PROFESSOR RHYTHM - Professor 3 (1991)

Tusk/Diamond, TUH 15
Producer: Professor Rhythm (Thami Mdluli)
Engineer: Fab Grosso
Recorded at: Private House Studios

Pre-kwaito studio album from influential producer Thami Mdluli. Born in Alexandra, Mdluli moved to Tembisa at 12... "in Tembisa he started playing guitar at the age of thirteen. by the time he turned fifteen he was already a professional playing for Sam Mthembu's Tembisa Happy Queens. In 1979 when the group became the Hot Soul Singers, it was so popular they they played side by side with visiting overseas groups like the O'Jays. This exposed Thami to many ideas and together with the other band members they decided to form Sound Busters. After initiating the formation of CJB, he later formed a duo, Taboo, with Buli Arosi."

"Thami decided to do part-time productions at Eric Frisch Productions. Eric Frisch had worked with Phil Hollis, but later started his own record company. Some of the musicians Thami produced included Sox, Jimaro, Sensations, Nana Moloi, Malcolm X Makume and Alexandra Brass Band. On his productions Thami had a tendency of releasing dub mix versions of hit tracks. His fans pushed him to follow that trend seriously, and this resulted  in his solo proect under the name, 'Professor Rhythm'. His debut album was First Time Around (1989), featuring the hit 'Sebeletsa Hae'. The next album was Second Time Around (1990), followed by Professor 3 (1991) featuring the hits 'Uskamosothotsa' and 'Raditaba (Nozindaba)', up to Professor 5 (1993) on Tusk's Diamond label. Some of his other projects include The Boss featuring Stella, which released the album Dance for My Song (1991)....Thami retired from live performances in 1993 and focused on studio productions". (from Mojapelo 2008:41)

TABOO – Amigo

EFP

Producer: Professor Rhythm (Thami Mdluli)


"English Disco" album from former members of the Sound Busters and CJB band, Thami Mdluli and Buli Arosi formed a duo, using the first syllables of their names:- Tha + Bu = Taboo. Besides Amigo, other albums included Self-Service, Vampire, Salute, Ba Ile, Amasela, The Woman Nextdoor, Sex is Taboo and Noma Bangatheni (Mojapelo, 2008:118).

THE BOSS ft. STELLA - Dance for My Song (1991)

Diamond/Tusk
Producer: Thami "Professor Rhythm" Mdluli
Engineer: David Moloele

One of many successful side projects for influential producer Thami Mdluli.

OUPA PHARASI - Thaka Ya Hao (1992)

Africa/Tusk/Mpumelelo/Highway Soul, HSH 8065
Producer: Africa Music Team
Engineer: Tim Kraft
Composer: Mac Mathunjwa
Recorded at: Downtown Studios

Great Sotho-soul album from unknown artist, composed by the legendary Mac Mathunjwa, who once played keyboards in the Pedlars, the resident backing band at the famous Pelican Nightclub in Orlando East, and went on to become a prolific producer, including of Philip Tababe's "January to December/Teach the Children" (on RPM's Right Track, 1986).

AFROSYNTH VI: Working for the Weekend

AFROSYNTH VI: WORKING FOR THE WEEKEND

1. House to Let (Bayile Batho) - GRIMA (1986)
2. Umaseven - ASHIKO (1987)
3. Simovane - SKY JINX (1987)
4. Give Us Two More Beers - LUNGA (1987)
5. Don't Go Lose It Baby - HUGH MASEKELA (1984)
6. Quick Quick - MARCALEX (1990)
7. Abantwana - AFRICAN YOUTH BAND (1991)
8. Bored Whore - RAY LEMA (1985)
9. Mapoto - NWAMADUMANA & THE MARHOLENI QUEENS (1987)
10. XR3 - PAULO MIAMBO (1988)
11. Hey Boy (live) - VIA AFRIKA (1985)
12. Ufunani esitedamu - MALOZANA (1986)
13. Induku - IMITSHOTSHOVU (1989)
14. Amandla - HARRY BELAFONTE (1988)
15. Money Lover - BIG ELEPHANT (1990)
16. Senonnori - BANNA BAKORI (1991)

FREE DOWNLOAD!!

ASHIKO - Umaseven (1987)

Teal Trutone, KNL 5056
Producers: Joseph Makwela & Ian Osrin
Engineer: Ian Osrin

Sweet bubblegum album found on Commissioner St, downtown Jozi. "Teal Trutone also boasted a six-man band in the name of ashiko. exactly what inspired the name is not very clear ecept that it could have been influenced by the 1975 Hugh Masekela recording of OJ Ekemonde's composition Ashiko on his album The Boy's Doin' It. Ashiko is translated as "world of time" - no time to lose. thie band Ashiko was Alpheus Mofokeng (lead vocals), Thomas Tladi (guitar), Innocent Hala (keyboards), Diliza Manela (keyboards), Bonakele Mbambisa (keyboads) and Skipper Shabalala (guitar). In 1980 the released their album Get Ready. It was followed by others like Gumba Fire (1986), Umaseven (1987) and Wachaggo Man (1988)" (Mojapelo, 2008:153).

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HARRY BELAFONTE – Paradise in Gazankulu (1988)

EMI, 46971
Producer: Hilton Rosenthal
Engineers: David Belafonte, Charlie Paakkari, Bobby Summerfield.
Recorded at Powerhouse Studios, Johannesburg (also Capitol Studios, LA, Evergreen Studios and MRC Studios, NY)

Since introducing the world to Zenzile Miriam Makeba on the Grammy-winning An Evening with Belafonte and Makeba in 1965, “the King of Calypse” had been an outspoken critic of apartheid, and as such a persona non grata in SA. In 1988 he recorded his first new album in fifteen years, a showcase of South African music and politics entitled Paradise in Gazankulu. Unable to enter the country, however, Belafonte had to add his vocals in American studios after the music was first recorded at Powerhouse Studios in Joburg.

Compared to Paul Simon's Graceland (1986), Belafonte drew from an equally, if not more, impressive line-up of local talent, including members of the legendary Makgonatsohle Band like Marks Mankwane (guitar) and West Nkosi (pennywhistle). Pennywhistler turned saxman Lemmy "Special" Mabaso, also came on board, along with members of the mighty Soul Brothers, singers Marilyn and Tu Nokwe, and Tsonga guitarist Obed Ngobeni, whose hit song “Kuhluvukile Ka Zete” supposedly first inspired the album (the same “Kazet” usually credited to the Mahotella Queens and rehashed by Descloux). Bakithi and Vusi Khumalo returned from Graceland, while younger talent included Brenda Fassie, her ex-husband and keyboardist Dumisani Ngubeni, and Hotline guitarist Alistair Coakely,

American songwriter Jake Holmes shared the credit with various local contributors. Though neither as trendy as McLaren and Descloux’s projects, nor as successful as Graceland, Paradise addressed the political climate of the time with defiance, pride and anger, effectively blending local and western sounds. Standout tracks include “Amandla”, “Sisi wami” and “Monday to Monday,” an upbeat duet between Belafonte and MaBrr.