Blue Monday
Killer '86 South African Boogie vibes on Casa Tropical! Check B-side!

Blue Monday

Bayete

€ 16,95
  • 12"
Label
La Casa Tropical
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Description

The story of Bayete starts years before their first release under that name. In the early 80’s Mbaqanga stars The Soul Brothers were looking for a group to open for them on their upcoming shows. They wanted a different sound to their own but were specific in one regard, their curtain raisers were required to have a full horn section. This opportunity led to the formation of a group named “Jaws ” after member Jaws Dlathu. This new group was a combination of veteran musicians and young fresh trio of female singers as support. Soul Brothers bassist Zakes Mchunu would produce and help write their self titled debut album on the Moonshine label but after more than 2 years together the group would disband following his tragic death in 1984. The girls would go on to start their solo careers while the rest of the band contemplated what do.

It would be in the months following the death of Zakes that the remaining members of Jaws would meet Linda Bernard. Linda was the wife and business partner of well respected English producer and engineer Greg Cutler. Along with musical legend Koloi Lebona the three of them ran the independent and short lived Kaya Records. It would be Linda’s support that led them to sign a one record deal with the label and the record their first album under the new name, Bayete. Unfortunately the debut was a flop. With no proper promotion and SABC censoring the song “Shosholoza” by banning it from the airwaves, the initial run of 500 copies sold mainly at shows, with only 20 copies selling in the first 3 months. The debut couldn’t compete with the sounds of the already popular Sakhile or the emerging synth fuelled disco that was becoming a staple in township shabeens across the country. Though they would later became a household name, their debut was lost into obscurity and to this day is one of their hardest releases to find. 

Shortly after recording their first album, the band added Jabu Khanyile (drums), Themba Mkhize (keys) and Fana Zulu (Bass) to their roster. Themba and Fana had come over from Sakhile, a group who were no strangers to the original Jaws ensemble. Originating Bayete member Mfaniseni Thusi also had a short stint and started his musical career in Johannesburg by joining Sakhile. Jaws and Sakhile had both released self titled albums in 82’ on the Moonshine Records but of the two releases it would be Sakhile that went on to gain mainstream success locally and abroad with Jive Afrika releasing the album world wide. 

Tracklist

A

  • 1.Blue Monday06:53

B

  • 2.Open Your Heart (Vula)06:47

Videos

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