Track Listing

1. Grazing in the Grass
2. Vasco da Gama (The Sailor Man)
3. Khauleza
4. Ziph' Inkomo
5. Mama
6. Chileshe
7. Market Place
8. Don't Go Lose It Baby
9. Strawberries
10. Thanayi
11. African Secret Society
12. Ha Lese (Le Di Khanna)
13. Bring Him Back Home (Nelson Mandela)
14. Stimela (Coal Train)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #34385 in Music
• Released on: 2008-02-01
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Amazon.com
In 1968, a little-known South African-born trumpeter and flugelhornist named Hugh Masakela released an instrumental single called "Grazing in the Grass." Its catchy, percussive rhythms and jazzy horn lines made it an international hit, and turned Masakela into an overnight star. This compilation contains 14 of Masakela's most celebrated tracks recorded from the '60s to the '90s. These "greatest hits" show how Masakela ingeniously blends a fiery, post-bop trumpet style with African-American R&B and African rhythms, and long before the term "world music" came into vogue. Included on this collection is the Cuban cha-cha laced "Vasco Da Gama," the melancholy Miriam Makeba classic, "Strawberries," and the anti-apartheid anthem, "Bring Him Back Home (Nelson Mandela)." Hugh Masakela has been, and will continue to be, an importance force in the world of music. --Eugene Holley Jr.

Customer Reviews

Good - But Not Quite "The Best"
A misleadingly titled collection, but one that turns out to be a very, very nice surprise even so. Eight of the 14 tunes here appear to be recently recorded studio tracks that (to my knowledge) were never previously released: Caiphus Semenya's excellent "Ha Le Se Le Li Khanna" (originally from 1967's THE EMANCIPATION OF HUGH MASEKELA), the title track and only real "hit" here, "Grazing In The Grass" (originally from 1968's PROMISE OF A FUTURE), "Market Place," "African Secret Society" and "Stimela (Coal Train)" (all three originally from 1974's I AM NOT AFRAID), "Vasco Da Gama (The Sailor Man)" (originally from 1976's COLONIAL MAN), "Don't Go Lose It Baby" (from 1984's TECHNO BUSH) and "Bring Him Back Home" (originally from 1986's superb TOMORROW). These new recordings are all exceedingly well done by Masekela and his seven-piece African band, updating much of the joyful exuberance of the originals. The remaining six songs come from the trumpeter/vocalist's recent releases: "Mama," from 1998's unmemorable NOTES OF LIFE; "Khauleza," "Chileshe" and "Strawberries" from 1999's BLACK TO THE FUTURE; and "Thanayi" and Caiphus Semenya's lovely "Ziph' inkomo" from 2000's invigorating SIXTY. This collection, good as it is, is not a real "best of" set. Where's "U, Dwi" or "Soweto Blues"? How about "Bo Masekela," "Languta," "Uptownship" or even "She Been" and "Makonko"? But, all quibbles aside, it has the great feel of one of Hugh Masekela's better outings - celebrating his catchy songmanship, rather than his too-little featured trumpet. And after four decades of hits and misses and some great music that never fails to please year after year, it's about time that Hugh Masekela gets his due.

A word of caution
Deflating a very promising line-up of vintage Masekela material, six of the tunes here are recent remakes, including "Vasco de Gama," "Market Place," "African Secret Society," "Don't Go Lose It Baby," "Stimela" and (an especially crusty gesture) the title track. They're not bad, and Masekela's liner notes are frank and informative, but still ....

The Best of What !!! No way, or Maybe so
This cd is titled "Grazing in the grass: The best of Hugh Maskela. okay, now I would like to know why the other to songs that were release right after grazing in the grass are not on the cd? "Riot" came out on 45rpm right afterwards and the next song that was played on 45rpm was "Puffin on down the track" Where are these songs? Why aren't they on this cd? I will admit "Grazing in the grass" is Hugh Masekela's most successful commercial success, most of his work isn't commercial, and if you're not a fan you probably haven't heard any of his other music. Anytime you title something "Greatest", or the best of,
well..... at least include all of those songs or most of them on the cd. Maybe this is the recording co. or a representative from the company's personal best of. I'll give this cd 4 stars, only because Grazing in the grass is on it, and that song is one of the best instumentals tunes that has been recorded.