- LP
- Recommended
Soweto Soul Orchestra
Soweto Soul Orchestra
Monte Cristo
- Cat No: MOCR005
- updated:2020-10-29
A top-notch slab of 1981 South African bubblegum soul.
Track List
Soweto Soul Orchestra is produced and composed by Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse, whose importance to South-Africa's music scene can hardly be underestimated. Being a formative member of The Beaters, which was later renamed Harari, he toured Africa extensively and even hit the American charts with their "Party" single. After Harari split in 1982, Sipho went solo and scored another hit with "Burn Out", which could be heard in every township, and produced and recorded for Hugh Masekela and Miriam Makeba among others.
The Soweto Soul Orchestra project boasts a variety of funky tracks, all marked with that jazzy South-African sound. The stand-out tune on this one, for us, is the epic 8 minute long cosmic disco cover of "Hang em High", the original soundtrack for the eponymous classic Western movie.
This 2020 re-issue sees all tracks cut again from the official studio files, ensuring both audio quality and originality.
Originally released on and licensed through Gallo, 1981.
The Soweto Soul Orchestra project boasts a variety of funky tracks, all marked with that jazzy South-African sound. The stand-out tune on this one, for us, is the epic 8 minute long cosmic disco cover of "Hang em High", the original soundtrack for the eponymous classic Western movie.
This 2020 re-issue sees all tracks cut again from the official studio files, ensuring both audio quality and originality.
Originally released on and licensed through Gallo, 1981.
From 〈MONTE CRISTO〉 — the label reissuing rarities that hit all the collector sweet spots, like cult synth-pop from Kym Amps ("You Don't Know My Name (But I Know You)") and Frank Hatchett's French zouk cut "Body Shots" — comes SOWETO SOUL ORCHESTRA out of the townships of South Africa. The group was put together by Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse, a key figure on the scene said to have hits every township resident knows by heart, and judging by the photos, a seriously distinctive funky man. Bands he was involved with, like the Beaters and HATARI, apparently even landed hits on the US charts. Led by "The Girl In The Alley," with its exquisite blend of digital drums, orchestration and funk groove, there's disco, boogie and slow jams throughout. The disco version of the Clint Eastwood western "Hang 'Em High" is another oddball highlight! No sleeve, but this is an officially licensed reissue. (Original Japanese text by Saito)