Category Archives: Music Research
Music Research
Martin Raphael and Ramases are not the same person | Space Hymns
- Ramases and Sel, 1975. Photo: Pennie Smith (NME)
It was reported by many reviewers and re-issue liner note writers that the real name of the artist known as Ramases (who recorded the cult classic album Space Hymns in 1971) was Martin Raphael.
However in May 2012, Dorothy, better known to Ramases fans as Sel (or Selket), advised that her late husband, Ramases (real name Barrington Frost) and Martin Raphael were not the same person.
I would like to clear up the confusion between Ramases (Barrington Frost), born in Sheffield, and Martin Raphael who played the sitar on Space Hymns. I do not know where he was born or where he lived. I wish to confirm that Ramases and Martin Raphael were not the same person. I do not know how this misunderstanding has come about. I would be interested to hear any comments. Love and light from Selket. (Dorothy Frost, wife of Ramases)
Dorothy’s message was posted on the Space Hymns website and Facebook Page, and actor and musician, Peter Stormare responded with some information after listening to the studio out-take tapes.
Martin Raphael’s nickname was Ralph to start with….
On one of the out-takes the engineer… (Gouldman, I think) talks over the intercom to the guy on the floor … you think it’s to Ram but actually Ram isn’t even there … it’s an overdub… (track is obviously Molecular Delusion, Mr Raphael’s only contribution).“Hey Ralph” And it sounds as if Ram is replying, but that’s a previous take…
It’s very clear on our out-take…
“Ralph” Martin Raphael is then the only one talking…
Ram did show and sing him the chord-changes, but when the sitar is laid down on the next take Ram has left.Also the famous “Fuck” heard on Molecular Delusions is clearly not Ram but Martin Raphael … he thought the chorus was coming and plays that note but there is still 8 bars of verse to go … he goes back to the verse after a bar.
‘Searching For Sugar Man’ Wins Two Awards At Sundance Film Festival | PT Music
Press release for PT Music
Searching For Sugarman
In 2006 Swedish film producer Malik Bendjelloul visited Cape Town, South Africa as part of a world-spanning journey searching for inspiration for a new film. What he found was a story that was so unbelievable that if a scriptwriter had written it as a piece of fiction, it would have been rejected as being too far-fetched.
‘Searching For Sugar Man’ took three years to complete and was filmed in Cape Town and Detroit, and other South African and US locations. The film had its international premiere on Thursday 19th January 2012, at the Sundance Film Festival held in Park City, Utah, USA as a representative of the World Documentary section.
Synopsis from Sundance Filmguide:
“Rodriguez was the greatest ’70s U.S. rock icon who never was. His albums [Cold Fact and Coming From Reality] were critically well-received, but sales bombed, and he faded away into obscurity among rumors of a gruesome death. However, as fate would have it, a bootleg copy of his record made its way to South Africa, where his music became a phenomenal success. In a country suppressed by apartheid, his anti-establishment message connected with the people.
When his second album finally gets released on CD in South Africa, two fans take it as a sign, deciding to look into the mystery of how Rodriguez died and what happened to all of the profits from his album sales. Since very little information about the singer exists, they meet many obstacles until they uncover a shocking revelation that sets off a wild chain of events that has to be seen to be believed. ‘Searching For Sugar Man’ is a story of hope, inspiration, and the resonating power of music”.
After the initial screening, Chris Lee from the Daily Beast wrote: “Following the rise, seeming demise, and re-emergence of an obscure but influential Mexican-American folk singer named Rodriguez, the movie premiered Thursday to tears, cheers, and a standing ovation from festival attendees”.
‘Searching For Sugar Man’ garnered two awards, The ‘World Cinema Audience Award: Documentary’ and ‘World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Prize for its Celebration of the Artistic Spirit’. To receive both an audience award and a critics award is a very rare occurrence indeed and had only happened once before since Sundance was founded in 1981 by Robert Redford. It was also one the first films sold at the Festival, being snapped up by Sony Pictures Classics.
Rodriguez (who turns 70 this year in July) attended the festival and appeared with Malik Bendjelloul and Sugarman.org’s Stephen “Sugar” Segerman, after every screening. He also performed at the packed-out Sundance ASCAP Music Café. (see video below)
The Sundance Film Festival success of ‘Searching For Sugarman’ is another milestone in the strange and wonderful story of the man known, to his ever increasing fan base around the world, simply as Rodriguez.
Brian Currin
Sugarman.org
Sundance Press Release
http://press.sundance.org/38362?format=pdf&press=1
Sundance Filmguide
http://filmguide.sundance.org/film/120073/searching_for_sugar_man
Sundance ASCAP Music Café
50 Original South African Songs
A non-definitive list of 50 great South African songs, that are not cover versions of overseas hits.
Arranged in chronological order of release date.
| 1. Vuka Vuka | The Manhattan Brothers |
| 2. Meadowlands | Archie Coker & The Meteors |
| 3. Ag Pleez Deddy (aka The Ballad Of The Southern Suburbs) (live 1962) | Jeremy Taylor |
| 4. Pata Pata | Miriam Makeba |
| 5. Silence Is Golden | The Square Set |
| 6. Master Jack | 4 Jacks & A Jill |
| 7. I Need Someone | Alan Garrity |
| 8. Orang Otang | Hawk |
| 9. Charlie | Rabbitt |
| 10. Playgrounds In Paradise | Finch & Henson |
| 11. Johannesburg | The Julian Laxton Band |
| 12. Buccaneer | McCully Workshop |
| 13. Villagers Theme (from TV series) | Mick Jade |
| 14. You’re Living Inside My Head | John Ireland |
| 15. ZX Dan | Radio Rats |
| 16. Boy Van Die Suburbs | Anton Goosen |
| 17. Better The Devil You Know | Stingray |
| 18. Man On The Moon | Ballyhoo |
| 19. Paradise Road | Joy |
| 20. Roxy Lady | Neill Solomon |
| 21. Schoolboy | Asylum Kids |
| 22. You’re So Good To Me | Hotline feat PJ Powers |
| 23. Bowtie Boogaloo | Morocko |
| 24. Give Me The Good News | Crocodile Harris |
| 25. Shadows | éVoid |
| 26. See Yourself (Clowns) | Ella Mental |
| 27. Jabulani | PJ Powers & Hotline |
| 28. Baby You Been Good | Robin Auld |
| 29. Burn Out | Sipho ‘Hotstix’ Mabuse |
| 30. Johnny Calls The Chemist | Falling Mirror |
| 31. We Are Growing | Margaret Singana & Julian Laxton |
| 32. This Boy | Sweatband |
| 33. Weeping | Bright Blue |
| 34. Scatterlings Of Africa | Johnny Clegg & Savuka |
| 35. Be Bop Pop | The Spectres |
| 36. Hometalk | Mango Groove |
| 37. Shosholoza | Ladysmith Black Mambazo with The Team |
| 38. Afrikan Dream | Vicky Sampson |
| 39. Sarajevo | Jack Hammer |
| 40. Shallow Waters | Just Jinger |
| 41. Who Killed Kurt Cobain | Koos Kombuis |
| 42. Goeienag Generaal | Piet Botha |
| 43. Die Mystic Boer | Valiant Swart |
| 44. Un-Ez | Springbok Nude Girls |
| 45. Nkalakatha | Mandoza |
| 46. I’ll Remember You | Brian Finch |
| 47. Gasoline | Saron Gas |
| 48. Africa’s Not For Sissies | Syd Kitchen |
| 49. Another Universe | Arno Carstens |
| 50. Doo Be Doo | Freshly Ground |
Rock Memories: 70s Acoustic Rock
As a teenager in the 70′s I compiled cassette tapes of my favourite songs. Much later on I compiled CD-Rs, and even later iTunes playlists on my computer.
And now YouTube videos on a WordPress blog.
So I am still doing the same thing I always loved, making my own compilations, just the technology has changed.
And the music still has the power to move me.
Like this:
Eleven Of The Best Classic Rock Songs Released in 2011
2011 has been a great year for an old Classic Rock fan like myself.
My sons: “what did you call “Classic Rock” when you were growing up, Dad?”
Me: “Rock!
Some of my all-time favourite bands either released new albums or re-issued classic albums with obscure and rare bonus tracks during 2011.
Here are eleven tracks that stand-out:
- Wond’ring Aloud, Again – Jethro Tull
Segued and extended version,
from the 40th Anniversary re-issue of “Aqualung“ - The Painter (BBC, version two) – Deep Purple
from “BBC Sessions“ - Gotta Be Crazy (live 1974) – Pink Floyd
early version of Dogs,
from the 2011 re-issue of “Wish You Were Here“ - Into The Storm – Yes
from “Fly From Here” - The Travel Sequence – Pink Floyd
early version of On The Run,
from 2011 re-issue of “Dark Side Of The Moon“ - The Hard Way – Pink Floyd
from The Household Objects Project,
from 2011 re-issue of “Dark Side Of The Moon“ - I Can See You – Uriah Heep
from “Into The Wild” - Ricochet (BBC) – Deep Purple
early version of Speed King with different lyrics, including a guitar solo later used in The Mule,
from “BBC Sessions” - My God – Jethro Tull
early version with slightly different lyrics,
from the 40th Anniversary re-issue of “Aqualung“ - Smoke On The Water (live 2011) – Deep Purple and Orchestra
from “Live At Montreux 2011“ - Wish You Were Here – Pink Floyd
alternate version with Stéphane Grappelli on violin,
from the 2011 re-issue of “Wish You Were Here“
Like this:
South African Music – MP3
Gary Johnston wrote:
Greetings Brian, I am a fan of SA music, particularly 60′s & 70′s. Over the years I have collected a lot of MP3′s but am still missing some classics i.e
The Staccatos
Billy Forrest
The Peanut Butter Conspiracy
The Gonks
The Dealians
Omega Limited
Bernie Brown
Neville Whitmill
The A-Cads
I would dearly love to obtain the music above and have no problem about purchasing these MP3′s but would like you to advise me how I can do this? Please help!
Thanks
Gary
Brian wrote:
Most of this music is very hard to find on CD and even more difficult as legal MP3 downloads.
Original vinyl albums can often be found at Mabu Vinyl.
More info on most of these artists can be found on the SA Rock Encyclopedia website:
60′s http://rock.co.za/files/sarock_legends_60s.html
and
Suzi Quatro at Three Arts
Name: Hougaard Winterbach
Message: Hello Brian,
I am writing to ask if you have some information for me. I attended a concert by Suzi Quatro in Cape Town (either in 1980 or 1981) and I think it was in the Three Arts in Plumstead. I believe she had just released her “Rock Hard” album. I am very interested to know the set list to this show or any details you may have on it (dates et cetera).
This was my first serious rock concert as far as I can remember and I would really like to have more information on it. I was really impressed with your setlist of the Jethro Tull concert in 1994 (which I also attended)!
I realise that it might be very difficult to find this information so please don’t worry if you don’t find anything. Thanks very much!
Regards,
Hougaard Winterbach
LM Radio Top Hits Of 1973
Music Fan, Anton van Staden, has scanned this booklet issued by LM Radio reflecting their top hits of 1973.
The back cover was dedicated to an advert for a famous cigarette brand, but since I am not sure of the legalities of advertising tobacco products, I decided to omit it.
Extracts below are taken from sleeve notes for the Hits Of LM Radio 2CD set released by PT Music in 2009.
Do you remember a time in South Africa when there was no TV and no internet? Hard to believe that there ever was such a time, and that listening to the radio was actually one of the best ways to discover the latest and greatest music. The DJ’s cared about the music and they even had theme tunes. Springbok Radio was OK, but the station that teenagers really embraced with enthusiasm was LM Radio, based out of Lourenco Marques in neighbouring Mozambique.
LM Radio was privately owned and operated, and served a vast audience of young people by transmitting pop and rock music which was not heard on the state-controlled SABC stations. The music was everything and DJs like David Gresham, Darryl Jooste, Long John Berks, Peter De Nobrega (and many, many more), were real personalities who played music that they really liked and the fans appreciated it.
The radio station in Lourenco Marques first started broadcasting in the 1930s, but it was in the late 1950s that it underwent a major format change to cater for the younger generation.
The LMRadio.org website says it best; “LM Radio, as it was popularly known, was renowned for its Top Twenty chart show, the LM Hit Parade, and played a major role in promoting South African artists and their music.”
In 1975 LM Radio became Radio 5, and then 5FM, but the spark of independence was no longer there and whole generations have grown up in South Africa without hearing music radio at its best. – Brian Currin
Looking for a song by Cornelia
Name: mark durrheim
Message:
Hi Brian,
When i was small my sister had a whole plastic file of singles and there was a hit single by Cornelia called Picking Up Pebbles. On the reverese side was a song called Men of Steel, Ships of Wood and i used to listen to it over and over. I have always remembered it and wanted to know if there is anywhere i could download this. I have tried many sites but perhaps it is too obscure.
Brian wrote:
Hi Mark
A best of Cornelia his available on CD at Kalahari.net but does not include the song you refer to:
John Ireland
Name: Keith Millar
Message: Hi Brian – We have been searching for 25 odd years for the John Ireland Thinking Aloud and John Ireland albums!!
Then I stumbled across your site quite by chance – fantastic website!!!!
Brian do you know where I can buy these two albums – We named my daughter Nicole after the one song and she is 21 and has never heard it!!!!!
I would really appreciate your help
Warm regards
Keith
Brian wrote:
John Ireland albums have not been released on CD, but old records can be found at shops such as Mabu Vinyl in Cape Town.
He was born John Griffith on the 24th August 1954 in Ireland (some sources say Boksburg). He attended Boksburg High School in the mid-70s. In 1977 he and Jonathan Handley formed the band Slither and were based in Springs. He studied medicine with Jonathan at Wits University and they both became doctors. Slither later became The Radio Rats. John has musical training in classical piano to an advanced level and also plays guitar and drums. – SA Rock Encyclopedia
Joanna Field “Don’t Fly Too High”
Name: JADE HURLEY
Message: Hello Brian … I am trying to find out who wrote the Joanna Field song “DON’T FLY TOO HIGH” … and i believe you may be able to help? If so … I would really be obliged as I have just recorded this song and require the writers details. I hope you can help. JADE HURLEY OAM … You can reference me here … Website: www.jadehurley.net
Brian wrote:
“Don’t Fly Too High” was written by J. Frankfurter and R. Jung with English lyrics by T & J Möhring. Published by Gallo / GEMA.
Originally recorded by German singer, Nicole, as “Flieg Nicht So Hoch, Mein Kleiner Freund” in 1981.
It reached number 4 on the Springbok Radio charts in 1982.
Available to download at Rhythm Music Store.
Videos:
Penguins in Bondage
Name: Mario Garcia
Message: Hi, do you remember a band called "Penguins in Bondage" from the 1980′s?…..if so do you know where I may download some of their music?…..Thanks Mario
Bafo Bafo (Syd Kitchen and Madala Kunene)
Name: andrew khumalo
Message: I HAVE BEING SEACHING AROUND PRETORIA LOOKING FOR A CD CALLED ZIMPI ZOMBANGO SING BY A GROUP BAFOBAFO(SYD KITCHEN AND MADALA KUNENE PLEASE HELP ME TO GET THE ABOVEMATIONED CD
Brian wrote:
This CD is actually titled ‘What Kind!?’ and was released in 2005 by Melt2000.
Catalogue number: MZA040
Chris Blignaut’s family tree
Name: bea greyling
Message: I’m looking for fam tree details of Chris Blignaut he was cousin of my grandma I would like to trace something along the line. My dads father died when they were young and she must have been married to a I guess Ernst Philippus Woest . Thanks Bea
Assistance with songs
Name: David Steeles
Message: Good-day Brian I hope you are keeping well . A big thank-you , Music fan brings back a lot of memories for one by finding lost songs .There are three songs I am desperately looking for that I caanot find no where , 2 are sung by the Tremeloes viz: Hello World and Call me number one . The other is I need someone by Joan Jett and We’re on the same Boat By Andre’ Swiegers . Then I need some assistance with regards to a recording of a piece of a song who i have no idea who sings it , I cannot even make out the lyrics , but is a golden oldie , if I could email it to that specific adress . Then lastly I am urgently looking for a complilation titled Future dance Classix Programme 1 , dating back to 1991 ? Your assistance would be appreciated . have agreat day kind regards David
Classic Rock Covers by South African Artists
A list of classic rock covers (and samples) by South African artists that are available to download from Rhythm Music Store; in no particular order:
- We Will Rock You (Queen) - Joseph Clark & Nathan Smith
- Sweet Home Alabama (Lynyrd Skynyrd) – Ghapi
- Cocaine (JJ Cale / Eric Clapton) – Van Coke Kartel
- While My Guitar Gently Weeps (The Beatles) – Dan Patlansky
- Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd) – Jack Hammer
- With Or Without You (U2) – Ghapi
- Riders On The Storm (The Doors) – Gordon’s Suitcase feat Piet Botha
- Another Brick In The Wall (Pink Floyd) – Navi Redd
- Rock ‘n Roll All Night (Kiss) – Ghapi
- Paint It Black (Rolling Stones) – No Friends Of Harry
- Immigrant Song (Led Zeppelin) – Not My Dog
- Locomotive Breath (Jethro Tull) – McCully Workshop
- The Devil Went Down To Georgia (Charlie Daniels Band) – Ghapi
- If Six Was Nine (Jimi Hendrix) – Not My Dog
- Play With Fire (Rolling Stones) – Lesley Rae Dowling
- A Day In The Life (The Beatles) – McCully Workshop
- Smoke On The Water (Deep Purple) – Universe Of Rock
- Voodoo Chile (Jimi Hendrix) – Albert Frost
- Poison (Alice Cooper) – Nicholis Louw
- Roadhouse Blues (The Doors) – Ken E Henson
- Freedom / Motherless Child (Richie Havens) – Brian Finch
- Purple Rain (Prince) – Nicholis Louw
- Fight For Your Right (Beastie Boys) – Snotkop (as Veg Vir Jou Reg)
- Journey To The Centre Of The Earth (Rick Wakeman) – sampled in “Street Life” by Terror MC
- I Don’t Like Mondays (Boomtown Rats) – Cassette
- Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner (Warren Zevon) – Kenny Henson’s Harambee
- All Along The Watchtower (Bob Dylan / Jimi Hendrix) – Klopjag
- Tangerine (Led Zeppelin) – Johnathan Martin
- Nothing Else Matters (Metallica) – Ddisselblom (hidden bonus track after “Try”)
- Horse With No Name (America) – sampled by Locnville on “Been Through The Desert”
- Fooled Around And Fell in Love (Elvin Bishop) – Julian Laxton
Classic Rock on Rhythm
Many international acts are hard to find on Rhythm Music Store due to various licencing restrictions, however there are a number of classic rock songs that can be found.
Here is a list of some of my favourites in no particular order; please note that quite often they are live versions or updated re-recordings.
- Pinball Wizard – The Who
- The Ghost Of Tom Joad – Bruce Springsteen
- Like A Rolling Stone – Jimi Hendrix
- Ball and Chain – Janis Joplin
- Comfortably Numb – Pink Floyd
- Turn It On Again – Genesis
- Lady In Black - Uriah Heep
- Locomotive Breath – Jethro Tull
- Smoke On The Water – Deep Purple
- Roundabout – Yes
- Nights In White Satin – Moody Blues
- Sugar Man – Rodriguez
- For What It’s Worth – Buffalo Springfield
- White Rabbit – Jefferson Airplane
- Soul Sacrifice – Santana
- Rocking All Over The World – Status Quo
- Wearing and Tearing - Robert Plant and Jimmy Page (from Led Zeppelin)
- Hey Jude – Paul McCartney (from The Beatles)
- Sunshine Of Your Love – Eric Clapton (from Cream)
- All The Young Dudes – Mott The Hoople
- Wild Thing – The Troggs
- Tomorrow Never Knows (Beatles cover) – Tangerine Dream
- 25 of 6 to 4 – Chicago
- Love Is The Drug – Roxy Music
- Get Ready – Rare Earth
- This Flight Tonight – Nazareth
- The Ballad Of Hollis Brown – Bob Dylan
- Natural Born Bugie – Humble Pie
- Whatever Happened To Saturday Night – Meat Loaf
- Don’t Bring Me Down – The Pretty Things
- So You Wanna Be A Rock ‘n’ Roll Star – The Byrds
And as a bonus, take a listen to Ministry’s Cover Up album which includes covers of songs by classic rockers The Doors, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Golden Earring and err, Louis Armstrong.
Like this:
Classic South African Rock Songs available to download
Many of my favourite South African Rock songs from the 70′s, 80′s and 90′s have been becoming available for download on Rhythm Music Store over the last while.
Here are a few of them, in no particular order:
- Buccaneer – McCully Workshop
- ZX Dan – Radio Rats
- International News – National Wake
- Mysteries and Jealousy – The Helicopters
- This Boy – Sweatband
- Playgrounds In Paradise – Finch and Henson
- Celebrate – Julian Laxton Band
- Give Me The Good News – Crocodile Harris
- Jo Bangles – Baxtop
- Johnny Calls The Chemist – Falling Mirror
- Shadows – éVoid
- Six String Razor – Mauritz Lotz
- Goeienag Generaal – Piet Botha
- Sarajevo – Jack Hammer
- Who Killed Kurt Cobain – Koos Kombuis
- Blommetjie Gedenk Aan My – Anton Goosen
- Competition Rules – No Friends Of Harry
- Don’t Dance – Kalahari Surfers
- Bokkie Bokkie – David Kramer
- Kiss The Machine – Battery9
- Die Mystic Boer – Valiant Swart
- Sex – Pressure Cookies
- Waiting (For A Miracle) – Dog Detachment
- The Boys – Lancaster Band
- Baby You Been Good To Me – Robin Auld
- Thugs – The Dynamics
- The Road Is Much Longer – Roger Lucey
- Shot Down - The Cherry Faced Lurchers
- Ancient Dust Of Africa – Edi Niederlander
- Button Your Lip – Illegal Gathering
- Sea Level – Urban Creep
- The Party Song – The Electric Petals
- Road – Sugardrive
Movietone or Pathe approx 1974 Rabbitt backed up Lorne Shields at the Arcadia Hotel
The famous Rabbitt band once were the backing band for my father performing at the Arcadia Hotel in approx 1974 where he sang "One Broken Heart For Sale" (Lorne Shields) at the time the whole thing was filmed, and fans were able to watch it at movie theatres. I am trying, all avenues to SOMEHOW find a copy of that film as it was with the Rabbitt band being so big I wonder if you can assist in me tracking a clip down???
Thank you
Angelique Shields
