Category Archives: Music Trivia

SA ROCK DIGEST ISSUE #110
http://www.sarockdigest.com
18th June 2001

Edited by Brian Currin, 18th June 2011

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1.NEWS
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RETROFRESH – IN THE WORKS

The DOG DETACHMENT retrospective ‘Best Kept Secrets’ is near completion, the band have digitally remastered all the tracks and are in the process of finalising the artwork and fine tuning the project. The good news is that we have uncovered two priceless videos of the band in the SABC archives and hope to make them available to the fans in some format in the near future. You can expect a release in early July.

Everyone is asking about the SUCK album ‘Time To Suck’, the update is that we have finally tracked down all the remaining members including the long lost guitarist Stephen “Gil” Gilroy and we have a wealth of pics and memorabilia from bassist Louis “Moose” Forer. Contact has been made with the family of the late Andy Ionnides (whom the reissue is dedicated to) and more material is expected; the album has been digitally remastered and will include the bonus track ‘War Pigs’ (thanks to Leon Economides) and the liner notes are coming together, so when? Well, we are looking at a mid-July release.

The Freedoms Children ‘Galactic Vibes’ reissue has unfortunately come to a grinding halt as we desperately search for photo material for the artwork. I am amazed that there are hardly any pics around of a group of this stature… can anyone help? Please!! More good news is that the upcoming SWEATBAND reissue will have more than a couple of bonus tracks… guitarist John Mair has kindly agreed to include the entire unreleased second album as a bonus for fans. Expect the normal classy Retro packaging, liner notes and fab photos… way cool John!!

The PEACH ‘On Loan For Evolution’ project is on track for a late July release, there will be a brand new cover (the band never liked the original anyway) plus two unreleased tracks courtesy of founder Alan Rose; Also on the cards around early August will be the long awaited reissue of ELLAMENTAL’s debut album ‘Uncomplicated Dreams’. Tim Parr and Heather Mac are hard at work selecting unreleased material and photos for the project.

Still in the can for this year is the ABSTRACT TRUTH album ‘Silver Trees’; VIA AFRIKA’s ‘Scent of Scandal’; OTIS WAYGOOD’s ‘Simply’; HAWK’s ‘Africa She Too Can Cry’; supergroup MOROCKO’s debut album featuring ‘Bowtie Boogaloo’ plus a number of specialised compilations like ‘RETRO IN THE 80′s’; the 70′s punk extravaganza ‘PUNKAFREEKA’; ‘TALKING THROUGH PICTURES’ (singer/songwriters); the much talked about ROCK DIGEST album and a new series of 2 for 1 reissues (two albums on one CD).

Benjy Mudie

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NOT MY DOG

Not My Dog is going on a nationwide tour which sees the launch of a new internet album entitled ‘LIVE 2000′. The album features live recordings from 2000 at various venues and festivals. ‘Not My Dog / 2000 LIVE’ will be available for free download at http://www.wolmer.co.za exclusively.

Thu 21 Jun @ Cool Runnings (Pretoria North) w/ ‘Pestroy’
Fri 22 Jun @ Millers (Pietermaritzburg) w/ ‘Bored’
Sat 23 Jun @ Bargo (Durban) w/ ‘Lush Puppy’ & ’2 Flye’
Thu 28 Jun @ The Jam (Cape Town) w/ ‘HOG HOGGIDY HOG’ & ‘DJ Bob (206)’
Fri 29 Jun @ Onverklaarbaar (Hermanus) w/ ‘Picture This’ & ‘DJ Bob (206)’
Sat 30 Jun @ Al’s Dance Club (Knysna) w/ ‘DJ Bob (206)’

{Not My Dog guitarist, Lani vd Walt, was also a member of Jack Hammer and is featured on the ‘Death of a Gypsy’ CD – ed}

Not My Dog

http://www.wolmer.co.za

Jack Hammer

http://www.jackhammer.co.za

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HOLD ON TO THE EDGE

Off The Edge’s new album ‘Unfinished Business’ is currently being recorded at Foxglove studios in JoBurg. After the departure of vocalist Judy Marshall, Peter Hanmer got involved with a side project, Age Of Innocence, with singer Sherry Lee Jones. They released ‘Nowhere Land’ in March this year. Now Giselle Mynhardt has joined Off The Edge as vocalist and the first song ‘Hold On’ was previewed on the Dinosaur Days radio show on 5FM on Sunday 3rd June.

http://www.offtheedge.co.za

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LUCKY LAUNCHES NEW ‘SOUL TAKER’ CD ON AIR

Reggae superstar Lucky Dube will be launching his brand new album, ‘Soul Taker’, across the country on the 22nd June. At the same time he will be making SA broadcasting history with the first ever simultaneous live broadcast across nine South African radio stations.

At 13h30 on the afternoon of Friday the 22nd June, Dube and his energetic 13-piece band will rock the M2 Studios at the SABC in Johannesburg with a live performance of brand new material from his forthcoming album. The stations that will broadcast the performance will be Ukhozi FM, Umhlobo Wenene FM, Lesedi FM, Motsweding FM, Thobela FM, Ligwalagwala FM, Munghana Lonene FM, Inkwekwezi FM and Phalaphala FM.

This is the first time an album has been launched in this manner, enabling all Lucky Dube fans across the country to get a taste of the latest release at the same time. ‘Soul Taker’, an 11-track offering, is Dube’s first release since 1999′s award winning and critically acclaimed album, ‘The Way It Is’.

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OPPIKOPPI ‘TUNED’ CD RELEASED

This third Oppikoppi compilation CD has been put together by the Oppikoppi crew in advance of the upcoming ‘TUNED’ festival in Pretoria in August. The ‘OppiKoppi TUNED’ CD will not be on sale in any outlets but will be given away in venues, through radio stations and newspapers, and other “non-cash requiring” methods over the next two months.

The CD contains tunes by Max Normal, Not My Dog, Brasse Vannie Kaap, Saron Gas, David Kramer, Jack Hammer, Felix Laband, Krushed & Sorted, Moodphase 5ive, Zola, Mabi Thobejane and Zim Ngqawana. It gives some insight into the scope and diversity to be expected at the ‘TUNED’ festival. Apart from the CDs, OppiKoppi will also be giving away T-shirts, tickets, flyers, posters and other interesting stuff at certain venues. Details below in the ‘OppiKoppi Updates’ section.

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VENESSA NOLAN LIVE IN STELLENBOSCH

Since releasing her ‘Burn’ album earlier this year, Venessa Nolan has been accumulating a strong and devoted following, mostly around the Peninsula where she and her band have been gigging regularly over the past few months. A few of the tracks off ‘Burn’ – ‘Fragile’, ‘Glorious Gem’, ‘I’m Losing Control’, and ‘Why’ – have been getting a lot of airplay and chart action, and the album has been picking up sales as the word spreads about this 10-song moody-pop collection.

The Venessa Nolan Band, for want of a better title, is Bruce Muzik (guitar), David Adamson (bass), Yolande Carstens (keyboards and backing vocals), and Carl Treunich (drums). They will be performing live at the Dorp Street Theatre Café (59 Dorp Street, Stellenbosch) on the 20th of June 2001. The performance will start at 21h00 and tickets will be available at the door at R30 (with a special student rate of R25 on presentation of student cards). ‘Burn’ is available in all Musica outlets nation-wide and the CD will be available for purchase at the venue.

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OPEN AIR JAZZ AND BLUES IN EMMARENTIA

The Accenture Winter Festival presents the eighth in a series of concerts to be held at the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens in Emmarentia on Sunday 24 June. The ‘Open Air Jazz and Blues Concert’ starts at 12 noon and promises to be a wonderful afternoon of entertainment under our blue Johannesburg winter skies. The afternoon’s music includes a selection of famous songs by great jazz pioneers interpreted by a band of veteran jazz session players. A potpourri of rhythm and blues, soul, fusion and contemporary favourites is also set to enthral music lovers.

Denzil Weale, musician, composer, arranger, lecturer, musical director and producer, leads a dynamic Big Band on a diverse musical journey. The show features vocalists Vicky Sampson and Robin Walsh, who will be joint-headlining the band. Vocalists Veronique Lalouette and Anneke Visagie will also be performing a range of well-known contemporary numbers. A great horn section and rhythm line-up completes the billed attraction under the musical direction of Weale. The musicians include Denzil Weale on keyboards, Julian Wiggins on saxophone, Denny Lalouette on bass, Adam Howard on trumpet, Berwyn Roberts on trombone, Rob Watson on drums, and Myles Shannon on guitar.

The programme features some well-know jazz & blues standards including ‘Mac the Knife’, well known to most as sung by Ella Fitzgerald, ‘Killing Me Softly’, and Abdullah Ibrahim’s ‘Mannenberg’. Much loved contemporary favourites include Santana’s ‘Smooth’, ‘As’ by George Michael and Mary J Blige (and Stevie Wonder), Vicky Sampson’s smash hit, ‘African Dream’, and M People’s ‘Don’t Look Any Further’.

Bring your picnic baskets and join us for the Accenture Winter Festival on Sunday 24 June.

Book tickets at Computicket outlets, on their website at http://www.computicket.com or on the teletix line (011) 340 8000. Watch the Daily Star and Saturday Star for programme details, and listen to SAFm for more information or visit our website at http://www.newevents.co.za or call (011) 788 2310. Book now, limited tickets available for each show.

Ticket Prices:
Adults R55-00
Pensioners R30-00
Family (2 adults & 2 children – 12-18yrs) R130-00
Children (under 12) Free

Author: New Events & Marketing

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PLEASE COME TO MY PARTY

Mommy said that on Saturday 23 June, Thrashers Skate Park in Pretoria is turning 4 at a party called ‘Playskool’. She said that there will be cool stuff there like skateboards, BMX bikes, Punk Rock and girls.
Then she said she didn’t want me to go.

She said that some of the bands playing there were either too loud (Soil 7T7, Four Ounce Freedom, Silt), too fast (Leek and the Bouncing Uptones, RIM 3, Flat World Society), or dangerously cool (Cutting Jade, FuziGish) and that I couldn’t go, even though the flyer said “all ages”. I told her: “Mom, I’m 25, I can go where I want” but she said she wouldn’t give me the R30 it costs to go to ‘Playskool’.

She said no, and that was her final word, but she was lying. Her final words were “I’m sorry. Please let me out. The flames are getting closer and I can’t breathe”.

PLAYSKOOL. 23 June. Thrashers Skate Park, Menlyn
R30. – doors open: 9am
Bands and DJs start: 1pm
Presented by Intervention Arts. “KILL FOR MUSIC”. (heh heh)

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‘ACROSS THE BOARD’ GALLO CD SAMPLER WINNERS

Well done to Gary Baines, Jason Smith, Tony Marks, Jeff Ward and Michael Dowson, the winners of those Gallo Rock Samplers. Those six bands and their current albums are:

1. Linkin Park – Hybrid Theory
2. Staind – Break the Cycle
3. Collective Soul – Blender
4. Ash – Free All Angels
5. OPM – Menace to Sobriety
6. Green Day – Warning

You ous are very sharp!
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2.CHARTS
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2a.THE SA ROCK DIGEST TOP 20 SOUTH AFRICAN ALBUMS OF THE WEEK

http://www.sarockdigest.com/charts

This week [last week] Title – Artist (Label)

1. [2] Rising Above The Madness – Lionel Bastos (SAFM)
2. [5] Memoirs Of A Clone – Watkin Tudor Jones Jnr (Chameleon)
3. [1] Dreamland – Edi Niederlander (Indie)
4. [3] Thin Shoes In June – Felix Laband (African Dope)
5. [8] Seratonin – Fruit Fly Navigators (Indie)
6. [4] Steady On – Moodphase 5ive (African Dope)
7. [7] Merry-Go-Round – Wess-Lee (Scorpio)
8. [10] Child Of The Light – Ernie Smith (Sheer)
9. [6] The Moon Is A Spoon – Sunways (Fresh)
10 [-] Xero – Binary (Indie)
11. [11] Burn – Venessa Nolan (Rhythm)
12. [9] Danny K – Danny K (Gallo)
13. [-] Mother’s Daughter – Kate Normington (Sheer/SAFm)
14. [14] Live Fact – Rodriguez (Sony)
15. [12] Alive In Jo’burg – Tananas (Sony SA)
16. [13] The Many Faces Of – Gloria Bosman (Sheer)
17. [17] Into The Universe – Eminent Child (Sarepta)
18. [16] Mondmusiek – Breyten Breytenbach (Rhythm)
19. [18] African Day – Hawk (Retro Fresh)
20. [15] Vreemde Stad – Theuns Jordaan (EMI)

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2b. THE SA ROCK DIGEST TOP 20 SOUTH AFRICAN SONGS OF THE WEEK

http://www.sarockdigest.com/charts

This week [last week] Title – Artist (Album/Label)

1. [2] Thank You – Lionel Bastos (‘Rising Above The Madness’/SAFM)
2. [3] Like A Holiday – Wess-Lee (‘Merry-Go-Round’/Scorpio)
3. [1] Shout – Fruit Fly Navigators (‘Seratonin’/Bionic)
4. [-] Barefoot Girl – Binary (‘Xero’/Indie)
5. [9] Johnny Calls The Chemist – Falling Mirror (‘JCTC’/Retro Fresh)
6. [6] Hurts So Bad – Danny K (‘Danny K’/Gallo)
7. [4] Oxford Rd – Roswell Kings (‘Wait For Me’ EP/Indie)
8. [10] These Sparks Will Fly – Wess-Lee (‘Merry-Go-Round’/Scorpio)
9. [5] My Angel – Adrian Shannon (EP/BMG)
10. [7] Colour Me In – Sunways (‘The Moon Is A Spoon’/Fresh)
11. [8] Fragile – Venessa Nolan (‘Burn’/Rhythm)
12. [13] Wait For Me – Roswell Kings (‘Wait For Me’ EP/Indie)
13. [11] Bye Bye – Edi Niederlander (‘Dreamland’/Indie)
14. [12] You Don’t Know My Name – Danny K (‘Danny K’/Gallo)
15. [15] Long Holiday – The Sunshines (‘Long Holiday’ EP/Tel Michael)
16. [16] Johnny Calls The Chemist – Wonderboom (Single/David Gresham)
17. [14] Fire In Your Heart – Desert Rose (‘Sands Of Time’/Saville-McLowe)
18. [-] Max Normal – Watkin Tudor Jones Jnr (‘Memoirs Of A Clone’/Chameleon)
19. [17] Sing My Song – Eminent Child (‘Into The Universe’/Sarepta)
20. [19] You – HelloAngel (‘Balance’/Fresh)

Sponsored by Networld

http://www.new.co.za

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3. CD REVIEWS
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LIVE IN NEW YORK CITY – BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE E STREET BAND

“I saw rock and roll’s future – and its name is Bruce Springsteen”
Jon Landau, 22 May 1974

Well here we are 27 years later and Bruce (who turns 52 in September) just keeps on rocking. His live performances with the legendary E Street Band still last for over 3 hours. We found this article about Bruce’s new live CD and decided to share it with Digest readers as an inspiration to both artists and fans alike.

SPRINGSTEEN BLAZES AWAY
By Thor Christensen, The Dallas Morning News

Onstage, where many performers start glancing at their watches after 60 minutes, the Boss blazes away for three or four hours. And instead of just cranking out one succinct hit after another, he reinvents songs and lets them unfold for as long as they stay interesting – which makes ‘Live in New York City’ the rare concert album that actually merits a second listen.

Recorded last summer during the final two-nights (29 May & 1 June 2000) of his year-long E Street Band reunion tour. He transforms ‘Born in the U.S.A.’ from full-bore rocker into brilliant Delta blues ballad without sacrificing any of the song’s rage. Hamming it up like an evangelical preacher, he turns ‘Tenth Avenue Freeze-out’ into a 16-minute gospel blowout, complete with a side trip into ‘Take Me to the River’ and a fire-and-brimstone speech about his intent to turn the show into a “Rock ‘n’ roll exorcism! A rock ‘n’ roll baptism! A rock ‘n’ roll bar mitzvah!”

The knock against most live albums is they never break through the guess-you-had-to-be-there barrier. But at its best, ‘Live in New York City’ captures plenty of the rock-till-you-drop energy that makes his shows with the E Street Band so magical. Listening to him roar through ‘Murder Incorporated’ and ‘Prove It All Night,’ you practically feel his throat stinging.

Although there’s no shortage of classics on ‘New York City’, the 20-song set also includes welcome obscurities like the triumphant, CD-opening ‘My Love Will Not Let You Down’ (a ‘Born in the U.S.A.’ outtake). But the real finds are two new songs that prove he’s lost none of his edge as a songwriter: The soulful mid-tempo opus, “Land of Hope and Dreams,” and “American Skin (41 Shots)” a dramatic statement on the 1999 slaying of an unarmed West African immigrant in the Bronx.

‘Live in New York City’ doesn’t totally make up for the long, unexplained delay between studio albums. But for the time being, it makes the wait much easier.

Reprinted by kind permission of Thor Christensen of the Dallas Morning News.

Read the full review at

http://www.dallasnews.com/entertainment/326696_rev2_springste.html

Bruce Springsteen

http://www.brucespringsteen.net

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KATE NORMINGTON RELEASES ‘MOTHER’S DAUGHTER’

Kate Normington returned to South Africa at the beginning of 2000, after a highly successful five-year stint in Britain. While there she played the role of Grace Farrell in the 21st anniversary production of the award-winning musical ‘Annie’, which opened on the West End in 1998 and toured England and Scotland the following year. Kate’s last theatrical show in South Africa was Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s one-woman work ‘Tell Me on a Sunday’ at the Soundstage Theatre in Johannesburg.

Over the past year she has been performing solo with pianist Wessel van Rensburg, drummer Barry van Zyl and bass player Denny Lalouette. They have appeared at a number of venues in Johannesburg, at the Barnyard theatres in White River and Plettenberg Bay, at the Boardwalk Casino in Port Elizabeth and at the Grahamstown Festival. Kate has just toured with the Johnny Cooper Big Band, performing in Cape Town, Pretoria, Johannesburg, White River and Magoebaskloof.

Kate’s first major musical role in South Africa was as Kate in ‘Pirates of Penzance’ in 1987, after she had studied drama at the University of the Witwatersrand. The following year she won two coveted South African theatre awards – the Vita and the Fleur du Cap – for her role as Sister Mary Amnesia in ‘Nunsense’, one for “best actress” and the other for “excellence in comedy”. In 1990, Kate played Eliza Doolittle in the Johannesburg production of ‘My Fair Lady’. In 1991, Kate was involved in Richard Loring’s very successful compilation show, ‘A Touch of Webber, A Taste of Rice’, before playing Janet in the Johannesburg production of the ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ in 1992. In 1993, Kate played Sandy in ‘Grease’ at the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town, and then in 1994 played Sheila in the Civic Theatre’s production of ‘Hair’. Before moving to London, she played Irene in the State Theatre’s production of ‘Crazy For You’.

In addition to musical theatre, Kate has co-written and performed a number of cabaret shows, notably with Gaby Lomberg in ‘Pigs with Attitude’ and ‘Pigs with Bottoms’. She has also sung with a number of jazz ensembles and with South Africa’s National Symphony Orchestra. 2001 marks the long-awaited solo album release from Kate in her recording of ‘Mother’s Daughter’, released by Sheer Sound. The album features 10 tracks. Four of these are covers (including ‘Come Together’ by The Beatles, Bonny Raitt’s ‘I Can’t Make You Love Me’, and ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’) and the other six are original songs, co-written by Kate and Wessel van Rensburg, who produced the album. ‘Mother’s Daughter’ is a beautiful musical journey through the depths and heights of Kate’s extraordinary vocal talent.

http://www.sheer.co.za

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4. CLASSIC ROCK
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SHILOH’S CORNER

TOMORROW
(England’s finest moment during the paisley era)

In the better sense of the word, EMI had finally struck gold and this time definitely at the end of a rainbow. A rainbow of colours that captured the paisley expression of the English in the mid sixties, namely the diverse and psychedelic dimension of a group called Tomorrow. Initially known as The In Crowd, with the recent inclusion of guitar extraordinaire Steve Howe, Tomorrow were most likely the first group to be signed by EMI without a hit single. Featured on vocals Keith West, Steve Howe on guitar, John Wood on bass and John Alder on drums with production manager Mark Wirtz who would occasionally step in to assist them on keyboards. Their first seven single “My White Bicycle” didn’t even chart but later in the seventies came to world wide acknowledgement through the rock band Nazareth. Admittedly they were an LSD band with extravagant musicianship that were notched up to tour with Traffic and Vanilla Fudge.

Tomorrow were the first mime based band to promote theatrics and mannered gesticulation. Historically their first break should have come when Michealangelo Antonioni settled on two songs by Tomorrow that were commissioned and recorded for the sound track “Blow Up”. Sadly both tracks, “Am I glad to see you” and “Blow Up” were substituted by the Yardbirds headed by Jeff Beck. Controversy grew within the group due to the commercial seven single released by Keith West called “Teenage Opera”. With the result that the group were now marketed as Keith West and Tomorrow. Tomorrow were far from commercial which resulted in a yin-yang audience and slowed ticket sales.

Keith West decided to break away and recruited Aynsley Dunbar on drums and Ron Wood on bass but this combination faded overnight. A spectacular single called “Revolution” followed by an interpretation of Lennon and McCartney’s “Strawberry Fields Forever” elevated English psychedelia above the soppy paisley that was being pushed out by wannabe flower children. The revelation of Tomorrow had its moment in 1967, at a time when Syd Barrett was frying eggs on stage at Middle Earth Club while Arthur Brown was setting fire to his head. The power of psychedelia had immersed itself fully with the English beat culture and Tomorrow would rank itself at the top of the list. The ability of Steve Howe finally came to maturation with the progressive rock band Yes, while Tomorrow remain the creative catalyst for the dreams of fruition in the seventies.

Shiloh Noone, Cape Town

Blues and Variation
Fine Music Radio 101.3 FM
Wednesdays 10 pm

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USA FOR AFRICA
Texas-based Kurt Shoemaker gives his unique views on SA music

20 GREATEST HITS – CLOUT

I’ve always enjoyed girl groups. And I use that term only as a handle, not to pigeon-hole a fine band of musicians who happen to be female. (Okay, they were a girl group only until 1978 when Bones Brettell and Sandy Robbie of Circus joined them).

Taken individually, these 20 songs are creative. Each one strives to sound different from the one before and the one after, yet still possess the Clout Sound. They succeeded, and apparently lots of people worldwide thought so, too. Here in the States we didn’t get to enjoy them, but on eBay their singles and various picture sleeves pop up regularly.

The names of Clout’s musicians also pop up frequently, in the SA Rock
Digest, in relation to Clout and other bands the ladies were in such as: McCully Workshop, Pendulum, Cindi Alter Band and Tarzan. The ladies are: Glenda Hyam (keyboards and vocals), Cindi Alter (vocals), Lee Tomlinson (bass and vocals), Jenny Garson (guitar and vocals), and Ingi Herbst (drums). That’s a lot of microphones.

So here I am reviewing an album by a group that SA Digest readers are
probably more familiar with than I am. What do I think of this album?

I think it’s a fine slice of world-class pop-rock. These are rock numbers with the strong melody and hook associated with pure pop, but in true rock fashion, the lead guitar throws in strong, hard riffs, and the back beat never gets lost in the mix. The harmonizing lead singers make for an interesting sound, the Clout Sound.

There are many fine pop-rock songs on this Greatest Hits package and who knows which song you’ll be humming later — and you will have one find a home in your mind. Will it be ‘You’ve Got All of me’? ‘Portable Radio’? ‘Don’t Stop’? ‘A Threat and a Promise’? Or their biggest hit,
‘Substitute’? Any one of them could come back to you like a reverie
accompanied by a fond smile.

This being a greatest hits album is a minor drawback, however. I
suspect the pacing on the original albums set the songs apart more.
Creative as each individual song is, it is preceded and followed by another wonderful pop-rock song. And most are mid- to up-tempo, so some blurring begins about halfway through the 68 minute CD. To counter that, I sometimes start with track 11 and play it from there.

Like Creedence Clearwater Revival and The Yardbirds, Clout was a singles group — but what a string of singles and selected albums cuts there are here. Despite the fact that Clapton allegedly left The Yardbirds because they wanted to go in a more singles-oriented direction, there is nothing wrong with a band trying to sell hit songs. In fact, unless one is Zappa or Pink Floyd, it’s required, isn’t it? According to ‘The History of Contemporary Music of South Africa’ book, Clout sold 7 million records worldwide!

Someday I’ll hear the original Clout albums. I suspect each one is a gem in its own right, including fine album tracks that didn’t happen to be hits, or weren’t included on their fine ’20 Greatest Hits’ package. I’ll let you know when I do, and that’s a promise.

Kurt Shoemaker, Blanco, Texas

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LONDON LEKKER
London-based John Samson gives his own twist on SA music

THE FLYING CIRCUS – VARIOUS ARTISTS

During the mid to late 1980′s there was a burgeoning “alternative” scene in SA, spearheaded mainly by Radio 5 jock Barney “Skinhead” Simon. For anyone into The Fall, Bauhaus, The Cult and more obscure groups like Half Man Half Biscuit, then Saturday afternoons were spent glued to the radio. Barney’s Powerhaus as he called his show was THE source of music that was generically labelled “alternative”. I must admit that I was a fan of Barney’s show.

With the success of the show, more and more “alternative” bands began to appear on the scene and were actively promoted by The Skin. This ultimately resulted in a compilation of songs by these groups called ‘In from the Cold’ and in the wake of the success of this came ‘The Flying Circus’. The latter boasted 8 tracks, 4 of which were by groups who had gained somewhat of a reputation (The Gathering, Psycho Reptiles, Dog Detachment and Celtic Rumour) and 4 who remained pretty much unknown (Elegant Chaos, Penguins in Bondage, Helter Skelter and Soviett Blu).

Having grown up since my Powerhaus days, I thought I would find this album dated when I re-listened to it. However, I was pleasantly surprised. Most of these tracks seem to have stood the test of time, strangely, it’s those by the lesser know groups that come out best. They are solid rocking tunes, particularly Soviett Blu’s ‘Rapture’ which thunders along to a gothic punk beat.

Influences on these groups are not hard to spot. Bauhaus, Sisters of Mercy, The Mission and The Cult were obviously on the turntables of the group members, and I there is certainly a hint of Dog Detachment, who were one of the early groups to embrace this punk rock style of music, in the other songs.

The Dog’s contribution is ‘I Come Running’ which is a more poppy outing than their previous stuff, while the Psycho Reptiles appear with a cover of ‘Pushing up the Daisies’ which was a song by the Colourfields, a group featuring ex-Specials/ Fun Boy Three miseryman Terry Hall. The Reptiles ska-punk version cleverly weaves the James Bond theme music into the song.

If you are into the gothic punk rock of the 80′s then you should enjoy this gathering of tunes, except perhaps for Celtic Rumours ‘Slow Rain’ which is a good song in itself, but too clean cut to feel at home here. If you were never a cockroach kid, or never tuned into the Skin, then give it a miss.

John Samson, London, UK

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SPRINGBOK RADIO CHARTS: 30 YEARS AGO

http://www.cd.co.za/charts

Friday, 18 June 1971

This week [last week] Title – Artist

1 [1] Joy To The World – Three Dog Night
2 [6] Funny, Funny – The Sweet
3 [2] If Not For You – Olivia Newton-John
4 [3] Put Your Hand In The Hand – Alan Garrity*
5 [7] Mozart Symphony No. 40 – Waldo De Los Rios
6 [5] The Seagulls Name Was Nelson – Des & Dawn Lindberg*
7 [4] Vicky – Lance James*
8 [11] Lonely Days And Lonely Nights – Lincoln*
9 [8] Have You Ever Seen The Rain – Creedence Clearwater Revival
10 [14] It Don’t Come Easy – Ringo Starr

* South African Artists

Peanut Butter Conspiracy dropped out of the top 10 only to be replaced by another South Africa band, namely Lincoln with ‘Lonely Days and Lonely Nights’. Ringo Starr became the 3rd Beatle to hit the top 10 with a solo effort.

After climbing well, Des & Dawn stalled a bit and dropped a position to 6 from 5 while Three Dog Night clung to the top spot despite a strong challenge from The Sweet.

Lower down the charts, Neil Diamond’s ‘I Am… I Said’ joined his hit ‘Shilo’ in the top 20. Roland Kent LaVoie, better known simply as Lobo also entered the charts with ‘Me and You and a Dog Named Boo’. Barbara Ray’s ‘Happy Birthday Baby’ meanwhile left the top 20.

South Africans at Number 1 this week:

One Day at a Time – Marie Gibson (1976)
Michael Row the Boat Ashore – Richard Jon Smith (1979)

Supplied by John Samson

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TOP 10 SA CLASSIC ROCK ALBUMS

1.African Day – Hawk (1971)*
2.Africa She Too Can Cry – Hawk (1972)
3.Battle Hymn Of The Broken Hearted Horde – Freedoms Children (1968)
4.Burnout – Hotline (1981)
5.Boys Will Be Boys – Rabbitt (1975)
6.Live And Well – Hawk (1974)
7.A Croak And A Grunt In The Night – Rabbitt (1977)
8.In The Arena – Circus (1977)
9.Jack Of All Trades – Jack Hammer (1987)
10.Astra – Freedoms Children (1970)*

As voted by visitors to the SA Rock Files website

* Available on CD from http://www.oneworld.co.za

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TOP 10 ALL-TIME GREAT SA POP AND ROCK SONGS

1.Master Jack – Four Jacks And A Jill (1968)
2.Weeping – Bright Blue (1987)
3.Hey Boy – Via Afrika (1983)
4.See Yourself (Clowns) – EllaMental (1984)
5.This Boy – Sweatband (1986)
6.As I Went Out One Morning (Damsel) – Tribe After Tribe (1985)
7.My Kind Of Girl – Cinema (1988)
8.ZX Dan – Radio Rats (1978)
9.Special Star – Mango Groove (1989)
10.You’re Living Inside My Head – John Ireland (1979)

As voted by visitors to the SA Rock Files website

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BIRTHDAYS – JUNE

18 Paul McCartney (1942)
20 Chet Atkins (1924)
20 Brian Wilson (1942)
24 Jeff Beck (1944)

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MORE COLD FACTS

I’LL SLIP AWAY

Rodriguez’s first single ‘I’ll Slip Away’ was released on the Impact label in August 1967 in the USA and credited to Rod Riguez.

Review from Cash Box magazine, September 23, 1967:
“Rod Riguez could make a name for himself with this bluesy, mid-tempo rock ballad. Keep it in sight. Flipside: ‘You’d Like To Admit It’.”

This is a different version to the track released on the “Best Of” compilation (titled ‘At His Best’ in Australia). It features more upfront Byrds-type jangly guitar, vocal harmonies and a subdued organ in the background. The strings that are so prominent on the later version are absent here.

Fuzz, Acid & Flowers website – Tim Forster, January 2001:
“In April 1967 he recorded five original songs for the local Impact label. The A-side of the resulting single, ‘I’ll Slip Away’ (later re-cut in the mid 70s), was an atmospheric number with considerable commercial potential, the B-side, ‘You’d Like To Admit It’, a contrasting folk-rocker in which the singer berated an ex-girlfriend for going off with a ‘hick’. Unfortunately it became Impact’s penultimate release before the label went under. Of the remaining tracks ‘Forget It’ would later be re-recorded for his first LP and ‘To Whom It May Concern’ for the second, but the intriguingly titled ‘That Discotheque’ remains unreleased in any form.”

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SPOTLIGHT ON BLONDIE CHAPLIN
A 3-part review of a rare talent by Bas Möllenkramer

PART 2

OSTRICH MAN
(recorded with the band Skollie)
PVB Records 1992

This South African release reveals that Blondie Chaplin has succeeded in finding his own voice and writing uncompromising songs for himself. In this respect Ostrich Man is an immense step forward from the first solo album. Despite it’s brief playing time and poor availability, this is a terrific Blondie Chaplin record, featuring fresh new songs, challenging playing and great recording quality.

Although there is strong evidence that Blondie Chaplin was influenced by Sting’s Dream Of The Blue Turtles and Paul Simon’s Graceland, both of which were still fresh in everybody’s mind at the time of Ostrich Man’s release, he nevertheless manages to leave his peers behind in a flurry of originality.

Blondie Chaplin displays his consumate mastery of a wide range of guitar sytles, from huge heavy rhythmic riffs to gentle backing melodies played on a Leslie’d Les Paul, vaguely reminiscent of George Harrison.

Ostrich Man is a fine record, and if you can find one it is warmly recommended to all Blondie Chaplin fans. Wait for the goosebumps to hit on the power-ballad No Victim No Crime.

The ultimate Blondie Chaplin album however, waits patiently in the wings…

Read the Conclusion in next week’s Digest.

We invite ALL readers to email their 50th birthday wishes to Blondie Chaplin to this reviewer (see below). They will be collected and published on the Flames website from June 2001, in time for Blondie Chaplin’s birthday in July. Do it now!

Bas Möllenkramer
Soest, the Netherlands
mailto:mollyb@worldonline.nl
Webmaster The Flames website

http://www.the-flames.com

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5.FORUM, REQUESTS AND FEEDBACK
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GRAHAMSTOWN FESTIVAL

I was hoping to find more info on the Grahamstown Festival. Could you
please let me know if you have any idea of which SA rock bands will be
performing at 2001 Grahamstown Festival and on which dates? About 3 years ago there was a tremendous show put on by SA bands, and it was in particular The Nudies and Lithium which showed that they’re in a class of their own.

ERIKA JOUBERT
EAST LONDON

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THE KÊRELS

Could you possibly tell me if the group The Kêrels is still alive and kicking. I would like to get some of their music if they are. I now live in Wales UK and life needs a kickstart!!

Regards

Garth Oelofse

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I LOVE YOU DADDY – RICARDO

This artist was very popular during 1987 – 1989 period. I am looking for the lyrics of this song. Can you help?

Kind regards,

Elize van Niekerk

{Ricardo was only 13 in 1986 when ‘I Love You Daddy’ was a big hit for this PE-born singer who later joined the Rockets. This song is available on the ‘Soul Meeting’ compilation CD released by Gallo in 1997. – ed}

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DOG DETACHMENT

I’m very urgently looking for music in any form, from Dog Detachment. Do you know where I can find this music and if these people did relocate overseas? I will appreciate it if you can help me.

Thank you.

Nico De Jongh

{Dog Detachment retrospective CD ‘Best Kept Secrets’ out soon on RetroFresh – ed}

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FINCH AND HENSON

I’m a South African living abroad for last 15 years. Love SA rock from 70′s, 80′s. Recently on a trip home started rediscovering music. I turned my wife onto Finch and Henson (‘Playgrounds’ album which I managed to find on vinyl!).

She’s hooked on them and I wanna know where I can get their whole collection. (whatever format). Also could you enlighten me as to what they are up to know.

Pete

{Brian Finch was playing solo gigs at La Med in Camps Bay on Sunday afternoons until quite recently, so he’s still going strong. Not sure about Kenny Henson, but we will try and find out. – ed}

Finch & Henson

http://www.rock.co.za/files/finch_henson.html

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LOOKING FOR SOUND

Do you maybe have any information on studios looking for sound engineers? I’m a qualified sound engineer in desperate need of a job. Your help is greatly appreciated.

Kind regards
Koos Viljoen

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6.LIVE REVIEWS AND GIG INFO
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SA ARTISTS LIVE IN LONDON

John has been to almost all the African Ambush gigs in London these last couple of weeks. We don’t have space here for all of the reviews, but John has posted them on the London Lekker website at:

THE TURNPIKE TORRENT
Piet Botha, Valiant Swart & Akkedis at the Salisbury Pub
9 June 2001

Something quite special happened at the Salisbury Pub in Turnpike Lane
tonight. The Pub itself is reminiscent of a hotel kroeg in some small dorp in SA. It is somewhat rundown but spacious (unusual for London) and has a lot of character.

The crowd was buzzing and it didn’t take long for the musicians to respond to this. A solid acoustic set by Piet Botha and Jonathan Martin went down well with those who were not queuing up at the bar for the happy hour-priced drinks. This was quickly followed by Valiant Swart who started off acoustically, had a few sound problems and decided to switch to his electric guitar. He was joined on stage by his usual cohort, Albert Frost, as well as Delta Blue bassist Schalk van der Merwe and Akkedis drummer, Rudi Dennis. He christened this ensemble the First World Orchestra, and they went into overdrive and joint was rocking.

Another high octane set from Akkedis followed, which included an emotive cover of Neil Young’s ‘Like a Hurricane’. At this stage of the proceedings I began to realise what the phrase ‘Wall of Sound’ meant as I was being hit by tangible waves of unadulterated ROCK!!

Due to London’s liquor license rules, most pubs have to close at 11pm.
However, if you have an entertainment license (which the Salisbury obviously has) you can carry on till later in the night, and this is what these guys did. Piet Botha returned with Jonathan Martin, Albert Frost, Arthur & Rudi Dennis from Akkedis and an electric guitar and performed a pounding rock set that included a cover of the Stones’ ‘Dead Flowers’. The image of Piet hunched over his guitar, manically producing a raw, blinding hot barrage of sound will remain with me for a long time. Think Neil Young at his most hectic to get the picture.

Then it was back to another Akkedis set (although we had been promised
Valiant Swart, I think he had become Die Missing Boer). I have been hugely impressed by this group who, until this tour were unknown to me. They produce great melodic rock tunes that are also good fun (‘oh dis lekker om dronk te wees, dronk te wees en jonk te wees’). These are expertly executed on stage with a good helping of showmanship and always with a hard rocking ethos.

When I faded at 1:00am, the party was still going on. The crowd was still exited and abuzz, and as one ou said to me it had the vibe of the Koos gig earlier this year, to which I must add “ja, but a helluva lot louder”.

John Samson

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SOME UPCOMING PROVINCE GIGS

Thurs 21 June: Louw [Dorpstraat Teater Kafee, Stellenbosch]
Fri 22 June: FROY (with Phil Hatt) [Hidden Cellar, Stellenbosch]
Sat 23 June: JAKKIE LOUW [Hangklip Hotel]
Thurs 28 June: NOT MY DOG and HOG HOGGIDY HOG [The Jam, Cape Town]
Fri 29 June: NOT MY DOG and PICTURE THIS [OnverklaarBar, Hermanus]
Sat 30 June: HOG HOGGIDY HOG [kicking off their national tour at Purple Turtle with New World Inside, No Comment and Chicken]

Mariska du Preez
Music Management and Promotions

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OPPIKOPPI UPDATE:

Stages:

The list of stages has been finalised. A national record and one that should see the bucolic Fountains Valley turn into a Promethean fraternity of phat-beat frying friends. The stages confirmed are: Mainstay Main Stage, Tassenberg & Old Brown Sherry Rock Hop Stage, Musica Progressive Dance Stage, Gordon’s Comedy & Theatre Stage, Bernini’s Folk & Jazz Stage, The STA Travel Unplugged Stage, and the Travelling Wheel bearing Blue Carpet half-a-stage.

Bands confirmed so far:

Benguela, Black Milk, Citrus, David Kramer, Duusman, Felix Laband, Firing Squad, Grammadoelas, Heavy Spirits, Henry Ate, Koos Kombuis, Laurinda Hofmeyer, Luke Vibert a.k.a. Wagon Christ (UK DJ from Ninja Tunes label), Matthew van der Want, Max Normal, Moses Khumalo, Perez, Plain Madnizz, Saron Gas, Simba Morri (Kenya), Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse, Ssshh, Steve Newman, Strings & Skins, Sunways, Superjuice, The Johnny Fourie Quartet, Themba Mkize, 340ml, Zim Ngqawana

OppiKoppi ‘TUNED’ Promo Gigs:

The Oppikoppi promotional team will be gigging around the country over the next two months to promote our TUNED festival taking place at Fountains Valley in Pretoria from the 9th to 12th August 2001. These gigs will feature bands and DJ’s that have been booked to perform at the festival. By attending these gigs, punters stand a chance to win tickets to the festival, as well as a copy of the Oppikoppi ‘TUNED’ CD featuring a selection of SA artists you can hear at this year’s festival. T-shirts and other promotional material from Oppikoppi sponsors will be flying around as well, so be sharp and Stay Tuned!

Thu 21 June: Cool Runnings, Wonderboom with Pestroy, Not My Dog and DJ Bob.
Fri 22 June: The Bassline, Mellville with Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse.
Sat 23 June: The Mystic Boer, Bloemfontein with dj’s Bob and Myles.
Thu 28 June: The Jam, Cape Town with Hog Hoggidy Hog, Not My Dog and DJ Bob.
Fri 29 June: Onverklaarbar, Hermanus with Picture This, Not My Dog, dJ Bob and The Blunted Stuntman.
Sat 30 June: Al’s Dance Club, Knysna with Not My Dog and DJ Bob.
Sat 07 July: Carfax, JHB – “Global Groove” party.
Fri 13 July: Bargo’s, Durban with THC and DJ Bob.
Tue 17 July: At Tuks on the Piazza @ 12:30-13:30 with DJ Bob.
Sun 22 July: Tings ‘n Times with Aavaaz and DJ Bob.
Tue 07 Aug: At TUKS on the Piazza @ 12:30-13:30 with DJ Bob.
Thu 09-Sun 12 Aug: The TUNED Festival at Fountains Valley.

More gigs will be added shortly, so watch out for updates.
For additional info or photographs phone Rob on 082 321 8113

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340ml

Saron Gas, 340ml and many more
Fri 29 June, The Showcase, Johannesburg

340ml and guest band
Sat 30 June, Up The Creek, Pretoria

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AUTHENTIC GIGS

Sat 23 June
Richard Santana AKA DJ Speedy – Decadence, Vereeniging

Fri 29 June
Wonderboom – Hydrogen, Caesar’s Palace
Richard Santana AKA DJ Speedy – Equinox, Miller Street, Bethlehem.
Info: 082-330-6603

Sat 30 June
Watershed – Cloud 9, 7 McClausland Crescent, Umhlanga

Beth Hillary
Authentic Ideas (Pty) Ltd

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BLK SONSHINE – THE “BUILDING” TOUR

June 27 – Rafiki’s, Cape Town
June 28 – The Hidden Cellar, Stellenbosch
June 29 – The Jam, Cape Town
June 30 – The Big Tree, The Strand
July 4-7 – Grahamstown Festival

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TONY COX

Venue: The Troubadour, Kalk Bay
Time: 21h00
Dates: Thurs – Sat June 21-23
Bookings: (021) 782 2268

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HARBOUR MUSIC CLUB
The Troubadour, Kalk Bay

Every Wednesday night 8:30
Entrance R15 – bar available

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HIGH STREET THEATRE
19 Bella Rosa Street, Belville
(021) 914 7030/1

20, 21, 23 June
MATHYS ROETS

29, 30 June
HIGH ON BLUES – Boulevard Blues Band and Frosted Orange

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JESSE JORDAN

Fridays 22nd & 29th June @ Café Amsterdam, 9pm

Al’s – Knysna 14 July Oyster Festival

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NOT MY DOG

http://www.wolmer.co.za/notmydog/main.html

Thu 21 Jun @ Cool Runnings (Pretoria North) w/ ‘Pestroy’
Fri 22 Jun @ Millers (Pietermaritzburg) w/ ‘Bored’
Sat 23 Jun @ Bargo (Durban) w/ ‘Lush Puppy’ & ’2 Flye’
Thu 28 Jun @ The Jam (Cape Town) w/ ‘HOG HOGGIDY HOG’ & ‘DJ Bob’
Fri 29 Jun @ Onverklaarbaar (Hermanus) w/ ‘Picture This’ & ‘DJ Bob’
Sat 30 Jun @ Al’s Dance Club (Knysna) w/ ‘DJ Bob’

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OPPIKOPPI

http://www.oppikoppi.co.za

9-12 August 2001 – Oppikoppi – Pretoria @ Fountains Valley
21-23 September 2001 – Oppikoppi – Worcester @ Kleinplasie

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THE WHAMMY BAR
Marine Circle
Tableview
Open Mon-Sun 6:00pm till late

The Whammy Bar is a live music venue that features original SA bands.
Bands start at 10.00pm Fri & Sat.

Bill Slater

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