Ladysmith Black Mambazo discography

Infobox musical artist 2
Name = Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Background = lightskyblue


Img_capt = Ladysmith Black Mambazo, 2007
Years_active = 1960–1964 (original group)
1964–present (current incarnation)
Label = Gallo Record Company (1973–present)
Wrasse Records (1998–present)
Heads Up International (2004–present)
URL = [http://www.mambazo.com/ www.mambazo.com]

This is a near-complete list of recordings made by the South African vocal group Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

The group was offered a recording contract to Gallo Record Company, the largest record company in South Africa, in 1972. They accepted, and remain with the studio today. Ladysmith Black Mambazo's first release "Amabutho" (1973) sold over 25,000 copies and became the first release in South Africa by black musicians to receive gold status. [Erlmann, Veit: "Nightsong: Performance, Practise and Power in South Africa", p. 93. 1996] Their early recordings – recorded for Gallo's 'Mavuthela Music Company' division – sold very well.

In 1975, Shabalala converted to Christianity and the group released their first religious album, "Ukukhanya Kwelanga". It earned a double platinum disc award, and the group's repertoire came to be dominated by hymns, mostly Methodist. Their 1976 "Ukusindiswa" became one of their most popular religious albums. By 1981, the group was well-known throughout South Africa, and was allowed to travel to Cologne, Germany. [Nkosi, W: "Ezulwini Siyakhona", liner notes. Gallo Record Company, 1986] The group toured the country and appeared on television, and learned some of the German language; the 1981 album "Phansi Emgodini" included a German-language song, "Wir Grüssen Euch Alle". The following year, the group traveled back to Germany to appear on a televised quiz show, bringing about requests for live appearances. [Nkosi, W: "Ezulwini Siyakhona", liner notes. Gallo Record Company, 1986]

The group's releases sold highly in the 1980s; even more so when Paul Simon introduced them into international audiences in his 1986 "Graceland" album. "Graceland" itself went onto sell high figures. Mambazo's international career subsequently took off and brought them to new heights.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo has since released over fifty studio recordings; many more assorted compilations, cassette tapes, video tapes, and DVDs have been released. A number of reissue releases from the group's early recording career sold high numbers in the late 1980s, partly due to the newfound interest in South African music created by Paul Simon.

----: "Catalogue numbers in bold represent" Hybrid SACD "and/or" enhanced "versions"----

References

ee also

*Ladysmith Black Mambazo

External links

* [http://www.mambazo.com/ Official Ladysmith Black Mambazo website]