Various Artists – Next Stop Soweto

Strut delivers a new vinyl reprint of the groundbreaking ‘Next Stop Soweto’ compilation series, which focuses on forgotten and rare South African music from the 1960s and 1970s.

Volume 1 focuses on the signature mbaqanga or township jive sound that became the extremely popular music of the day for black South Africans. It was compiled by Duncan Brooker and Francis Gooding. Born in the 1960s in response to the apartheid regime’s drive to eradicate black culture of kwela music, the explosive new electric sound fused local regional genres with soul and jazz, spawning a slew of new performers such as Mahotella Queens, Mahlathini, and Izintombi Zasi Manje Manje.

Next Stop Soweto

‘Next Stop Soweto’ follows the evolution of the music from early male groaner’ male voices to the emergence of rich female vocal harmony groups between 1968 and 1975, with guitar techniques becoming increasingly percussive in the mid-’70s. Much of the music featured was published on limited edition 45s and is being distributed outside of South Africa for the first time on this collection.

Since the release of this album, the series has grown to four volumes, covering South Africa’s soul combos, jazz greats, and ’70s Afro rock era, and has become the first dedicated contemporary series to explore the country’s rich and varied music culture in the townships since Earthworks’ ‘Indestructible Beat of Soweto’ albums. To date, the best-selling title in the ‘Next Stop Soweto’ series,

Vol. 1 – Township Sounds From The Golden Age Of Mbaqangwa

1. Melotone Sisters With Amaqola Band – I Sivenoe 02:45 video
2. The Mgababa Queens – Maphuthi 02:42
3. S. Piliso & His Super Seven – Kuya Hanjwa 02:33
4. The Big Four – Wenzani Umoya 03:10
5. Mahlathini & The Queens – Umkhovu 03:25
6. Zed Nkabinde – Inkonjane Jive 02:23
7. Intombi Zephepha – Ingoina Le Nyathi 02:33
8. Tempo All Stars – Take Off 02:28
9. Boy-Nze Na Maqueens – I’smodeni 02:15
10. Mahotella Queens – Zwe Kumusha 02:34
11. African Swingsters – Emuva 02:32
12. Ubhekitsche Namajongosi – Umaduna Omnyama 02:41
13. Lucky Strike Sisters – Mr J.S. Mpanza 02:14
14. Aba-Lilizeli – Sikhwele 02:52
15. Reggie Msomi & His Hollywood Jazz Band – Soul Chakari 02:42
16. Amaqawe Omculo – Jabulani Balaleli (Part 2) 02:42
17. Piston Mahlathini & The Queens – Nomacala 02:42
18. Sammy Boy – 10 to 11 02:20
19. Izintombi Zasi Manje Manje – Awufuni Ukulandela Na? 02:23
20. Iza Wena – Happy Africa 02:38

Vol. 2 – Township Sounds From The Golden Age Of Mbaqangwa

1. J. K. Mayengani And The Shingwedzi Sisters – Khubani 2:50
2. The Monks – Blockhead 2:34
3. The Klooks – Nkuli’s Shuffle 2:41
4. Phillip Malela – Tiba Kamo 3:12
5. The Mgababa Queens – Akulalwa Esoweto 2:58
6. The Heroes – Funky Message 3:06
7. Bra Sello & His Band – Soul Time Nzimande Go 2:24
8. Mahotella Queens – Wozani Mahipi 2:23
9. The S.A. Move – Skophom 2:44
10. The Soul Prophets – Soul “Imbaq” 2:27
11. The Toreadors – Gwinyitshe 2:36
12. Down Tones – Back Home Soul 2:48
13. Bazali Bam – Bazali Bam 3:12
14. The Heroes – Come With Me 2:46
15. Phillip Malela And The Movers – Intandane 3:11
16. Soul Throbs – Little Girl 2:40
17. Electric Six – Can You Feel It 2:46
18. The Heshoo Beshoo Group – Wait And See 4:04
19. The Anchors – Last Time 2:29
20. Flaming Souls – Mosquito 2:53
21. The Grasshoppers – I Am There 2:30
22. Gibson Kente – Saduva 2:33

Vol. 3 – Giants, Ministers and Makers: Jazz in South Africa 1963-1984

1. The Ministers – Ngena Mntan’am 05:02 video
2. Skyf – Be There 06:20
3. Spirits Rejoice – Joy 04:27
4. Dennis Mpale – Orlando 09:47
5. Mankunku Quartet – Dedication (To Daddy Trane And Brother Shorter) 10:14
6. Batsumi – Itumeleng 15:58
7. Themba – Ou Kaas 04:20
8. Malombo Jazz Makers – Sibathathu 02:39
9. Tete Mbambisa – Stay Cool 09:41
10. Early Mabuza Quartet – Little Old Man (Maxhegwana) 03:04
11. The Soul Jazzmen – Inhlupeko 10:30
12. Chris McGregor & The Castle Lager Big Band – Switch 06:02
13. The Heshoo Beshoo Group – Emakhaya 07:18
14. Christopher Columbus Feelings – Oosoga 05:04
15. Malombo – Sangoma 03:58
16. Dudu Pukwana & The Spears – Joe’s Jika 02:40
17. The Soul Giants – Pinese’s Dance 07:28
18. Jazz Ministers – Take Me To Brazil 05:06
19. Chris Schilder Quartet – Spring feat. Mankunku 10:38