EWV 20
A1. Abafana Baseqhudeni – Mubi Umakhelwane 2:19
A2. Lulu Masilela – Six Mabone 2:27
A3. Mbazo – Okwami Okwezanola 2:43
A4. Mahlathini & Mahotella Queens – Bophumthwalo 2:46
A5. Thomas Phale – Platform 14 4:54
A6. Soul Brothers – Mantombazane 3:36
A7. Abafana Baseqhudeni – Sadlula Thina 2:39
A8. West Nkosi – Marabi Bell 800 2:28
B1. Thomas Phale – Dragon Special 5:03
B2. Mahotella Queens – Izingubo Ezimhlophe 2:55
B3. Mahlathini & Mahotella Queens – Jive Makgona 2:50
B4. Soul Brothers – Bayeza 3:20
B5. Mahotella Queens – Sindiza Emoyeni 2:31
B6. West Nkosi – Chillis 500 2:54
B7. Mahotella Queens – Vusumuzi 2:54
'Of the many compilations of township jive [or mbaqanga] recordings that hit the American and European marketplace in the late '80s following Paul Simon's blockbuster Graceland album, this is surely one of the best. Subtitled "Modern Roots of the Indestructible Beat of Soweto," it rides the coattails of that very successful album but also stands well on its own. The Kings and Queens of Township Jive prominently features two of South Africa's finest and most popular ensembles, the Soul Brothers and the Mahotella Queens [both with and without their male frontman, Mahlathini]. Several of the other featured artists are singers in the "groaning" style that Mahlathini popularized - Mbazo's 'Okwami Okwezandla' and Abafana Baseqhudeni's gorgeous 'Mubi Umakhelwane' both come clearly from that tradition, especially the latter, which features multiple voices in the basso profundo groaning range. There are also a couple of examples of instrumental "sax jive." This album is just about as good an introduction to South African pop music as you could hope for.' Rick Anderson
hopefully zulu jive needs no introduction but if you aint familiar with the life-affirming flavour that seems to effortlessly emanate from early mbaqanga jams, this is a fine place to start & one that seems to get relatively little acknowledgment on the greater interwebs. 320 rips later
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