Customer Reviews

Heavenly

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

 

 

Prior to purchasing this album, I had vague memories of the distictive harmonious blends of the group through Paul Simon's Graceland album. Finding myself on work assignment in South Africa and looking for music with a local flavor, I was quite fortunate to find this album in Johannesburg, and quickly ordered the CD through Amazon for the family back home to enjoy. My 19 year old son remembers the group from their appearances on Sesame Street.

This album is outstanding in every respect. The selections provide just the right mix of traditional U S gospel (Oh Happy Day, Take my Hand Precious Lord), and soothing African 'gospel' composed by the group's leader, Joseph Shambalala, including two with English lyrics (Jesus is my Leader, He Showed me His Hand) plus three selections of entirely African/Zulu lyrics. Other familiar works, not typically included on a gospel collection, are Bob Dylan's Knockin on Heavens Door, People Get Ready, I'll Take you There, Billy Joel's River of Dreams (In the Middle of the Night), and Sam Cooke's classic Chain Gang. Add in Shambalala's Beautiful Rain to the mix, and the selections show how the group's style can encompass a wide range of sounds. As an added treat, familiar American pop musicians provide guest vocals - most notably, Dolly Parton, Phoebe Snow, and Lou Rawls. The unique choral African rhythmic 'a capella' singing provides the group's Heavenly signature for the album. Throw in the narrations by Shambala in I'll Take You There, referencing the group's humble beginnings in their hometown of Ladysmith in KwaZulu-Natal province, and the very moving account of Shambala's 1993 visit to Chicago to visit Precious Lord's Thomas Dorsey on his death bed, and the results are superb.

I had the opportunity recently to include Ladysmith on a week-end trip to the Natal coast, and learned more about the group in a museum there. I added their most recent 'Wenyukela' to my collection and am currently enjoying the more traditional African selections of this album.

The group truly deserves their reputation as the most well-known African group in the Western world.

When I heard that LBM was doing an album with instrumental backing...I didn't quite know what to think. This fantastic group is world-renowned for the symphony they can create with their voices, so why go instrumental? I do, however, encourage musical exploration...so I figured I'd give it a try.

What a mistake this album was! Besides 4 or 5 songs (including "Yitho Umlilo Ovuthayo," "Sohlabelelu Hosana," & "Jesus Is My Leader") this album is total bore. Hearing this fantastically talented group do Bob Dylan, Curtis Mayfield, & Billy Joel covers backed by pedestrian instrumental arrangements is extremely disappointing. If you want to explore the magical experience of South African zulu singers, then get another one of their albums...try the Greatest Hits, or just about anything else but this one.

I love LBM, but this album is just a disappointment (especially after seeing them in concert!) Spend your money elsewhere!

This is, of course, Ladysmith Black Mambazo's first album with instrumental backing, unless you count the harmonizing they did on _Graceland._ Which I don't, since it was never their song or album. Still, the effect is transforming -- it takes the responsibility of maintaining musical continuity from the basses, who are plentiful in number, and places it on the instruments, allowing the voices to focus exclusively on the melody. For sheer inventiveness while not straying from the origins, their rendition of "River of Dreams" simply can't be beat. My girlfriend thinks it's better than the original, and I really can't bring myself to disagree.

I thought I had misplaced this album and HAD to buy it again....It's truely a favorite!

You don't have to be particularly religious to appreciate the depth of feeling on this CD, although almost all of the music has a strong religous flavour. I defy anyone to remain unmoved by the words (and background story in the sleeve notes) of, 'Take My Hand, Precious Lord'.

The strong and often complex African rythms are powerful and compelling. Each time you listen, you catch new subtleties and amazing vocal gymnastics.

Oddly, the first track on the album, 'Yitho Umlilo Ovuthayo', was chosen by Heinz as the backing to one of their commercials in the U.K. (I seem to recall it was for baked beans!).

Whether you are currently into African music or not, this is a CD worth adding to your collection.