AFROSYNTH XII: FREE AT LAST

The 12th and latest mix in the popular AfroSynth series, Free At Last is another celebration of old skool South African cool. Selected by DJ Okapi and ripped from the original vinyls, it features 15 upbeat, largely unknown tracks covering a variety of genres - vintage bubblegum (The Survivals, Vumani, Banjo); smooth disco-funk (The Rockets, Neville Nash, Fire & Flame), early kwaito (MM Deluxe, E&S Brothers); synthesized versions of traditional Zulu (Fani S'Khosana), Shangaan (Tsokotsa) and Venda (V Kids) pop; slick Afro-pop (Caiphus Semenya), as well as innovative studio experiments (Hey Fever, Choice!). As with the previous mixes, these songs capture the pain and hardship that defined life in South Africa under apartheid, and more importantly the people's growing sense of optimism and hope for a better future.

1. 'Play The Music' - The Survivals (1989)
2. 'Mr Jekejeke' - Makwerhu (1987)
3. 'Makhanana' - Tsokotsa (1986)
4. 'Botswana in 1986' – The V Kids (1989)
5. 'The Sneezing Song' - Hey Fever! (1984)
6. 'Gimme a Break' - The Rockets (1986)
7. 'Be Free My People' - MM Deluxe (1990)
8. 'Bomba' - E&S Brothers (1987)
9. 'Midnight Train' - Vumani (1986)
10. 'iPansula' - Fani S'khosana (1984)
11. 'Whole Lot of Love' - Fire and Flame (1985)
12. 'Feel It' - Neville Nash (1986)
13. 'Free at Last (Ghetto Mix)' - Choice! (1990)
14. 'Ndi-kulindile' - Caiphus Semenya (1991)
15. 'No No No, No More' - Banjo (1985)

compiled by DJ Okapi
Johannesburg, December 2012

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FIRE AND FLAME - Whole Lot Of Love / Let's Jive (1985)

Gresham/RPM, DGX388   
Producer: Allan Goldswain & Dennis East   
Engineer: Dennis East (mixed by Julian Laxton)   
Composer: Clifford Makhene   

As one of the most in-demand acts of their day, Blondie Makhene and his brothers Pappa and Clifford and sisters Pamela and Phyllis were largely responsible for taking 70s soul and crafting the new bubblegum sound. Their stage show saw them perform in numerous permutations - eg The Family, Spankk and the duo Blondie and Pappa. In 1983 Blondie pushed his backing singer Brenda Fassie to centre stage and changed his backing band's name to the Big Dudes.

Perhaps the least known of the Makhene brothers, Clifford "later formed the trio Fire and Flame and recorded a maxi single under DGR (David Gresham Records). The hit, 'Whole Lot Of Love', sold the maxi single like hot cakes on a Christmas morning. In the trio "Fire" was Cliff Makhene, "Flame" were two songbirds, Gladys Ramela and Diana Ncube." (Mojapelo 2008:35)

'Whole Lot Of Love' is slowed down disco funk; 'Let's Jive' is cheesy pop written by Dennis East, later famous for his role in the Afrikaans market.