Customer Reviews

Best of

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you're only familiar with Miriam Makeba's folk-era recordings ("The Click Song," etc.) then take the time to check out this amazing set of her earliest work from the mid-1950s, with the Skylarks vocal ensemble. This is South African "jive" music, a mix of ska-like African rhythms and American jazz and swing melodies - some of the most cheery and infectious music you'll ever hear! This is a great single-CD retrospective; there's are also a 2-volume collection on Teal Records in case you want MORE!

I bought this cd on a whim and was pleasantly surprised, especially at the sound quality. This cd is a collection of the Skylarks' best from the late 1950s. Nevertheless, the sound is quite good; in fact it sounds less dated than similar American recordings from the same era.
Miriam Makeba is a well-known singer from South Africa with a lovely voice. The Skylarks sound a great deal like American girl groups from the 1950s and early 60s, but I have to say that in my opinion the Skylarks are better. Perhaps because I was unfamiliar with the music, this cd sounds fresher and more interesting, and the songs themselves benefit greatly from their less produced sound.

Heard these singers first on the soundtrack of Jonathon Deme's movie "Mandella" on Island records. Loved the sound and wanted more.

Very much like the Andrews Sisters but with a lot more style and better produced. Could easily be regarded as a 1990's recording and not something from the 50's or 60's...great for easy listening or as background music in cafe's or bars. VERY different (unless you happen to live in South Africa)

Delightful compilation of early recordings of Miriam Makeba from late 1950s,therefore just shortly before her life will change forever.
Lady was a main singer in a all-girl group called "The Skylarks" that carefully listened US records and than transformed that sound to something original - there is a little of doo wop South African way here,another almost boogie-woogie piano there,their young voices blending beautifully together and althought language is different,the spirit of music is not so far removed from contemporary US recordings of the time.. Just listen to beautiful "Ndimbone Dluca" or breezy "Makoti" and it really brings smile to your face,it is a sound of young girls singing their little hearts out in perfect harmony,usually one voice (mainly,but not always Makeba) taking the lead and other girls weaving magic around the song,harmonizing in and out of melody and sometimes almost improvising it,while groovy little combo plays in the background.
Since records were not meant to be an album,this collection of singles does have certain sameness but it flows nicely from one song into another and it is really cheerful little cutie,almost like "Hakuna Matata" in various disguises.
These singles were recorded mostly around 1958. and the very next year Makeba would already perform solo in famous musical "King Kong" that would lead her to even bigger things - she had singing cameo in anti-Apartheid documentary "Come back,Africa" that was spotlighted on international Venice film festival where she was invited as special guest and decided not to return home,her records forbidden and passport revoked.It was than that she became enemy at home but huge international star at the same time.
For those who would like to know more,there is excellent autobiography called "Makeba" about lady first-person experiences.
I find this music - and Miriam Makeba's life - fascinating and was surprised that some of my young South African friends were not familiar with her name,it just shows how MTV brainwashed youth around the world that they became obsessed with pointless pop stars while not knowing about their own national treasure. ("We don't speak Xhosa language at home" said one of my friends who obviously was embarrased that I even asked about it,but her face later opened in wide smile when I played this and she started to sing along.)