A series of one hour All-South African mixes to enhance the Public Facebook Group “Jive Talking and Eyeballing”, which is an interview showcase of both South African and International artists. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=623022481618491/
A 70’s mix with the spotlight on Rabbitt and Trevor Rabin.
More information on most of these artists at www.Rock.co.za
1. Rock ‘n Roll Party – Ballyhoo
2. The Boy & The Bee – Omega Limited
3. The Eagle Has Landed – Dickie Loader & Freedoms Children
4. The San Diego Sniping Event – Falling Mirror
5. Charlie – Rabbitt
6. Substitute – Clout
7. Guinevere – McCully Workshop
8. What’s Going On – The Third Eye
9. Telephone Girl – Assagai
10. Hard Ride – Rabbitt
11. Candlelight – Richard Jon Smith
12. Astral III – The Invaders
13. Black Night – Omega Limited
14. Evil Ways – The Attraction
15. Better The Devil You Know – Stingray
16. Jo Bangles – Baxtop
17. Fantasy – Trevor Rabin
18. Born To Be Wild – Buffalo feat Peter Vee
19. The Journey – The Staccatos
The first in a series of mixes inspired by the charts from the The South African Rock Music Digest (fondly referred to as “The SA Rock Digest” or simply “The Digest”) which was a weekly, free subscription e-mag about South African rock and pop music published digitally from 1999 to 2004.
Founded on 27th January 1999 by Brian Currin and Stephen “Sugar” Segerman.
Re-established in 2009, as part of Sugar Music, embracing social media tools and platforms.
Track list 1. Rise ‘n Shine – Moodphase5ive
2. Africa’s Not For Sissies – Syd Kitchen
3. Set Of Wheels (Karoo Anthem) – Karen Zoid
4. Nkalakatha – Mandoza
5. Gee Raat – KOBUS!
6. Since I Met You – New World Inside (early Fokofpolisiekar)
7. Crazy Over You (5FM Unearthed version) – Zen Arcade
8. Praha Paradise – Ernestine Deane
9. Kakstraat – Battery 9
10. Donkey Rattle – Felix Laband
11. Dig It – Kalahari Surfers
12. Long Holiday – The Sunshines
13. Fragile – Venessa Nolan
14. Stoute Boude – Anton Goosen & Beeskraal
15. Sestien Jaar Met ‘n Vals Kitaar – Koos Kombuis
16. Sweet Stellenganga – Akkedis
17. Beach Girl – Natalia
18. Lovesong – Dolly Rockers
19. Fokofpolisiekar – Fokofpolisiekar
20. Things To Consider – Skwirmish
21. Paralyzer – Ghetto Muffin
22. Gangsta – The Rudimentals
23. Gasoline – Saron Gas (early Seether)
24. Say Goodbye – Scarlet Host
25. Humanarium – Bed On Bricks
26. Indigo Girl – Watershed
27. Life (Theme From Big Brother TV series 2001) – Semisane
28. Vodka – Mathys Roets
29. Strate Van Pretoria – Beeskraal
30. Mooie Vrou – Kaal
31. When I Get The Blues – Delta Blue
32. Only Yesterday – Sharkbrother
33. Go Fuck Yourself – Janie Jones
Here they are, in chronological order, chosen by a 20-strong panel of LS writers using three criteria: 1) musical brilliance; 2) popular success; 3) impact on the national mind. Some tracks aced one category and flunked the other two, but plenty ticked all three boxes. Which immortal hits have we missed? Tune us the odds at lifestyle@sundaytimes.co.za
1. Phalafala Dolly Rathebe and the Elite Swingsters (1964)
2. Pata Pata Miriam Makeba (written in 1957 with Dorothy Masuka, but a global hit in 1967)
3. Master Jack Four Jacks And A Jill (1968)
4. Yakhal’ Inkomo Winston “Mankunku” Ngozi (1968)
5. For your Precious Love The Flames (1968)
6. The Seagull’s Name Was Nelson Des and Dawn Lindberg (1971)
7. Nomathemba Letta Mbulu (1973)
8. Mama Tembu’s Wedding Margaret Singana (1973)
9. Stimela Hugh Masekela (1974)
10. Mannenberg Abdullah Ibrahim (1974)
11. Charlie Rabbitt (1975)
12. Blues For a Hip King Abdullah Ibrahim (1975)
13. Marabi Malombo (1976)
14. Chocolate Toffee Saitana (1976)
15. Substitute Clout (1978)
16. Universal Men Juluka (1979)
17. ZX Dan The Radio Rats (1979)
18. Jo Bangles Baxtop (1979)
19. Paradise Road Joy (1980)
20. Party Harari (1981)
21. Man on the Moon Ballyhoo (1981)
22. Impi Juluka (1981)
23. The Bushman Steve Kekana (1982)
24. Isiphiwo Soul Brothers (1982)
25. Hey Boy Via Afrika (1983)
26. Shadows éVoid (1983)
27. Weekend Special Brenda Fassie (1983)
28. Shot Down The Cherry Faced Lurchers (1983)
29. See Yourself (Clowns) Ella Mental (1984)
30. Burnout Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse (1984)
31. Is it an Ism or is it Art? Niki Daly (1984)
32. Jabulani Hotline featuring PJ Powers (1984)
33. I’m in Love with a DJ Yvonne Chaka Chaka (1985)
34. Stimela sazeZola – Mbongeni Ngema (1985)
35. Reggae Vibes is Cool Bernoldus Niemand (1985)
36. This Boy Sweatband (1986)
37. National Madness The Aeroplanes (1986)
38. Change is Pain Mzwakhe Mbuli (1986)
39. Homeless Ladysmith Black Mambazo (1986)
40. Johnny Calls the Chemist Falling Mirror (1986)
41. Now or Never Sankomota (1987)
42. Ten Ten Special African Jazz Pioneers (1987)
43. Scatterlings of Africa Johnny Clegg and Savuka (1987)
44. Weeping Bright Blue (1987)
45. Hillbrow Johannes Kerkorrel (1988)
46. Quick Quick Marcalex (1989)
47. Slave Lucky Dube (1990)
48. Shake Tananas (1990)
49. Special Star Mango Groove (1990)
50. Tomorrow Nation O’Yaba (1991)
51. I’m in Love with a Rastaman Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens (1991)
52. Sarafina! Hugh Masekela (1992)
53. It’s About Time Boom Shaka (1993)
54. The Crossing Johnny Clegg (1993)
55. Mmalo-We Bayete (1994)
56. Never Again Prophets of Da City (1994)
57. When You Come Back Vusi Mahlasela (1994)
58. Waar Was Jy? Skeem (1994)
59. Sea Level Urban Creep (1995)
60. The Child Inside Qkumba Zoo (1995)
61. Kaffir Arthur Mafokate (1995)
62. African Dream Vicky Sampson (1996)
63. Kiss the Machine Battery 9 (1996)
64. Magasman Trompies (1997)
65. Stand in your Way Just Jinger (1997)
66. Fords Nissans Toys en Beetles Brasse vannie Kaap (1997)
67. Shibobo TKZee (1998)
68. Vul’indlela Brenda Fassie (1998)
69. Yehlisan’ Umoya Busi Mhlongo (1998)
70. Sondela Ringo Madlingozi (1999)
71. Thathi Sgubu Bongo Maffin (1999)
72. Blue Eyes Springbok Nude Girls (1999)
73. Genes & Spirits Moses Molelekwa (2000)
74. Born in a Taxi Blk Sonshine (2000)
75. Nkalakatha Mandoza (2000)
76. Afrikaners is Plesierig Karen Zoid (2001)
77. Meisie Meisie Kurt Darren (2001)
78. Ghetto Fabulous Zola & Kaybee (2002)
79. Ndihamba Nawe Mafikizolo (2002)
80. Ayelekile Amasango Ismael (2002)
81. Picture Perfect Perez (2002)
82. Midnight 340ml (2003)
83. Umoya Skwatta Kamp (2003)
84. Nomvula (After the Rain) Freshlyground 2003
85. Destiny Malaika (2004)
86. Nizalwa Ngobani Thandiswa Mazwai (2004)
87. Matofotofo Pitch Black Afro (2004)
88. Akekh’ uGogo Mzekezeke (2005)
89. Whistling in Tongues Felix Laband (2005)
90. De La Rey Bok van Blerk (2006)
91. Sister Bethina Mgarimbe (2006)
92. Feel Good Lira (2007)
93. Bantu Biko Street Simphiwe Dana (2007)
94. Show Dem (Make the Circle Bigger) JR feat Hip-Hop Pantsula (2009)
Ramblin’ Bones is the alter ego of Jay Bones, former front man for the popular South African ska band Fuzigish, here with his latest musical incarnation off Ramblin’ Bones & His Bloody Agents .
A track off Shifty compilation Shotdown which illustrates the label’s role in capturing and preserving a vibrant and important part of South Africa’s history of cultural resistance.
World Among The Clouds is Summer Shade’s latest EP. The band (previously known as Nungarin) has remolded their already unique and refreshing sound to produce a mixture of rock, tribal, African and folk.
A track off Zillion Miles from this classically trained vocalist, composer and lyricist who is highly respected by fellow musicians in her home city of Cape Town and who has enjoyed international success as a freelance singer.
Title track off the brilliant album Goema, from this Cape Town group who stars in the recent documentary on this indigenous Cape Music style, called Mama Goema.
Released for the first time on CD is the long awaited retrospective of South Africa’s legendary original punk band, Wild Youth. This massive 23 track set includes all of Wild Youth’s late 70`s seminal singles, live and demo tracks plus several songs from the band’s alter ego outfit, The Gay Marines. Wild Youth are prominently featured in the film documentary “Punk in Afrika”, currently showing in key US and European film festivals.
Astral Daze 3 – Snapshots Of The South African Rock Underground
Volume 3 of our acclaimed Astral Daze series find us in the company of some well known ‘underground’ bands (Freedom’s Children, Abstract Truth, The Bats) and some lesser known luminaries of the psych rock era (The Gentle People, Finder’s Keepers, 004’s, Wakeford Hart). The compilation is rounded off with some real classics including engineer Peter Pearlson’s 2011 remix of Hawk’s ‘Here comes the sun’ and Sharon Tandy’s psych collaboration with UK rockers Fleur De Lys.
Almost all the recent fan messages on the Sugarman.org website are from people saying they have never heard of Rodriguez before. Many even apologize for not listening to him in the 1970s.
I can’t remember when exactly I first heard ‘Cold Fact’. For me his music just always seemed to have been there. A number of the mixtapes from my teenage years show “Sugar Man”, “Rich Folks Hoax” and “I Wonder” as being from 1973/74 when I was about 14/15.
I was wrong, of course, but didn’t know that until much later.
A long time ago, I compiled a series of C90 mixtapes called The Story Of Rock, with all the information lovingly catalogued and hand-written in hard cover books.
Page 13 of Book 7 shows the track listing for “The Story Of Rock 1973 to 1974” and includes the following songs:
Long Train Running – The Doobie Brothers
We Live – Xit
Sugar Man – Rodriguez
Radar Love – Golden Earring
Smoke On The Water – Deep Purple
Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd
The Ballad Of Casey Deiss – Shawn Phillips
Rich Folks Hoax – Rodriguez
We’re An American Band – Grand Funk Railroad
Other artists include Led Zeppelin, The Allman Brothers Band, Yes, Focus, Chicago and more. And Rodriguez was the only one that got two entries! The next page shows “The Story Of Rock 1974 to 1976” and includes “I Wonder” alongside songs by Black Sabbath, Jethro Tull, Thin Lizzy, Rory Gallagher, Pink Floyd, Genesis, David Bowie, Frank Zappa, Uriah Heep, Nazareth and others.
Cold Fact
I am finding it impossible to imagine what it must be like to not grow up listening to his music alongside all those other well-known classic rock bands. I know I never heard him on the radio, but that wasn’t that strange as a number of my “Story Of Rock” artists didn’t get much radio play any way.
But that he wasn’t famous in the rest of the world, didn’t cross my mind. When I first discovered the internet during the 1996 Festive Season, I could find information on Pink Floyd and Deep Purple, however I could find nothing on Rodriguez. And that started me on a quest, that just seems to be continuously having happy endings.
Without trying to sound too melodramatic, I would not be living the life I do now, and earning my income from doing what I love, if it was not for Rodriguez and all the sparks that he ignited.
Re-Machined: A Tribute to Machine Head is the star attraction in Classic Rock’s upcoming Deep Purple Fanpack.
Hear official, all-new recordings of the band’s classic 1972 album performed by Metallica, Iron Maiden, Chickenfoot, Black Label Society, Kings of Chaos, the Flaming Lips, Steve Vai, Jimmy Barnes & Joe Bonamassa plus Glenn Hughes & Chad Smith.
Tracklisting
1. Smoke On The Water – Carlos Santana / Jacoby Shaddix 2. Highway Star – Chickenfoot 3. Maybe I’m A Leo – Glenn Hughes / Chad Smith 4. Pictures of Home – Black Label Society 5. Never Before – Kings of Chaos 6. Smoke On The Water – The Flaming Lips 7. Lazy – Jimmy Barnes with Joe Bonamassa 8. Space Truckin’ – Iron Maiden 9. When A Blind Man Cries – Metallica
Plus, exclusive to this special edition:
10. Highway Star – Steve Vai, Glenn Hughes, Chad Smith, Lauchlan Doley
A track off the album, Grootste Treffers by Radio Kalahari Orkes, a group that established themselves as favourites in the SA musical landscape through a series of hits and top selling albums starring actor and TV personality Ian Roberts as lead singer and world renowned writer Rian Malan as co-composer and lyricist.
More intelligent nu-pop off the album You’re Underfed, I’m Wonderful from this new band currently getting a lot of attention on the Johannesburg scene.
When Port Elizabeth-based TV host (Strictly Come Dancing), reality TV series judge (SA’s Got Talent) and multi-award winning performer and theatrical creator, Ian von Memerty embarks on a new project, he does it big – like on his first commercial CD, titled U R Fantastic .
Gary Thomas produced and engineered his Contraption Distoria album himself with only one special guest in the form of guitar hero Guy Buttery on this particularly eerie track.
Afrikaans Rap and Hip Hop is bursting onto the scene with names like Jack Parow, Brasse Van Die Kaap and Die Antwoord and now Pretoria band Bittereinder, here with a track off their album, ‘n Ware Verhaal .
This Pretoria based outfit ruled the country’s rock stages for almost a decade with their progressive nu-metal and tight live performances. Here’s a song from their latest self-titled album .
Impi, (not to be confused with John Kongos’ briefly lived band or Johnny Clegg’ seminal anthem) were mostly The Bats under a different name. To their ranks they added Sounds of Brass’ Peter Hubner, The Square Set’s Neville Whitmill and Hubner’s girlfriend Deni Loren. The group released one eponymously titled album which featured the track ‘Sun.’
Listening to it, one can see why The Bats chose not to release it under their usual name. It was far more prog rock influenced than most of their previous pop work and, perhaps they felt their fan base would not really like it. Starting out with a heavy beating drum (African rhythm), then weaving in a haunting pennywhistle before building up to the catchy chorus with a rich brass ensemble.
Unfortunately for The Bats, their alter ego did not really capture the hearts and minds of their pop fans, nor those of the progressive bands like Hawk, Abstract Truth and Freedom’s Children as the album did not do too well and faded into obscurity. Fortunately Benjy Mudie, the keeper of the South Africa rock flame, has just released the album on his Retrofresh label, so we are able to listen to ‘Sun’ and all the other tracks, and wonder why we didn’t go for it big time at the time.
This CD compiled by Dirk Uys in March 2002, and released by EMI in May 2002, is now long out-of-print, but inspired by Marq Vas I have linked to the songs that are available to download on Rhythm Music Store.
This album collected the A to Z of Afrikaans Rock (from Akkedis to Karen Zoid) at the time, as well as most of its genres like blues, boogie, industrial, punk, hip hop, rap, reggae, metal and more.
I seem to remember Dirk telling me at the time that he would have liked to include a David Kramer song but wasn’t able to get permission. Not sure what song it was, but I have included David Kramer’s Bokkie Bokkie as a digital bonus track.
This song has English verses and an Afrikaans chorus. The original version was released on the Original Mountain Rockers compilation in 1980. David re-recorded it in 1981 for his Bakgat! album.
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