Album discussion - Mango Groove's untitled album

[Jangar]

As always I'll start with the track listing:

1. Hellfire
2. Dance Sum More
3. Love Is
4. Special Star
5. Under A Lover's Moon
6. Pennywhistle
7. Move Up
8. Two Hearts
9. Too Many Tears
10. Lalissa
11. Harder
12. Dance Sum More (Remix)
13. Hellfire (Remix)

The last two tracks are bonus tracks on the cd version of the album.

To me this album is joyous and bouncy but still has it's sad moments though.

I think this is the ultimate cross over album though I am sure that many will disagree with me, sure Juluka and Via Afrika went that path before but to me they never captured the spirit that Mango Groove did...

My fave song on the album ? Has to be "Special Star", the reason... Personal :p

So what are your opinions and thoughts ?

[Jangar]

No comments :confused:

[picanin]

Originally posted by Jangar
No comments :confused:

I do but you aint going to like it!

As much as I think Clair Johnson was very sexy........... Mango Grooves music could never be considered anything more than Bubblegum pop. Ja they had one or two listenable tunes but that was about it. There is no way that they can be compared with Juluka.

Sorry but that was my two Bobs worth!

[Jangar]

Originally posted by picanin
I do but you aint going to like it!

As much as I think Clair Johnson was very sexy........... Mango Grooves music could never be considered anything more than Bubblegum pop. Ja they had one or two listenable tunes but that was about it. There is no way that they can be compared with Juluka.

Sorry but that was my two Bobs worth! : D

Thanx for your comments Pica

I agree with you, I could watch Claire sing anyday...

Actually I find all their songs listenable Which makes it pop as you rightly said :p But in the end that is what sells...

And there is no way that Mango Groove can be compared to Juluka, apart from the fact that they're both SA cross-over groups ...

[Jangar]

Here is what was written about the album in this week's SA Rock Digest

Texas-based Kurt Shoemaker gives his unique views on SA music.

´MANGO GROOVE´ - MANGO GROOVE

Thirteen songs, including two remixes, eight of these songs are on the
recent ´Best of Mango Groove´ of twenty songs. So unless you are a
completist needing all of Mango Groove´s songs, and with Mango Groove
that´s not a bad way to be, consider this 1988 album superseded by the 2000
´Best of´ CD, which also has a thick booklet of liner notes.

But if your only Mango Groove CD is this self-titled one, then you´ve got
some strong music in hits like ´Hellfire´, ´Love Is´, ´Special Star´,
´Pennywhistle´ (the Claire rest song), ´Two Hearts´, (draw a breath to
continue), and the mind-lodging, body-dancing charmer, ´Dance Sum More´. If
you know the music of Mango Groove, you can probably summon up these
melodies and rhythms at will.

If not familiar with the Afropop music of Mango Groove, they are a mix of
Western music (Western Civ, not cowboy) and African styles. Mango Groove is
the lovely Claire Johnston on lead vocals, and, on horns, guitars,
keyboards, and backing vocals: Siphu Bhengu, Beulah Hashe, Banza Kgasoane,
Alan Lazar, George Lewis, John Leyden, Mduduzi Magwaza, Marilyn Nokwe,
Phumzile Ntuli, and Gavin Stevens--Lordy, people make beautiful music when
they play together without fighting, don´t they?

It´s a big sound, with Claire singing with sweet and clear phrasing. Then
there are the remixes of ´Dance Sum More´ and ´Hellfire´ jazzed up with
punchier beats floated in and some fills and decorations added, closing the
CD with two bursts of cheery dancing.

The band was in hot form when they recorded these and others during the
months of June to December in 1988. They made an album so hot that almost
half of their greatest hits are drawn from it. With three other CDs, they
have also released a DVD titled ´The Ultimate Collection´ - an encouraging
title to a completist.

When I feel good, Mango Groove makes me feel better. It´s bright, it´s
mostly upbeat and up-tempo, with a few slower, closer numbers. ´Mango
Groove´ by Mango Groove is brassy, rollicking, and exuberant dance music to
go out dancing to with the one you love, then to go happily home and dance
some more....

READ: http://www.rock.co.za/files/mango_groove_index.html
BUY: http://www.oneworld.co.za/index.cfm?bec=...hfor=mango

Kurt Shoemaker, Blanco, Texas
mailto:kurt@sarockdigest.com