BLACK BUSH BUCKS - Limnandi Evangeli (1987)

RPM, RPM7119
Producers: Peter Tladi & B Ncgobo
Engineer: Humphrey Mabote
Recorded at: RPM Studios

Old school isicathamiya gospel along the lines of the famous Ladysmith Black Mambazo - not quite as polished but with plenty of soul. Lyrics in Zulu except for 'Jesus Is My Plea'. Produced by future label boss and festival promoter Peter Tladi.

ABAKHWENYANA - Zabalaza (1986)

Daylight Beat/CCP/EMI, DB(O)4051021
Producer: Simon Ngwenya
Engineers: Jan Smit & Peter Thwaites
Recorded at: EMI Studios

Abakhwenyana struck the perfect balance between mbaqanga and bubblegum. The title track was picked up by Harry Belafonte for 'Amandla', the best track on his landmark 1988 album Paradise in Gazankulu, while 'Mngani Wami' became 'Monday to Monday'. Also featuring bassmen Bakithi Khumalo and Cris 'Jaws' Dlathu, both of whom featured on Belafonte’s album. Co-arranged by Sammy Klaas from The Big Dudes.

THE ROCKETS - We Are All African People (1989)

Roy B/Dephon/Teal Trutone, RBL160   
Producers: Rick Wolff, Molly Barron, Al Etto (exec: Phil Hollis)   
Engineer: Peter Pearlson       
Recorded at: RPM Studios

By the late 80s the Rockets had moved on from conventional funk to a more electronic disco sound. Still featuring the likes of Al Etto, Colin 'Bones' Delight and Molly Baron, it's heavy on the cheese but packed full of solid uptempo grooves like 'Time To Foetsek'.

BILLY PAULSON - Happy (1989)

Maranatha, MAR046   
Producer: Danny Antill (exec: Lukie Carelsen)   
Engineer: Andre Groenewald       
Recorded at: Maranatha Studio

Billy has been a mainstay of the gospel scene for decades, long before other popular artists cashed in on the genre. The 10 songs on Happy are full of soul and not at cheesy as the cover might suggest. Liner notes give thanks to Neville Nash, the celebrated funk musician that Billy takes some of his musical inspiration from. Featuring Danny Antill on keyboards, with the Eersterus sunday school choir on the title track.

OBED NGOBENI and the KURHULA SISTERS - Mchoza (1985)

Trutone, LPJW4   
Producer: Peter Moticoe   
Engineer: Fernando Perdigao   
   

"One of the musicians who placed xiTsonga music on the international area with his massive cross-cultural appeal hit, 'Kuhluvukile Ka Zete'. Inspired by civilisation in deep rural Limpopo villages, the track caught the attention of Harry Belafonte and inspired his album Paradise in Gazankulu. The success of the 1983 hit prompted Obed to include 'Kazete No. 2' on his other album Tshiketa. His chain of albums include Gazankulu (1984), Mchoza (1985), Thsiketa (1986), Xikwembu (1989) and many more" (Mojapelo, 2008:297).

JERRY GREEN - Jive Baby Jive (1986)

WEA, WIM463   
Producer: Coco

Little known artist Jerry Green lends his pipes to this funky slice of bubblegum, with stinging synths and a singalong chorus lifted straight from Italo-disco act Baltimora's 1985 hit 'Tarzan Boy'. B-side 'Our Love (Will Last Forever)' shows off Jerry's falsetto skills with a slow and shmaltzy ballad.

PURE GOLD - Siyabonga Baba (1987)

Hit City/White Dove, DOV(A)018   
Producers: Blondie Makhene & Steve McNamara
(exec: John Galanakis)
Engineer: Steve McNamara       
Recorded at: Platinum Studios, Jhb       

Consisting of the Gwala Brothers Paulos, Freddy, Patrick, Jafta and Victor, Pure Gold were one of the most popular 'Zulu traditional' acts of the day, even making inroads overseas on the Shanachie label. They were under the wing of Blondie Makhene, one of the key figures in SA music in the 70s and 80s, who also provides keyboards here. Siyabonga Baba (Thank you sir) catches them at the peak of their fame.

MARGINO - That's My Man (1984)

Roy B/Dephon/Gallo, LPRBL109   
Producers: Phil Audoire, Attie van Wyk
Engineer: Pikes Cronje       
Recorded at: Ovation & RPM Studios

Super funky stuff that came out at the same time as Brenda & The Big Dudes' 'Weekend Special' and set the tone for the prolific Dephon team, who soon went on to launch stars like Yvonne Chaka Chaka and Chicco. Margino, aka Kim Kallie, daughter for Rhodesian singer Judy Page, also sang with reggae group Kariba and jazz rock outfit Turbo in the early 80s, and later did backing vocals for Future (1986) and others. She first shot to fame as a solo star with a version of 'Holiday' (written by Lisa Stevens and Curtis Hudson, credited as Cathy Hudson), which was released at the same time as Madonna's version - her debut hit. Dephon svengali Phil Hollis had picked up the song as Midem that year and used it to launch his prototype bubblegum star. Margino also had hit in '83 with another cover: In-Deep's 'Last Night a DJ Saved My Life'. Both were huge sellers, largely with black audiences.

V-MASH - Naughty Boy (1989)

Gallo GRC, BL687   
Producers: Alec 'Om' Khaoli & Colin Smith   
Engineer: Colin Smith       

"Vinolia Mashego who became known as V-Mash will always be remembered as the tigress of SABC televisions's youth programme, Jam Alley. But when "Om" Alec Khaoli met her he saw a music performer with massive potential" (Mojapelo 2008:108). With party tracks like the hit 'Suna Papa', 'Celebrate Tonite' and 'Don't Touch', Naughty Boy was the starlet's second album, after The Hunger (1988) and before Cheena in 1991. It features cameos from influential producer Tom Vuma (guitar) and Om's former Harari compadre Funky Masike (vocals).

WALK THIS WAY - Best Friends (1990)

CSR/One Way/Teal Trutone, OWL2005   
Producers: Chris Ghelakis & Marvin Moses           

Interesting crossover project by popular new school producers Chris Ghelakis and Marvin Moses. Formed in 1989, Best Friends was their debut album, followed in 1992 by  (Don't wanna live in A) Matchbox, featuring "I'm Sorry". The band built up a loyal following in nightclubs all over the country, fronted by dynamic duo Vic Kotzen and guitarist Mella Mann. Dave Ridley and Moses provide the keyboards, with backing vocals from The Syndicate Sisters and The Angels. Not credited on this album, Tracey Madden en Pamela Felix performed live with the band, along with Brent Harris on drums. Drawing on house and hi-NRG influences, its a tentative step into a brave new world post-bubblegum. The title track adds reggae and hip-hop influences, while they also attempt a cover of the Aerosmith hit they take their name from.

KAYA - Xigangu Xaphorisa (1986)

Gallo GRC, XWI132   
Producer: Richard Siluma   
Engineers: Mark Baker & Sam Wingate                       

Innovative Shangaan pop produced by the man who launched Lucky Dube's reggae career around the same time, Richard Siluma. The two tracks on this album weigh in at seven minutes each, so it's hardly the kind of frenetic power-pop usually associated with the genre, but it's packed full of fresh synth sounds.

                   

MTUSENI SIBIYA no MFANA NGUBANE nezi NKONKONI - Xola Phela (1983)

Jamloti/CCP/EMI, JML(E)7011   
Producer: SM Khoza       

More 'Zulu traditional' grooves, this time from Mtuseni Sibiya, Mfana Ngubane and "The Wildebeests". It goes back to the roots of maskandi, relying primarily on guitar melodies and call-and-response vocals, while favouring old-style accordians over the keyboards that would come to dominate the genre thanks to the likes of the Madlala Brothers.