| features in: Album Chart of 1974 ● Album Chart of the Decade: 1970s |
This group had started as Abafana Bentuthuko in the mid-60s and by now had now begun to trade as Intuthuko Brothers. Long-time guitarist Hansford Mthembu gets a front-cover big-up; by now his name carries a fair degree of rand-pulling power. Alas, the label errs with the spelling, “Hensford”, compounding the mistake in the liner-notes by opting for “Henceford”. Groan. It’s an all-instrumental affair barring track 2, “Please Don’t Cry”, which has a suitably lame male vocal to go with the title. This is an album of two halves I’d say; side one is rather non-dynamic, here, Intuthuko Brothers sound like a fairly competent shebeen pop-soul outfit. They do a cover of “Loving Arms” (Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge, 1973) which is particularly poor. Such is the conservatism of this LP so far that I can’t help but think it might have something to do with a middle class wedding reception. Thankfully, things perk up from here. Four of the six tracks on side 2 save this LP from the scrapheap; namely, the four tracks where they delve headlong into the realm of mbaqanga. The best 2 tracks appear at the very end, “Is’Gul’Egoli” and “First Stop Durban” – both of which were written by the drummer, Kali Monare. At least the reception got going in the end! You can download this out-of-print LP at Electric Jive.
The Jukebox Rebel
22–Jul–2014
| Tracklist |
| A1 | [02:35]  Intuthuko Brothers featuring Hensford Mthembu - Tomorrow’s Wedding (Hansford Mthembu, Titus Masikane) Soul |
| A2 | [02:58]  Intuthuko Brothers featuring Hensford Mthembu - Please Dont Cry (Hansford Mthembu) Pop |
| A3 | [02:42]  Intuthuko Brothers featuring Hensford Mthembu - S.A. My Love (Hansford Mthembu) Pop |
| A4 | [02:27]  Intuthuko Brothers featuring Hensford Mthembu - Champaine & Wine (Hansford Mthembu) Soul |
| A5 | [02:15]  Intuthuko Brothers featuring Hensford Mthembu - Loving Arms (Tom Jans) Pop Ballad |
| A6 | [02:41]  Intuthuko Brothers featuring Hensford Mthembu - Xmas Bells (Hansford Mthembu) Africana |
| B1 | [02:14]  Intuthuko Brothers featuring Hensford Mthembu - Back Home (Hansford Mthembu) Pop |
| B2 | [02:27]  Intuthuko Brothers featuring Hensford Mthembu - Uthanda Bantu (Hansford Mthembu, Titus Masikane) Africana |
| B3 | [02:55]  Intuthuko Brothers featuring Hensford Mthembu - Ematimatolo (Hansford Mthembu, Titus Masikane) Africana |
| B4 | [02:38]  Intuthuko Brothers featuring Hensford Mthembu - Kwa Kheth’Omthandayo (Hansford Mthembu) Pop |
| B5 | [02:41]  Intuthuko Brothers featuring Hensford Mthembu - Is’Gul’Egoli (Kali Monare) Africana |
| B6 | [02:24]  Intuthuko Brothers featuring Hensford Mthembu - First Stop Durban (Kali Monare) Africana |
