Meet The Mahotella Queens, by Mahotella Queens

Meet The Mahotella Queens

by Mahotella Queens

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agutterfan Classic Joburg South African township jive. Sweet 'n' soulful reissue of their classic 1966 debut LP. Sounds just as good today. Favorite track: We Boy.

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★★★★☆ "Reissued debut from South Africa's mbaqanga royalty, lovingly presented in its original packaging. Sweet harmonies... dancing guitar lines. It's lovely stuff that evokes a bittersweet nostalgia for a simpler age" - Nigel Williamson, Songlines, April 2020
• "A much rawer, more stripped-down vibe than the albums that made them famous in the 80s! Upbeat, lively, and really positive in spirit, despite the struggles taking place on the scene" - Dusty Groove
• The 1966 highly sought-after debut LP from the legendary girl group
• 14 tracks from the dawn of electrified African mbaqanga jive
• Contains the 1964 debut Queens single with Mahlathini
• Remastered by Colin Young
• Never previously reissued!
• Digital download comes with liner notes on PDF

Purchasable with gift card

£10 GBP or more
Limited Edition 180g Vinyl
Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
Deluxe 12" heavy vinyl with restored cover art on 350gsm artboard. Featuring printed insert with full liner notes, personnel and previously unpublished photographs. Strictly limited to 300 copies!

Includes unlimited streaming of Meet The Mahotella Queens via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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Limited Edition Test Pressing
Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
BANDCAMP EXCLUSIVE - "Meet The Mahotella Queens" reissue test pressings - choice of standard black vinyl or 180g white marble vinyl. Highly limited numbers!!

Includes unlimited streaming of Meet The Mahotella Queens via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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1.	Kuqale Bani 02:43	info	buy track
2.	Dinaka 02:42	info	buy track
3.	Sonny Boy 02:30	info	buy track
4.	We Boy 02:11	info	buy track
5.	Hamba Mzala 02:14	info	buy track
6.	Izinyoni 02:26	info	buy track
7.	Inxeba Lendoda 02:18	info	buy track
8.	Elidlubedu 02:11	info	buy track
9.	Niyi Gcine 02:14	info	buy track
10.	Ikhula 02:24	info	buy track
11.	Umoya 02:10	info	buy track
12.	Amaqawe 02:10	info	buy track
13.	Izulu Nge Lami 02:20	info	buy track
14.	Ekuseni 02:05	info	buy track

about

The 1966 debut album from the legendary Mahotella Queens and the very first LP on the iconic Motella label. Deluxe vinyl and digital reissue

"Not long ago - about two years - the country was swept by a craze for a fantastic new kind of jive. First presented and popularised by The Mahotella Queens, it shows no signs of decreasing - in fact it gets bigger and bigger with the release of each new "Queens" record. Demonstrating the dance all over the country, The Mahotella Queens (not to forget their "King", Mahlathini Nkabinde) have become the idols of the young "with it" crowd. Growing from original "Jive Motella" many other fads and variations have recently hit the scene - all of them introduced and demonstrated by The Queens and their King: Jive Mgqashiya (which is available on MO 33 and, incidentally, is named after the word meaning the Bantu traditional way of dancing), Jive Jibav (on MO 50) and most recently a wild, crazy jive called 'S'modern.'

The charm, vivacity and ultra-modern, go-ahead spirit of these vital young artists fully deserves to have captivated the country. Ever since they started, back in Johannesburg in 1963, their fame has been growing by leaps and bounds. Today they have no equal in their field. But although they are the ones who glory in all the limelight, they owe an enormous debt to the "man behind the scenes". He is the "brain" who guided, formed and trained the group - Rupert "Bops" Bopape."

credits

released September 23, 2019

Original release: Motella LMO 101 in 1966
Original production: Rupert Bopape and Shadrack Piliso
Recorded at the Gallo Studio, Johannesburg, 1964-66

Reissue production and notes: Nick Lotay
Audio transfer and restoration: Colin Young at See Why Audio
All songs fully licensed from the original composers
(See vinyl insert for credits, liner notes, personnel and other information.)

Special thanks to Joseph Makwela, Doris Molifi, Lucky Monama, Ethel Mngomezulu, Norton Ramavhoya and Hilda Tloubatla for historical details, photographs and assistance

An Umsakazo Production

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Umsakazo Records UK

Welcoming back the joyous sound of South Africa's townships. UK-based record label celebrating the heritage of vintage African jive through reissues, new beats and compilations of out-of-print music

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