Thursday 14 December 2017

Ngixolele: Forgive me

Amongst year-end reflections of gratitude and disappointment the question of forgiveness keeps coming back to me.  Those who seek it, those who give it, and those who cannot even ask because they will not admit their wrongs. South African imaginations are currently captured by political and corporate leaders who deny their own wrong-doing. 

I hope this will change – the truth will be found, and hope can be restored. Asking for forgiveness can be a happy and fulfilling experience. If it does not land you in prison – it can really make you dance!

Everyone of the seven tracks in this mix are asking for forgiveness (Ngixolele, or Ngiyaxolele) – from heartfelt 70s soul, via an unstoppable disco groove that will capture you, to labd amongst some irresistible mbaqanga to bribe you with involuntary movement. And, to round it off are the Mahotella Queens beautifully singing the traditional church hymn “Baba Ngixolele”. (Father forgive me).

I wish you happy holidays.

Tracklist:                     
1. Ngixolele: The Movers (1978).
2. Ngixolele: The Hotella Stars (1978).
3. Ngixolele: Imitshotshovu (date uncertain – re-released on Earthworks Indestructible Beat of Soweto Vol. 5)          
4. Ngixolele Baba: Izintombe Zesi Manje Manje (1978).
5. Ngixolele Mngani: Izintombe Zesi Manje Manje (1978).
5. Ngixolelene: The Soul Brothers. (1978).
6. Ta Ta Ngixolele : The Mofolo Queens. 78rpm RCA 173
7. Baba Ngixolele: Mahotella Queens (1966) Church Hymn.

Download mp3 here

Wednesday 29 November 2017

Heart Transplant


Its fifty years since Dr Christiaan Barnard performed the world’s first human heart transplant on 3 December 1967 in Cape Town. And yes, there were some interesting songs celebrating these extraordinary events and circumstances.

Like landing on the moon, the sheer sixties audacity  of a human heart transplant seized imaginations around the world.  Besides the science, people were also talking of the existential implications of first transplanting a woman’s heart into a man, and then, transplanting the heart of a “coloured” man into a “white man" - in South Africa!.

For the first transplant, Barnard realised that, given the numbers, there was a greater chance of a black donor heart becoming available – but he did not feel he could ask the apartheid-controlled authorities permission to transplant a black heart into the awaiting 55-year-old 'white' Louis Washkansky. As it turned out Washkansky received the heart of a 25-year-old white bank clerk, Denise Darval. He survived for 18 days and died of pneumonia.

It was the second heart transplant early in 1968 that crossed the line, so to speak. The world was really talking about the implications of Dr Barnard transplanting the heart of 24-year-old “coloured” Clive Haupt into 58-year-old “white” Dr Philip Blaaiberg. Here was a powerful metaphor that exposed the irony and injustice of apartheid for all to see and discuss. BJ Vorster had just succeeded Verwoerd as South Africa's Prime Minister, and separation of the races through forced removals and the homeland project had stepped up a further gear.

The March 1968 edition of Ebony Magazine in the USA had the following to say: “Clive Haupt’s heart will ride in the uncrowded train coaches marked “For Whites Only” instead of the crowded ones reserved for blacks. … It will enter fine restaurants, attend theatres and concerts and live in a decent home instead of in the tough slums where Haupt grew up. Haupt’s heart will literally go into hundreds of places where Haupt himself could not go because his skin was a little darker than that of Blaaiberg.

The interesting article concludes: “Unfortunately, Dr Barnard’s marvelous heart transplants may well turn out to be just another proof that science has far outstripped sociology. We can’t hold science back. Now it is time that humanity caught up with it.

At the turn of the 21st Century 30 to 40 heart transplants were carried out every year in South Africa. An interview with the heart surgeon Dr Willie Koen, who headed the Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital's heart transplant unit in 2009 said the transplant numbers had since dropped to only about 15 to 20 a year – due to costs and  a lack of donors.

However you may feel about heart transplants and how healthcare budgets are allocated and spent – there were two 1968 musical tributes (that I know of) to Dr Barnard’s achievements – from South Africa and Venezuela!

Cambridge Matiwane was a prolific producer, and here (after the Blaaiberg transplant) he teams up with Portia (last name unkown) to pen a soul-inspired tribute entitled “Heart Transplant”. The picture front cover of this 45rpm single (above) has the following to say:

Ster Records are proud to sponsor this tribute by Cambridge Matiwane – being the first public tribute on behalf of African people to Professor C. Barnard for his outstanding feat in medical surgery (acknowledged throughout the world  - except possibly by the African people of his native South Africa) and further to pay tribute to Dr P. Blaaiberg for his amazing courage and will to live - to the point of sustaining, together with his family, anxiety, anguish and pain, both mental and physical almost - if not completely - beyond human endurance."

Across in Venezuela, psychedelic rock band “Los Six” were similairly inspired and produced “Dr Barnard”.


Have a listen – and, if you know of any other efforts from that time, please let us know.

The tracks are stored on Souncloud and can be downloaded from there. Click on the links below.

Wednesday 4 October 2017

The Minerals - Sweet Soweto (1976)

A very lucky off-chance find whilst digging in a London shop. Originally priced at R5.99 with a Kohinor Kort Street price sticker! In a few comments on other posts a number of people have requested this LP and so here it is.

The Minerals are: Thelma Segona (organ/piano/vocals), Ronnie Makhondo (percussion/vocals), Nick Kunene (lead guitar/vocals), Jonas Mkhabela (bass), Joseph Tshabalala (drummer), Isaac Moraba (vocalist), and Jimmy Mojapelo (composer and leader).

A wonderful mix of soul, philly-styled funk on the 13 minute title tune and breezy Soweto pop. (OK, cheesy pop and a few great moments!)

ENJOY! MF LINK


Tuesday 26 September 2017

The Drive - Live (1975, RCL 1203)


You thought we had gone! But we're back, briefly for the first posting of 2017! By special request from a number of people, specifically for the track Africa Bossa, here is South African soul jazz funk band from the early seventies - The Drive. Whilst this is titled Drive Live it is in fact a studio recording with overdubbed crowd sounds. 

We have posted a number of other Drive LPs at electricjive before. You can check them out here.

Of interest to many will be the appearance of Bheki Mseleku on keys.

ENJOY! MF