ singles are known. In addition to the information found on electricjive I add the lp ‘Soul Time’ by The Flaming Souls as today’s post. This obscure group definitely deserves a higher ranking in popularity.

The Flaming Souls were produced by Teal record scout West Nkosi and members included Simon Twala, Philip Malela, Gerald Khoza, Herman Fox, Kenny Mosito and Condry Ziqubu. Their sound is based on a slow jam of groovy organ, guitar and funky drums, drifting loosely to the style of American counterparts like Booker T & MG’s with clear references to Newport jazz as well. Hence a title like ‘Newport Soul’ or the remake of ‘Take Five’. But it is ‘Monks Beat’ that steals the show in this category.

‘Soul Time’ contains a selection of moody instrumentals and grooves that breathe African soul, jazz ala Jimmy Smith or Monk Higgins, even the instrumental organ-based period by James Brown pops up, when he recorded for Mercury/Smash Records.

Different South African indepent labels like Up, Up, Up and Atlantic City have released the group’s recorded output but only locally,which might explain why their records are so unknown and hard to get nowadays. Surprisingly in 1969 , ‘Soul Time’ was released in South Africa on Number One Records, a sub-division of the budget label MFP, Music For Pleasure. Essential album that I like to share here today.