Music News & Info With A South African Flavour
A 12″ EP released in South Africa in 1985 by EMI. Catalogue number: EMI, 12EMIL(C) 11236
Thanks to Leon Rossouw for the cover and videos.
Claire’s picks as listed in an interview on TripleMEnt.com 23rd March 2023
Mango Groove will be playing live at De Waal Park, Cape Town on Sunday 26th March 2023.
This is the original uncensored music video for Bright Blue’s seminal South African song ‘Weeping’. It was filmed by Nic Hofmeyr on the Cape Flats in the late nineteen eighties, during the State of Emergency. Catch the ‘Nkosi Sikelela’ bridge, snuck onto SABC airwaves despite the anthem’s banning, and look out for the late Basil ‘Manenberg’ Coetzee on sax, filmed in Manenberg township! The song has been covered by Josh Grobin, Vusi Mahlasela and others.
Nic Hofmeyr
I knew a man who lived in fear
it was huge it was angry
it was drawing near
Behind his house a secret place
was the shadow of the demon
he could never face.
He built a wall of steel and flame
and men with guns to keep it tame
Then standing back he made it plain
that the nightmare would never ever rise again
But the fear and the fire and the guns remain.
It doesn’t matter now it’s over anyhow
He tells the world that it’s sleeping
But as the night came round I heard
it slowly sound
it wasn’t roaring it was weeping
it wasn’t roaring it was weeping.
SAX SOLO – Basil Coetzee
And then one day the neighbours came
they were curious to know about the smoke and flame
They stood around outside the wall
but of course there was nothing to be heard at all
“My friends”, he said, “we’ve reached our goal
the threat is under firm control
As long as peace and order reign
I’ll be damned if I can see a reason to explain
Why the fear and the fire and the guns remain”.
It doesn’t matter now it’s over anyhow
He tells the world that it’s sleeping
But as the night came round I heard
it slowly sound
it wasn’t roaring it was weeping
it wasn’t roaring it was weeping.
SAX
It doesn’t matter now it’s over anyhow
He tells the world that it’s sleeping
But as the night came round I heard
it slowly sound
it wasn’t roaring it was weeping
it wasn’t roaring it was weeping.
Composed by: Heymann/ Fox/ Cohen/ Cohen
Recorded and released by Bright Blue in 1987. One of South Africa’s greatest songs… includes instrumental references to ‘Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrica’.
The official video for “Take Me Down”, created by Jacqui Van Staden and Kian Eriksen.
Written by Steve Louw.
From the album “Thunder And Rain“, released 11 November 2022.
Produced by Kevin Shirley.
Stream/download “Thunder And Rain” album:
https://orcd.co/SteveLouwThunderAndRain
STEVE LOUW ONLINE
http://stevelouw.com/
https://instagram.com/stevelouw/
https://twitter.com/stevelouwmusic
https://facebook.com/stevelouwmusic/
https://sptfy.com/stevelouw
https://apple.co/3iKTV9g
NOTES ON THE SONG
by Steve Louw
A 1964 Epiphone Casino guitar gave me the gift of this song. The intro riff played high on the neck, sounding ‘Beatlesque’, led me to the chord changes and chorus.
A song of endings and beginning of solace in solitude, of joy in the future, of hope, resilience, and anticipation for the future.
LYRICS
Five in the morning
I’m out of my head
I can hear voices calling
People I thought were dead
And it’s alright, you know
When you’re down on your knees
I can see the light
Coming up on the trees.
Take me down, down, down
Down to the ground
You got to count me down
Count me down, but don’t count me out
Count me down to the ground.
Hey, I got to say, it’s gonna be OK
Hey, I got to say, it’s gonna be OK.
One more piece to make a picture
‘Til you can say yes
I think you know the one
I’m sure you can guess
Yeah, the love you feel
That’s been laid at your gate
Oh, you know, you know it’s real
You can feel the weight.
You gotta take me down, down, down
Take me down to the ground, yeah, yeah
Count me down, count me down, yeah
Don’t count me out, down, down.
I said hey, I want to say hey
It’s gonna be OK, it’s gonna be OK
I got to say, it’s gonna be OK
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Oh yeah, yeah.
‘Cause I’ll take the hours
I’m watching the trees
Or the flowers
Around the bees
Or that picture, anything I please
It’s alright, it’s OK, ‘cause I’m gonna be
I’m, I’m gonna be, I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be free, yeah, yeah.
You got to take me down, down, down
You can take me down, down, down not out
Just count me down, down, down to the ground
Take me down, take me rolling round.
I said hey, I got to say
It’s gonna be OK
I got to say, you gonna be OK
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
You can hear it now, it’s gonna be
You got to be, yeah free, oh yeah
Gonna be, gonna be, gonna be
You gonna be, yeah, yeah, free
I got to say, it’s gonna be OK
I got to say, gonna be OK
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Nielen and Allan’s original collection of songs which would go on to appear on their iconic albums Zen Boulders (1979), The Storming of the Loft (1980), and Fantasy Kid (1981).
Released February 2, 2023
Lyrics and vocals by Nielen Mirror
Guitars and piano by Allan Faull
Recorded and Produced by Tully McCully
At Spaced-Out Sound Studios, Cape Town
Unreleased and previously unavailable material from the iconic South African Alternative band, Falling Mirror.
In memory of Allan Faull and Pat Humphreys.
Proceeds go to Nielen Mirror.
For the Falling Mirror fans: I found a rare quarter inch tape, buried in my storage area, with the first demos Allan and Nielen did before recording their debut album. Very interesting to listen to 45 years later. It’s available on Bandcamp where you can name your price if you are feeling generous. All money will go to support Nielen and your support is greatly appreciated.
I will be posting some more rarities in the future so please follow and share the Bandcamp page
Tully McCully, February 2023
Engineers – Tony Manuel, Graham Handley, Hennie Hartman, Julian Laxton and Greg Cutler
All songs written by Ramsay Mackay
Produced by Ramsay Mackay
1982, Principal, PRC 005
Thanks to Andrew King for info.
“Silent Water” (with “Saint Judas” on the b-side) was originally released as a single in 1978.
“I Like The Rebel” was released on the b-side of the single “Strange Light” in 1980, and credited to Ramsay MacKay and the Bushveld Pygmies.
“Mumbo Jumbo” was originally recorded by Hawk and released on “Live And Well” in 1974.
“Silent Water” was covered by Brian Finch on his “Living For Yesterday” album in 2014.
1996, Gallo, CDRED 603 J
A powerful compilation from the soulful voice of Margaret Singana. Different to the 1973 album with the same title. Margaret has covered a number of classic South African rock tracks, including Freedoms Children’s ‘Tribal Fence’, The Julian Laxton Band’s ‘Johannesburg’ and Hawk’s ‘Orang Outang’.
Brian Currin
She is probably most famous for ‘Mama Tembu’s Wedding’ from ‘Ipi ‘N Tombia’ and also the brilliant theme song from the Shaka Zulu TV series, ‘We Are Growing’. This song went to number 1 in The Netherlands in 1989.
Patric van Blerk wrote a few songs for her and also produced most of her albums. Trevor Rabin makes an appearance on some of her songs as well.
There are also some very strong soul songs on this CD including ‘I Never Loved A Man’ (sounds nothing like the Aretha Franklin song with the same title, actually a cover of John Russell’s ‘I Never Loved A Woman’), Jimmy Cliff’s ‘Many Rivers To Cross’ and Tammy Wynette’s ‘Stand Up Like A Man’ (done in a reggae-style).
So if you enjoy strong female vocals with a touch of rock, a bit of Africa and a lot of soul, then ‘Lady Africa’ is for you.
This classic album been released at least 4 times with different track listings. It was first released in 1972 in South Africa. It was then released in 1973 in Europe with a slightly different track list and credited to Jo’Burg Hawk. In 1998 an unofficial CD was released by the Never Never Land label in Japan with a different cover and track list. In January 2004 Retrofresh released a CD of the European version with bonus tracks.
The album cover was a gatefold with the image actually sideways. It is shown here in the “wrong” position for better effect. Cover painting was by B. Funnêll. The European album release has the same cover, but “Hawk” is replaced with “Jo’Burg Hawk”.
June Dyer was born in Durban on 19 June 1942. She was not deterred by the fact that she was almost totally deaf from the age of 10, and mastered lip reading and getting the music beat by holding the piano or bass. June won several talent competitions and eventually caught the eye of talent scout, Alan Marshall. She passed away 14 January 2011.
Tertius Louw
“Ain’t Necessarily So / Take Five” not available on Spotify.
LP: 1970, Uptight, STIC 101
CD: 2005, Mason Records, MR 56409 (unofficial release, included all tracks from Silver Trees as bonus tracks, except for “All The Same”)
CD: 2005, RetroFresh, freshcd146 (omitted “Ain’t Necessarily So / Take Five”, included all tracks from Silver Trees)
LP & CD: 2009, Shadoks (Germany), SHADOKS 111
The album ‘Totum’ was recorded in Johannesburg over a single weekend using a 4-track machine. The album was released in early 1970. “According to today’s standards it’s pretty rough,” says Henson, “but I guess it was an honest interpretation of what we were doing.”
In a newspaper review reporter Carl Coleman had this say about the release of Abstract Truth’s debut album: “Sean, Brian, Robbie and Ken have lifted South African pop from the syrupy blare of bubblegum music to new heights of progressive pop. What an achievement!”
The Freak Emporium online store had this brief review of ‘Totum’ on their website: “Excellent early ’70s melodic wistful freak rock blends with African sounds featuring assorted instruments: keyboards, flutes, electric guitars, saxophone, percussion, etc. A refreshing approach.”
Most of ‘Totum’ consists of unusual reworkings of jazz, folk and blues songs. The only band composition is the sitar-drenched ‘Total Totum/Acid Raga’. Donovan, Dylan, Gershwin, Simon and Garfunkel and others all get given the special Abstract Truth treatment that is reminiscent of early King Crimson in places.
Brian Currin
Ramases, born Kimberley Barrington Frost (1 January 1934 to 2 December 1976), was a British psychedelic musician who released two cult albums in the early 1970s.
Wikipedia
Bonus track on 2002 Official CD:
LP: 1971, Parlophone, PCSJ (D) 12075
CD: May 2002, RetroFresh, freshcd 126
In the 18 months I worked at EMI South Africa the group I believed the most in was Freedom’s Children——this is with the line up of Julian Laxton, Colin Pratley, Ramsay Mackay and Brian Davidson. In fact I believed so much in them that I came close to leaving EMI to manage the group full time with a view to trying to get them to London to “make it” on the world stage, so to speak. In those days, however, there were all sorts of obstacles with work permits, UK Musicians Union, SA Exchange Control, etc, not to mention the fact that I was only 23, had no capital and had virtually no contacts anywhere outside of SA……..so nothing came of this particular “dream” and sadly the limitations of their having to try and evolve creatively within the narrow confines of the SA music scene at that time, coupled with personal differences some of the members were having, ultimately led to the disintegration of what in my opinion was then and probably still is today (30 years later) the only SA rock group that given the right circumstances in the right geographical location, could have become an internationally successful rock band just by being themselves and doing what they did.
Clive Calder, January 2002
Bonus tracks on 2005 CD re-issue:
All songs written by Ramsey MacKay
Produced by Clive Calder and Freedoms Children
LP: 1970, Parlophone, PCSJ(D) 12066
8 Track: 1971 Parlophone X8-PCSJ-12066
LP: 1990, PVB Music, PVBC 7
Cassette: 1990, PVB Music, ZPVC 7
CD: 1993, TRC 029 unofficial German CD re-issue
CD: 1997, 3eM, CDRED 619 official CD release, distributed by Gallo
CD: April 2005, RetroFresh, freshcd 145 official CD release
The Kid He Came From Hazareth was covered by Wildebeest and released on the Bushrock 1 album as ‘Russian And Chips’ (cleverly combined with a traditional Russian folk song). Piet Botha (Wildebeest bassist in the early ’80s) performed this song as an unplugged version on his Summer 2001 tour.
‘Russian and Chips‘ was covered by Jack Hammer (featuring Piet Botha) and released in April 2005 on the album The Pilgrim.
Tribal Fence was covered by Rabbitt (featuring Margaret Singana) on their A Croak And A Grunt In The Night album. Margaret Singana herself also recorded a very powerful version of ‘Tribal Fence’ which was released on the Lady Africa compilation CD. ‘Tribal Fence’ was also recorded live by Wildebeest (featuring Piet Botha) and released on the Bushrock 1 album in 1981. In April 2005 ‘Tribal Fence’ was covered by Jack Hammer (again featuring Piet Botha) and released on The Pilgrim.
Slowly Towards The North was covered (and extended) by Hawk on their Live And Well LP in 1974. This track was also recorded live by Wildebeest and renamed ‘Pofadder’ when released on the Bushrock 1 album.
The Homecoming: An edited version (2:50) was released as a single in 1971.
A 16-minute live version of ‘The Homecoming’ (including a drum solo) was released on Galactic Vibes.
Brian Currin
Image by Michael Currin
Part of a series of recommended listening from the guys who bring you the South African Rock Music Digest and SugarMan.org. Some old, some new, some borrowed, some blues, and mostly South African.
Image by Michael Currin
Part of a series of recommended listening from the guys who bring you the South African Rock Music Digest and SugarMan.org. Some old, some new, some borrowed, some blues, and mostly South African.
All songs written by J.S. Martin & Jake Gunn, except The Top (Moonshine Lee & Jake Gunn), One For The Angels (Raymond Smith & Jake Gunn) & Diana (J.P. Botha)
Recorded at Wolmer Records and produced by the Jack Hammer Band, Lanie van der Walt and Moonshine Lee.
CD: 11 November 2022
Download: TBC
“Second Chapter” by the Jack Hammer Band does what it says: without any pretences, the album blasts straight into the driving rock sound that has come to define the longest-standing South African rock band.
You immediately find yourself at a Jack Hammer gig, with Duke steady behind the kit, Bean towering over his black bass like a watchkeeper, and Johno and Jake Gunn wringing rock ’n roll out of their guitars as if their lives depended on it.
There is also the tall presence of the man of myth and his Stratocaster that goes by the name of Green Mamba – it would be difficult to imagine Piet Botha laying down the guitar after departing.
The album, co-written by Johnathan Martin, member of Jack Hammer since 1996, and Jake Gunn, who joined the ranks in the 2010s, was initially set out as an impulse to craft ten songs out of the kinship shared between the two. It soon became what had been called for: an album for Piet. The album’s path was led by an eleventh track – a reworked, never-before recorded version of ‘Diana’, a song Piet Botha left behind.
Raymond Smith, Piet’s brother-in-law, urged the band to write and record as Jack Hammer again and helped to bring it all together. He also wrote ‘One for the Angels’, a song inspired by one late-night party with Piet Botha.
Through songs shared and learned on stage, the band are creating a living archive, not only by telling Piet and Jack Hammer’s musings and stories in musical form, but also by revisiting undocumented material and channelling an immense discography.
Come celebrate the official album launch of “Second Chapter” on 11 November at the JARR Bar & Restaurant, Pretoria’s home of sound.
The Jack Hammer Band are: Johnathan Martin (vocals, guitars and piano), Tertius du Plessis (bass guitar), Paul Van de Waal (drums and percussion) and Jacques Groenewald (guitars, vocals, piano and harmonicas). Gerry Robinson, honorary band member (acoustic guitars).
“Second Chapter” was recorded at Wolmer Records and produced by the Jack Hammer Band, Lanie van der Walt and Moonshine Lee.
~ Written by Jannike Bergh, 2022.
Sugar Music 