Colonial Man
Colonial Man | ||||
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Studio album by Hugh Masekela | ||||
Released | 30 January 1976 | |||
Recorded | c. 1975–76 in New York and Chicago | |||
Studio | Capricorn Studios (New York), Good Vibrations Studios (New York), The Hit Factory (New York), Regent Sound (New York), Curtom Studios (Chicago) | |||
Genre | Jazz | |||
Label | Casablanca NBLP-7023 | |||
Producer | Hugh Masekela | |||
Hugh Masekela chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Colonial Man is the eighteenth studio album by South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela.[2] It was recorded in New York and Chicago and released on LP[3] and eight-track cassette[4] on 30 January 1976 via the Casablanca Records label.[5][6] The album's title song "Colonial Man", "Vasco Da Gama" and "Cecil Rhodes" express African anti-colonial sentiments.[7] At the time of its release, it was referred to variously by reviewers as a concept album[8] and a protest album.[9]
Reception
A reviewer of Dusty Groove wrote: "A later album from Hugh Masekela – but still plenty darn hip, way more so than most of the other artists on the Casablanca label at the time! Hugh's South African groove is still very firmly in place here – mixed with a slightly warmer LA soul sound, but expanded with loads of great arrangements that get a lot more complicated than before – and which bring in some great keyboard and percussion bits. Sivuca makes a wonderful appearance on 1st and 3rd tracks – using that blend of voice and accordion that sounds so great – and the whole record's got a depth and sense of soul that you'd never guess from it's [sic] silly title and cover!"[10]
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "A Song for Brasil" | Hugh Masekela | 4:13 |
2. | "Vasco Da Gama" (The Sailor Man) | Hugh Masekela | 5:28 |
3. | "For the Love of You" | O'Kelly Isley, Jr., Rudolph Isley, Ronald Isley | 8:25 |
4. | "Colonial Man" | Hugh Masekela | 5:04 |
5. | "Witch Doctor" | Hugh Masekela | 7:31 |
6. | "Cecil Rhodes" | Hugh Masekela | 5:13 |
Personnel
- Art direction, design – Gribbitt!, Stephen Lumel
- Backing Vocals – Deborah McDuffie (tracks: 1 3 6), Maeretha Stewart (tracks: 1 3 6), Patti Austin (tracks: 1 3 6)
- Bass, vocals – Yaw Opoku
- Director – Stewart Levine
- Drums (traps) – Papa Frankie Todd
- Electric piano – Adaloja Gboyega
- Accordion and voice - Sivuca (track 1)
- Engineer – Rik Pekkonen
- Guitar – "Jagger" Botchway
- Guitar, vocals – Stanley Todd Kwesi
- Mastering – Bernie Grundman
- Photography – David Alexander
- Saxophone, percussion, vocals – O. J. Ekemode
- Shekere, percussion, vocals – Odinga "Guy" Warren
- Talking drum, percussion, vocals – Asante
- Trumpet, vocals – Hugh Masekela
Re-releases
As of 2018, the album has not been released in its entirety on CD or as digital downloads. Compositions "Colonial Man" and "A Song for Brazil" were re-released on CD in 1998 on Verve Records as part of The Boy's Doin' It. "A Song for Brazil", "Colonial Man" and "Witch Doctor" feature on the 2018 posthumous compilation of original recordings: Masekela '66–'76.[11]
References
- ^ Larkin, Colin (27 May 2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. p. 1203. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
- ^ "Hugh Masekela - Biography". Amoeba Music. amoeba.com. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
- ^ "Masekela* - Colonial Man". Discogs. 1976. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
- ^ "Hugh Masekela - Colonial Man". Discogs. 1976. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
- ^ "Hugh Masekela: Colonial Man". Discogs. discogs.com. 1976. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
- ^ "DISCOGRAPHY: 1970–1979". dougpayne.com. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
- ^ Smith, Tymon (22 November 2015). "Hugh Masekela's still pushing buttons at 76". The Sunday Times. timeslive.co.za. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
- ^ "4 May 1976, Page 15 - Tucson Daily Citizen at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
- ^ "16 May 1976, Page 125 - Green Bay Press-Gazette at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
- ^ "Hugh Masekela: Colonial Man". Dusty Groove. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
- ^ "Hugh Masekela - Masekela '66 –'76". Discogs. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
External links
- Official website
- v
- t
- e
- Trumpet Africaine (1962)
- Grrr (1966)
- Hugh Masekela's Next Album (1966)
- The Emancipation of Hugh Masekela (1966)
- Hugh Masekela's Latest (1967)
- The Promise of a Future (1968)
- Africa '68 (1968)
- Masekela (1969)
- Reconstruction (1970)
- Hugh Masekela & The Union of South Africa (1971)
- Home Is Where the Music Is (1972)
- Introducing Hedzoleh Soundz (1973)
- I Am Not Afraid (1974)
- The Boy's Doin' It (1975)
- Colonial Man (1976)
- Melody Maker
- You Told Your Mama Not to Worry (1977)
- Herb Alpert / Hugh Masekela (1978)
- Home (1982)
- Techno-Bush (1984)
- Waiting for the Rain (1985)
- Tomorrow (1987)
- Uptownship (1989)
- Beatin' Aroun de Bush (1992)
- Notes of Life (1996)
- Black to the Future (1998)
- Sixty (2000)
- Time (2002)
- Revival (2005)
- Almost Like Being in Jazz (2005)
- Phola (2009)
- Jabulani (2012)
- Friends (2012)
- Playing @ Work (2012)
- No Borders (2016)
- Rejoice (2020)
- The Best of Masekela (1969)
- Stimela (1994)
- The Best of Hugh Masekela on Novus (1999)
- Grazing in the Grass: The Best of Hugh Masekela (2001)
- The Collection (2003)
- Still Grazing (2004)
- The Chisa Years: 1965–1975 (Rare and Unreleased) (2006)
- The Americanization of Ooga Booga (1966)
- Hugh Masekela Is Alive and Well at the Whisky (1967)
- The Lasting Impression of Hugh Masekela (1968)
- Main Event Live (1978)
- Hope (1994)
- Live at the BBC (2002)
- Live at the Market Theatre (2007)
- "Up-Up and Away"
- "Grazing in the Grass"
- "Skokiaan"
- Still Grazing (2004)