ABOUT THIS ITEM

Strut follow their recent forays into Nigerian and ethio grooves with a brand new wide-ranging three-part series exploring underground South African music during the late 60s and 70s. Jazz had been a fixture in South African music since the 50s and jive (or mbaqanga) initially emerged a decade later as a fusion combining elements of rural Zulu music and harmony vocal styles with Western instrumentation. Early stars like 'groaner' Simon Mahlathini, Nkabinde and the Mahotella Queens were key in developing a colourful, danceable sound and a competitive scene began to flourish during the late ‘60s with rival female groups like Izintombi Zesi Manje Manje gaining in popularity. With "Next Stop Soweto", Strut trace some of the amazing music that often only appeared on short run 45s at the time, including tracks by smaller and lesser known bands that plied their trade under apartheid during the years before the tumultuous Soweto uprising of 1976. Featuring music recorded primarily for the local market, the album takes the listener far beyond the accepted township jive template into fusions with jazz, gospel, rumba, funk and traditional mining songs, all under-pinned by a gritty, uncompromising edge.

01. Melotone Sisters With Amaqola Band – I Sivenoe
02. The Mgababa Queens – Maphuthi
03. S.Piliso & His Super Seven – Kuya Hanjwa
04. The Big Four – Wenzani Umoya
05. Mahlathini & The Queens – Umkhovu
06. Zed Nkabinde – Inkonjane Jive
07. Intombi Zephepha – Ingoina Le Nyathi
08. Tempo All Stars – Take Off
09. 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 Queen - Nomacala
18. Sammy Boy – 10 To 11
19. Izintombi Zasi Manje Manje – Awufuni Ukulandela Na?
20. ‘Iza Wena’ Happy Africa