funky guitar disco-vibes, good soul vocals and some quirky organ sounds…nothing more, nothing less. Any info on this obscure South African band The Special Five is welcome….
The Special Five -Ngicela Uxolo
The Special Five -Abase Khweni
The Special Five -We’ Mtanomuntu
The Special Five -Nazi Izinintombi
The Special Five -Wenzani Lomfana
The Special Five -Umjondolo
The Special Five -Mzayoni
The Special Five -Nokuthula
The Special Five -Mama Wami
The Special Five -Thina Amabhungu
SEE ALSO
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.
The Flaming Souls -Fox, Monks And Souls
The Flaming Souls -Newport Soul
The Flaming Souls -Tremblin Soul
‘Soul Time’ by The Flaming Souls -Number One Records N.9022 (33YE 1005)-South Africa
one post a day for the remainder of 2017 featuring a selection of some of my best finds of African music last year…not necessary brand new releases. Mostly vintage original pressings found during my travels all over the world.
Teal Records – XPD 2479 South Africa 1986
Producer – Ray Phiri
Produced by the late Ray Phiri of Stimela fame. Two fantastic disco/boogie tracks and a soulful tune from 1986 by Sandile Ngema
See also
Stimela -Look, Listen And Decide 1986
Guitarist Ray Phiri R.I.P. (1947-2017)
Discovery of the Week -Thoughts Visions and Dreams -Ray Phiri
one post a day for the remainder of 2017 featuring a selection of some of my best finds of African music last year…not necessary brand new releases. Mostly vintage original pressings found during my travels all over the world.
MJS Records – MJS-101 Promo, 33 ⅓ RPM US 1981
Kilimanjaro Vocal Version 5:52
Kilimanjaro (Instrumental) 6:00
Producer – Caiphus Semenya
Written-By – Caiphus Semenya, Letta Mbulu
This is the 1981 US pressing of one of the big boogie/disco-tunes by Letta Mbulu. Especially interesting since the B-side contains a great instrumental version…. Mixed with love by the legendary American producer Ray Martinez
see also Township Soul & Boogie Vol 13; Letta Mbulu -I’ll Never Be The Same (Mosadi) -Tamla Motown
hey sista, go sista, soul sista -Township Soul & Boogie
hey sista, go sista, soul sista -Township Soul & Boogie Vol 2
see also hey sista, go sista, soul sista -Township Soul & Boogie
hey sista, go sista, soul sista -Township Soul & Boogie Vol 2
as part 13 in the series Township Soul & Boogie I proudly present one of Letta Mbulu’s rarest albums in existence. It may be one of those records that people sometimes refer to as a ‘holy grail’. “I’ll Never Be The Same (Mosadi)” is without a doubt an ultra rare ‘lost’ Letta Mbulu LP, released only in South Africa on the Tamla Motown label in 1973.
Actually, this LP is a compilation of material that was previously released on several albums with some new songs added, probably recorded between 1970-1973. Parts of this album consists of songs that Letta recorded frequently as part of musical aggregates put together by Hugh Masekela – most spectacularly as part of the anonymous collective known as Africa ‘68 (which was also later credited as “The Zulus”), where she took the lead on “Uyaz’ Gabisa,” “Noyana,” “Aredze” (which she’d earler performed on Letta Mbulu Sings) and “Kedumetse.”
All tracks on this LP beautifully showcase Mbulu’s gorgeous vocal capacities and the heritage of Zulu songs stand out as proud witnesses of Letta’s South African origins.
Born and raised in Soweto, South Africa on 23 August 1942, she has been active as as singer since the 1960s. While still a teenager she toured with the musical King Kong, — but left for the United States in 1965 due to Apartheid.
In New York she connected with other South African exiles including Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela and Jonas Gwangwa, and went on to work with Cannonball Adderley, David Axelrod and Harry Belafonte.
On screen, her singing can also be heard in Roots, The Color Purple (1985), and the 1973 film A Warm December,[ and she was a guest on a Season 6 episode of Soul Train. Mbulu also provided the Swahili chant in Michael Jackson’s single, “Liberian Girl”. Producer Quincy Jones has said of her: “Mbulu is the roots lady, projecting a sophistication and warmth which stirs hope for attaining pure love, beauty, and unity in the world.”
see her full biography presented by douglas payne
http://www.dougpayne.com/lmbio.htm
Letta Mbulu – I’ll Never Be The Same (Mosadi)
Tamla Motown – TMC 5242
South Africa 1973
A1 I’ll Never Be The Same
A2 Kedumetse
A3 Now We May Begin
A4 Moya
A5 I Won’t Weep No More
B1 Because Of You
B2 Uyaz Gabisa
B3 You Touched Me
B4 Aredze
B5 We’ve Got To Learn To Love
source; Wikipedia
thanks to reader and collector Afrikola!
Today’s post features all tracks from an early album by Nash ‘Wind Me Up’ released in 1981 in South Africa on his own label Nash
Tracklist
A1 Wind Me Up 5:12
A2 Love Me Now 4:00
A3 Let The Music Play 3:53
B1 Funky Feelin’ 6:22
B2 Blame It On Magic 3:48
B3 Ooh Baby 3:31
Neville Nash and his band The Miracles parted ways when the South African singer went solo. By 1985 he had a big hit,”One Of Those Night”,which was later included in the Concert In The Park double album.”What’s Your Name,What’s Your Number?” produced by Tom Mkhise on the CTV label Solid. In 1986 he followed up with the album “Why?” which featured the hit “Feel It” produced by Tom Mkhise, Solly Letwaba and Neville himself.
Today’s post features an early record by Jonathan Butler, one of South Africa’s most respected and well known jazz artists in the Cape Jazz genre. Few people will know that this artist started his career as a teen idol in the same vein as Justin Bieber. The album ‘Spotlight on Jonathan Butler’ contains a selection of uptempo soul & boogie tunes and some classic soul ballads, produced by Peter Vee for Clive Calder productions.
Born and raised in Athlone, Cape Town, South Africa, during Apartheid, Butler started singing and playing acoustic guitar as a child. He began touring at the age of seven when he joined a travelling stage show, and was later signed up to perform on a string of hit recordings, turning him into a local teen idol. His debut single was the first by a black artist played by white radio stations in the racially segregated South Africa and earned a Sarie Award, South Africa’s equivalent to the Grammy Awards. In 1975 his cover of “Please Stay” by The Drifters reached number 2 in South Africa. The same year his cover of “I Love How You Love Me” by The Paris Sisters reached the Top 10 as well.
In 1978 he found the inspiration and encouragement to begin expressing himself as a composer and songwriter when he joined Cape Town’s best known jazz/rock outfit, Pacific Express.
Butler was signed to Jive Records in 1977, and in the early 1980s he moved to the United Kingdom, where he remained for seventeen years. His international breakthrough came in 1987 with his Grammy-nominated hit single, “Lies” which reached #25 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, and his cover version of the Staple Singers song “If You’re Ready (Come Go with Me)”, which he performed with Ruby Turner.
Butler maintained a loyal following in the 1980s and 1990s, in South Africa, the United States and Europe. In 2006, he was a featured vocalist on the album Gospel Goes Classical, produced by University of Alabama at Birmingham music professor Henry Panion. This recording, featuring arrangements by Panion, Tommy Stewart, Michael Loveless, and Ray Reach, rose to No. 2 on the Billboard Gospel chart, and No. 3 on the Classical Crossover chart. He was also nominated for a Grammy Award for his single “Going Home”.
Also in 2008, Butler guest-starred on George Duke’s Album Dukey Treats, alongside the late Teena Marie on the track “Sudan”, talking about the disasters of Darfur.
Jonathan Butler -I Love How You Love Me
Jonathan Butler -Sunshine In The Morning
Jonathan Butler -Sending Out An S.O.S.
‘Spotlight on Jonathan Butler’ MFP 54748 -South Africa 1975
see also the official website of Jonathan Butler
Source: Wikipedia
as a bonus to my previous post The Flaming Souls ‘Soul Time’ 1969 South Africa here is another recording by The Flaming Souls, a 45 rpm single on Atlantic City, rarity from 1969 with vocals and a delicious funky breakbeat inspired by James Brown…enjoy!
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.
‘Soul Time’ by The Flaming Souls -Number One Records N.9022 (33YE 1005)-South Africa
Next post ;;;;; The Flaming Souls -Oh Darling 1969 Atlantic City
Harari -Kala Harari Rock -Township Soul & Boogie vol 9
Om’Khaoli -Magic Touch 1982 -Township Soul & Boogie Vol 6
hey sista, go sista, soul sista -Township Soul & Boogie
today’s post features a selection of genuine Township Soul & Boogie. Recorded, released and distributed in South Africa and neighbouring countries between 1981 to 1984. All 45’s originally come from the archives of a defunct radio station in Hillbrow, Jo’burg, hence the stickers on the labels. Some of these original records are extremely hard to trace after all these years, especially in the wild. ‘Bushman’ by Steve Kekana is well recommended and one of the better known titles . For me, the discovery of the soulful “Hamba Sibali Wami” by Masike’ Funky’ Mohapi remains one of the highlights of this compilation. Let’s go singing, let’s go dancing! From Cape to Nassau….
Blondie and Pappa -Cape To Nassau
Street Kids -Try Me (Game No. 2)
Dudu Mazibuku & The Paper Dolls -Botsotso Girl
Dudu Mazibuku & The Paper Dolls -Disco Beat
Spankk featuring Blondie -Hallelujah (Praise His Name)
Masike ‘Funky’ Mohapi -Hamba Sibali Wami
Soul Safari 