“The Beat Of Smanje Manje” by Various Artists - album review

A truly excellent compilation, as tough as old boots, rounding up 12 Smanje Manje single sides from 1967 and 1968. Check the notes for Nick Lotay's superb overview.

The Jukebox Rebel
05-Mar-2012

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The 1968 compilation The Beat of Smanje Manje brings together twelve memorable tunes originally released on singles on the "Smanje Manje" label - and all twelve of them are true gems, some of the most exhilarating 1960s mbaqanga one could ever hope to stumble across. The likes of West Nkosi, Marks Mankwane, Reggie Msomi and Alex Hendricks (a more mature, saxophone-bearing version of the 1950s/60s kwela star "Little Kid Lex") throw up some damn-near fantastic and rocking sax jives, featuring that tight-knitted trademark electric mbaqanga sound. Guest appearances are made by Julia Yende’s Mthunzini Girls, as well as great groaner Mahlathini, both of whom team up for the beautiful "Ngikhala Ngiya Baleka", one of the big mbaqanga hits of the late ’60s. "Vula Bop’s", the number that opens this LP, may well just be the perfect example of this kind of music. Joseph Makwela, plucking his electric bass, introduces the tune and, before you know it, is immediately accompanied by Lucky Monama on drums, the oft-underrated professional Vivian Ngubane (on his super-bouncy rhythm guitar), Marks Mankwane playing lilting lead guitar licks, and resident hornblower West Nkosi blowing the alto sax for Africa. The track’s title references Mavuthela director/producer Rupert Bopape (who was nicknamed "Bop’s" in the Gallo studios), and was released in opposition to "Vala Nzimande", a sax jive song that emanated from GRC’s Isibaya Esikhulu Music, so-named after its producer Hamilton Nzimande. We have often mentioned the Mthunzini Girls and the strong vocals of its leader, Julia Yende, so we’ll say no more about them and leave you enjoying the group’s biggest hit, "Ngikhala Ngiya Baleka", a soulful and jive-tastic ballad in which every musician in the studio fires on all cylinders. Reggie Msomi enters the fray with his Hollywood Jazz Band for just one number, but it’s a goodie: "Mono Sara No. 2". The song is an instrumental re-recording of a 1964 Mahotella Queens number, "Mono Sarah Nani", a Shona-language song arranged by then-regular vocalist Sarah Mabokela. "Izulu Liya Duduma No. 2" is a must for all listeners… the Makgona Tsohle Band lives up to its name here and delivers the goods with immense ease. It is another instrumental cover of another big hit, which can be found opening the LP Good Luck Motella. This cover song is one not to be skipped past! This music is just sublime. From a personal point of view, this was one of the first LPs I came across after getting into this music, so the songs here have a particular resonance with me. ~ Nick Lotay, Electric Jive

tracklist

ratings by TJR

A1	[02:13] West Nkosi and his alto sax - Vula Bops (West Nkosi) Africana
A2	[02:16] Mthunzini Girls - Ngikhala Ngiya Baleka (Julia Yende) Africana
A3	[02:11] Reggie Msomi and his Hollywood Jazz Band - Mono Sara No. 2 (Reggie Msomi) Africana
A4	[02:30] Alex and his alto sax - Umkhombe (Alex Hendriks) Africana
A5	[02:11] Marks Mankwane and his alto sax - Sikhulekile (Marks Mankwane) Africana
A6	[02:15] Marks Mankwane and Di-Abafana - Khupa Marama No. 5 (Marks Mankwane) Africana
B1	[02:12] Abafana Be Mvunge - Sgub Khwela Jive (Shadrack Piliso, Rupert Bopape) Africana
B2	[02:21] Umkhize Omoane - Mopie Special (Rupert Bopape, West Nkosi) Africana
B3	[02:41] West Nkosi and his alto sax - Dova, Dova Skumba (West Nkosi) Africana
B4	[02:02] Makgona Tsohle Band - Big Bag No. 1 (Marks Mankwane, Shadrack Piliso, Rupert Bopape) Africana
B5	[02:13] Makgona Tsohle Band - Izulu Liya Duduma No. 2 (Shadrack Piliso, Rupert Bopape) Africana
B6	[02:08] Mahlathini and The Queens - Uyagiyaumahlathini (Rupert Bopape, Simon Nkabinde, Joseph Makwela) Africana

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