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Various Artists
As-Shams Archive Vol. 1 - South Africa Jazz, Funk & Soul 1975-1982
As-Shams Music - Cat No: ASA 101
- updated:2025-05-13
As-Shams Music/The Sun, an independent label that has been running since the '70s in Johannesburg, South Africa — a city notorious as one of the world's most dangerous. A compilation showcasing the core of its red-label catalog is now out on 2LP.
Track List
-
A1. KIPPIE MOEKETSI - Umgababa
11:10 -
A2. PAT MATSHIKIZA - Dreams are Wonderful
10:37 -
B1. TETE MBAMBISA - Umthsakazi (The Bride)
8:08 -
B2. DICK KHOZA - Lilongwe
7:31 -
B3. MIKE MAKHALEMELE - Spring Is Here
6:13 -
C1. BLACK DISCO - Night Express
11:31 -
C2. LIONEL PILLAY - Blues For Yusef
9:29 -
D1. HARARI - Musikana
6:33 -
D2. MOVEMENT IN THE CITY - Blue Sunday
4:58 -
D3. SATHIMA BEA BENJAMIN - Music
8:53
AS-SHAMS ARCHIVE VOL. 1 introduces the core catalogue of As-Shams/The Sun, the independent record label that documented some of the most exciting developments in jazz, funk and soul from South Africa in the 1970s. With 10 tracks from 10 iconic albums featuring 10 different artists and 10 original compositions, this compilation delivers 85 minutes of South African music history.
Including essential tracks by the likes of Dick Khoza, Black Disco and Harari, remastered from the original analog tapes, As-Shams Archive Vol. 1 is an unbeatable introduction to South African rare groove for new listeners as well as a long-awaited first anthology for the label’s many devoted followers.
As-Shams Archive is home to the catalogues of As-Shams/The Sun, its predecessor Soultown Records and the reissue imprint MANDLA. The archive holds original master tapes, unreleased recordings, photographs, artwork and ephemera documenting the story of South African jazz in the 1970s. Explore each of the albums featured on As-Shams Archive Vol. 1 as well as the story of the label and its artists at AS-SHAMS.ORG.
Including essential tracks by the likes of Dick Khoza, Black Disco and Harari, remastered from the original analog tapes, As-Shams Archive Vol. 1 is an unbeatable introduction to South African rare groove for new listeners as well as a long-awaited first anthology for the label’s many devoted followers.
As-Shams Archive is home to the catalogues of As-Shams/The Sun, its predecessor Soultown Records and the reissue imprint MANDLA. The archive holds original master tapes, unreleased recordings, photographs, artwork and ephemera documenting the story of South African jazz in the 1970s. Explore each of the albums featured on As-Shams Archive Vol. 1 as well as the story of the label and its artists at AS-SHAMS.ORG.
A string of superb recordings, jazz-rooted and selected with a rare-groove sensibility. Ten tracks laying bare the heart of township and Soweto jazz. Remastered from the original master tapes, 2LP in a gatefold sleeve. (Original Japanese text by Saito)