10417 - LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO AND FRIENDS, DISC TWO (2010)
LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO
''LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO AND FRIENDS, DISC TWO''
JANUARY 10 2012
133:07
**********
DISC ONE (60:45)
1 Knocking On Heaven's Door (with Dolly Parton) 05:40 (Bob Dylan)
2 Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes (with Melissa Etheridge & Joe McBride) 05:42 (Joseph Shabalala, Paul Simon)
3 Weeping (with Josh Groban & Vusi Mahlasela) 04:44 (Ian Cohen, Peter Cohen, Tom Fox, Dan Heymann)
4 Homeless (with Paul Simon) (Joseph Shabalala, Paul Simon) 03:48
5 Ain't No Sunshine (with Des'Ree) 03:47 (Bill Withers)
6 Shosholoza (with L. Dube; B. Luthful; H. Msaekela; V. Mahlasela) 04:51 (Traditional)
7 World In Union (with PJ Powers) 03:50 (Joseph Shabalala, Charlie Skarbek)
8 Passage To Promise 02:28 (Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Andreas Vollenweider)
9 Amazing Grace; Nearer My God To Thee (with Emmylou Harris) (Traditional; Paul Simon) 03:28
10 Chain Gang (with Lou Rawls) 03:48 (Sam Cooke)
11 Rain Rain Beautiful Rain (with Natalie Merchant) 03:01 (Joseph Shabalala)
12 Jabulani (Rejoice) (with The English Chamber Orchestra) 03:33 (Joseph Shabalala)
13 Swing Low Sweet Chariot (with China Black) 03:47 (Traditional)
14 Bread Of Heaven "Wales Forever" 03:26 (Lee Blaskey, Joseph Shabalala, Charlie Skarbek)
15 Dlondlobala Njalo (Soul Drummers Mix) 04:43 (Joseph Shabalala)
**********
DISC TWO (72:22)
1 Homeless (with Sarah McLachlan) 04:12 (Joseph Shabalala, Paul Simon)
2 Hello My Baby (with Zap Mama) 04:56 (Joseph Shabalala)
3 People Get Ready (with Phoebe Snow) 05:54 (Curtis Mayfield)
4 Abezizwe (Uniting Nations Together) (D'Influence Mix) 03:50 (Joseph Shabalala)
5 Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes 05:42 (Joseph Shabalala, Paul Simon)
6 Paradise Road 04:33 (Fransua Roos, Patric VanBlerk)
7 One Blood 05:33 (Mbongeni Ngema, JOseph Shabalala)
8 O Happy Day (with Betty Griffin) 05:41 (Edwin Hawkins)
9 River Of Dreams (with Bill Champlin) 05:28 (Billy Joel)
10 Mbude (with Taj Mahal) 03:58 (Solomon Linda)
11 I'll Take You There (with The Golden Gospel Singers) 06:37 (Staple Singers)
12 Inkanyezi Nezazi (Spiral Staircase Remix) 04:08 (Joseph Shabalala)
13 Sohlabele Hasana (with Nana "Coyote" Motijoane) 04:05 (Joseph Shabalala)
14 Angimboni Ofana Naye (with SABC Choir) 04:12 (Joseph Shabalala)
15 Mamizolo (Women Of Mambazo) 03:25 (Joseph Shabalala)
**********
REVIEW/AMG
Steve Leggett
This two-disc set is both a good introduction to Ladysmith Black Mambazo and conversely an unbalanced one. Founded in the 1960s by Joseph Shabalala (who continues to lead the group), the South African a cappella gospel ensemble has been delighting audiences all over the world for some 50 years now as a primary act, but Ladysmith Black Mambazo's public profile rests more on their collaborations with other performers, most notably Paul Simon, whose Graceland album, which prominently featured their backup vocals, was most people's real introduction to the group. Which is why this fun set is unbalanced -- it collects 30 of those collaborations done over the years with the likes of Simon, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Sarah McLachlan, Taj Mahal, and a host of others, and while there's no denying it all adds up to a great and joyful listen, it only tells one part of the Ladysmith Black Mambazo story, delightful as that part is. Highlights include "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" from Simon's Graceland (there's also a version of the song here done with Melissa Etheridge and Joe McBride), a wonderful take on Sam Cooke's "Chain Gang" by the late Lou Rawls, and an equally wonderful version of Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions' "People Get Ready" from Phoebe Snow, but every track has the kind of bright spiritual soul that Ladysmith Black Mambazo bring to everything they do.
**********
BIOGRAPHY/AMG
j. poet
Ladysmith Black Mambazo was founded by Joseph Shabalala in 1974. They've cut well over 30 albums since, but the group did not become well known outside of South Africa until Paul Simon asked them to perform on Graceland. Shabalala was born into a poor family that lived on a white man's farm near the town of Ladysmith. There were eight children in the Shabalala family, and, as the oldest boy, it was Joseph's duty to take care of the family after his father died.
Shabalala's first musical experience, save for a bit of fooling around on the guitar, came with a choral group called the Blacks. Shabalala eventually took over leadership of the group and became its main composer. the Blacks won most of the local vocal competitions and became the most popular Zulu vocal group, but Shabalala felt that something was missing. "I had been hearing a voice inside me," Shabalala said. "I didn't know it, but it was the voice of God." When the voice told him to fast, Shabalala obeyed, and on his fast, he had a vision of a new kind of vocal music. Shortly thereafter he became a Christian. Taking the choral music he heard in the Christian church, he combined it with the Zulu tradition to create his own style.
When the Blacks refused to take part in Shabalala's experiments, he formed Ladysmith Black Mambazo. The group consists of seven bass voices, an alto, a tenor, and Shabalala singing lead. The combo immediately began releasing albums at a staggering rate, offering a massive catalog of vocal music. Even if you don't speak Zulu, when they hit a low rumbling note, you can literally feel the power of their voices in your body.
"In Zulu singing there are three major sounds," Shabalala explains. "A high keening ululation; a grunting, puffing sound that we make when we stomp our feet; and a certain way of singing melody. Before Black Mambazo you didn't hear these three sounds in the same songs. So it is new to combine them, although it is still done in a traditional style. We are just asking God to allow us to polish it, to help keep our voices in order so we can praise Him and uplift the people."
The group has had an extremely prolific recording career, having released over 50 albums and collections, beginning with their debut, Amabutho, on Gallo Records in 1973. In 1988 Ladymith signed with Warner Bros. and issued a pair of albums, Journey of Dreams in 1988 and Two Worlds One Heart in 1990. A couple of best-of samplers appeared on Shanachie in 1992. The group switched back to Gallo for a series of 1990s releases, then moved to Wrasse for several albums, including 2000's In Harmony. No Boundaries, which featured the English Chamber Orchestra, appeared on Headsup Records in 2005, followed by a second album from the label, Long Walk to Freedom, in 2006. In 2007 Ilembe: Honoring Shaka Zulu was issued in South Africa with an American edition following in 2008.
**********
WIKIPEDIA
**********
WEBSITE
**********
TO THE TOP
**********
''LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO AND FRIENDS, DISC TWO''
JANUARY 10 2012
133:07
**********
DISC ONE (60:45)
1 Knocking On Heaven's Door (with Dolly Parton) 05:40 (Bob Dylan)
2 Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes (with Melissa Etheridge & Joe McBride) 05:42 (Joseph Shabalala, Paul Simon)
3 Weeping (with Josh Groban & Vusi Mahlasela) 04:44 (Ian Cohen, Peter Cohen, Tom Fox, Dan Heymann)
4 Homeless (with Paul Simon) (Joseph Shabalala, Paul Simon) 03:48
5 Ain't No Sunshine (with Des'Ree) 03:47 (Bill Withers)
6 Shosholoza (with L. Dube; B. Luthful; H. Msaekela; V. Mahlasela) 04:51 (Traditional)
7 World In Union (with PJ Powers) 03:50 (Joseph Shabalala, Charlie Skarbek)
8 Passage To Promise 02:28 (Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Andreas Vollenweider)
9 Amazing Grace; Nearer My God To Thee (with Emmylou Harris) (Traditional; Paul Simon) 03:28
10 Chain Gang (with Lou Rawls) 03:48 (Sam Cooke)
11 Rain Rain Beautiful Rain (with Natalie Merchant) 03:01 (Joseph Shabalala)
12 Jabulani (Rejoice) (with The English Chamber Orchestra) 03:33 (Joseph Shabalala)
13 Swing Low Sweet Chariot (with China Black) 03:47 (Traditional)
14 Bread Of Heaven "Wales Forever" 03:26 (Lee Blaskey, Joseph Shabalala, Charlie Skarbek)
15 Dlondlobala Njalo (Soul Drummers Mix) 04:43 (Joseph Shabalala)
**********
DISC TWO (72:22)
1 Homeless (with Sarah McLachlan) 04:12 (Joseph Shabalala, Paul Simon)
2 Hello My Baby (with Zap Mama) 04:56 (Joseph Shabalala)
3 People Get Ready (with Phoebe Snow) 05:54 (Curtis Mayfield)
4 Abezizwe (Uniting Nations Together) (D'Influence Mix) 03:50 (Joseph Shabalala)
5 Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes 05:42 (Joseph Shabalala, Paul Simon)
6 Paradise Road 04:33 (Fransua Roos, Patric VanBlerk)
7 One Blood 05:33 (Mbongeni Ngema, JOseph Shabalala)
8 O Happy Day (with Betty Griffin) 05:41 (Edwin Hawkins)
9 River Of Dreams (with Bill Champlin) 05:28 (Billy Joel)
10 Mbude (with Taj Mahal) 03:58 (Solomon Linda)
11 I'll Take You There (with The Golden Gospel Singers) 06:37 (Staple Singers)
12 Inkanyezi Nezazi (Spiral Staircase Remix) 04:08 (Joseph Shabalala)
13 Sohlabele Hasana (with Nana "Coyote" Motijoane) 04:05 (Joseph Shabalala)
14 Angimboni Ofana Naye (with SABC Choir) 04:12 (Joseph Shabalala)
15 Mamizolo (Women Of Mambazo) 03:25 (Joseph Shabalala)
**********
REVIEW/AMG
Steve Leggett
This two-disc set is both a good introduction to Ladysmith Black Mambazo and conversely an unbalanced one. Founded in the 1960s by Joseph Shabalala (who continues to lead the group), the South African a cappella gospel ensemble has been delighting audiences all over the world for some 50 years now as a primary act, but Ladysmith Black Mambazo's public profile rests more on their collaborations with other performers, most notably Paul Simon, whose Graceland album, which prominently featured their backup vocals, was most people's real introduction to the group. Which is why this fun set is unbalanced -- it collects 30 of those collaborations done over the years with the likes of Simon, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Sarah McLachlan, Taj Mahal, and a host of others, and while there's no denying it all adds up to a great and joyful listen, it only tells one part of the Ladysmith Black Mambazo story, delightful as that part is. Highlights include "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" from Simon's Graceland (there's also a version of the song here done with Melissa Etheridge and Joe McBride), a wonderful take on Sam Cooke's "Chain Gang" by the late Lou Rawls, and an equally wonderful version of Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions' "People Get Ready" from Phoebe Snow, but every track has the kind of bright spiritual soul that Ladysmith Black Mambazo bring to everything they do.
**********
BIOGRAPHY/AMG
j. poet
Ladysmith Black Mambazo was founded by Joseph Shabalala in 1974. They've cut well over 30 albums since, but the group did not become well known outside of South Africa until Paul Simon asked them to perform on Graceland. Shabalala was born into a poor family that lived on a white man's farm near the town of Ladysmith. There were eight children in the Shabalala family, and, as the oldest boy, it was Joseph's duty to take care of the family after his father died.
Shabalala's first musical experience, save for a bit of fooling around on the guitar, came with a choral group called the Blacks. Shabalala eventually took over leadership of the group and became its main composer. the Blacks won most of the local vocal competitions and became the most popular Zulu vocal group, but Shabalala felt that something was missing. "I had been hearing a voice inside me," Shabalala said. "I didn't know it, but it was the voice of God." When the voice told him to fast, Shabalala obeyed, and on his fast, he had a vision of a new kind of vocal music. Shortly thereafter he became a Christian. Taking the choral music he heard in the Christian church, he combined it with the Zulu tradition to create his own style.
When the Blacks refused to take part in Shabalala's experiments, he formed Ladysmith Black Mambazo. The group consists of seven bass voices, an alto, a tenor, and Shabalala singing lead. The combo immediately began releasing albums at a staggering rate, offering a massive catalog of vocal music. Even if you don't speak Zulu, when they hit a low rumbling note, you can literally feel the power of their voices in your body.
"In Zulu singing there are three major sounds," Shabalala explains. "A high keening ululation; a grunting, puffing sound that we make when we stomp our feet; and a certain way of singing melody. Before Black Mambazo you didn't hear these three sounds in the same songs. So it is new to combine them, although it is still done in a traditional style. We are just asking God to allow us to polish it, to help keep our voices in order so we can praise Him and uplift the people."
The group has had an extremely prolific recording career, having released over 50 albums and collections, beginning with their debut, Amabutho, on Gallo Records in 1973. In 1988 Ladymith signed with Warner Bros. and issued a pair of albums, Journey of Dreams in 1988 and Two Worlds One Heart in 1990. A couple of best-of samplers appeared on Shanachie in 1992. The group switched back to Gallo for a series of 1990s releases, then moved to Wrasse for several albums, including 2000's In Harmony. No Boundaries, which featured the English Chamber Orchestra, appeared on Headsup Records in 2005, followed by a second album from the label, Long Walk to Freedom, in 2006. In 2007 Ilembe: Honoring Shaka Zulu was issued in South Africa with an American edition following in 2008.
**********
WIKIPEDIA
**********
WEBSITE
**********
TO THE TOP
**********
