Customer Reviews

Long Walk to Freedom

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4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
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This album proves it - Ladysmith Black Mambazo are (if not one of) the best African group of all time and listening to this album has been a very pleasant experience.

New recordings of classic Mambazo hits are contained here, featuring collaborations with familiar names Sarah McLachlan (on "Homeless", which originally appeared on the 1986 album "Graceland" with Paul Simon), Melissa Etheridge (on "Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes", again from "Graceland"), Natalie Merchant (on "Rain, Rain Beautiful Rain", a track that originally appeared on the 1979 release "Ezinkulu" and the Grammy-winning 1987 "Shaka Zulu") as well as many faces from South Africa.

Zap Mama, headed by Marie Daulne, joins in on the group's "Hello My Baby", which originally appeared alongside "Rain" on "Ezinkulu" in 1979, a horde of artists including Vusi Mahlasela, Hugh Masekela and Lucky Dube appear on the anthem "Shosholoza", Taj Mahal and his wonderful electric guitar appear on Solomon Linda's "Mbube" and we have many other songs as well; "Inkanyezi Nezazi (Star and the Wiseman)", "How Long?", "Long Walk to Freedom" (originally recorded in 2000) and the South African national anthem "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" (God Bless Africa) - not forgetting the first song that the group's leader/founder Joseph Shabalala ever wrote: "Nomathemba". This version of the tune, written in 1966 and made into a Broadway stageplay in 1995, is especially haunting yet soothing.

There is not one dull moment on the album as the harmonies of Mambazo continue to entertain. Noteworthy are the "playing about" sounds on the end of "How Long?", which includes the group 'practicing' in a 'fun' way, there is also the track "Thula Thula", a brand new song that includes only the soft tenor voice of Joseph Shabalala, who displays the sadness yet joyfulness of his country's music. At the end of the track he shouts "Did you record that?" to the sound engineer before bursting into laughter!

Released to coincide with the group's 20th anniversary in the international arena and also the group's landmark 45th anniversary together as a group, "Long Walk to Freedom" is a wonderful addition to any Mambazo fans' collection. It is also a wonderful chance for new fans to discover what Paul Simon felt when he first heard the group. Isicathamiya (or "Mbube") fans will also love this release, which includes two music videos, 18 photographs (1979-2006), a biography and release information.

Classic Mambazo at their best yet - I thoroughly recommend it.

This CD from Ladysmith Black Mambazo, with guest singers Melissa Etheridge, Natalie Merchant, Sarah McLachlan, Emmylou Harris, Taj Mahal, Joe McBride, Zap Mama, Hugh Masakela and a who's who of South African artists, is this multi Grammy Award winning group's finest work in years. Since their work with Paul Simon and his "Graceland" CD they continue to amaze with their beautiful harmonies.

This blend of style and content is a real feast for the soul. Fans of the group's traditional South African vocals will like the selections that feature the blended voices and beat of their past recordings, and will be intrigued by the mix of the stylings of some new friends -- well known American, Canadian and European artists. No cultural imperialism here...the foreigners bend their music to match that of Africa. The results are generally a treat. I found myself playing and replaying the CD when it first arrived. The layered texture of each individual song, and the similarly layered context of the entire song list, makes repeat listening not only a joy but a necessity. One final kudo: not only are the songs wonderful, the production is dynamic, without overpowering the voices of the artists. This is an absolute treasure.

I love each successive Ladysmith CD more than the last and this one is no exception. They've brought together the greats of South African music and popular US stars for the most breathtakingly beautiful CD I have heard in a long time. Emmylou Harris' version of "Amazing Grace" will just blow you away. Then there's Melissa Ethridge singing Paul Simon's part on "Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes." Plus, you've got Zap Mama, Taj Mahal, Natalie Merchant and a host of others. This one will provide years of happy listening.

Long Walk To Freedom is the latest music CD release of the energetic and inspirational group of South African artists Ladysmith Black Mambazo, recognizing the twentieth year of their introduction to the worldwide stage. Long Walk To Freedom consists of twelve new recordings of classic Mambazo songs, with guest vocal performances by contemporary pop music stars such as Taj Mahal, Zap Mama, Joe McBride and many more, as well as leading South African artists such as Lucky Dube, Vusi Mahlasela, and Thandiswa. Spanning the length of the band's thirty-year history, the selected songs are Nomathemba (4:12), Hello My Baby (4:56), Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes (5:42), Homeless (4:11), Rain Rain Beautiful Rain (3:01), How Long (5:11), Mbube (3:59), Amazing Grace/Nearer My God To Thee (3:28), Nkosi Sikelel 'lAfrica (2:26), Inkanyezi Nezazi "Star and the Wiseman" (5:00), Shosholoza (4:50), Long Walk To Freedom "Halala South Africa" (5:11) and Thula Thula "Bonus Track" 1:49. More than just a music CD, Long Walk To Freedom doubles as a multimedia CD-ROM, PC & Macintosh compatible, with a video and artist profile and much more. A superb auditory tribute to a talented and widely beloved performance group, and a treasure especially for fans of Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

If you have amassed a number of LBM's previous albums, much of of this will be familiar. But it isn't just a "greatest hits" album, but a reimagining of the tunes over their long career, from Nomathemba (1973) to 2 songs from Paul Simon's Graceland, to a couple songs from the Simon-produced Shaka Zulu album (1987), to more recent fare. Highlights include Mbube (which you may know as The Lion Sleeps Tonight) with Taj Mahal, and Amazing Grace/Nearer My Good to Thee with Emmylou Harris.

Nice variety of songs while still keeping with that "special sound" that no ones does better!

Ladysmith is a wonderful group. Their songs are poignant and upbeat. I enjoy African music and this is the best of the best.

Awesome sound. A very nice weave of So. Africian style and American fun! Melissa Etheridge and Sheryl Crow and the boys sound GREAT together.... I highly recommend it.

Ever since their emergence on Paul Simon's Graceland, the unique harmonies and rhythms have kept me enthtralled. The notable thing about this CD is how their famous guests adapt to their sound, choice of material, and blend is solid. Some collaborations work better than others. Mellissa Ethridge and Natalie Merchant are two standouts. This a worthwhile introduction this group.